By Rev. Michael BrescianiÂ
The prophet Ezekiel was instructed to rebuke the ancient Israelites for using a proverb (saying or common catch phrase) because they presumed that everything the prophet said was not to be fulfilled until many years into the future.
“Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? Tell them therefore, thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, the days are at hand, and the effect of every vision” (Ezekiel 12: 22, 23).
The prophet appendaged his warning with two peculiar words in the next passage. They are words to ponder.
“For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 12: 24).
Flattering divinations were made by professional (false) prophets who tickled the ears of those in the upper echelons of the priesthood and political rulers. They were prophecies that affirmed every law and decision of the constabulary. They were compensated richly for the garbage they spewed.
The word vain in the passage is unique only because it is literal. It has no secondary meaning.
It meant that the Israelites were enamored and taken by the vanity of their own opinions. If they thought something was sure to happen, it was as good as the word of God, in their own way of thinking.
History has shown us that Israel was pounded into submission by her enemies during the days of Ezekiel’s prophecy.
Enter the 21st century and the nation we know as America.
Vain prophecies and false assurances abound. Let’s see.
Drawing 290 comments in only one day, Christian News has posted an article quoting prominent Baptist Robert Jeffress, who now says we cannot expect the gay “marriage” ruling of Obergefell vs. Hodges to be overturned.
Robert Jeffress, who leads First Baptist Church in Dallas, spoke last week with “Good Morning Texas,” which noted that Jeffress’ longstanding fight against the issue is now “water under the bridge.”
“This is not going to be re-litigated by the Supreme Court. That is the law of the land. I wish it were different, but it’s not different,” he said emphatically.
Jeffress outlined that he told Christians and others not to urge Trump to make the sanctity of marriage a part of his campaign.
Jeffress may be speaking in an overzealous manner in his support for President-elect Trump. While we can only hope he will come to see the error in his judgment, more importantly we should pray that he doesn’t obscure the lines between his Savior and his president.
No law that directly defies the word of God has any bearing with God; it is antichrist and should be resisted with every fiber of our lives.
Right behind Jeffress, along comes pop-culture TV pastor T.D. Jakes. Jakes asserts that the church’s position on homosexuality is “evolving.”
Jake’s answer to the problem as quoted in Christian News is to find a church that supports your views rather than stick to the immutable word of the Living God.
“LGBTs of different types and sorts have to find a place of worship that reflects what your views are and what you believe like anyone else,” he outlined.
“The church should have the right to have its own convictions and values; if you don’t like those convictions and values [and] you totally disagree with it, don’t try to change my house, move into your own … and find somebody who gets what you get about faith,” Jakes added.
He said that the issue of homosexuality is “complex.”
The error in this assertion is so basic that only the term false can be conjured to explain it.
Jakes is known as a person who emphasizes the common wisdom of the day or the people’s rap over the clear and distinct message of the unassailable word of God. Can we just say consider the source and be on our way? For biblically based believers, this is not possible.
Jesus is not called the “Rock” of our salvation because of his character alone. He is the Rock because every word he spoke will not change one iota until judgment arrives – in fact, his words will be the very basis for that judgment.
“And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:47-48).
Nothing in the preceding passage even remotely suggests that Christ teachings would “evolve.”
Societal consensus has never, and will not ever, produced morality or a righteous thing. That must come from God alone.
Christ defined what marriage should be (Matthew 19:4-5). These words do not evolve.
The saying, “It’s the law of the land,” is a falsehood. If it’s not dealt with, it will hinder every effort of the new administration in ways yet to be seen
We can expect many good things to come out of Mr. Trump’s love for our nation, but allowing Obergefell to be ignored under the banner aforementioned is inviting deep troubles into our future.
The practice of sodomy was pronounced an abomination in both the Old and New Testaments and will endure to the end of time. To add the idea that it is evolving and that it is OK to introduce it to the church is pushing the envelope to the very outer limits.
This writer spends little time marking and discussing who is a false prophet or teacher, but it is certain that, whether these men come under the heading of false teacher or not, it does not change one word or the obvious meaning of the following.
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15: 8-9).
Here, the word vain appears again as a clear warning that what men decide is to be scrutinized without opinion or bias by the God who is the very Rock of all eternity. We must not risk our eternal destiny on the words of men – even if they are – “the law of the land.”
Michael Bresciani is editor of American Prophet.org since 2005. The website features the articles and reports of Rev. Bresciani, along with some of America’s best writers and journalists, Â and has been described as the Website for Insight. Millions have read his timely reports and articles in online journals and print publications across the nation and the globe. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.