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Bible Quiz 2
1.
The Old Testament Hebrew Manuscripts foretold of the 'first' coming of Messiah Jesus
Christ; His birth, His Mission, and how He would suffer on the cross. So why don't the
majority of Jews believe that Christ came and fulfilled that Mission as Savior, especially
since those Jews are in possession of The Hebrew Manuscripts? (Ans.)
2. Are Christians
today to worship God on Saturday, holding to the original Sabbath, as our Rest? (Ans.)
3. When someone
finally starts to study The Word for themselves, and comes to God's Truth, and It starts
opening up to them, they have a hard time understanding why others can't understand. How
does one deal with this emotion? (Ans.)
4. Does the word
'meditation' in The Bible, such as in Psalms 49:3 mean the same thing as the practice of
eastern meditation? (Ans.)
5. How does Jesus
return for His second coming? Do we go up in the clouds, or does He come down to earth? (Ans.)
6. Many people of
foreign non-Christian lands suffer greatly; why does God allow this? (Ans.)
7. Hasn't Christianity
been the cause of many wars? (Ans.)
(1.) The reason many of the 'house of Judah' today, i.e. Jews, still haven't
accepted Jesus Christ as Messiah, believe it or not, was and is part of God's Plan. Well
why would God do that to His People? Consider what Peter says:
1 Pet 2:7-10
7 Unto you therefore which believe He is
precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the Stone Which the builders
disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, even to
them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were
appointed.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a
peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of
darkness into His marvellous light:
10 Which in time past were not a people,
but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now
have obtained mercy.
(KJV)
Peter is letting us know that the 'nations' who accepted
Christ as Savior, at one time 'were not a people' of God. This has much to do with the
'house of Israel', i.e. the Ten Tribes (remember Loammi=not My People), being
scattered among the Gentiles, and both accepting Christ Jesus as Savior when they heard
Him preached by the Apostles of Christ.
The 'house of Judah' stumbled at The Cornerstone (Christ)
Which they rejected. In 1 Peter 2:7-8 he says the Jews were 'appointed' to this stumbling
at Christ's Word, but not the Jews only. Paul in Romans Chapters 9 through 11 tells us why
- so that many of the Gentiles who believe, which "were not a people", might be
'grafted' into the same 'tree' of God's People. The Jews are blinded so that Salvation
through Jesus Christ would be full and more complete. Paul also tells us in Romans 11 that
any of the Jews who now accept Christ Jesus, are grafted in now; but the majority of Jews
will not be joined with Christ until the 'fullness of the Gentiles' is whole
(Rom.11:23-28). That means there is still yet hope for them.
God is causing that 'slumber' of not having 'eyes to see
and ears to hear'. We Gentiles should not get too cocky about having accepted Jesus as
Savior over those of the 'house of Judah' which haven't. You know why?
Isa 8:13-15
13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts Himself; and let Him be
your fear, and let Him be your dread.
14 And He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of
stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for
a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared,
and be taken.
(KJV)
The Cornerstone (Jesus Christ) is "...a stone of stumbling and for a rock of
offence to both the houses of Israel...".
That's talking about those of the 'house of Israel' today also, the Western Christian
Nations, who have received Jesus Christ as Messiah. It applies to both Judah and
Israel (Ten Tribes). "How could they 'stumble' if they've already accepted
Christ," one might ask? By worshipping the wrong messiah of our near future, that's
how! Satan is coming first as a 'false Messiah', claiming to be Christ (Immanuel-'God
with us'), sitting in the Temple of God (II Thess.2; Ezek.28;31; Isa.14). Our True
Savior Jesus Christ will return on the 'last trump' to defeat Satan, all in our near
future.
Which is worse; to seek Salvation through following God's
Law without faith in Christ, still waiting for His first coming, as the majority of the
Jews do; or to accept and believe on Jesus Christ, yet mess up later when Satan comes, and
worship him as a fake Messiah, thinking he's Christ? That's what Isaiah 8:15 means with
being 'snared' and 'taken'! The first one 'taken' in the field is by Antichrist (compare
Luke 17:36-37 with Matthew 24:28). So the deception is not only 'appointed' to many of
Judah, no...but to many who once believed on Christ also, who will become 'apostate',
falling away by worshipping a false Messiah.
So why can't both the Jew and Gentile who stumble, just
wake up, out of their spiritual slumber? Because God is allowing the deception by the 'workers
of iniquity', i.e. the sons of Cain or Kenites, who are so...strong today, that many
don't even have a chance. Satan and his children are God's 'rod' of correction to His
People. Once the Christian starts to understand God's Message through His Old Testament
prophets, about Satan being controlled by God, then our Father's greater Plan begins to
unfold, and an understanding that He is in charge is revealed. Until that Truth is
grasped, the elect may find it difficult to deal with the sorrow we feel for our lost
brethren who stumble (from both 'houses'). Those who remain ignorant of that Plan fight
against each other.
So why is God allowing all this 'deception', even towards
'both' houses of Israel? Our Father is going to show His Power and Supreme Authority to
us, while revealing how silly, ignorant, and uncaring about Him, His children can be. No
other Glory anywhere, will compare with this future event of Christ's coming. The 'shock
value' will be enormous! But not for those who are watching, as our Savior commanded.
But God has preserved a 'remnant' who shall know His
Truth, and will not be swayed from Christ by accepting the false Messiah. Even His
preservation of His elect is by 'appointment'! Our Father is in control, guiding the
'helm' with utmost sureness. I have total confidence in God and His Son, and as to the
directions of His Plan He has given us, all according to His Word. Give thanks and praise
to Him through Christ if you know what I'm talking about, for we are as 'filthy rags'.
So what do we do in the meantime? Teach, teach, teach
God's Word. Drop a 'seed' of our Father's Truth to those who stumble. Be bold when given
the chance. Learn The Word using common sense, and teach It using common sense in 'plain'
language. Good honest folk exist everywhere in the world, and they live plainly by common
sense.
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(2) There's been a lot of concern lately about the Christian day of
worship, once observed on Saturday, but having been changed in previous centuries to
Sunday. God commanded His People to observe the Sabbath as a Holy Day, which is our
Saturday (Exod.20).
Col
2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which
was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew
of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 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:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is
of Christ.
(KJV)
Bondage is being proposed by those who teach damnation because of
not holding Church service on Saturday, instead of Sunday. Christ nailed portions of His
Law on the cross, the Saturday sabbath day dogma was one of those 'ordinances'. Being
'nailed on the cross' means those ordinances became part of Christ. That means
'fulfillment' in Christ, not done away with. That's where many Christians are being
misled, and trapped back into bondage of ordinances in The Law. This means Christ became
our True Rest, for that's what the word 'Sabbath' means, i.e. 'rest'. Hebrews 3-4 tells us
about That Rest, Who is now Jesus Christ.
Heb 3:14 For
we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto
the end;
Confidence means believing on God's Savior Jesus Christ, that our
Father's Promises of Salvation are true, and having 'faith' in those things unseen
concerning that Promise.
Heb 3:15 While it is
said, "To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the
provocation."
Paul is quoting from Psalms 95 here. He's talking about how Israel hardened their hearts
coming out of Egypt by God's deliverance. They had direct experience of God's Holy
Presence among them, with the Pillar of Fire, yet they hardened their hearts, and had
little 'faith'.
Heb 3:16 For some,
when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
Not all made it out of the
wilderness, because of their lack of faith, even within direct eyesight of God's Presence.
Heb 3:17 But with whom
was He grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases
fell in the wilderness?
18 And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His
rest, but to them that believed not?
So who finally was led out of the wilderness through Moses? Was it not those who believed?
That word 'rest' is referring to God's Sabbath.
Heb 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
If
we don't believe in our Salvation through Christ, having confidence, then we can't enter
into His Rest. If one thinks that by not holding Church service on a particular day will
keep them from that Salvation, or 'His Rest', then that's using The Law to be justified
by, and not by 'faith in Christ'.
Heb
4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His
rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the
word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
If you accept Christ as Savior, as your Salvation, "today"... you have 'entered
into His Rest'.
Heb 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He
said, "As I have sworn in My wrath, if they shall enter into My rest:"
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world."
The words in bold above was Paul quoting from Psalms
95:11. That 'rest' is His abode, but It's not for unbelievers, but for those who believe.
Heb 4:4 For He spake
in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, "And God did rest the
seventh day from all His works."
5 And in this place again, "If they shall enter into My
rest."
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and
they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
Christ became that
Sabbath, and means Rest from our 'work' today, and with Him in the future eternal peace.
That Old Testament Sabbath was a shadow of this Rest which all believers on Christ have
today, if you'll have confidence in Him.
But for those who have not believed, and to whom Christ was first
preached (the Jews), many of them have not entered in That Rest 'because of unbelief', and
they are no better off than those whose 'carcases fell in the wilderness.'
Heb 4:7 Again, He limiteth a certain day, saying in David, "To
day," after so long a time; as it is said, "To day if ye will
hear His voice, harden not your hearts."
This word 'limiteth' means 'declare, appoint, determined'
(Strong's no.3724). There should be no doubt that Paul is talking about the Sabbath here,
as all along in these verses. "Today" means we don't need any other Mediator
than Christ to pray to Jehovah, our Father, and follow Him. If you believe that you must
hold Church service on Saturday to have Salvation, then you might as well hire you some
Levites and start animal sacrifice again. And make sure you do it right...according to The
Law, and don't slip up and fail in it one iota!
Heb
4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would He not afterward have spoken
of another day.
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the
people of God.
This word
'Jesus' in Hebrew is the equivalent of the Hebrew word 'Joshua'. This verse 8 goes with
the previous verse 7 about David's time. This refers to Joshua's eventual leading of the
Israelites into the 'promise land' (see Joshua 1-2). So this verse is not referring to
Jesus Christ, but Joshua the prophet who entered into the promise land. If he led the
Israelites out of the wilderness to the promise land, then wouldn't he have told them
about another day of Rest? Yet future?
The word 'rest' in verse 9 is 'sabbatismos' in the Greek, from
the root 'sabbaton', a word of Hebrew origin (Strong's nos.7676; 4520).
10 For he that is entered into His rest,
he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest,
lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
So Christ is our Sabbath today, for those who
believe. That means if you're not in His Rest everyday, especially during these
endtimes, you have little 'Rest' in Him. Just as Christ also became our 'Passover'
sacrificed for us on the cross, we are to worship God through Christ today (1 Cor.5:7).
That is our 'labour' today, working for Christ Jesus. Believers hold to Him in faith
everyday now, in hope of entering into His Rest Which is The Eternal Sabbath of His future
Kingdom upon this ancient earth.
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(3.) The two previous
questions gave some Scriptural answers to help ease this feeling of why others don't or
can't 'rightly divided' The Word of Truth. Furthermore, none that do understand the deeper
Word in Scripture know it all either. It's continually unfolding. I've referred to the
state of 'flesh thinking' as compared to 'spiritual thinking' many times on this Website
to help those in Christ understand how a 'world view' can hinder The Holy Spirit's
workings in us. Holding to man's view will cause 'unbelief'.
Begin studying at Psalms 78, down through to the end of
Psalms 82. You have there beginning at Ps.78 a short history of Israel's 'unbelief' in the
One True God Jehovah and His proposed Salvation. And much there in those Psalms,
especially towards the end of Ps.82, is not fulfilled yet, for God has not yet come down
out of heaven to 'inherit all nations' (Ps.82:8). That verse is talking about
Christ's (Immanuel - 'God with us') return in our future, when all the kingdoms
of this world, will become His (Rev.11:15).
Joseph, Ephraim, and Manasseh are alluded to there in
those Psalms also, which represent the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel. That means the founders
of the Western Christian Nations of today, i.e. those who passed over the Caucasus
Mountains, becoming known as 'Caucasians', coming to the 'isles', and settling in Western
Europe and the Americas.
Most of true Israel (Europe and America) do not know who
they are today, and many of the 'crept in unawares' of Jude 1, i.e. the Kenite,
who sit in 'Moses' seat' (Matt.23:2), will tell you it is not true. Those 'false
Jews', who are not of true bloodline Judah, don't want us to know that revelation within
God's Word. But when the Psalms I referenced are read in that light, that we are Israel
today, according to God's Birthright Promise to Joseph (1 Chron.5), and the election of
'grace' to the Gentile, then our 'faith' in God and His Salvation Jesus Christ, should
take on new meaning. (see Lost Tribes studies for more).
For those of the ethnic peoples who have accepted Christ
as Savior, they are also included as Israel. As much as the Body of Christ is not a
particular Church building or geographic spot, or just one race, today God's Israel is
scattered also. But those who came to the isles, forming the Western nations, are
descendants of the Ten Tribes of Israel, separated from the Promise Land by captivity to
Assyria. Those in past times suffered punishment for their 'disbelief', and were cut off,
and are for an example to us today who have accepted Christ.
If we don't understand how God's Plan of Salvation is
worked from times old down to today and yet future, how can our 'belief' in Him be sure?
And when our 'faith in Christ' is sure, it is very blessed with our Father, because we
haven't seen today those miracles written of in times past during the forty years in the
'wilderness', having direct proof of God with us through flesh eyes. Having faith in
Christ with confidence doesn't require a show of miracles. Those who must see a miraculous
'sign' to believe, shun their Salvation through Jesus Christ. Those not confident in their
faith, looking for miracles and wonders today, also set themselves up for deception, as
God has given Satan and his fallen angels power to do miracles and wonders in these latter
days (Rev.13:13).
(Don't get me wrong about the subject of 'miracles'. God
still works miracles through His Body of believers today. But one who 'must' see a
miraculous sign from Heaven before they can believe on Christ, fits the Message our Savior
gave us concerning 'doubting' Thomas in John 20:24-29.)
Study The Scriptures for yourself and you'll get that
foundation of confidence in Christ, and you won't be caught in unbelief when the false
ones practice their deceptions 'in the sight of men'.
Rom 11:20-23
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest
by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest
He also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which
fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness:
otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be
graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
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(4.) Ps 1:1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor
standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law
doth he meditate day and night.
This word 'meditate' is 'hagah' in the Hebrew, and is a primitive root
meaning 'to murmur (in pleasure or anger); by implication, to ponder'
(Strong's no.1897; see also 1901). The words for meditate and meditation in other verses,
such as Gen.24:63 (suwach), Ps.119:15 (siyach), all have similar
meanings. Some are used more in the 'poetical' sense, others as a complaining to God.
But in each case in God's Word, where the words meditate
or meditation occur, thought is active in the mind of the meditator. That is very
important, for the practice of so-called 'eastern meditation' is the exact opposite.
Eastern meditation, such as intoning 'vowel sounds' and
what not, teaches to clear the mind of 'all thought', allowing the universe, gods, or
whatever, to communicate, receiving spiritual influences from only God knows where. It's
the practice of eastern mysticism to try to become 'one' with the cosmos. This false
practice of trying to commune with the universe, which is really an aid for Satan's
negative spiritual influences to make contact, was wholly thrust upon the Western nations
during the late 1800's and early 1900's with various 'spiritism' movements, and again in
the 1960's with the 'flower power', or hippie generation (I was born in the latter part of
that generation, and saw those things). Even the idea of being 'hip', or 'cool', was a
powerful label in the '60s to push those fads on an unsuspecting generation. It's still
alive today with the so-called 'new age' movement, which is just a new 'pet name' for
modern occultism. Humanist and earth awareness philosophies are added with it to give it
more weight. That '60s generation is now in power in many governments today (gulp). It's
good to know who the spiritual battle is with, and eastern meditation is one effective
means by which Satan controls his workers and influences on earth.
So if you're out in the field working, or walking among
the woods, and 'boom', your tongue starts babeling and there is no mental 'thought'
process going on, it's time to boot that evil spirit away. Feeling 'spiritual joy' from
our Father Jehovah through His Son Jesus Christ, is a mental thought process. Otherwise,
how would you know of Whom that joy in The Lord is from?
When those in Christ pray and 'ponder' on His Word, it
always involves thought, an active mental process, with understanding, and that's how The
Holy Spirit gives Truth. Those teaching to 'feel the faith' without study and the
knowledge of Christ, are false prophets. No, our faith in Christ is understood,
with 'confidence' remember? After all, Truth is the goal isn't It? Christ gave His Body of
believers Power over those evil influences (Luke 10:19), so 'boot em' out in the Name of
Jesus Christ. They'll get tired of coming around you when you cast them away from you,
back to the 'pit'! And they must leave when you use Christ's Name as one of His, claiming
that Power He gave us through Him. They have no choice in the matter.
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(5.) It's sad
that so many Christians today don't understand from The Word about Christ's actual coming
and God's future Kingdom. This is such an important matter, that I'm not going to go into
depth here; but you'll find a lengthy study with much Scripture support on this subject by
clicking on the study How Does Christ
Return?.
In short, according to Acts 1:11, Micah 1, and Zech.14,
Christ is coming back to earth. He may come engulfed in the clouds when returning, if
that's how you wish to interpret 1 Thess.4:17, but His final destination is upon the Mount
of Olivet in Jerusalem. The proof that God through His Son is going to reign all nations
upon a 'renewed' earth, is overwhelming from God's Word.
There is so much proof for a Heaven upon earth in God's
Word, that I can't think of a befitting name which would be suitable for those false ones,
who claim to be sent from God and teach otherwise. In other words, I can't believe they
teach otherwise out of ignorance only. I have even had poor deceived members of their
congregations tell me that it's nowhere written in God's Word that Jesus returns to earth.
I'm not only hurt by that level of deception, but I'm sure our Father is hurt by it also.
Especially since He created this beautiful earth for His children, whom He loves so much
(see Isaiah 45:18; Rev.4:11; Ps.115:16).
(back)
(6. & 7.) Wow,
what a question. Yet 6., and number 7. have been two difficult questions I've been asked,
as others also. These two particular types of questions are used by many who flat refuse
Christ as Savior also. They are also used to try and put Christianity in a bad historical
light, as a slur against God and His Christ.
But no problem, they're easy to answer.
Eph 6:11 Put on
the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places.
The
whole reason why the flesh age exists which we live in today, is for battle. That's right,
"battle", a spiritual battle. So where is that battle? Within
the mind and heart. Ideas are much more powerful than all the weapons of the world
friends. Those who live a 'carnal' life of the flesh can't understand this. Their 'mind'
is easily swayed by the ideas and thoughts of the flesh world. They haven't the 'mind of
Christ', so their faith is misplaced by ideas of men, traditions, old customs handed down
by flesh ancestors and not from Yehovah.
2 Cor 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to
them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which
believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, Who is the image of God,
should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves
your servants for Jesus' sake.
There still may be some small areas of the world which have not yet heard The Gospel of
Christ, but in my opinion, the majority have heard, or are now having the opportunity to
hear. I believe the communication technology age is bringing the last stages of heralding
The Gospel of Christ to those few which missed the chance. Yet in many cases of peoples of
foreign lands who accepted Christ after hearing, they began to pollute Christian Doctrine
by blending many of their old pagan practices in with Christianity. In one particular case
in Africa, taken from a news source recently, blood sacrifice ritual was added with the
Communion Table of Christ. The old customs and traditions of those tribal peoples were
just too strong in their minds still. So Whom they once received, they polluted among
themselves.
No doubt, some deceiver, pushing 'ideas' of Satan is
causing many peoples to stray away from Christ after once hearing with 'faith'. That's why
'ideas' are the most potent weapon, The Word of God being The most Powerful Spiritual
Sword. Those who listen to the mind of the world, The Gospel is hidden to them.
The Western Christian Nations were set up by God for His
Gospel to be taught and heard abundantly, with no danger of censorship. That is what our
Constitutional right for freedom of religion was purposed for; to keep The Word in the
mind of God's People. In other words, Christ has been a 'tradition' and 'custom' of the
Western Christian nations, much as paganism has been a tradition in other lands. But those
whose minds are blinded to Christ who live amongst us today, cannot, and will not be able
to see that Truth. Since their minds are carnal, and follow flesh ways, the ideas of flesh
are what they must heed. And those ideas today among us are especially against Christ.
My Lost Tribes studies give reasons by our Father for
their split and captivity out the lands He gave them, for the same reasons that
non-Christian nations suffer, in that they turned away from our Father, and unto the
various systems of false worship in the world. Much of The Old Testament past Moses was
about how God's chosen turned away from Him, even after He promised them good things by
following Him only. Leviticus 26, and many other Scriptures, were given as a warning by
our Father. His chosen suffered those curses and were scattered. They are still scattered
today, the main purpose being, after punishment to return to Him through Christ, and to
include the Gentile who accepts Christ as Savior also.
And today, in the Western Christian nations, Christ is
being turned against, even by some teachers in the public school system who throw
student's Bibles in the trash, calling It garbage. This outward war against Christianity,
even by some of our own peoples of Christian heritage, is a sign that the 'fulness of the
Gentiles' is almost complete and the 'great apostasy' is well on it's way (Luke 21:24;
Rom.11:25).
So the reason why many peoples of non-Christian lands
suffer, is because of their leaders preventing the learning of God's Ways through His Word
Jesus Christ. It might surprise one in the Western nations that many in foreign lands
ruled by atheistic governments have accepted Christ Jesus as their Savior. Christians in
America are coming under these atheistic supra-international leaders that want to destroy
Christ here also. Even when the Western Christian nations went to war in the past, they
were all religious wars if one looks deeply enough. And that is because the 'real' battle
during this flesh age has been a spiritual battle between the Power of Yehovah and His
Christ against the powers of darkness (Lucifer). But those whose minds are 'blinded',
cannot understand this, thus they wrongly battle against The Word of God.
This last battle during the flesh time is a spiritual war
for control of your mind, through world ideas exercised by the 'prince of this world',
Satan himself. Your weapon for this 'last battle' is not flesh armament, but the 'whole
armour of God' which is The Gospel of Christ, Salvation, The Word of God (see Ephesians
6).
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Footnotes:
All references to
"Strong's nos." are from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, PC Study
Bible, Biblesoft, 1993-1996.
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