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The 640 MEG Shareware Studio 2
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The 640 Meg Shareware Studio CD-ROM Volume II (Data Express)(1993).ISO
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BIBLNAME.TXT
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1992-10-28
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The following is provided by The Bible Study Center of Irvine,
Kentucky as a thought starter from one of over 2200 in-depth
Bible Studies we have available. If you would like more Info,
write to us at P.O. Box 1, Irvine, Kentucky 40336 or call our
computer bulletin board at (606) 744-6079 OR (606) 723-3333 to
download files of ascii text Bible Studies which you can use
with any type of computer. Most of the Bible studies on the BBS
get into much deeper areas of the scriptures including many
aspects of REVELATION and prophecy for today covered in deep
detail. If you like more depth to your studies than most people
are used to getting, give the board a try. YOU WILL NEVER BE
ASKED FOR DONATIONS, ETC. We offer NO OBLIGATION Bible Studies
WITHOUT anyone pestering you for money or anything else. Our
studies will only interest SERIOUS Bible students and will
DOWNRIGHT BORE anyone else. Over 2200 studies available;
300/1200/2400/9600/14400 baud (v.32/v,32bis/HST/v.42bis) 24
hours a day. This study may be freely posted on other bbs' and
distributed to others provided this leader remains with the
study text at all times.
ARE NAMES IMPORTANT IN THE BIBLE? DOES GOD REALLY CARE WHAT WE
CALL HIM? DOES THE NAME OF A CHURCH MAKE ANY REAL DIFFERENCE? DO
NAMES IN THE BIBLE CONTAIN SECRET KEYS TO INTERPRETATION?
Consider this fact: OVER 2000 MORE NAMES COULD BE ADDED TO THIS
LIST OF RELIGIOUS GROUPS and to the names commonly used to
identify God (the Father) and to God manifest as the Son. We live
in a day when people have been brought to what seems like an
ULTIMATE BABYLON. Babylon means a state of confusion and is used
in the Book of Revelation to picture SPIRITUAL CONFUSION. There
are SO MANY conflicting theories taught as to the right names for
the church, for God, etc. Acts 4:12 and Philippians 2:9 say:
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other
name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name
which is above every name:" From these verses it is evident that
the NAME of our SAVIOR is a very important part of our SALVATION.
SINCE SALVATION IS THE MOST VALUABLE POSSESSION ONE CAN EVER
OBTAIN, IT IS WORTH OUR TIME TO LEARN WHAT IS A NAME (Biblically)?
In other words, when the Bible speaks of a NAME, the word comes
from a root meaning to "have knowledge of" or to "know" someone.
This means that YOU KNOW THEM and not just the WORD by which they
are called.
The Hebrew word for "name" is the same word as is also translated
"SHEM." This is the "name" of the son of Noah who was the
forefather of Abraham and the entire Israelite nation. Anyone who
is familiar with Bible typology can easily see DIVINE PROVIDENCE
at work in providing such a NAME for SHEM. The word itself means a
description or identity which is peculiar to a particular person,
place, or thing. Today we use the English word name much
differently than its meaning in the scriptures. We say, for
example, that two people who are called Bob have the SAME name.
That is not entirely true in the biblical sense of the word. To
illustrate what I am saying, please read II Corinthians 11:4 in
your Bible. Paul the Apostle says it is possible for someone to
preach "ANOTHER JESUS." It is obvious from the context that he is
making reference to someone who is called "Jesus", yet who has an
altogether different IDENTITY and therefore is not a manifestation
of the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE (John 14:6). Today we think
nothing of calling many different people by the same word, but
Paul was showing us that people can talk, sing, and preach about
Jesus (or even the Greek or Hebrew equivalents of the word Jesus)
and STILL NOT SERVE AND PREACH THE TRUE IDENTITY OF THE SON OF GOD
(They do not KNOW the TRUE "JESUS.")
Jesus Himself spoke in Matthew 7:13-23 and showed that even false
prophets and phoney "Christians" would use His name TO NO AVAIL!
Notice, He DID NOT say they would use the wrong name. This proves
that simply speaking His name or doing good deeds in His name will
not prove nor provide salvation.
There is much confusion and even strife amongst many today as to
whether the Son of God should be called Jesus, Christ (or the
equivalent word from the Hebrew language, "MESSIAH"), IESOUS (the
word "Jesus", transliterated from the Greek manuscripts) or even
Yeshua, Yahshua, or a direct transliteration from the Hebrew
language, Yehowshuwa (pronounced yehhoshoo'ah).
Sometimes it seems that some people think only one particular
language belongs to God and that He cannot understand the others.
Such is true in only one sense; God communicates in the language
of the SPIRITUAL heart. The scriptures denounce those whose lips
(words) honor Him, yet whose hearts are far from Him (Ezekiel
33:31, Matthew 15:8).
Some people believe God speaks in the Hebrew language, but that is
not Biblical. The Hebrew people were descendents of Eber, who
lived six generations before Abraham. Eber's son, Peleg, lived
during the time when God originated the many languages among
mankind (due to the construction of the tower of Babel). There are
no details in the scriptures to tell us much about Peleg or his
spiritual state. His NAME is a word which means a "dividing of the
earth." The Bible shows us that the region to which he was
"divided" was UR of the Chaldeas (Genesis 11:31 and context). God
told Abraham to leave the country (of his ancestors and his
father's household) and to go to a place where He would lead him.
Since UR means "light from a flame," and since CHALDEA means
"lost" (or a state of destruction), we can learn from the
spiritual type that the ancestors of Abraham were from a place
which is symbolic of FALSE RELIGION whose "light" is the flames of
the Lake of Fire (The Lake of Fire is NOT the same as Hell as most
people believe! It is symbolic, whereas Hell is a literal place.
In fact the Bible says that Hell is cast into the lake of fire -
Rev. 20:14). Abraham must "COME OUT" of false religion (in type or
allegory) in order to be "saved" (literally) even as we do
SPIRITUALLY TODAY. We "come out" of SPIRITUAL BABYLON or CHALDEA
(same place) so God can lead us to the truth (Revelation 18;
especially verse 4). These things and many other details in the
types of Genesis 11 and 12 prove the fact that Eber (the
forerunner of the Hebrew nation) and Peleg (the forerunner of the
Hebrew language) WERE NOT SERVANTS OF THE TRUE AND ETERNAL GOD!
Therefore, a major Bible principle would be broken if God gave
these UNGODLY MEN an exclusive and personal "GOD" language.
Other people are just as wrong in their beliefs that God speaks in
KING JAMES ERA or MODERN DAY ENGLISH! For example, many people
almost make an idol out of the word, "JESUS," not realizing that
His name is spoken differently in different languages (as is OFTEN
the case). As an example of the confusion this can bring to the
uninformed, please read Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8 in a King James
Version of the Bible. These passages speak of the one who led
Israel into Caanan after Moses's death. They call Him Jesus. WHY?
Because the name Jesus is the SAME NAME (when translated from the
Greek manuscripts) as the name Joshua translated into English from
the Hebrew text. If you had lived in the first century and had
spoken the Hebrew language, you would have called Jesus,
Yehowshuwa. If you had spoken Greek you would have called him
IESOUS (pronounced eeaysooce') because His name (IDENTITY) was to
be "Yahweh Saves" (Matthew 1:21). Therefore, you would have called
Him by the word which had such a meaning in your language.
Perhaps at this point you are wondering, "why don't people speak
the name the same way in all languages?" The answer is very
simple. By the very meaning of the term "NAME," it is more
important to keep the MEANING of the word, when changing from one
language to another, than it is to SPEAK or pronounce it the same
in all languages. Remember, to "NAME" means to describe one's
identity.
The first century writers of our Bible sometimes transliterated
(emphasizing the WORD itself rather than its meaning) names from
one language to another. However, they realized the importance of
the MEANING of Jesus' name, so it was translated. If you are
familiar with any of the thousands of spiritual types (allegories)
in the Bible, you then should realize the importance of
TRANSLATING the original MEANING (identity) of ALL THE NAMES IN
THE BIBLE whenever you change from one language to another. THE
MEANINGS OF THE NAMES ARE WHAT IS IMPORTANT! NOT HOW YOU SPEAK OR
PRONOUNCE THEM. With all the fuss over pronunciations today, one
would think that in Matthew 1:21 the angel of the Lord must have
stressed the pronunciation rather than the MEANING of the name of
Jesus. The fact is, God is FAR more concerned that TRUTH be
spoken, and with the reasons it is spoken than He is with HOW it
is spoken!
To better illustrate God's concern with the MEANING of names
(IDENTITIES), one should study in depth the reasons He CHANGED THE
FOLLOWING NAMES:
Genesis 17:5 Abram ("Lofty and exalted father") changed to Abraham
("Father of Multitudes").
Genesis 32:28 Jacob ("heel grabber") changed to Israel ("Prince of
God")
Genesis 17:15 Sarai ("domineering") changed to Sarah ("lady,
princess, queen")
Acts 13:9 Saul ("desire, demand") changed to Paul ("stop, cease")
Matthew 16:17-18 Simon ("hearing") changed to Peter ("large rock")
For the same reason (the types), God specified the exact name for
these SEVEN people before they were born:
Genesis 16:11 ISHMAEL ("El or God will hear")
Genesis 17:19 ISAAC ("laughter")
I Chronicles 22:9 SOLOMON ("peaceful")
I Kings 13:2 JOSIAH ("founded by Yahweh God)
Isaiah 44:28-45:1 CYRUS (Persian for "sun or throne")
Luke 1:13 JOHN ("favored by Yahweh")
Matthew 1:21 JESUS ("Yahweh or Yahwhoo Saves")
Revelation 22:4 says: "And they shall see his face; and name shall
be in their foreheads".
If you are familiar with Bible symbolism, you realize that "in the
forehead" is a reference to the mind. Does that simply mean that
the WORD "JESUS" or the WORD "YASHUA," etc., is in their mind?
Notice Revelation 19:11-13: "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a
white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and
True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes
were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he
had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was
clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called the
Word of God."
This symbolic description of Jesus states that He had a name that
no man knew, then it declares His name is called "THE WORD OF
GOD." The WORD OF GOD is not a single word (name) nor just a
phrase. The WORD OF GOD is as deep and as vast as ETERNITY itself.
It transcends all of space and encompasses all attributes and
characteristics of DIVINITY. Incorporated under the heading of
"THE WORD OF GOD" are tens of thousands of TYPES, SYMBOLS,
ALLEGORICAL PICTURES, PROPHECIES, MORAL INSTRUCTION, SPIRITUAL
LIFE GUIDELINES, and even HIDDEN KEYS THAT REVEAL ALL THINGS BOTH
NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL.
I Corinthians 2:7-10 and 14; "BUT WE SPEAK THE WISDOM OF GOD IN A
MYSTERY, EVEN THE HIDDEN WISDOM, WHICH GOD ORDAINED BEFORE THE
WORLD UNTO OUR GLORY: WHICH NONE OF THE PRINCES (wise men) OF THIS
WORLD KNEW: FOR HAD THEY KNOWN IT, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CRUCIFIED
THE LORD OF GLORY: BUT AS IT IS WRITTEN, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR
EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS
WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM. BUT GOD HATH
REVEALED THEM UNTO US BY HIS SPIRIT: FOR THE SPIRIT SEARCHETH ALL
THINGS, YEA, THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD. " "BUT THE NATURAL MAN
RECEIVETH NOT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD: FOR THEY ARE
FOOLISHNESS UNTO HIM: NEITHER CAN HE KNOW THEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE
SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED. "
Romans 1:20; "FOR THE INVISIBLE THINGS OF HIM FROM THE CREATION OF
THE WORLD ARE CLEARLY SEEN, BEING UNDERSTOOD BY THE THINGS THAT
ARE MADE, EVEN HIS ETERNAL POWER AND GODHEAD, SO THAT THEY ARE
WITHOUT EXCUSE. "
Psalms 19:14; "THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD: AND THE
FIRMAMENT SHEWETH HIS HANDIWORK. DAY UNTO DAY UTTERETH SPEECH, AND
NIGHT UNTO NIGHT SHEWETH KNOWLEDGE. THERE IS NO SPEECH NOR
LANGUAGE, WHERE THEIR VOICE IS NOT HEARD. THEIR LINE IS GONE OUT
THROUGH ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE END OF THE WORLD. IN
THEM HATH HE SET A TABERNACLE FOR THE SUN. "
These verses and others show us quite clearly that EVERYTHING
which God created is intended to symbolize, represent, and
"PREACH" about His GLORIOUS GREATNESS and the multiple attributes
of His DIVINE NATURE. This is true whether we study the spiritual
principles illustrated in the many different arrangements or
electrons and protons (which make up the various elements) or even
if we simply study the characteristics of various plants and
animals or parts of the human body.
Someone might ask, "BUT WHAT DOES ALL THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE
NAME?" Friend, that should be obvious at this point in our study.
THE NAME OF THE LORD IS HIS IDENTITY and that IDENTITY IS
EXPRESSED THROUGH HIS WORD! Notice the following:
THE "WORD" CREATED ALL THINGS...John 1:1-3 " In the beginning was
the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same
was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him: and
without him was not any thing made that was made."
THE "WORD" IS THE SOURCE OF FAITH AND THEREFORE THE SOURCE OF
SALVATION. Romans 10:13-17; "For whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him
in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him
of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a
preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is
written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel
of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not
all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed
our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God."
THE "WORD" IS THE MEANS OF SPIRITUAL CONCEPTION.("begat,"
"begotten") James 1:18; "Of his own will begat he us with the word
of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his
creatures."
I Corinthians 4:15; "For though ye have ten thousand instructors
in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I
have begotten you through the gospel." 1 Peter 1:23; "Being born
again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word
of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. " (The Greek word
which is translated "born again" in this scripture can also be
translated "begotten". It is obvious that it should have been so
rendered in this text as the context speaks of the part of the
father, the giving of seed in order to produce life. The aspect of
being "born" is of course the mother's job, and is not the
immediate result of the "seed" of the father.)
THE "WORD" IS THE MEANS OF SPIRITUAL "BIRTH"...John 3:3 & 5;
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, Verily, I say unto
thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God." " Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a
man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God." (The "water" is definitely not literal, but is
the "water of life" which is mentioned in Ephesians 5:26).
THE "WORD" IS THE MEANS OF SPIRIT AND LIFE...John 6:53-54,63;
"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except
ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have
no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath
eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." "It is
the spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing: the words
that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life".
THE "WORD" IS THE WEAPON (protection) OF THE Spirit. Ephesians
5:17; "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God:"
THE "WORD" IS THE SEED WHICH PRODUCES TRUE SPIRITUAL LIFE IN
HONEST HEARTS. Luke 8:11 and context; "Now the parable is this:
The seed is the word of God."
With these thoughts in mind, it should be obvious to us that when
the Bible says there is no salvation in any other "NAME," IT IS
SAYING THE SAME AS "THERE IS NO SALVATION EXCEPT THROUGH THE TRUE
WORD (identity) OF GOD. "Now, the question SHOULD be considered:
IS ALL BIBLE PREACHING TRULY THE WORD OF GOD? OUR ETERNITY
DESTINY IS AT STAKE. Please study the following thoughts and
scriptures:
(1) MIRACLES, CASTING OUT OF DEVILS, and GOOD WORKS DO NOT PROVE
THAT THE PREACHING IS THE WORD OF GOD. Study Matthew 7:13-23,
Matthew 24:24, II Thessalonians 2:8-12.
(2) PREACHING FROM THE BIBLE IS NOT PROOF THAT THE TEACHINGS ARE
THE WORD OF GOD. Study II Peter 3:16.
(3) PREACHING SOME TRUTH (PART of the WORD) IS NOT PROOF THAT ALL
TEACHINGS ARE TRUE. Study II Corinthians 2:17 and 4:2.
(4) IF A PREACHER MIXES MAN'S TRADITIONS WITH THE WORD, IT CANCELS
ITS EFFECTIVENESS. Study Mark 7:13.
(5) SIMPLY READING THE BIBLE DOES NOT SUPPLY YOU WITH THE WORD OF
GOD. IT MUST BE UNDERSTOOD AS SPIRITUAL SYMBOLISM AND ALLEGORY
RATHER THAN JUST LITERAL HISTORY (Gal. 4:22-26, John 5:39, I Cor.
10:1-13, Hebrews 8:5, I Cor. 2:14, etc.). II Corinthians 3:13-16
shows us that even the chosen people of the Old Covenant could not
grasp the spiritual meaning of the scriptures. They saw them only
as HISTORICAL and MORAL instruction. They were really MUCH MORE
than that! EVERY HISTORICAL ACCOUNT IN THE SCRIPTURES REVEALS
PROPHESIES AND TEACHINGS FOR TODAY.
Many people call their BIBLE their "SWORD" (from Ephesians 6:17
which says the sword of the Spirit is the WORD OF GOD). Though we
FULLY agree that we OBTAIN the WORD OF GOD from the Bible, we must
emphasize, THE BIBLE IN ITSELF IS NOT THE WORD OF GOD (It must be
given SPIRITUAL MEANING and APPLICATION to become the WORD OF
GOD).
If the BIBLE itself is LITERALLY the WORD OF GOD, then:
1) Bibles "increased" in the first century A.D. Acts 6:7
2) Saved people EAT BIBLES. Hebrews 6:5, John 6:53-63
3) John 1:1 would mean, "In the beginning was the BIBLE, and the
BIBLE was with God, and the BIBLE WAS GOD."
4) Since salvation is by the word of God, lost people would need
only to read the Bible to be saved. In that case, the greatest
work that could be accomplished would be to see that everyone has
a Bible. That is NOT the case!
In order to finish briefly answering the questions we presented at
the beginning of this booklet, we need to consider the NAME FOR
THE CHURCH. Thousands of names are used by men today to NAME
CHURCHES. The BIBLE makes use of only THREE NAMES USED BY CHURCHES
TODAY (Acts 20:28, I Corinthians 1:2, 10:32, 11:22, 15:9,
Galatians 1:13, I Timothy 3:5, I Thessalonians 2:14, Romans 16:16,
etc.). Since the word "CHURCH" and the word "ASSEMBLY" are BOTH
correct translations of the Greek word used in these texts, then
the names "CHURCH OF GOD," "ASSEMBLY OF GOD," and "CHURCHES OF
CHRIST" would all SEEM to have BIBLICAL BASIS. Yet, Jesus' prayer
in John 17:12 begs the Father to KEEP FOLLOWERS AS "ONE" or in
UNITY through the FATHER'S NAME. From our study of the MEANING of
the word "NAME," we should easily realize that Jesus' request was
for UNITY resulting from a common knowledge of the TRUE
CHARACTERISTICS and IDENTITY of the Father. Since the WORD OF GOD
reveals the Father, the REAL ANSWER to Jesus' prayer only comes to
pass when FULNESS OF REVEALED TRUTH IS PREACHED! IT WILL NEVER BE
FULFILLED BY HAVING CERTAIN WORDS ON A SIGN ON A CHURCH BUILDING!
Mankind has always been concerned with certain WORDS or LITERAL
PHRASES which are written down or spoken. The TRUE and LIVING GOD
(whether you call Him Elohim, Yahweh, Yawhoo, Jehovah, Lord,
Father, or even Jesus, Yehowshuwa, Yahshua, Yeshua, Joshua, etc.)
IS CONCERNED WITH SPIRITUAL MEANINGS AND PRINCIPLES. So the only
way that you and I can truly approach God in the "name" of Jesus,
is to study and assimilate in our hearts the "identity" (i.e.
SYMBOLICALLY the name) of Jesus, and then God will truly "see" us
"IN CHRIST".