A brother in the Lord asked if I would discuss dispensationalism and Zechariah 14 with a blogger who owns a bible prophecy website.  I gladly accepted the inviation and will provide to the reader the discussion as it occurred..  I have changed the web site owners name to “Brother” for the sake of his privacy, and each of my responses are italicized and indented for clarity sake.

With that introduction,  lets continue our chat with a “Dispy.”  We pick up in continuing my previous response to statements on his web site.  This is the final discussion, and if you have survived the discussion, my hats off to you.  Thanks for tracking with me and my brother.

RE:  Surely I hope you won’t tell me that the Lord comes back (Rapture) and only takes some of His people to heaven, leaving some on earth for the next coming?

Well, you have it close.  Read Matthew 25, the 10 virgins parable again.  5 foolish virgins are looking for his return, that’s not what the world does; they think they are Christians, but they are not.  See also Matthew 7:22, and Rev 2-3.

I am not sure what you are referring to with Matt 25. How does the parable of the ten virgins show that the Lord only takes a few of His people, and leaves the rest on earth for a second “rescue”?  Are you saying the 5 foolish virgins get a second chance to be accepted by the Lord at some future time?

Matt 25:10-13

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’  But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

It seems there is no hope offered to the foolish virgins after the door is shut.  They were told “I do not know you”.

Matt 7:22 is a reference to final judgment, not the rapture.

Matt 7:22

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’

Rev 2-3 – Not sure the connection you are trying to make with this set of verses

(If you could define your point instead of just quoting a reference, it would be most helpful.)

Water, does, indeed, cleanse us from being unclean; one of the marks of sin.

Zech 13:1 states “a fountain will be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity”

Please note that the passage does not say that the water cleanses from the “marks” of sin. The fountain is opened … for sin and for impurity.  (Insertion of words into the text is not a good practice!)

I have enjoyed our conversation and wish you the very best.  May God the Father and Jesus our Savior shower you with grace.

Blessings

Please visit next time as we continue to discuss issues that arise between my dispensational friend and myself.

Thanks for visiting and as always, I love getting comments from those who read this blog.

Follow Considering the Bible on WordPress.com

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.

A brother in the Lord asked if I would discuss dispensationalism and Zechariah 14 with a blogger who owns a bible prophecy website.  I gladly accepted the inviation and will provide to the reader the discussion as it occurred..  I have changed the web site owners name to “Brother” for the sake of his privacy, and each of my responses are italicized and indented for clarity sake.

That means they are prophecies, prophetic, rehearsals, they teach us prophecy!  That’s why I know so much about the prophetic things that you are asking, because I’ve studied the feasts, and their meaning, and so, I understand scripture in ways that you do not.

You are correct there – Many things you have said escape me – You seem to link passages together without any justification other than one word, and have the confidence that your interpretation is unassailable.

I do live by faith.  Faith is an action verb in the bible, not a “non action belief” as the thought is in the west.  My actions are clearly evident, in my business, and in my prophecy website.

(Didn’t you just confess to defrauding someone?  But that is neither here nor there – )

As for symbols, if Jesus is a person, and if we will all see him “face to face”, how will that be possible if there are billions of people?  Would he not, at some point, tell people to go home, and get to work?  And at those times, the people will have reminders around them, as Zech says, the pots and pans will be inscribed “holy to the Lord”.

Do you/they not have the Holy Spirit?  Do you/they need “pots and pans” to supplement your/thier relationship with the Lord?

Yes, I do apply Isa 65 to the millennium.  The refreshed earth is a fitting description of the future millennium.

I am glad to hear that you admit to applying a scripture that specifically states one thing (the new heavens and new earth) and you are using it to describe a completely different time period (a 1000 yr period prior to the new earth and new heavens).  That is your decision, but do not tell me that you are faithful to the Word of God at the same time.

How does 2 Thess 1:8 fit in?  Very well with 1 Thess 5,

HOW?

which refers to Ezekiel 38-39,

Where does 1 Thess 5 (entire chapter?) refer to Ezekiel 38-39?

which also describes a time of 7 years.

Ezekiel 39:9
And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:

This is the only verse that refers to seven years in Ez 38-39.  How does burning weapons (I assume wooden weapons, since they burn), have anything to do with the coming of the Lord in flaming fire?

And why do you choose seven years, when just a few verses later, seven months are referred to?

Ezekiel 39:12
And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.

Ezekiel 39:14
And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.

Too many loose ends Brother!

At the time of the rapture, God will rain fire down to destroy the enemies attacking Israel from the North.

I think you mean at the time of the Second Coming, God will rain fire down…., right?

If that is what you mean, and you are associating the 7 years of weapons burning with the Second Coming, then the first 7 years of the Millenium will have fields of weapons burning? Or is it during the entire tribulation that the weapons are burning?  If so, the rapture and the attack you see in Ezekiel on Israel happens at the same time?

Not every wicked person on earth attacks Israel at this time, so there are plenty of wicked people left over to enter the tribulation, and from them, “survivors”, too.

RE:  If those worthy are taken up at the rapture, and when the Lord comes back, all that know not God will be consumed, who is left? The text does not say “all”.

Granted!  Does it need to?  Two types of people are in the world – those who know God and those who do not know God.  (Is there a third type of person?)  I assume in your thinking, that there are two types of wicked people, those who are attacking Israel, and those who are not attacking Israel.  Is there a passage that clearly describes these two wicked groups and their distinction from one another?

It says “them that know not God”.  Obviously, if they did know God, they would not be attacking Jerusalem, of which we are commanded to pray for the peace of.

Please visit next time as we continue to discuss issues that arise between my dispensational friend and myself.

Thanks for visiting and as always, I love getting comments from those who read this blog.

Follow Considering the Bible on WordPress.com

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.

A brother in the Lord asked if I would discuss dispensationalism and Zechariah 14 with a blogger who owns a bible prophecy website.  I gladly accepted the inviation and will provide to the reader the discussion as it occurred..  I have changed the web site owners name to “Brother” for the sake of his privacy, and each of my responses are italicized and indented for clarity sake.

You can look at Colossians 2 in another way, why are you judging me for saying that the Feasts of the Lord are important? Are you not judging me in regard to the new moon, when you should not do so?  I refuse to let you judge me, so there!

I think you are having fun with me here, and that is great, but in case you took offense….

Why would you refuse rebuke?  As Christians, we should look for the Lord to be using His Word through other believers to mold and transform us into His image.  I am sure you want that for your life and refusing the Word is not a wise position to be in.

As a matter of fact, we are to judge those within the church!  1 Corinthians 5:12 states that Christians are not to judge those outside the church, but those inside the church.  (It seems we get that backwards very often!)

1 Corinthians 5:11-13

But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

(BTW – I only brought up Col 2:16 to show that the feasts were of no importance.   I really didn’t intend any judgment on your beliefs, but since you reacted so strongly, you might consider the passage again! )

And yes, they are shadows of things to come!

Check your verb tense in the verse you are referring to.  I think you may be referring to one or both of the following texts

Heb 10:1

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. (Heb. 10:1)

Col 2:16 – 17

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]:  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ.

The previous verse are declaring the law (generally) (Heb 10:1) or the dietary regulations and religious observance of certain days (Col 2:16) as shadows of things to come.  Consider that the law was given millennia prior to the cross, and at that time, were prophetic of the time of the Messiah.

If that is so, then the feasts were prophetic to the nation of Israel, beginning in the time of Moses.

The seven feasts are:

• Passover – Nisan 14-15
• Unleavened Bread – Nisan 15-22
• First Fruits – Nisan 16-17
• Pentecost – Sivan 6-7
• Trumpets – Tishri 1
• Atonement – Tishri 10
• Tabernacles – Tishri 15-22

The Passover feast is fulfilled in the crucifixion

1 Corinthians 5: 6-8

Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?  Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth

The Feast of unleavened bread seems to be implied in the above passage also, and is fulfilled as we live in sincerity and truth.

The Feast of the First Fruits seems to be implied as being fulfilled in many references to Christ being the firstfruits, or the early Christians as being “firstfruits”

Romans 8:23
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Romans 16:5
Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits ·of Achaia unto Christ. 

1 Corinthians 15:20
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

1 Corinthians 15:23
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

1 Corinthians 16:15
I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)

James 1:18
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Revelation 14:4

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

(As an aside – it is interesting that those described in Revelation, which I think you would identify with trib saints, are firstfruits, not last fruits!)

The day of Pentecost is a completed prophecy (Acts 2)

I do not know of any other statements in the New Testament that directly links a feast to a fulfillment.  Of course there are references to “trumpets” and any linking with the feast of trumpets is arbitrary to say the least since the scriptures do not specify any historical event.  The same goes for the day of atonement and feast of tabernacles.  (I would think the day of atonement might be associated with the crucifixion also, but that is merely guess work on my part. (and we do not want to guess!!!)

Please visit next time as we continue to discuss issues that arise between my dispensational friend and myself.

Thanks for visiting and as always, I love getting comments from those who read this blog.

Follow Considering the Bible on WordPress.com

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.

A brother in the Lord asked if I would discuss dispensationalism and Zechariah 14 with a blogger who owns a bible prophecy website.  I gladly accepted the inviation and will provide to the reader the discussion as it occurred..  I have changed the web site owners name to “Brother” for the sake of his privacy, and each of my responses are italicized and indented for clarity sake.

As for the feasts, we have freedom to observe them or not, according to my limited understanding, but perhaps when the Lord returns, that liberty will be eliminated, as Zech 14 clearly teaches.

But you see, Zech does not clearly teach that we have liberty to observe the feasts now!  Where do you get the idea that as Christians, we are to observe the feasts?

Galatians 4:9-11

But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?  You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

Obviously Paul was making a point that the Galations were observing OT holidays (calling them weak and beggarly!), and due to this, Paul considered these actions to be proof that they didn’t “get the gospel”

Will you argue with God?

I have found that I struggle with many issues in the Word, and I find that many times some of the OT prophets struggled, even argued with God, and found clarity after a period of struggle and questioning. (Consider Jer 12:1-2)

Jeremiah 12:1-4

 Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead with You;
Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments.
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?
You have planted them, yes, they have taken root;
They grow, yes, they bear fruit.
You are near in their mouth
But far from their mind.
But You, O LORD, know me;
You have seen me,
And You have tested my heart toward You.
Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter,
And prepare them for the day of slaughter.
How long will the land mourn,
And the herbs of every field wither?
The beasts and birds are consumed,
For the wickedness of those who dwell there,
Because they said, “He will not see our final end.”

So, I have to admit, I have sometimes argued with God!  Have you never questioned or been puzzled by issues that are troubling in the Word?

I will argue that you, if you live during that time, and don’t observe the feasts, and travel to Jerusalem, Zechariah will be proved right, and you will be proved wrong, and upon you will be no rain, because later, the Bible says that all scripture is inspired of God, and there sits Zechariah, challenging our understanding.

According to your own teaching, I will not be on the earth at this time.  You still are thinking this is the end of the tribulation, right?  And you are a pre-tribber, right?  Since I am a Christian, according to your teaching, we will be raptured prior to the period of Zechariah 14, right?  So this is an empty arguement!

Please visit next time as we continue to discuss issues that arise between my dispensational friend and myself.

Thanks for visiting and as always, I love getting comments from those who read this blog.

Follow Considering the Bible on WordPress.com

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.

A brother in the Lord asked if I would discuss dispensationalism and Zechariah 14 with a blogger who owns a bible prophecy website.  I gladly accepted the inviation and will provide to the reader the discussion as it occurred..  I have changed the web site owners name to “Brother” for the sake of his privacy, and each of my responses are italicized and indented for clarity sake.

If you truly want to follow the Person of Jesus, you would pay attention to the Holy Spirit, which leads us into all truth, and you would gravitate towards the truths of the statements of the apostles of Jesus, who told us that we ought to:

• to “exercise discernment” (Heb 5:14),
• to “try the spirits” (1 John 4:1),
• to “give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13),
• to “meditate” and carefully think about the Word of God (1 Timothy 4:15),
• to “study to show thyself approved unto God” (2 Timothy 2:15),
• to demonstrate your honour as you “search out a matter” (Prov 25:2),
• to show your nobility as you “search the scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11), and
• to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

I agree wholeheartedly with the above statements, – I am unsure why you are bringing these items up, unless you feel I am in need of correction, of which, if that is the intent, I accept the rebuke.  (I would appreciate a specific issue that I need to address.)

If you are going to do all of that, there are quite a few concepts our Saviour wants you to get, such as the ten commandments,

Are you obedient to the ten commandments?

Search the scriptures Brother.  The New Testament tells me that Jesus has all authority in heaven and earth, and I need to pay attention to Him.  If He tells me to obey the ten commandments, I will seek to.  Show me in the new testament all ten commandments.  It is a very interesting study! (A bit frustrating if you are looking for all ten commandments, though!)

BTW, the ten commandments are not concepts, they are commandments!

and a lot more!

What else, other than the ten commandments, do you see as being a “concept” that Jesus wants me to get?  I need to know, in order to follow them.

I am curious what you consider to be the authoritative source for your life?  Are the ten commandments enough?  What about the sacrificial system and the ceremonial cleansing? Must I follow the commands of the Old Testament to be right with God?

If you don’t follow those, you cannot live in peace with your fellow man, and if you love God, and if you love your neighbor, you will follow them a lot more easily.

I am not sure your intent in saying the above?  If I love God and my neighbor, I am following all the commandments.

Matthew 22:37-41

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Luke 10:26-28

He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

(what do you mean by “a lot more easily”?)

Please note, I still have trouble, because I don’t like defrauding my fellow man with paper money, but what can I do when they demand it?!

I am not sure what you are referring to?  Are you defrauding someone?  What can you do?  You need to obey Jesus!

Please visit next time as we continue to discuss issues that arise between my dispensational friend and myself.

Thanks for visiting and as always, I love getting comments from those who read this blog.

Follow Considering the Bible on WordPress.com

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.

A brother in the Lord asked if I would discuss dispensationalism and Zechariah 14 with a blogger who owns a bible prophecy website.  I gladly accepted the inviation and will provide to the reader the discussion as it occurred..  I have changed the web site owners name to “Brother” for the sake of his privacy, and each of my responses are italicized and indented for clarity sake.

Brother

Wow – a bit surprised by your comment.

I assumed that the cleansing of sin in Zech, due to your association of its description in the same context as the second coming of Jesus, would have the cleansing effect as described after the crucifixion, and not merely a ceremonial act. Hebrews mentions, not a ceremonial washing, but the actual sacrifices given in the old covenant, as being insufficient to “make the comers thereunto perfect”  If the sacrifices were not able, how much less a ceremonial washing?

Hebrews 10:1
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

(It would seem foolhardy to return to a shadow when the body is present!)

During my drive home tonight from work I was thinking about the original verse under consideration in context – Zech 14:3-5 – which states

3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

Verse 5 states “and ye shall flee…”

Who is fleeing?  If this is the second coming, all the Lords enemies will be destroyed, all the saved will be with the Lord, and if the mountain is cleft from east to west, any bystanders (who would be left?) will be destroyed by the techonic action.

And what are they fleeing from?  Obviously, if this is the second coming, the lost will be destroyed, the saved will be with the Lord and who else is there?

Have a great weekend!

Please visit next time as we continue to discuss issues that arise between my dispensational friend and myself.

Thanks for visiting and as always, I love getting comments from those who read this blog.

Follow Considering the Bible on WordPress.com

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.

A brother in the Lord asked if I would discuss dispensationalism and Zechariah 14 with a blogger who owns a bible prophecy website.  I gladly accepted the inviation and will provide to the reader the discussion as it occurred..  I have changed the web site owners name to “Brother” for the sake of his privacy, and each of my responses are italicized and indented for clarity sake.

Sin is often a misunderstood concept.  I know it can mean a range of things, from “missing the mark” to “debt”.  Can literal water cleanse that?  Also, many of the “do nots”, resulted in the condition of being “unclean” until washing in literal water, which did fix the uncleanness.

So, literal water was not a spiritual thing, but actual instructions for washing the physical flesh.

When a people decided to obey the Bible literally, say, in the USA about 100 years ago, and actually wash, diseases that had unknown causes began to go away, particularly infant sepsis.

See, doctors would open dead bodies doing autopsies, and then help mothers deliver babies, without washing, and moms and babies were dying at a rate of like 9%, which is high, and they did not know the source was dirty bacteria that could be eliminated simply by hand washing in water.

So, does literal water cleanse sin?  Often, YES!

Furthermore, are our waters impure?  Often, YES!

And this water is specifically stated that it is “for Jerusalem”, it is not “for the world” which it would be if it were some sort of spiritual water, therefore, I see it as literal.

Why would you have a problem with those waters being literal?

Didn’t God cause a literal stream of literal water to come from the rock that Moses struck?

Didn’t one of the prophets instruct a man to wash himself in the Jordan River 7 times to become clean, and even though the Jordan was not the cleanest river, still, it worked?

Sincerely,

Brother

Please visit next time as we continue to discuss issues that arise between my dispensational friend and myself.

Thanks for visiting and as always, I love getting comments from those who read this blog.

Follow Considering the Bible on WordPress.com

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.

A brother in the Lord asked if I would discuss dispensationalism and Zechariah 14 with a blogger who owns a bible prophecy website.  I gladly accepted the inviation and will provide to the reader the discussion as it occurred..  I have changed the web site owners name to “Brother” for the sake of his privacy, and each of my responses are italicized and indented for clarity sake.

Brother

Thanks for such a quick response!  I am really enjoying our discussion!  Let us continue.

If you take the landing of Jesus literally, please consider this

Zech 13:1 states “a fountain will be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity”

If we understand the fountain literally, the natural conclusion would be that the fountain waters cleanse from sin.

Would this be acceptable to you, and if not, on what basis do you reject the fountain as being literally able to cleanse from sin, but accept “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives”, as the physical return of Christ

As an aside, notice that it does not say that He lands on the mount, or descends on the mount, or even that he climbs the mount to get to the top.

Thanks again, and have a great day!

Carl

Please visit next time as we continue to discuss issues that arise between my dispensational friend and myself.

Thanks for visiting and as always, I love getting comments from those who read this blog.

Follow Considering the Bible on WordPress.com

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.

A brother in the Lord asked if I would discuss dispensationalism and Zechariah 14 with a blogger who owns a bible prophecy website.  I gladly accepted the inviation and will provide to the reader the discussion as it occurred..  I have changed the web site owners name to “Brother” for the sake of his privacy, and each of my responses are italicized and indented for clarity sake.

I believe you ask very good questions.  Some of the best I’ve ever heard asked!  To what intent does the prophets say “god treads on the mountains”?  I must reply I know of many possible intentions, and I know that God often teaches mankind through parallels, examples, similitude’s, and first doing things in the natural, and then the spiritual.

For example, when Adam and Eve sinned, God gave them animal skins, not Levi’s.  Thus, there was an “animal sacrifice” from the beginning to teach of death, and consequences of sin, and that a sacrifice can provide a covering for sin.  As we now know, 6000 years later, Jesus’s death for us provides for us white robes that cover our sins.

What is being communicated that God walks on the mounts?  Good question.   I can only guess and make an educated Biblical guess, in fitting with all other scriptures and doctrines.  what is your guess?

I have walked on mountaintops.  Have you?  What did you see and feel?  I see a great view all around; it’s not just “the outdoors”, but it’s an amazing feeling to see so much.  Often  you are exhausted when you get there.  I feel peace.  I feel humbled.  I feel exhilarated.  I feel an appreciation for the creation.  I often feel I can commune with God.

I was a skier.  We take a chairlift to mountaintops.  It’s not the same, but often, just a little bit similar, or only a bit less so.

One thing I have noticed about the outdoors is the sense of freedom, yet also, the sense of lack of security; without the comforts of civilization.  There is freedom, and fear.

There is also no slavery in nature.  Only man engages in debt slavery with one another.  Animals do not do such horrible things to one another.

But what do scriptures say about mountains?  They are often places of worship of God, or of false gods.  The “temple mount” in Jerusalem is a holy spot.  Moses saw the burning bush in the mountains, on holy ground.

Is God “mystical” and so “spiritual” that things can not be understood or  practical?

Our God is practical.  Idolatry is an affront because it is a useless waste of time, dishonors God, and is often used to pool money from misled people and steal from them, as they trust in a false idol rather than reality.

Jesus said about trees that do not bear fruit, to cut them to the ground.

Mountains are not very useful forms of land; the land is often unfit for human use, unfruitful, and in the sierras, the land behind the mountains is desert, since the mountains drain the precipitation out of the clouds as the clouds move up over the mountains, so the mountains also make large parts of the earth less useful.

Perhaps God intends to level the mountains, to make the earth more useful and fruitful?

Perhaps mountains are an affront to God, lifted up places that compete with the Glory of God.

Perhaps mountains represent fallen angels, who will be destroyed.

Perhaps mountains represent kingdoms of man, who will be destroyed.

Perhaps mountains are like temples of worship, like pyramids built in the shape of mountains.

Perhaps God will destroy not only the physical mountains, but all things like mountains, fallen angels, kingdoms, worthless land, worthless idols, etc.

There are video games where you can “terra form”.  Often, tearing down the mountains and filling the valleys lets you build a bigger city with more people.

I have often wondered if there would be any such thing as skiing on a mountain when God comes to restore the earth.  I don’t know.

But in no case can I use any sort of spiritual lesson or teaching to deny what the Bible or the prophets say.

God can, and usually does both, first the physical, then the spiritual.   If Jesus comes back to land on, and destroy a mountain, I believe the best interpretation is to take that literally, and to understand that the literal future fulfillment is the beginning of what will take place around the world, and in the spiritual fulfillment, as God will destroy all kingdoms set against him, as well, which we know he will do.

But in no case, is the spiritual interpretation to be used to deny the physical and literal, when there are no problems with the physical being fulfilled.

Brother

Please visit next time as we continue to discuss issues that arise between my dispensational friend and myself.

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A brother in the Lord asked if I would discuss dispensationalism and Zechariah 14 with a blogger who owns a bible prophecy website. I gladly acceptedx.,, cvnX n the inviation and will provide to the reader the discussion as it occurred.. I have changed the web site owners name to “Brother” for the sake of his privacy, and each of my responses are italicized and indented for clarity sake.

Genesis 10:25
And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.next subject.

Does God walk literally upon the mountains? I know not, nor do you. I live near a mountain. I know that nobody lives on top of the mountain, and the vast majority of the time, nobody is on top of the mountain. I know that Mt. Everest is desolate, and thus, there is nobody who lives near who could confirm or deny such a thing, therefore, the question is impossible to confirm or deny.

But even more, it is IMPOSSIBLE to deny!

As we know from scripture, Jesus, in resurrected form, appears to his disciples in ways that they cannot discern that it is even Jesus. The Bible also says that God is invisible.

Colossians 1:15
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

If an invisible God walks literally upon the mountains where there is nobody around, how in the world are you able to deny such a thing? You are completely incapable to say that God does not literally walk upon the mountains, and you are completely incapable of making a doctrine, or teaching, that God does not do such things, when the Bible clearly says that he does.

Be careful. It’s best to just believe scripture, rather than try to deny it. And if it requires the denial of scripture, then you are on very bad ground.

Sincerely,

Brother

Brother

In your last response you said – “Does God walk literally upon the mountains? I know not, nor do you. “Why does Amos say He does? Is it not to inform us of something?

In the original post, I believe you said that you expect Jesus to touch down on the Mt of Olives and because of this, that the mount would split (or something to that effect). This is the context of my discussion. Is the prophet Zechariah describing a literal touching of the mount with God’s literal feet? Correct me if I have read you wrong, but I think you would interpret Zechariah that Jesus would land/touch/set/stand/ etc on Mt of Olives in fulfillment of Zech 14. I merely brought Amos and Micah into the discussion to ask if these incidents are of the same literalness.

No one wants to deny the Word. I surely do not, and I am convinced you are striving to be faithful. Finding the intent of a scripture should not be construed as a denial of scripture if it rubs you or I the wrong way. Remember that the Word is to transform us, not us try to conform the Word (to our liking!)

I would agree the Bible clearly teaches that God “treads on the high places of the earth” and “the LORD cometh forth out of his place” and that He will “tread upon the high places of the earth” causing the mountains to be “molten under him” and the valleys “shall be cleft, as wax before the fire…”.(v4). My concern is to try to understand what the prophet was trying to communicate.
If, as you say, no one can deny or prove whether an invisible God walks on the mountains, to what point did the prophet tell us these things?

Next question

If we take Zechariah in a literal manner

Verse 8 – the “fountain of living waters,” Could this phrase represent a spiritual truth? Zech 13:1 states “a fountain will be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity”
If we understand the fountain literally, the natural conclusion would be that the waters cleanse from sin. Would this be acceptable to you, and if not, on what basis do you reject the fountain as being literally able to cleanse from sin, but accept “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives”, as the physical return of Christ (Notice that it does not say that He lands on the mount, or descends on the mount, or even that he climbs the mount to get to the top.)

Please do not respond asking me if I believe in the physical return of Christ – I surely do and with every day expect it sooner and sooner!

Looking forward to your response

Be blessed

Please visit next time as we continue to discuss issues that arise between my dispensational friend and myself.

Thanks for visiting and as always, I love getting comments from those who read this blog.

Follow Considering the Bible on WordPress.com

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.