Monday, October 25, 2010

Question 52 -Isaiah's Pig Prophecy
Dear Reader, according to a prophecy given to Isaiah by the Holy Spirit, everyone on earth "ALL FLESH," will be held accountable on the issue of eating pork at Christ's Second Coming. Isaiah's prophecy says that people eating pork will be destroyed with vengeance at that time. Please take a moment to ask God to send His Holy Spirit to be your only Guide as we continue! Thank you SO much! 

 If the Reader is a Pre-Trib Pastor, you know that  Pre-Trib says ALL Old Testament Prophecies that have not been fulfilled as yet will be fulfilled at some time in the future. So, let's look at Isaiah's un-fulfilled Prophecy. He prophesied the following concerning the Lord's Second Coming: "The Lord will come with FIRE...like a WHIRLWIND, to render His anger with FURY, and His rebuke with FLAMES of FIRE! For by FIRE and by His Sword will the Lord plead [Plead is - JUDGE - in the original Hebrew] with ALL flesh! And the SLAIN of the Lord shall be MANY! They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating SWINE'S FLESH and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord" (Isa.66:15-17)!

Pre-Trib's Interpretation
This Author has studied Pre-Trib doctrines extensively and cannot find any official Pre-Trib position concerning this prophecy. Pre-Trib's position concerning Pork says it is perfectly fine to eat it during this present "Grace Dispensation." The Question to Ponder is, "Would Jesus really reward one group of people for eating Pigs, then conduct a mass killing on another group because of eating Pigs?"  

Christianity's Response
 Pre-Trib has difficulty with this prophecy because they contend that all UN-Fulfilled Old Testament prophecies will eventually be fulfilled, and they don't know where this prophecy fits into their time frame. However, non-Pre-Trib Christian Ministers simply say, "That's Old Testament Stuff that has been DONE AWAY with now" They say that Peter's vision about unclean animals in the sheet has annulled the unclean animal regulation. Some get angry and shout "You're a Legalist trying to work your way to Heaven" if you refuse to eat pork. Do we really believe that Jesus dying on the cross caused the pig to go from an unclean animal to an animal Jesus wants, even demands us to eat? We will explain why we used the word, "demands" in a moment. 

 "Behind a Tree in the Midst of the Garden"
Isaiah's use of "Midst of the Garden" brings up a couple of Pondered Questions. Let's look at each:
Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
Could it be that God's command concerning the Pig is similar to His command concerning the Tree in the midst of the Garden of Eden? God told Adam and Eve concerning the tree, "Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die" (Gen.3:3).
God also said concerning the Pig, "Of their flesh (Swine) shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you" (Lev.11:8). That tree and the pig are the only items God addressed using both words, "Eat" or "Touch." Certainly something at least worth Pondering.

Peter's Unclean Animal Vision
Ask any Christian that claims God has given permission to eat pigs, and you'll get the same answer every time. "God showed Peter it was permissible to eat Pork when He gave him that vision with the unclean animals in the sheet being let down from Heaven! God even demanded that Peter eat the unclean animals." They quote the following Bible Verse: "And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; Kill and Eat" (Acts 10:13). Our Pork eating Pastors say to us, "You see, God didn't just give permission, He commanded we eat Pork!" And then they quote: "And the voice spoke unto him (Peter) again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call NOT thou common" (Acts 10:15)! 

 Isaiah - "In the Midst of the Garden"
Be prepared for a shock!! The Gideon Bible does not have any blank spaces on pages because the publishers wasted no space. When a chapter or book is finished, they immediately start the next. There are no margins or study helps, just uninterrupted Scripture. Thus, if we want to find the exact middle of the New Testament; the exact Bible verse in the exact middle (midst) of the the New Testament, the Gideon Bible would be best.  Acts 10:15 just happens to be located exactly in the midst of the New Testament! Isaiah said people would be "Hiding behind a tree in the Midst of the Garden" and modern Christians are "Hiding behind a Bible Verse in the exact Midst of the New Testament!" We could Ponder if this Bible verse just happens to be where it is, or, could it be that this is not happenstance. Is it possible that all of the above, the "Tree in the Garden," and the "Scripture in the Midst" is the explanation and meaning of Isaiah's Pig vision? For sure we need to pray for God's guidance as to whether or not He wants us eating Pigs and other unclean animals.

 "Rise, Kill, and Eat"
In the vision Peter was given, the Lord said, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat" (Acts 10:13). Many Popular ministers tell us this was a direct command from God that we must eat pork. Many other ministers carefully study all other Scriptures and Bible Prophecies and conclude that God would never command that His people eat scavenger creatures of any type, ever.

The Bigger Question 
If the Reader is a Pastor, you know that this a the same question we must deal with concerning any and all Doctrines claiming that God requires certain behavior at certain times, then renders harsh punishment for the same behavior at different times or Dispensations. As best we can establish, Pre-Trib says Isaiah's prophecy applies to the Second Coming, which Pre-Trib says happens seven years after the Rapture. Would God Rapture people to Heaven who, for 2000 years, He had required they eat Pork, then, seven years later, return at His Second Coming and utterly destroy people for eating that same Pork? Would God really honor the Pork consumers with the position of Bride of Christ, then eternally kill Pork consumers at a later time? Pastor, let's be honest. Such a teaching is actually an open attack on God's character.
    And for those that think Isaiah was writing about some event that happened, or was supposed to happen, 3000 years ago, the question still stands. Would God ever call fire down from the sky and slay people, yet reward a later group of people who were doing the very same deed? Again, this is an open attack on the very character of Jesus!

Bodies the Temple of the Holy Spirit
Finally, for the Christians claiming this is all "Symbolic," let's look. There may be some symbolism here. Isaiah's words look like a pretty good "SYMBOL" that God prefers we not eat scavengers. Our Bodies are TEMPLES of the Holy Spirit! Would Satan love for us to put Pigs in God's Temples? "Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the Temple of God, him shall God destroy! For the Temple of God is Holy, which Temple ye are" (1Cor.3:16-17)! Does this not sound a lot like Isaiah's Pig Prophecy? To what extent would Satan go in order to have us defile God's Temple, and cause us to be "Destroyed" in the process?

 A Popular Minister's Scathing Rebuke
In keeping with our policy not to mention names of Ministers or Denominations, we'll not reveal the following Minister. But he is the Pastor of the largest Christian Church in America! Go to U-Tube and type in, "Christians Eating Pork," and you'll see him as he delivers a 3 minute segment from a sermon in which he states his reason for NOT eating Pork, Pepperoni Pizza, and all bottom feeding scavenger Sea Food. He has been openly attacked by many of his fellow Evangelical Ministers for his position concerning Pork. If you look him up on U-Tube, take a moment to view other U-Tube recordings of the scathing hatred from his critics.
     It's a simple question, really. Why would God give permission and encourage His people to eat filthy scavengers?!? And if He ever did, why would He, later, furiously destroy another group of His people for eating the same scavengers? Why would God be angry with us for obeying His health rules? Christian Preachers can be seen on TV spewing scathing rebukes at those who refuse to eat unclean animals. Is it possible we've misunderstood Peter's Dream/Vision? Could it be that when Jesus rebuked the Pharisees concerning their hand washing regulations, He wasn't attacking Moses and Isaiah because they wrote what the Holy Spirit told them? When Paul wrote, "Touch not the UNCLEAN thing" (2Cor.6:17), he was writing exactly what the Holy Spirit told him, and we'd better pay close attention!

Pork Restriction for Jews ONLY
If the Reader is a Pre-Trib Pastor, or any Evangelical Pastor, you probably teach that restriction of unclean animals has never applied to anyone but the Jews. Pastor, you actually know this is untrue, but perhaps you have overlooked knowledge you already have. Have you ever seen paintings or artist's depiction of the animals going into Noah's Ark? Have you seen any showing animals going into the Ark in groups of seven? God said to Noah, "Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female; and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female" (Gen.7:2). Notice God did not tell Noah at that time the difference between clean and unclean animals. Noah knew the difference. But common sense can easily explain what happened. The clean groups were to be by sevens, thus, if during the time between the flood and when fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts were replenishing the earth, Noah and his family could eat some of the clean animals. However, all unclean animals, including the pigs, went into the Ark by twos, thus, if Noah and his family chose to eat just one pig, that would have forever ended all pigs here on earth. The same with horses, and all other animals not listed in the clean groups. The time between the flood and Israel was at least 500 years. So, the distinction between clean and unclean animals did NOT start with the Jews.
Conclusion
     Dear Reader, should we at least seek the Holy Spirit concerning these things? Do we really think God could ever tell us Swine is good food? No serious Medical Doctor on this Planet will say Pig meat is good for us!
     We suggest that this whole question of eating Swine in these last days is very serious, but, we also suggest that it is only the tip of the iceberg. The whole question of obedience versus disobedience in these last days is the real question. The Swine issue is merely a window into how the people of earth will be behaving, if they allow the powers of darkness to help them make their decisions. Let's Pray for guidance.

Thank you SO much, Dear Reader, for your time. Please Pray about this matter. God's Holy Spirit will guide us as we prepare for Jesus' Soon Coming!
Your Brother in Christ
Walter C. Martin Jr.
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Check Our Other Blogsites:

Pre-Tribulation Rapture
Post-Tribulation Second Coming of Jesus
Will We Eat Pigs During the Millennium?

Planet Earth WILL be Destroyed After the 1000 Years!
New Jerusalem - How BIG is It?
Great White Throne Judgment Seat - When and Where
Christ's Kingdom - Millennial or EVERLASTING?

 Hell Fire
Is God Torturing People Now
Did Jesus Suffer ALL of Your Hell?
The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Death
The Dead - Dead or Alive - What is Death?
Did Jesus Die YOUR Death for You?
Will Satan Ever Die - Bible Says "YES!"
Testing Our Doctrine About Death
The Dead Stand Before Great White Throne Judgment Seat

 The Gnostics Attack the Sabbath
Were Gnostics Really Christian?
Were Gnostics Satan's Implants into the Church?
Is Gnosticism Alive and Well in Today's Churches
Church is Israel - Israel is Church
Is the Church Israel and Israel the Church?
Is the Bride of Jesus the 144 Thousand?
Did Jesus Offer the Jews a Millennial Kingdom in His Ministry?
Will New Jerusalem Sit in Israel? How Big is It?
Christ's REAL EVERLASTING Kingdom is for ALL Believers!

The Sabbath
Is it a Sin to Observe the Sabbath?
Is There a Connection Between the Rapture and the Sabbath?
Will the Sabbath Be Observed By God's People During the Tribulation?
Who REALLY Changed the Sabbath in Early Christianity?
Un-Answered and Un-Answerable Sabbath Questions For Popular Preachers
How to Test Your Doctrine Concerning the Sabbath

Heaven
Marriage in Heaven - Millennial Kingdom?
Strange Animal/Demons the Millennium?
Why Jesus Hasn't Come to Take Us To Heaven?
Teachers of Anomia (Law Annulling)
Good Ministers Teaching Against God's 10 Commandments?
Teaching of Anomia - The Reason Jesus Hasn't Come Yet?
Pre-Trib Rapture and Sabbath
Pre-Trib Rapture and the Sabbath?

Walter C. Martin Jr.
Everlasting Gospel Ministries

These are just a few of the questions we examine in our Blogsites.
Thank you, Dear Reader,  for checking them. Please feel free to give us your comments and feedback if you look at our Sites.  If you send us your questions or comments, we will try to answer and add your question to these Websites. We will Not give your name or E-Mail address to ANY ONE or ANY Church Group or Denomination! Nor will we send you ANY annoying E-Mails!! It is NOT our purpose to get you to withdraw from your present Church, but to invite you to present things you learn here to your Pastor and Friends.
Let's pray that God will continue sending His Holy Spirit to guide as we prepare for Jesus to come. Thank You!
Your Brother in Christ!
Walter C. Martin Jr

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