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FEIGNED
WORDS
THE
SCRIPTURAL WARNING
By JACK L. FROST
The Word of God gives a clear, specific warning to the true believer in Christ Jesus ("to them that have obtained like precious faith with us," writes the Apostle Paul in II Peter 1: 1) that "false prophets" and "false teachers" were "among the people" (speaking of the Old Testament days when the true prophets of God were opposed by those who were "false" [II Peter 2: 1]). Peter then prophesies and warns that they "shall be ... among you" (the New Testament saints) and "privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them."
Now note especially in this precept of Scriptural warning the God-breathed word "privily". It is #3919 in STRONG'S Exhaustive Concordance New Testament Greek Dictionary Lexicon. It means "to lead in aside", i.e., "introduce surreptitiously", which means, according to the New Webster's Dictionary and Thesaurus (1993 edition) "secretive or stealthy", which, in turn, means "a way of taking action designed to "escape notice", "acting in a secretively stealthy way" or "obtained in a secretive, stealthy way". In Webster's New School and Office Dictionary (1962 edition) the word "surreptitious" is defined to mean "done by stealth or fraud, (then note carefully the next word), unauthorized". This simply and clearly means that if we follow these word meanings completely, that are all derived from the Scriptural word "privily", we find that God has given you and me - every true believer in His Holy Word - sufficient warning so as not to be deceived ever by false prophets and false teachers who have, in times past, and who "shall", now and in the future, "bring in damnable heresies", which means "lies", which means "teachings", "sayings", "doctrines" (plural - I Timothy 4:1) that are "unauthorized: and without foundation in the "every word" - inspired - written - Word of God.
The
importance of this precept (II Peter 2: 1) is further revealed as we go on
to read and examine verses 2 and 3, carefully, watching every word: 2 Peter
2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom
In verse 2, the prophetic warning is plainly stated: "many shall follow their pernicious ways." The result will be as is further stated: "the way of truth" ("veracity", which means "eternal" or "unchangeable") "shall be evil spoken of."
Now, the inspired word "pernicious" is translated only once from, Greek to English in the KJV 1611 authorized version. It is #684 in STRONG'S New Testament Greek Dictionary Lexicon. It means "ruin or loss (phys., spiritual or eternal)". It is also translated otherwise as "damnable (-nation), destruction, die, perdition, perish and waste".
In verse 3 we read and see one of the major reasons that the "many" shall be deceived and follow after their "pernicious ways". It will result from the clearly stated Scriptural fact that these "false prophets" and "false teachers" will use and speak "feigned words" in their preaching and teaching. This is why King Solomon was inspired to write and give Scriptural warning in Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God (is) pure: he (is) a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Now, what God is telling us in His Word, as Peter wrote it, is that "unauthorized teachings" come forth and deceive souls who hear them because they do not take heed to unauthorized (meaning not inspired of God) words. This is why we have the clear warning about "feigned words" – the word "feigned" meaning "false" or "fictitious" - which means the Holy Spirit never inspired them. Thus, souls who hear them and receive them without taking seriously the Scriptural warning even begin to "speak evil of the way of truth".
Thus, again,
we have a precept of warning in 1 Peter 4: 11 If any man speak, (let him
speak) as the oracles of God; If any man minister, (let him do it) as
of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified
through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever.
Amen.
This is how so many errors, heresies, and lies are spoken and received-by those who profess to know God and claim to love the truth. The warning and perfect example of how Jesus Christ of Nazareth-the living word–over-came is not being followed by most who are in the pulpits today and the masses who sit in church pews. Every Word inspired by God is not being contended for (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3)
I will now go on to illustrate, using the first word that is provably "feigned word". It is in wide use today and is one of the greatest means of a"" "secretive, subtle" deception in "altering" the "Words of God" (Psalms 89:34).
The
Feigned Word "Rapture"
Make no mistake - the word "rapture" is without any Scriptural foundation whatsoever. It is supposedly derived, by those who use and propagate its usage, from but one precept: I Thessalonians 4: 16. It is purported by its advocates to be derived from the words "caught up", translated from the Greek word harpadzo (#726 in Strong's Concordance). It literally means "to seize (in various applications)". and is translated into several different words or terms, which is proof in itself that it cannot sufficiently describe that which God's Word consistently does: set forth a "faithful saying that is worthy of all acceptation". The teaching or "doctrine" (singular) of God is always in perfect harmony with itself throughout, and "without contradiction". This means it cannot have one, single, solitary exception to it anywhere in holy Scripture and still be God's teaching (to learn more about this, you may order the booklet "Seven Simple Steps to God's One Method of Study", (available through The End-Time Evangel Press).
The Greek word harpadzo (#726) is found a total of twelve times in the New Testament. It is translated twice as "catcheth" (Matt. 13:19 & John 10:12), once as "caught away" (Acts 8:39) and four times as "caught up" (II Corinth. 12:2 & 12:4), when speaking of the Apostle Paul's own heavenly experience which was only for his own edification. The words "caught up" can also be found in I Thessalonians 4: 17 and Revelation 12:5. Harpadzo is translated as "pluck" in both John 10:28 and John 10:29, as "pulling" in Jude 23, and finally as "take" in Matthew 11:12 and again in John 6:15.
If this word harpadzo is to be literally translated as "rapture", as so many contend, then it would have to be so translated in every usage and the meaning of the word would represent the same condition in each place it is found in the Scriptures. However, by close comparison and examination of each text and each time it is inspired by God, the evidence clearly shows that this proposition cannot stand up. There is clear conflict and contradiction, so this cannot and is not the "teaching" or "doctrine of God".
The simple conclusion is that the Greek word harpadzo does not mean "rapture". The only consistent usage of the word in its translation into English is that it is always accompanied by the words "seized" or "being taken by force", but not in the context of great ecstasy or joy, as is one of the primary meanings of the word "rapture" when translated from Latin, not Greek.
This is another important factor in detennining the legitimacy or "authority" of this word being used in connection with Scripture to teach a major point in doctrine: such as what is the event to be termed or named that represents the "changing" of the children of God - the body of Christ - at His second appearing? (I Corinth. 15:23, 51, 52) It assuredly can nevel; "speaking as the oracles of God (I Peter 4: 11), be called "the rapture of the church." This is afeigned word.
"Caught
Up" Follows "Raised First"
Another Scriptural proof (I Thess. 5:21) that the word "rapture" is I feigned, is that the event "caught up" in 1 Thessalonians 4: 17 is a secondary, not a primary, occurrence, as evidenced by the examination of the precept preceding it. The "rapture advocates" derive their usage of this word with their assertion that the event be termed as this. In verse 16 of I Thessalonians, we see that the first and primary occurrence which takes place when the "trump - "last trump" (I Corinth. 15:52) - sounds - which is "at His corning" (verse 23) - is that the "dead in Christ shall be raised first". Note the Scriptural word "raised", it is a direct connective reference to the "resurrection of the dead". Other proofs are found in John 2:19, 6:39, 40, 44, and 54; John 12:1,9, and 17; Acts 2:30 and 26:8, to name only some of the many Divinely inspired precepts where we have a perfect consistency in the usage of this word.
There is no "catching up" until there is first a "resurrection of the dead in Christ". Jesus termed this event as "the resurrection" (John 5:29), as did the Apostle Paul (I Corinth. 15:20-23 note verse 21), John in Revelation 20:6. Peter and the other Apostles, in full accord and harmony with Jesus of Nazareth, were inspired to write a warning about the hearing and usage of "feigned words": words that are "stealthy, fraudulent, and unauthorized by God."
The word "rapture" has no place in Scriptural terminology relative to the "resurrection of the dead in Christ" or the "translation" or the living saints. "Rapture" is the Latin word rapere, which is derived from rapt, which literally means "to rape". This was the original and primary meaning before it began to be used otherwise. It is feigned.
Those who have a "readiness of mind to hear the Word of the Lord" and not be classified as "false prophets" or "false teachers" need to receive "reproof' of God's Word and be corrected. This is the only way to be "instructed in righteousness" (II Tim. 3: 16) so that you may be taught doctrine and become the perfect man or woman of God, "throughly furnished (equipped) unto all good works" (II Tim. 3:17).
The article
presented here is sound and cannot be broken (John 10:35) and is an
"admonition" or "reproof'. Those who do not have "an
ear to hear" should read Titus 3:10 and consider the consequences: A
man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject.
PT. 1 (9/9/94)
PT. 2 (12/94)
End-
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