This is a fringe topic but I wanted to get the perspective of this community.
Are you all familiar with them? And setting aside the aggression of some of the groups on the street corners, what is your take on their claims of being the Israelites of the bible?
For those believers who insist that the dietary laws no longer apply under the new covenant—and that pork, lobster, crabs, etc. are now permissible to eat—I do not understand the logic at play.
I am very familiar with the Mark 7, Romans 14 and Colossians 2 passages that are so often cited as support for your position, and have (just as often) shared my counter-arguments on why I believe they are misinterpreted.
But, there is one counterpoint to your view that I never see touched on, and I was hoping to get some feedback on it:
I think the majority of believers on this subreddit would say they are looking for Jesus’ Second Coming and agree that, regarding it, Scripture says that “no one knows the day or hour” but that we need to be prepared (Matthew 24:36, 25:13, etc.).
Isaiah 66:17–a verse within the greater passage speaking of Messiah’s glorious reappearing—declares that, upon His return, those who eat the flesh of pig/swine and other abominations will be met with His wrath…and perish.
So, how does one simultaneously believe they can continue to eat pig (pork) or shellfish now and think they are sufficiently prepared and not putting themselves in a precarious/dangerous position if Jesus happened to return today or tomorrow and “consume” those who so brazenly eat that which His Law says is NOT “food” and explicitly warns against eating?
I really am hoping for some cordial and edifying discussion regarding this topic, and appreciate those who are able and willing to articulate their view without all the condescension and harsh words. 💕
I've always found this very confusing, as a Jewish person. I understand that per Paul, JC's sacrifice and teachings built a "new covenant" that means Christians are not bound by halacha, the Jewish laws, anymore. However, it seems that most Christians abide by some combination of "red letter words" and Pauline interpretations of halacha.
Why did Paul continue to advocate for following certain laws whereas others no longer apply? When the values of Paul vs JC seem to conflict, how do you mesh them?
For example, JC said that he did not come to abolish the law, and that in fact the law (halacha) should not be altered until it is totally met. This is similar to some Orthodox Jewish beliefs that the Messiah will not arrive until every Jew follows every Jewish law 100% for one day. If G-d intended for us to build a new covenant, why didn't he have JC say so? Why wait for Paul?
Does it matter that Paul was speaking to Gentiles? Are only Gentiles "allowed" to have a new covenant, or does that apply to Jews too? Or do Jews need to keep halacha?
Thank you!
I was thinking about the commandments and why people don't grasp that rejecting God's laws is to reject God. Then I thought of an analogy to provide to those who don't think the law is important.
The idea of "love languages" in romantic relationships is widely understood and used to express what is important to the person you are in a relationship with. I may try to show my love to someone by buying gifts instead of acts of service, but to someone who does not care for gifts and wants the acts of service, they will not see it as love.
God is this way. If we try to do the things outside of what God commands and claim it is out of love for God, He does not accept it. God's love language is our obedience by following His law and commandments. You can try to do everything you want outside of that but God will not see it the way you do.
This is why Samuel said obedience is better than sacrifice and rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. (1 Samuel 115:22-23). Furthermore, this is why the bible has associated our love of God with obedience over and over. He does not recognize any sort of "love" we have to offer if its not through obedience.
>John 14:15 --- “IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.
>John 14:21 --- He who HAS MY COMMANDMENTS AND KEEPS THEM, IT IS HE WHO LOVES ME. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
>1 John 5:1-2 --- Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when WE LOVE GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.
>John 15:10 --- IF YOU KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS, YOU WILL ABID IN MY LOVE, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
>2 John 1:6 --- THIS IS LOVE, THAT WE WALK ACCORDING TO HIS COMMANDMENTS. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.
>John 14:23-24 --- Jesus answered and said to him, “IF ANYONE LOVES ME, HE WILL KEEP MY WORD; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. ^(24) HE WHO DOES NOT LOVE ME DOES NOT KEEP MY WORDS; and THE WORD WHICH YOU HEAR IS NOT MINE BUT THE FATHER’S WHO SENT ME.
I'm having a tough time here. This verse rings true...
>Ecclesiastes 1:18 --- For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
First question: How do you balance coming into the understanding of needing to follow the commandments and the implications of what happens if you don't when everyone around you does not understand? This is especially disheartening when considering family and close friends.
Second question: How much do you share with family and close friends?
Third question: How do you balance "convince, rebuke, exhort" with "don't cast your pearls before swine"? I'm trying to do my part with sharing the word in ways I can but honestly, it seems futile. People are so far gone.
I made this very spicy post in r/TrueChristian and it went about as well as I expected. The post was removed lol. I'm editing some of the info out because I feel some of what I mentioned is likely part of the consensus of this sub already since I was called a false teacher for being Torah observant on the first post. But let me get your thoughts...
There is a regathering that is prophesied numerous times that will also be a place of refuge during the tribulation but it will be here on earth. (Similar to how the Israelites were protected in Goshen during the events of Exodus.) This event is often referred to as the "Second Exodus" or "Greater Exodus" and is prophesied about in the New and Old Testament.
It's often referred to as the Second Exodus because it embodies and describes strikingly similar events that happened during the first Exodus to happen again and says it will be such an event that makes people forget about the first Exodus.
>Jeremiah 16:14-15 --- ^(14) “Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “THAT IT SHALL NO MORE BE SAID, ‘THE LORD LIVES WHO BROUGHT UP THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT,’ ^(15) but, ‘THE LORD LIVES WHO BROUGHT UP THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FROM THE LAND OF THE NORTH AND FROM ALL THE LANDS WHERE HE HAD DRIVEN THEM.’ For I will bring them back into their land which I gave to their fathers.
God has a promise to restore the physical descendants of Israel and has described this in incredible detail. This has not happened yet. He says He will gather them out of every nation He has scattered them to and will then BRING THEM TO THE WILDERNESS FIRST.
>Isaiah 43:18-21 --- ^(18) “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. ^(19) Behold, I WILL DO A NEW THING, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I WILL EVEN MAKE A ROAD IN THE WILDERNESS and rivers in the desert. ^(20) The beast of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I GIVE WATERS IN THE WILDERNESS AND RIVERS IN THE DESERT, TO GIVE DRINK TO MY PEOPLE, MY CHOSEN. ^(21) This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.
>Ezekiel 20:33-38 --- ^(33) “As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely WITH A MIGHTY HAND, WITH AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM, and with fury poured out, I will rule over you. ^(34) I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a MIGHTY HAND, WITH AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM, and with fury poured out. ^(35) And I WILL BRING YOU INTO THE WILDERNESS of the peoples, and there I will plead My case with you FACE TO FACE. ^(36) Just as I pleaded My case with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead My case with you,” says the Lord GOD. ^(37) “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; ^(38) I will PURGE THE REBELS from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I WILL BRING THEM OUT OF THE COUNTRY WHERE THEY DWELL, BUT THEY SHALL NOT ENTER THE LAND OF ISRAEL. Then you will know that I am the LORD.*
This same "mighty hand and outstretched arm" is how God brought the Israelites out of Egypt.
>Deut 4:33-34 --- Did any people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live? Or did God ever try to go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a MIGHTY HAND AND AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM, and by great terrors, according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
>Deut 5:15 --- And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a MIGHTY HAND AND BY AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM*; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
>Deut 7:18-19 --- you shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt: the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and the wonders, the MIGHTY HAND AND THE OUTSTRETCHED ARM, by which the Lord your God brought you out. So shall the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid.
>Deut 26:8 --- So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a MIGHTY HAND AND WITH AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM, with great terror and with signs and wonders.
This same wilderness gathering is prophesied in Revelation and it gives the duration of time that will be spent there.
>Revelation 12:1-6 --- Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. ^(2) Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. ^(3) And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. ^(4) His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. ^(5) She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. ^(6) Then THE WOMAN FLED INTO THE WILDERNESS, where she has a PLACE PREPARED BY GOD, that they should feed her there ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY DAYS. (3.5 years)
The Woman is Israel, the child is Jesus; and the dragon is satan. We know the woman is Israel because of Joseph's dream in Genesis 37:9-10. This wilderness will be the only place of safety during the tribulation. There are so many more verses about Israel being brought to and taken care of in the wilderness, but posting them all would make this post way longer than it already is. Revelation 12:13-17 goes on to say how God protects the woman in the wilderness and the devil gets mad so he goes to make war with the rest of the believers who are not in the wilderness. So the point here is, not all believers of Jesus Christ will be in the wilderness in safety during the tribulation.
>Revelation 12:13-17 --- ^(13) Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. ^(14) But the woman was given two WINGS OF A GREAT EAGLE, that she might fly into the WILDERNESS to her place, WHERE SHE IS NOURISHED for a TIME AND TIMES AND HALF A TIME (3.5 years), from the presence of the serpent. ^(15) So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. ^(16) But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. ^(17) And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and HE WENT TO MAKE WAR WITH THE REST OF HER OFFSPRING, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
If we are not a part of the wilderness group with the woman, we will be "the rest of her offspring" that will be persecuted during the tribulation.
These eagle wings were also mentioned by God before in reference to how He rescued the Israelites in Egypt.
>Exodus 19:4 --- ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I BORE YOU ON EAGLES' WINGS and brought you to Myself.
Is the place of safety ONLY for descendants of Israel? No. Just as the Israelites left Egypt with a mixed multitude (Exodus 12:38), all believers should be looking to be part of the mixed multitude for this event. Could this be a supernatural event that is brought on by some sort of teleportation? Maybe? But I think many verses also show that it will require some sort of effort on our part as well. I believe this will be a faith based event and if we don't go when its time to go, we will remain and deal with the "antichrist".
I have been doing a lot of intense self studying and I have been working to gain a deeper understanding of the New and Old Covenant. I know the standard thought from just about everyone is that we are already in the New Covenant. But, I'm not so sure if that's true... I want to outline my reasoning here and get some feedback.
Let's read the verse about the New Covenant.
>Jeremiah 31:31-34 --- ^(31) “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a NEW COVENANT with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— ^(32) not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. ^(33) But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I WILL PUT MY LAW IN THEIR MINDS, AND WRITE IT ON THEIR HEARTS; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. ^(34) NO MORE SHALL EVERY MAN TEACH HIS NEIGHBOR, AND EVERY MAN HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’ FOR THEY ALL SHALL KNOW ME, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
The idea of putting the law in our hearts and minds to be able to walk in God's commandments just does not appear to be happening right now. Even the best Torah observant Christian still sins and makes errors in carrying out some of the commandments. Or even plainly forgets to observe some commandments at times. I started wearing fringes/tassles recently and sometimes I completely forget to put them on. Not because I wanted to disobey, I just forgot. Every person does not know God right now at all either. Ezekiel also highlights what God plans to do in this New Covenant.
>Ezekiel 36:26-28 --- ^(26) I WILL GIVE YOU A NEW HEART AND PUT A NEW SPIRIT WITHIN YOU; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. ^(27) I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU AND CAUSE YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES, AND YOU WILL KEEP MY JUDGMENTS AND DO THEM. ^(28) Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.
Right now, well meaning people can’t even agree on which laws or how to keep many of them. There are multiple types of even Torah observant believers right now. So then, how is the law already written on minds and hearts? What is the difference between our ability to observe the commandments now compared to, let's say, Daniel during His time? Is it really written on our hearts now in such a way that we're walking in God's commandments better now? I don't think so.
The words of the New Covenant, to me, appears to be language about the 1000 year reign of Christ after the first resurrection. Therefore, it seems that carrying out His commandments while inherently understanding and knowing them will be due to the incorruptible flesh given at the resurrection.
>1 Corinthians 5:50-54 --- ^(50) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; NOR DOES CORRUPTION INHERIT INCORRUPTION. ^(51) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED— ^(52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ^(53) For THIS CORRUPTIBLE MUST PUT ON INCORRUPTION, AND THIS MORTAL MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY. ^(54) So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
The smoking gun of my analysis comes from the book of Hebrews which is written AFTER the death and resurrection of Jesus.
>Hebrews 8:13 --- In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now WHAT IS BECOMING obsolete and growing old IS READY TO VANISH AWAY.
It says the Old Covenant is BECOMING obsolete. Not that it is. It says IS READY TO VANISH AWAY. Not that it has. And again, all of this is written AFTER Jesus has already resurrected!
There is also an end times prophecy that mentions He will bring Israel into the bond of the covenant muuuuuch later after purging them of the rebels but before they enter Israel.
>Ezekiel 20:33-38 --- ^(33) “As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, I will rule over you. ^(34) I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out. ^(35) And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will plead my case with you face to face. ^(36) Just as I pleaded My case with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead My case with you,” says the Lord God. ^(37) “I will make you pass under the rod, and I WILL BRING YOU INTO THE BOND OF THE COVENANT; ^(38) I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
I do recognize Jesus already shed His blood for the New Covenant so maybe there's some sort of overlap going on. And in a sense, I'm not sure if any of this really matters as the Law is a staple in both covenants and either way, I intend on following the commandments but I still wanted to discuss.
What say ye?
>Matthew 5:17-19 --- ^(17) “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I DID NOT COME TO DESTROY BUT TO FULFILL. ^(18) For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle WILL BY NO MEANS PASS FROM THE LAW TILL ALL IS FULFILLED. ^(19) Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called LEAST in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:17-19 is one of my favorite verses but for whatever reason, these verses make those who reject God's commandments glitch out!
When discussing this with someone who rejects the law, I always share that Jesus definitely has not yet fulfilled ALL of the prophets. Most reasonable people will at least concede to that point once you show them future prophecies. When it comes to the law portion though, I'm told that Jesus fulfilled the law by never sinning and therefore, the law is not abolished but fulfilled by Christ on the cross and thus, no longer needs to be followed. This logic in itself doesn't make sense because they're basically saying "it's not done away with, but its done away with". Furthermore, verse 18 says that all will not be fulfilled until heaven and earth pass away.
I do not believe Jesus has fulfilled ALL of the law YET (but He will). What is yet to be fulfilled are the feast days and the Sabbath rest of the 1000 year reign of Christ.
Paul already told us these things are a shadow of things to come but the substance is of Christ (Colossians 2:16-17). So how is the law (feast days and Sabbaths) a shadow of something to come if Christ already fulfilled all of the law and had already resurrected by the time Paul wrote that? Simple, Jesus has NOT fulfilled it yet.
The 7 feast days correlate to God's complete plan for humanity:
The Spring Feast Days have been fulfilled: Passover (death), Unleavened bread (burial), Firstfruits (resurrection), Pentecost (receiving Holy Spirit)
What has not yet been fulfilled are the Fall Feast Days: Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles.
Feast of Trumpets correlates to Jesus' second coming and the 1st resurrection. He returns at the last trumpet.
>1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 --- ^(16) For THE LORD HIMSELF WILL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the TRUMPET OF GOD. And THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST. ^(17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
>Matthew 24:29-31 --- ^(29) “immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ^(30) Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS of heaven with power and great glory. ^(31) And He will send his angels with a GREAT SOUND OF A TRUMPET, and they will GATHER TOGETHER HIS ELECT from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
>1 Corinthians 15:51-52 --- ^(51) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— ^(52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, AT THE LAST TRUMPET. For THE TRUMPET WILL SOUND, and THE DEAD WILL BE RAISED incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Day of Atonement is judgement day. This is shown in the instructions given to Moses with Christ now stepping in as our atonement with us being the scapegoat. Some say this is already fulfilled because Jesus has already died but we have not yet been presented alive before the Lord. We have not been let go as the scapegoat yet because we are not yet saved. We must endure to the end (Matt 24:13).
>Leviticus 16:8-10 --- ^(8) Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. ^(9) And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering. ^(10) But the goat on which the lot fell to be THE SCAPEGOAT SHALL BE PRESENTED ALIVE BEFORE THE LORD, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness.
>2 Corinthians 5:10 --- For WE MUST ALL APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
>Matthew 10:32 --- “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I WILL ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE BEFORE MY FATHER in heaven.
Feast of Tabernacles is the last feast to be fulfilled which will come to pass when heaven and earth pass away after the 1000 year reign of Christ's kingdom on earth. At that time, we will finally tabernacle with the Father.
>Revelation 21:1-3 --- Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for THE FIRST HEAVEN AND THE FIRST EARTH HAD PASSED AWAY. Also there was no more sea. ^(2) Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ^(3) And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, THE TABERNACLE OF GOD IS WITH MEN, and HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM, and they shall be His people. GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM and be their God.*
And this brings us back to exactly what Christ already told us. Until heaven and earth pass away, all will NOT be fulfilled.
>Matthew 5:18 --- For assuredly, I say to you, TILL HEAVEN AND EARTH PASS AWAY, one jot or one tittle WILL BY NO MEANS PASS FROM THE LAW TILL ALL IS FULFILLED.
All will be fulfilled after the Feast of Tabernacles is fulfilled. (This is also why I believe Tabernacles is specifically mentioned by name among all the feasts in Zechariah 14:16-19. It is because it will be pending fulfillment. I'm not saying the others won't be observed in the kingdom, but it explains why it is specifically mentioned.)
kind of a basic question but i cannot think of a great answer to it…
Since we don’t have a list of commandments like the law of Moses anymore, how do we know what is sinful and what isn’t sinful?
is it just things the NT lists as sinful or fleshly behavior? Or is there another metric that I am unaware of?
I know that some things exist as personal convictions, but how do we answer this question without drifting into liberal Christianity (”it’s not a sin unless my own heart convicts me”, and “no action is sinful anymore”)?
I've been in this sub for a bit now and I am finding one theme to repeat itself...
People DO NOT want to follow the commandments of God.
We all understand at this point that we are saved by grace through our faith in Jesus Christ. This is not debatable. However, Christ also says He will tell people that think they follow him, that He never knew them. How can this be reconciled? This is easy if we let the bible interpret the bible and not let our emotions create our own version of Jesus that is more palatable.
Matthew 7:21-23 --- ^(21) “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ^(22) Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ^(23) And then I will declare to them, ‘I NEVER KNEW YOU; depart from Me, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS!’
What does it mean to know Christ?
1 John 2:3-6 --- Now BY THIS WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW HIM, if we KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. ^(4) He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, IS A LIAR, and the truth is not in him. ^(5) But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. BY THIS WE KNOW THAT WE ARE IN HIM. ^(6) He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
The people in Matthew 7 are those who believe they know Christ by profession but never did what He said. They said they prophesied in His name. These aren't non believers or atheists. But still Jesus said he didn't know them because they practice lawlessness. If you believe in Christ, you MUST follow His commandments. This is not optional. The danger in thinking you can follow the motto of the occultist Aleister Crowley which is "do as thou wilt" and still enter into life is a lie from the devil himself. You can't just do what you want. You will not inherit the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments! This is a salvation issue.
Matthew 19:17 --- So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But IF YOU WANT TO ENTER INTO LIFE, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS.”
We all know that Revelation is prophetic and lets us know about the end times. Revelation describes the saints as those who have the faith in Jesus AND keep his commandments. These ideas cannot be divorced.
Revelation 14:12 --- Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS of God and the faith of Jesus.
Revelation 12:17 ^(---) And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Jesus also speaks in Revelations saying that those who do His commandments have the right to the tree of life.
Revelation 22:12-15 --- ^(12) “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. ^(13) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” ^(14) BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO DO HIS COMMANDMENTS, that THEY MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO THE TREE OF LIFE, and may enter through the gates into the city. ^(15) But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
Again, I am not saying that keeping the commandments alone saves anyone. There are people who keep the commandments and don't believe in Christ. They will also not enter into life. Jesus said narrow is the gate for a reason.
Matthew 7:13-14 --- ^(13) “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ^(14) Because NARROW IS THE GATE and DIFFICULT IS THE WAY which leads to life, and THERE ARE FEW WHO FIND IT.
John 8:51 ^(---) Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone KEEPS MY WORD HE SHALL NEVER SEE DEATH.”
MANY that profess the faith of Christ will not enter into life because they do not want to keep the commandments. Some Christians use flowery sentiment like, "He nailed it all to the cross", "Your works don't justify you", "You will be saved, you just won't have reward in heaven". No. You will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Period. I'm not saying this to scare, or be mean, or anything of the sort. I'm bringing out what the word of God says numerous times but people want to ignore. We have lost the essence of the gospel by just trying to get people to profess Christ or get people in the seats of the church. Meanwhile, the people are still perishing. God is not playing with us and the times are approaching.
Hebrews 10:26-30 --- For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, THERE NO LONGER REMAINS A SACRIFICE FOR SINS, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”
Remember the parable of the wheat and the tares. The tare looks almost indistinguishable from the wheat on first glance. This is the amalgamation of the Christian church today. Many of us professing our faith in Christ but not everyone really knows Him because we refuse to follow His commandments. He will have the angels gather the tares and throw them into the fire at the end of the age. If you believe in Christ but refuse to follow his commandments, you have been given this doctrine from the devil. God is giving us all the opportunity now to grow together. Don't squander it. Turn from sin and follow the commandments.
Matthew 13:37-43 --- He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and THOSE WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Lastly, we all know the son of perdition, man of lawlessness, also known as the "antichrist" will come eventually. If you are not rooted in the TRUE word of God, you will be deceived. If you are not rooted in the fact that God WILL NOT accept a "faith in Christ" that is coupled with lawlessness, someone WILL be coming in His name to affirm the lie you already believe. Remember Christ told people to go and sin no more. God runs a way stricter program than we are admitting. Please turn away from sin and follow the commandments!