Why are (most) Christians so confused about the time? It is the result of following confused men. It began millennia ago as men preacher error (2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery iniquity [anomia, violating the law – nomos meaning, the regulated distribution of food] already work). The error resulted from their filling in what they didn’t understand with their own creations. As time went on errors were manifested through world events (the earth opening its mouth and swallowing their lies) the men who had gained status and power from being the controllers of the information instead of admitting they were wrong about so much, merely alters and edited their errors to re-cover the parts that had been exposed. It is the same apostasy (falling away from truth) we see in our national system of law being decided by precedent instead of original intent. It is error upon error minus being governed by the spirit of what the foundational law was meant to express.
Isaiah 28
8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith you may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
In modern day it is manifested in the now totally corrupted doctrines that are meant to fill churches. If a new doctrine is preached and it fills a church and causes the collection plate to overflow, the principle is considered validated. And of course it’s copied, as (the false) preachers want the biggest church with the most people and fastest jets. They need them so more people can hear their preaching, and as they build their kingdoms the world declines into chaos and confusion, but none in the churches know it because of course they are all “saved,” as long as they only look at what and where the false prophets preach they should.
Of course the above describes the modern evangelical churches, the same who will with the loudest voice condemn this message claiming they are under – their private interpretation of – grace while explaining why I am in error. These new doctrines of social justice, entitlement prosperity and eschatology (end times), more so churches having sprung from the popularity of these, resulted from a hunger and thirst not being quenched in the more traditional denomination due to their having declined into dry repetitions, and anecdote centered preaching that barely touched Godly wisdom and understanding.
This is the grace of God, correction of error while overlooking (not holding liable for) the ignorance and error. Hebrew 10:29 describes those that after receiving the truth turn away from it, in doing trample under their feet the Son of God and act in hubris against the Spirit of grace. Prior to this the chapter tells of this correction and the attacks suffered to transfer the truth to those in death from lack of it, as the blood shed to bring us to the holiest of holies and the into presence of God. This is the grace of God.
Hebrews 10
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together [unity], as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him that has said, Vengeance belongs to me, I will recompense, says the LORD. And again, The LORD shall judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
The time of ignorance and God’s grace to overlook our error can’t be spoken of without again looking at the words of Paul as he spoke to such a people on Mars’ Hill. When it is recorded in Acts 17 we are also told in verse 30 that God winked at this time of ignorance, the word “winked” being the Greek word hupereido, meaning to overlook (as with a wink that acknowledges their ignorance).
What Hebrews 10 is telling us is that if the LORD considers this ignorance to have become so wide spread that it is threatening His plan to create man in His image and likeness that He sends His correction in the form of His direct uncovered involvement with its inevitable accompanying epiphany, and those receiving it reject it then knowing it is, there in no remedy left for them but to leave them alone to their choice – destruction by their own deeds. Remember, condemnation is a choice that rejects being delivered out of darkens into the light.
Acts 17
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, You men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious.
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore you ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is LORD of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he gives to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And has made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 That they should seek the LORD, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent:
31 Because he has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained; whereof he has given assurance unto all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.
Now back to the error and where it comes from. First we must look at 2 Peter 1:20 as it tells us that “no prophesy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” The Greek word translated “interpretation” is epilusis, from epiluo, meaning to solve further. These are compound words from epi, meaning something superimposed by distribution (think nomos above), and luo, meaning to loose. What the passage is saying is that no prophecy is loosed by it being uncovered by men. It is distributed from God as He wills in His time and through His Holy Spirit. This is the voice heard on/from the mountain.
2 Peter 1
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our LORD Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
This private (self-serving) interpretation (further solving) is what Peter goes on to describe as the “damnable heresies” these false prophets bring in “privily.” He tells us what the end results are of these violations of the law of distribution, “even denying the LORD that bought them.”
2 Peter 2
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the LORD that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not.
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
9 The LORD knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the LORD.
12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, reveling in their own deceitfulness while they feast with you;
14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: by the dumb ass speaking with a man’s voice forbidding the madness of this [false] prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the LORD and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
This last verse is quoted from Proverbs 26 (verse 11) and is speaking of the same types we are told of in Hebrews 10:29, that revel in their hubris while rejecting the LORD’s voice of correction.
Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool.
2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like unto him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 He that sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks damage.
7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As he that binds a stone in a sling, so is he that gives honor to a fool.
9 As a thorn goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools.
10 The great God that formed all things both rewards the fool, and rewards transgressors.
11 As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly.
12 See you a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 The slothful man says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14 As the door turns upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15 The slothful hides his hand in his bosom; it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
17 He that passes by, and meddles with strife belonging not to him, is like one that takes a dog by the ears.
18 As a mad man who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 So is the man that deceives his neighbor, and says, I was just having a little fun with you (by joking around)?
20 Where no wood is, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.
21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 He that hates misleads with his lips, and lays up deceit within him;
25 When he speaks fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart (reasoning).
26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation.
27 Whoso digs a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolls a stone, it will return upon him.
28 A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Isaiah 62
1 For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burns.
2 And the Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory: and you shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.
3 You shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4 You shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall your land any more be termed Desolate: but you shalt be called Hephzibah [My Delight – see Malachi 3:12], and your land Beulah [married]: for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married.
5 For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you: and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
6 I have set watchmen upon your walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: you that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
7 And give him no rest, till he establishes, and till he makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
8 The LORD has sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give your corn to be meat for your enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink your wine, for the which you have labored:
9 But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.
10 Go through, go through the gates; prepare you the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.
11 Behold, the LORD has proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say you to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
12 And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and you shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.
