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[[File:Jesusmounts.jpg|right|350px|thumb|There is no reason to think that none of the [[apostles]] normally carried swords. Having a sword in itself neither qualifies as evil nor violence.]]
{{Two swords}}
== Two swords ==
 
There are many false exegeses used by [[modern Christians]] to rationalize personal doctrines to fit more comfortably into the [[modern Church]]ianity [[eschatology]] instead conformity to Kingdom [[eschatology]]. Jesus preached the kingdom and [[appoint]]ed it to His [[called out]].
 
'''Kingdom Eschatology''' is the study of the nature of the [[Kingdom of God]].
 
The kingdom is not for the dead but for the living.<Ref>Luke 20:38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
: Luke 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.</Ref>
 
The kingdom of God was a real [[government]], that was at hand but was supposed to be separate from the [[world]].
 
Jesus declared that he was going to take the kingdom<Ref name="take">Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.</Ref> from those who sat in the ''seat of [[Moses]]''<Ref name="seat">Matthew 23:2 Saying, The scribes and the [[Pharisees]] sit in Moses’ seat:</Ref> who were making the [[Corban|word of God to none effect]] and [[appoint]] it in real time to the [[little flock]] he had [[called out]].
 
Because people often focus on what they ''think about God'', imagining that is the definition of [[religion]], they fail to attend to the [[weightier matters]], another practice for which Christ condemned the [[Pharisees]].<Ref>Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.</Ref>
 
Many even fail to practice [[Pure Religion]] ''unspotted by the [[world]]'' neglecting to [[seek]] the [[kingdom of God]], his form of government, and the simplicity of the [[righteousness]] of God which often leads to [[workers of iniquity|works of iniquity]].
 
The myriad of ''[[false prophets]]'' and ''false teachers''<Ref>[[2 Peter 2]]:1 "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."</Ref> of the [[world]] who do not know what ''the kingdom is like''<Ref>: Matthew 13:31  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
: Matthew 13:33  Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
: Matthew 13:44  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
: Matthew 13:45  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
: Matthew 13:47  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
: Matthew 13:52  Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
: Matthew 20:1  For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
: Matthew 22:2  The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
: Mark 4:30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? 31  It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:32  But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.33  And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.34  But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
: Luke 13:18  Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? 19  It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
20  And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the [[kingdom of God]]?
21  It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
: Galatians 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.</Ref> only contribute to the problem.
 
The [[modern Christian]] is given a ''historically filtered view'' of the [[early Church]] and how the community of Christians worked together to survive in a hostile [[world]]. The problems they would face in a ''none violent revolution'' that would change the [[world]] would call for extensive and even the ultimate [[sacrifice]] by many. This lack of knowledge concerning the details of the practical [[daily ministration|day to day ministration]] of a Christian community keeps the modern church from fully grasping how Christ had turned the [[world]] upside down.<Ref>Acts 17:6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;</Ref>
 
Christians were consistently and willingly excluded from the [[free bread]] offered by the [[welfare]] state of [[Rome]]. [[Early Christians]] were even [[Christian conflict|persecuted for their separate system]] of [[Private welfare]] supported by the charitable [[Corban]] of Christ through the [[love]] of the people and the services of [[His Church]].
 
== Buy a sword ==
 
This lack of knowledge has led to many pseudo-doctrines that are not the [[doctrines of Jesus]] and some times promotes a [[false religion|false Christianity]] that does not comply with the [[Doctrines of Jesus]]. Jesus' directive to His [[apostles]] and [[disciples]] to ''buy a sword'' is no exception.
 
Was he talking to all the apostles and even others like the [[Sanhedrin|appointed 70]] or the 120 we find in one [[accord]] in the upper room? Or did he just want them to have a couple of swords to fulfill a prophecy from the Old Testament as suggested by some?
 
'''Let us examine the text in context''':
: "And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing." [[Luke 22]]:35
 
Is Jesus speaking of metaphorically buying swords?
 
Or is he speaking of a real event?
: Matthew 10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
Matthew 10:10  Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
: Mark 6:8  And commanded them that they [twelve] should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:
: Luke 9:3  And he said unto them [twelve disciples], Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
: Luke 10:4 [Seventy] Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
 
 
Jesus originally did not send the disciples nor the ''[[Sanhedrin|appointed 70]]'' out as lone individuals but in pairs<Ref>Luke 10:1 ¶ After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
: The Zugot were pairs,  also called Zugoth refers both to the two-hundred-year period (c. 170 BCE – 30 CE) during the time of the Second Temple in which the spiritual leadership of the Jews was in the hands of successions of "pairs" of religious teachers. Tanna were repeaters or teachers while the  Amoraim were "interpreters".</Ref>, what the Jews called Tanna and with the [[Holy Spirit]]. There were numerous conditions to follow meant to test the seventy [[disciples]] he chose to put their ''hand to the plough''.<Ref>Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the [[kingdom of God]].</Ref> Jesus was getting lot of excuses from people who liked what he was saying but were putting off doing the work.
 
== Blood and upheaval ==
 
Before Jesus began his ministry there had been a great upheaval in the government of Judea. No one sat on the throne in Jerusalem after the collaboration with [[Rome]] and the Roman form of government during the dictatorial rule of ''[[Herod]] the Great''.
 
''[[Menahem the Essene]]''  and many others walked out from the [[Sanhedrin]]. According to the Chagigah documents the [[Sanhedrin]] was ''illegitimatized'' when a majority "stalked out" to follow " the King's service, and there went forth [out] with him eighty pairs of disciples" with a royal covering.<Ref>"17 MENAHEM WENT FORTH AND SHAMMAI ENTERED etc. Whither did he go forth? Abaye said: He went forth into evil courses.18 Raba said: He went forth to the King's service. Thus it is also taught: Menahem went forth to the King's service, and there went forth with him eighty pairs of disciples dressed in silk." Baraita, ''The Babylonian Talmud'', Hagigah or Chagigah, 16b.
"MISHNAH. JOSE B. JO'EZER39 SAYS THAT [ON A FESTIVAL-DAY] THE '''LAYING ON OF HANDS [ON THE HEAD OF A SACRIFICE]'''40 MAY NOT BE PERFORMED;41 JOSEPH B. JOHANAN SAYS THAT IT MAY BE PERFORMED.42 JOSHUA B. PERAHIA SAYS THAT IT MAY NOT RE PERFORMED; NITTAI THE ARBELITE43 SAYS THAT IT MAY BE PERFORMED. JUDAH B. TARBAI SAYS THAT IT MAY NOT BE PERFORMED; SIMEON A. SHETAH SAYS THAT IT MAY BE PERFORMED. SHEMAIAH SAYS THAT IT MAY BE PERFORMED; ABTALION SAYS THAT IT MAY NOT BE PERFORMED.44 '''HILLEL AND MENAHEM DID NOT DIFFER. MENAHEM WENT FORTH,45 SHAMMAI ENTERED.46 SHAMMAI SAYS THAT IT MAY NOT BE PERFORMED; HILLEL SAYS THAT IT MAY BE PERFORMED.'''" Talmud - Mas. Chagigah 16a.</Ref>
 
What Menahem appears to have done was follow after [[The Way]] of [[John the Baptist]] and [[Jesus]] who was the highest son of David, the Messiah, the [[Christ]], the king of the government of God which he took from the [[Pharisees]] and the ''apostate Jews''<Ref>Revelation 2:9  I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
: Revelation 3:9  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.</Ref> and [[appoint]]ed it to the Jews who eventually were called Christians.
 
 
Institutions of men change over time. There is a vast difference between the [[early Church]] and the [[Modern Church]]. There is also a difference between the institutions of [[Moses]]<Ref>[[Numbers 11]]:24  And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the [[Sanhedrin|seventy men]] of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle. 25  And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.</Ref> and those professed and established by the [[Pharisees]] or [[Sadducees]].
 
 
== Transgressors ==
 
Was Jesus' call to buy a sword just props to appear to fulfill of prophecy?
 
* [[Luke 22]]:36 "<span style="color:red">Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. 37  For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.</span style>"
 
<span style="color:red">'''‘AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH TRANSGRESSORS'''</span style>
 
Some will try and tell people that Jesus wanted them to get a few swords only to fulfill this messianic prophecy. They even say the word “transgressors” could be bandits, thieves, criminals, etc. It is true that the Greek word in the text is ''anomos'' <Ref>{{459 }} </Ref> which in the Greek can mean "a violator of the law, lawless, wicked". But if this is the fulfillment of the prophecy From Isaiah 53<Ref>[[Isaiah 53]]:12 "Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.</Ref> then the definition of the word needs to comply with the meaning of the Hebrew word for transgressors.<Ref>{{06586}} </Ref>. The Hebrew word is ''pasha‘''  which means "to rebel, transgress, revolt."
 
=== Pompey ===
 
Judea was occupied by the Roman troops in 6 BC even though 60 years before [[Pompey]] had been invited into Judea to settle the question of who was the rightful ''[[Nailing it to His cross|King of the Jews]]''.
 
Back in 66 B.C. [[Pompey]] the head of a Roman army had been invited to Judea to help settle a civil war between two brothers. Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II were fighting over the [[Kingdom of God]]. One brother got the idea to invite Pompey and his legions for aid to settle this dispute.
 
Aristobulus had made the request to Rome seeking to use its might as a world police force. Pompey eventually sided with Hyrcanus and ''[[Pontius Pilate]]'' who eventually answered for [[Rome]] sided with Christ, ''[[Nailing it to His cross]]''.<Ref>Matthew 2:2  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
: Matthew 27:11  And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.
: Matthew 27:29  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
: Matthew 27:37  And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
: Mark 15:2  And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.
: Mark 15:9  But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
: Mark 15:12  And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
: Mark 15:18  And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
: Mark 15:26  And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
: Luke 23:3  And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
: Luke 23:37  And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
: Luke 23:38  And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
: John 18:33  Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
: John 18:39  But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
: John 19:19  And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
: John 19:21  Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.</Ref>
 
=== Sicarii ===
 
The presence of [[Rome]] had led to a variety of revolutionary Messianic movements, and a desire for the [[Messiah]]. Some thought the Messiah was to be a great war leader not a propagator of peace. One political group, the ''Sicarii''<Ref>Sicarii translates as 'knife-men' and were so named because they carried daggers hidden in their cloaks</Ref>, emerged with a focus on the militant Zealot solution.
These resistance movements targeted Romans and any collaborator.  Their victims included Roman soldiers, tax collectors, Jewish women who fraternized with Romans or merchants who traded with them.  [[Josephus]] writes that such a group attacked the Essene village of Jedi murdering hundreds of civilians.
 
=== Gordion knot ===
 
Alexander the Great divided the ''Gordian knot'' by pulling out his sword and cutting the rope in two pieces. This method left the rope useless and divided. Judea and the whole world was in [[bondage]]. Liberty was bound in a [http://www.hisholychurch.org/study/covenants/ccc5.php legal Gordian knot] of [[Rome]] which dominated all forms of government with [[force]] and [[covetous practices]].
 
Jesus said he was going to bring a sword. This was a metaphor but a sword did come which divided the people, the [[Goats and Sheep|goats and the sheep]].
 
Jesus was counted by some as a revolutionary attempting to overthrow the ''legitimate government'' of Judea. He did come to ''take''<Ref name="take"></Ref> the seat of government away from those sitting in the ''seat of Moses''<Ref name="seat"></Ref> as the legitimate king the [[kingdom of God]]. But the [[kingdom of God]] is not like the governments of the [[world]] that use force to exercise authority one over the other. There is no central bank<Ref>Golden calf</Ref> or professional standing army<Ref>: John 19:3  And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.</Ref>, no legislature making more and more laws.
 
In the [[Kingdom of God]] every [[elder]] of every family is king in his own home.<Ref>Leviticus 25:10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout [all] the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.</Ref> For the kingdom to function every elder must attend to the [[weightier matters]] as listed by Christ
 
Roman Emperors feared the “union and discipline of the Christian community that was ''network''ing in the heart of the Roman Empire.”<Ref>Comment on Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Rousseau and Revolution, Will et Ariel Durant p.801. fn 83 Heiseler, 85.</Ref>
 
The early Christians were recognized by Rome through the proclamation [[Nailing it to His cross|nailed to the cross]] by [[Pontius Pilate]]. When Jesus rose from the dead to stand again upon the earth, so did His Kingdom which he appointed to his apostolic disciples.
 
== No command to disarm ==
 
 
Did Jesus prohibit the use of arms in self-defense as claimed by some?
 
“When Christ disarmed Peter, He disarmed every soldier.” – Tertullian, Apology
 
Is Tertullian correct about this?
 
What did he actually say?
 
Read it again.
 
Tertullian is talking about disarming soldiers using a term for professional soldiers.
 
The [http://www.hisholychurch.org/study/covenants/ccc4.php five prohibitions for Kings of Israel] including not having a professional army.
 
Remember, in the [[kingdom of God]] there are [[no king]]s, soldiers, legislators, ruling judges, tax collectors, etc. because ''every man is king and priest in his own house''. He is the [[militia]] of the kingdom to and legislator of his own heart and tax collector in his own family through [[freewill offerings]].
 
Jesus never told the people to get rid of their natural right and means by which to defend themselves and others. His command to Peter was to put it back in His sheath, not disarm. He did not rebuke the Roman Centurian nor did [[John the Baptist]] tell soldiers to lay down their weapons. They were told to "Do violence to no man".<Ref>Luke 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse [any] falsely; and be content with your wages.</Ref>. But doing violence is not the same as using the power of your arm or other tools to stop or restrain people from doing harm to others is simply attending to the [[weightier matters]] Doing violence is "to extort" unjustly "by intimidation".
 
Being armed or holding at bay with a gun or sword a murderer bent on killing innocent people does not qualify as ''violence''. Stopping someone with the use of physical force about to kill others is not ''violence'' either. Not doing something to stop murder makes you complicit in the murder and may qualify as ''violence'' by neglect.
 
Later Peter’s ownership or possession of a sword was not condemned, nor was he told to get rid of it.
 
Soldiers had come to be baptized by [[John the Baptist]]. (Luke 3:14). They were not told to leave the army and get rid of their weapons and neither was the Roman centurion who was praised for is faith.
 
Clearly, the Bible never forbids a Christian from owning a weapon. We are called to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:10) and certainly, the presence of a weapon in the hands or even just at the side of a good man can and has brought peace where violence was occurring or about to occur.
 
When we see the account in [[Luke 22]]:38  "<span style="color:red">And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords.</span style>" it is clear that the apostles did not run out and get two swords. Either one or two apostles already had swords. Jesus undoubtedly knew that but was now instructing those who did not have a sword should get one even if they had to sell their cloke to do so.
 
And when he said unto them, "<span style="color:red">It is enough</span style>" surely Jesus didn’t intend for two swords to defend 12 men. Remember the swords they were to get were not for that night just as the purses they were going to need were not for then but later.
 
Jesus made it clear that when he sent them out in groups of two before they didn't lack anything ''But now, take some money belts, bags, and go even get a sword too.'' Yes, the prophecy about him would be fulfilled but the instructions were for later.
 
The statement “It is enough” in [[Luke 22]]:37-39 was clearly talking about then and might not have been talking about the swords at all. He may have been talking about the fact that he was finished with his list of instructions about the [[appoint]]ment of the [[kingdom of God]] to His [[little flock]] there at that time because he immediately left.
 
 
----
 
One individual clinging to the idea that a weapon is evil and that its use is always violent asks several questions about when Jesus says:
 
''"don't resist an evil person"''
 
But that is not exactly what he said:
: [[Matthew 5]]:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
 
What does he mean "'''[[Resist not evil]]'''"?
 
''"do not repay evil for evil"''
 
: [[Romans 12]]:17  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
: [[1 Thessalonians 5]]:15  See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
: [[1 Peter 3]]:9  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
 
Stopping someone from murdering or raping or even just robbing them is not evil. You are doing them and the victim a favor, a kindness.
 
 
''"turn the other cheek"''
 
Murdering or raping or even just robbing someone is not slapping their cheek.
 
: Matthew 5:39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
: Luke 6:29  And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
 
 
''"blessed are the peacemakers"''
 
What is a peacemaker?
 
''"Do violence to no one"''
 
: [[Matthew 11]]:12  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence<Ref>{{971}}</Ref>, and the violent take it by force.
: Luke 3:14  And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence<Ref>{{1286}}</Ref> to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
 
What is violence?
 
"Violence is an extreme form of aggression, such as assault, rape or murder."
 
"Pacifist a person who believes that war and violence are unjustifiable."
 
''"love your enemies"''
 
Matthew 5:43 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
 
 
''"bless those who persecute you"''
 
: Matthew 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
: Romans 12:14  Bless them which persecute<Ref>{{1377}}</Ref> you: bless, and curse not.
 
''"my kingdom is not of this [[world]], if it were, my servants would fight for me"''
 
Or when Paul says in 1 Corinthians:
 
"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds."
Or in ephesians:
 
"for our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers and principalities"
 
Or in Romans:
 
''"do not take vengeance for vengeance belongs to the Lord"''
 
Stopping someone from murdering or raping or even just robbing them is not vengeance.
 
 




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== Footnotes ==
== Footnotes ==


<references />
<references />

Latest revision as of 14:58, 21 May 2019

There is no reason to think that the apostles did not normally carry swords. Having a sword in itself neither qualifies as evil nor as violence.

Two swords

There are many false exegeses used by modern Christians to rationalize personal doctrines to fit more comfortably into the modern Churchianity eschatology instead conformity to Kingdom eschatology. Jesus preached the kingdom and appointed it to His called out.

Kingdom Eschatology is the study of the nature of the Kingdom of God.

The kingdom is not for the dead but for the living.[1]


Audio Broadcasts
Download Recording #1 or press play

Download Recording #2 or press play

The kingdom of God was a real government, that was at hand but was supposed to be separate from the world.

Jesus declared that he was going to take the kingdom[2] from those who sat in the seat of Moses[3] who were making the word of God to none effect and appoint it in real time to the little flock he had called out.

Because people often focus on what they think about God, imagining that is the definition of religion, they fail to attend to the weightier matters, another practice for which Christ condemned the Pharisees.[4]

Many even fail to practice Pure Religion unspotted by the world neglecting to seek the kingdom of God, his form of government, and the simplicity of the righteousness of God which often leads to works of iniquity.

The myriad of false prophets and false teachers[5] of the world who do not know what the kingdom is like[6] only contribute to the problem.

The modern Christian is given a historically filtered view of the early Church and how the community of Christians worked together to survive in a hostile world. The problems they would face in a none violent revolution that would change the world would call for extensive and even the ultimate sacrifice by many. This lack of knowledge concerning the details of the practical day to day ministration of a Christian community keeps the modern church from fully grasping how Christ had turned the world upside down.[7]

Christians were consistently and willingly excluded from the free bread offered by the welfare state of Rome. Early Christians were even persecuted for their separate system of Private welfare supported by the charitable Corban of Christ through the love of the people and the services of His Church.

Buy a sword

This lack of knowledge has led to many pseudo-doctrines that are not the doctrines of Jesus and sometimes promotes a false Christianity that does not comply with the Doctrines of Jesus. Jesus' directive to His apostles and disciples to buy a sword is no exception.

Was he talking to all the apostles and even others like the appointed 70 or the 120 we find in one accord in the upper room? Or did he just want them to have a couple of swords to fulfill a prophecy from the Old Testament as suggested by some?

Let us examine the text in context:

"And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing." Luke 22:35

Is Jesus speaking of metaphorically buying swords?

Or is he speaking of a real event?

Matthew 10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,

Matthew 10:10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

Mark 6:8 And commanded them that they [twelve] should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:
Luke 9:3 And he said unto them [twelve disciples], Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
Luke 10:4 [Seventy] Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.


Jesus originally did not send the disciples nor the appointed 70 out as lone individuals but in pairs[8], what the Jews called Tanna and with the Holy Spirit. There were numerous conditions to follow meant to test the seventy disciples he chose to put their hand to the plough.[9] Jesus was getting lot of excuses from people who liked what he was saying but were putting off doing the work.

Blood and upheaval

Before Jesus began his ministry there had been a great upheaval in the government of Judea. No one sat on the throne in Jerusalem after the collaboration with Rome and the Roman form of government during the dictatorial rule of Herod the Great.

Menahem the Essene and many others walked out from the Sanhedrin. According to the Chagigah documents the Sanhedrin was illegitimatized when a majority "stalked out" to follow " the King's service, and there went forth [out] with him eighty pairs of disciples" with a royal covering.[10]

What Menahem appears to have done was follow after The Way of John the Baptist and Jesus who was the highest son of David, the Messiah, the Christ, the king of the government of God which he took from the Pharisees and the apostate Jews[11] and appointed it to the Jews who eventually were called Christians.


Institutions of men change over time. There is a vast difference between the early Church and the Modern Church. There is also a difference between the institutions of Moses[12] and those professed and established by the Pharisees or Sadducees.


Transgressors

Was Jesus' call to buy a sword just props to appear to fulfill of prophecy?

  • Luke 22:36 "Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. 37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end."

‘AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH TRANSGRESSORS

Some will try and tell people that Jesus wanted them to get a few swords only to fulfill this messianic prophecy. They even say the word “transgressors” could be bandits, thieves, criminals, etc. It is true that the Greek word in the text is anomos [13] which in the Greek can mean "a violator of the law, lawless, wicked". But if this is the fulfillment of the prophecy From Isaiah 53[14] then the definition of the word needs to comply with the meaning of the Hebrew word for transgressors.[15]. The Hebrew word is pasha‘ which means "to rebel, transgress, revolt."

Pompey

Judea was occupied by the Roman troops in 6 BC even though 60 years before Pompey had been invited into Judea to settle the question of who was the rightful King of the Jews.

Back in 66 B.C. Pompey the head of a Roman army had been invited to Judea to help settle a civil war between two brothers. Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II were fighting over the Kingdom of God. One brother got the idea to invite Pompey and his legions for aid to settle this dispute.

Aristobulus had made the request to Rome seeking to use its might as a world police force. Pompey eventually sided with Hyrcanus and Pontius Pilate who eventually answered for Rome sided with Christ, Nailing it to His cross.[16]

Sicarii

The presence of Rome had led to a variety of revolutionary Messianic movements, and a desire for the Messiah. Some thought the Messiah was to be a great war leader not a propagator of peace. One political group, the Sicarii[17], emerged with a focus on the militant Zealot solution. These resistance movements targeted Romans and any collaborator. Their victims included Roman soldiers, tax collectors, Jewish women who fraternized with Romans or merchants who traded with them. Josephus writes that such a group attacked the Essene village of Jedi murdering hundreds of civilians.

Gordian knot

Alexander the Great divided the Gordian knot by pulling out his sword and cutting the rope in two pieces. This method left the rope useless and divided. Judea and the whole world was in bondage. Liberty was bound in a legal Gordian knot of Rome which dominated all forms of government with force and covetous practices.

Jesus said he was going to bring a sword. This was a metaphor but a sword did come which divided the people, the goats and the sheep.

Jesus was counted by some as a revolutionary attempting to overthrow the legitimate government of Judea. He did come to take[2] the seat of government away from those sitting in the seat of Moses[3] as the legitimate king the kingdom of God. But the kingdom of God is not like the governments of the world that use force to exercise authority one over the other. There is no central bank[18] or professional standing army[19], no legislature making more and more laws.

In the Kingdom of God every elder of every family is king in his own home.[20] For the kingdom to function every elder must attend to the weightier matters as listed by Christ

Roman Emperors feared the “union and discipline of the Christian community that was networking in the heart of the Roman Empire.”[21]

The early Christians were recognized by Rome through the proclamation nailed to the cross by Pontius Pilate. When Jesus rose from the dead to stand again upon the earth, so did His Kingdom which he appointed to his apostolic disciples.

No command to disarm

Did Jesus prohibit the use of arms in self-defense as claimed by some?

In translations of Tertullian's Apology we may read, “When Christ disarmed Peter, He disarmed every soldier.”

Is Tertullian correct about this?

What did he actually say?

Read it again.

Tertullian is talking about disarming soldiers using a term for professional soldiers. In governments where men rule one over another those who are called soldiers serve the ruler.

The five prohibitions for Kings of Israel including not having a professional army.

Remember, in the kingdom of God there are no kings, soldiers, legislators, ruling judges, tax collectors, etc. because every man is king and priest in his own house. He is the legislator of his own heart and tax collector in his own family through freewill offerings in free assemblies. Samuel, the prophet, made it clear that any king who forced an offering of the people to support a professional army had "done foolishly" because in the kingdom of God every man was part of the militia commanded to attend to the weightier matters.

Jesus never told the people to get rid of their natural right and means by which to defend themselves and others. His command to Peter was to put it back in His sheath, not throw it away nor disarm yourself.

He did not rebuke the Roman Centurian nor did John the Baptist tell soldiers to lay down their weapons nor leave the army.[22].

Doing violence is "to extort" unjustly "by intimidation". Doing violence is not the same as using the power of your arm or other tools to stop or restrain people from doing harm to others is simply attending to the weightier matters.

Being armed or holding at bay with a gun or sword a murderer bent on killing innocent people does not qualify as violence. Stopping someone with the use of physical force about to kill others is not violence either. Not doing something which you could do to stop murder makes you complicit in the murder and may qualify as violence by neglect.

Clearly, the Bible never forbids a Christian from owning a weapon. We are called to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:10) and certainly, the presence of a weapon in the hands or even just at the side of a good man can and has brought peace where violence was occurring or about to occur.

When we see the account in Luke 22:38 "And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords." it is clear that the apostles did not run out and get two swords. Either one or two apostles already had swords. Jesus undoubtedly knew that but was now instructing those who did not have a sword should get one even if they had to sell their cloke to do so.

And when he said unto them, "It is enough" surely Jesus didn’t intend for two swords to defend 12 men. Remember the swords they were to get were not for that night just as the purses they were going to need were not for then but later.

Jesus made it clear that when he sent them out in groups of two before they didn't lack anything But now, take some money belts, bags, and go even get a sword too. Yes, the prophecy about him would be fulfilled but the instructions were for later.

The statement “It is enough” in Luke 22:37-39 was clearly talking about that moment in the conversation and might not have been talking about the swords at all. He may have been talking about the fact that he was finished with his list of instructions about the appointment of the kingdom of God to His little flock there at that time because he immediately left.



Sound bite arguments

One individual clinging to the idea that a weapon is evil and that its use is always violent asks several questions about when Jesus says:

"don't resist an evil person"

But that is not exactly what he said:

Matthew 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

What does he mean "Resist not evil"?

"do not repay evil for evil"

Romans 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
1 Peter 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

Stopping someone from murdering or raping or even just robbing them is not evil. You are doing them and the victim a favor, a kindness.


"turn the other cheek"

Murdering or raping or even just robbing someone is not slapping their cheek.

Matthew 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Luke 6:29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.


"blessed are the peacemakers"

What is a peacemaker?

"Do violence to no one"

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence[23], and the violent take it by force.
Luke 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence[24] to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

What is violence?

"Violence is an extreme form of aggression, such as assault, rape or murder."

"Pacifist a person who believes that war and violence are unjustifiable."

"love your enemies"

Matthew 5:43 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.


"bless those who persecute you"

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Romans 12:14 Bless them which persecute[25] you: bless, and curse not.

"my kingdom is not of this world, if it were, my servants would fight for me"

Or when Paul says in 1 Corinthians:

"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." Or in Ephesians:

"for our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers and principalities"

Or in Romans:

"do not take vengeance for vengeance belongs to the Lord"

Stopping someone from murdering or raping or even just robbing them is not vengeance.


Pacifist

If you let predators harm your sheep or your neighbors you are not a pacifist.

A "Pacifist"[26] is said to be "a person who believes that war and violence are unjustifiable."

But if you are unwilling to defend others then you should not expect anyone to defend you. That would mean that if a pacifist will not come to the forcible defense of others he should not call the police for his or her own protection.

There is another hypocrisy more common among those who call themselves pacifists. A true pacifist would never use force to take things away from other people or want anyone to take things from others for his or her personal benefit. But many who claim to be pacifists look to men who call themselves benefactors but exercise authority using force to take from others to provide their social security, free education, and welfare.

In Christianity Jesus said we are to love our enemies and even asked for forgiveness on the cross for those who abused Him "for they know not what they do". But how far does this go toward modern versions of pacifism?

Jesus also said in Luke 22:36, "Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take [it], and likewise [his] scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."

Having a sword did not mean you would wage war, perform acts of militarism, or condone violence against others.


Pacifists with swords

Philo suggests that the Essenes were a pacifist group while others carried swords and even trained but were counted as being willing to take a personal blow without retaliation. He also describes the group in a way that suggests Pythagoreanism because of their rejection of taking oaths, and the keeping of slaves.

Philo claims that the Essenes abstained from animal sacrifices altogether.

At the time of John the Baptist, who many consider to be an Essene, there were welfare systems that depended upon taxation to finance them.

Jesus forbade the ministers to whom he appointed a kingdom[27] to exercise authority like the Benefactors of other governments but they were to supply benefits through charity, rather than force.

There was lots of welfare around in the Roman Empire but most of it depended upon membership in temple systems and the taxes that supported them. Israel had depended upon freewill offerings until the voice of the people rejected God and chose a king. 1 Samuel 8.

The voice of people have chosen kings like Saul and Nimrod and the Caesars of the world. Herod had started a system of Corban or welfare dependent upon forced offerings.

Many of these Modern Christians also talk about "The Kingdom Gospel that concerns the nation of Israel and the fact that the nations of the earth can be blessed by blessing Israel was not a mystery but in prophecy." But they deny the power of Christ and what he was really doing and look no farther than their private interpretation of the gospel that is void of the works of the early Church and its Daily ministration.

Nimrod to Now Series: Part 1 of 10 ~6 min

Yes, Moses and Gideon and Samson were leaders in a nation called Israel which was "the place where God prevailed". But they led their nation and the people according to the perfect law of liberty. There was no king and men were to learn to rule themselves according to the leading of God in their hearts while loving one another.[28]

Saul became king when the people sinned and rejected God. And he was told he would lose that kingdom because he forced an offering which was a "foolish" thing.[29]

All Saul had done was command the people to give him an offering to support his troops.[30] We see Samuel's reaction in 1 Samuel 13:11 asking him "What hast thou done?" with Saul making excuses that he feared the Philistines who gathered to make war.[31]

UNC Interview: Part 1 of 8 Introduction ~3 min

So what did Saul do?

He forced an offering to supply his army.[32] Israel operated according to the perfect law of liberty up till that point but God had warned them this would happen.

Nimrod to Now Series: Part 5: One Purse] ~4


The people were told that the government they wanted Samuel to create was a rejection of God[33] He told them that the ruler would end up taking and taking and taking and their sons would run before their chariots and war machinery of the king.[34]

UNC Interview: Part 3: The corpus or body of Christ established by Christ or by others?] ~10 min

And God would not hear their prayers because they wanted a ruler who could exercise authority one over the other.[35]

The rulers in the world today are like Saul because the people, including Modern Christians, have rejected God and His ways and even the Gospel of Jesus the Christ.

So who should rule over you?

Who ruled over the Christians?

Who was their king?

  • Acts 17:7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, [one] Jesus.

Who said he was the rightful heir of the throne of David.

  • Matthew 21:9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

What did the Romans say about Jesus?

  • Luke 23:38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

How does His kingdom operate?

By the perfect law of liberty.

You need to read the book The Higher Liberty.


These false, do-nothing Christians who do not know the Gospel, God nor Christ use verses like Acts 3:19-21 that talks about those who "Repent" but they have not repented themselves. They are living like the Pharisees because their false preachers are not telling them the whole truth. Therefore they are not converted, nor are their sins "blotted out" because like Cain they have gone out of the presence of God.

These false ministers are not "his holy prophets".[36] Therefore there is no "Dispensation of the Grace of God" for them because they are not "true believers".

These false believers, who still pray to men who call themselves benefactors, are not forgiven because neither do they forgive their neighbors' debt. They are not doing what the Ephesian Christians were doing but what those who opposed Christ were doing. They are not covered in His Blood nor His grace.[37]

They also quote Colossians 2:13-14 "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, HAVING FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES; 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;"

He has not forgiven them because they will not forgive others the debt that provides their benefits from those benefactors who exercise authority.

They like to excuse their continued policy of sins with statements like, "The fact is that we are all sinners and none of us measure up to God's Holy and perfect standards. Only by believing the Gospel can we be saved and have Christ's righteousness imputed to us."

But they do not know the Gospel, nor Christ, nor God, and remain workers of iniquity rather than seekers of the Kingdom of God and his righteousness not doers of the word.


Murderous Pacifist

Some pacifists say they would never use force of any kind. But that pacifism may negate the responsibility to attend to what Christ called the weightier matters.

If a thousand people are about to be killed and the only way to save them would be shoot the fellow who has his finger on the bomb, would you do it?

If you don't, many innocent people will die and you could be charged with criminal negligence because you could have saved them but did not.

If you saw your neighbor being attacked by murders would you call the police?

You are calling them not just for their badge, but because they will bring a gun.


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Footnotes

  1. Luke 20:38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
    Luke 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Matthew 23:2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
  4. Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
  5. 2 Peter 2:1 "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."
  6. : Matthew 13:31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
    Matthew 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
    Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
    Matthew 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
    Matthew 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
    Matthew 13:52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
    Matthew 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
    Matthew 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
    Mark 4:30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
    Luke 13:18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
    20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
    Galatians 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
  7. Acts 17:6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
  8. Luke 10:1 ¶ After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
    The Zugot were pairs, also called Zugoth refers both to the two-hundred-year period (c. 170 BCE – 30 CE) during the time of the Second Temple in which the spiritual leadership of the Jews was in the hands of successions of "pairs" of religious teachers. Tanna were repeaters or teachers while the Amoraim were "interpreters".
  9. Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
  10. "17 MENAHEM WENT FORTH AND SHAMMAI ENTERED etc. Whither did he go forth? Abaye said: He went forth into evil courses.18 Raba said: He went forth to the King's service. Thus it is also taught: Menahem went forth to the King's service, and there went forth with him eighty pairs of disciples dressed in silk." Baraita, The Babylonian Talmud, Hagigah or Chagigah, 16b. "MISHNAH. JOSE B. JO'EZER39 SAYS THAT [ON A FESTIVAL-DAY] THE LAYING ON OF HANDS [ON THE HEAD OF A SACRIFICE]40 MAY NOT BE PERFORMED;41 JOSEPH B. JOHANAN SAYS THAT IT MAY BE PERFORMED.42 JOSHUA B. PERAHIA SAYS THAT IT MAY NOT RE PERFORMED; NITTAI THE ARBELITE43 SAYS THAT IT MAY BE PERFORMED. JUDAH B. TARBAI SAYS THAT IT MAY NOT BE PERFORMED; SIMEON A. SHETAH SAYS THAT IT MAY BE PERFORMED. SHEMAIAH SAYS THAT IT MAY BE PERFORMED; ABTALION SAYS THAT IT MAY NOT BE PERFORMED.44 HILLEL AND MENAHEM DID NOT DIFFER. MENAHEM WENT FORTH,45 SHAMMAI ENTERED.46 SHAMMAI SAYS THAT IT MAY NOT BE PERFORMED; HILLEL SAYS THAT IT MAY BE PERFORMED." Talmud - Mas. Chagigah 16a.
  11. Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
    Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
  12. Numbers 11:24 And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle. 25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
  13. 459 ~ἄνομος~ anomos \@an’-om-os\@ from 1 (as a negative particle) and 3551; adj AV-without law 4, transgressor 2, wicked 2, lawless 1, unlawful 1; 10
    1) destitute of (the Mosaic) law
    1a) of the Gentiles
    2) departing from the law, a violator of the law, lawless, wicked
  14. Isaiah 53:12 "Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
  15. 06586 ^עשׁפ^ pasha‘ \@paw-shah’\@ a primitive root [identical with 06585 through the idea of expansion]; v; AV-transgress 17, transgressor 9, rebelled 6, revolt 6, offended 1, transgression 1, trespassed 1; 41
    1) to rebel, transgress, revolt
    1a) (Qal)
    1a1) to rebel, revolt
    1a2) to transgress
    1b) (Niphal) to be rebelled against
  16. Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
    Matthew 27:11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.
    Matthew 27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
    Matthew 27:37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
    Mark 15:2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.
    Mark 15:9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
    Mark 15:12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
    Mark 15:18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
    Mark 15:26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
    Luke 23:3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
    Luke 23:37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
    Luke 23:38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
    John 18:33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
    John 18:39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
    John 19:19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
    John 19:21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.
  17. Sicarii translates as 'knife-men' and were so named because they carried daggers hidden in their cloaks
  18. Golden calf
  19. : John 19:3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.
  20. Leviticus 25:10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout [all] the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
  21. Comment on Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Rousseau and Revolution, Will et Ariel Durant p.801. fn 83 Heiseler, 85.
  22. Luke 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse [any] falsely; and be content with your wages.
  23. 971 ~βιάζω~ biazo \@bee-ad’-zo\@ from 970; TDNT-1:609,105; {See TDNT 137} v AV-suffer violence 1, press 1; 2
    1) to use force, to apply force
    2) to force, inflict violence on
  24. 1286 ~διασείω~ diaseio \@dee-as-i’-o\@ from 1223 and 4579 shake or quake or move; ; v AV-do violence to 1; 1
    1) to shake thoroughly
    2) to make to tremble
    3) to terrify
    4) to agitate
    5) to extort from one by intimidation money or other property
  25. 1377 ~διώκω~ dioko \@dee-o’-ko\@ a prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb dio (to flee; cf the base of 1169 and 1249); TDNT-2:229,177; {See TDNT 195} v AV-persecute 28, follow after 6, follow 4, suffer persecution 3, misc 3; 44
    1) to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away
    2) to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after
    2a) to press on: figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal
    2b) to pursue (in a hostile manner)
    3) in any way whatever to harass, trouble, molest one
    3a) to persecute
    3b) to be mistreated, suffer persecution on account of something
    4) without the idea of hostility, to run after, follow after: someone
    5) metaph., to pursue
    5a) to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavour to acquire
  26. Pacifism is opposition to war, militarism, or violence. The word pacifism was coined by the French peace campaigner Émile Arnaud (1864–1921) and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress in Glasgow in 1901.
  27. Luke 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
  28. Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I [am] the LORD.
  29. 1 Samuel 13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue:...
  30. 1 Samuel 13:9 And Saul said (translated command 30 times), Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
  31. 1 Samuel 13:11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and [that] thou camest not within the days appointed, and [that] the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;
  32. 1 Samuel 13:12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
  33. 1 Samuel 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
  34. 1 Samuel 8:9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. 11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. 13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. 16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
  35. 18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day. 19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. 21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. 22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
  36. Acts 3:19-21 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
  37. Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;