Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 9
The apostle John’s second letter, though brief, speaks volumes about the Christian walk and how we are to keep ourselves from the many deceivers who do not teach the true doctrine of Christ.
Peloubet’s Bible Dictionary admits that “There is something surprising and mysterious in the first appearance of Melchizedek, and in the subsequent reference to him.”
Genesis 14:18-20 relates about Melchizedek, “king of Salem” and “priest of God Most High.” He came to meet with Abram (later renamed Abraham) after Abram’s victorious campaign against the captors of his nephew Lot and his household. [See: The Children of Abraham.]
This question is only meaningful to those who believe that this our planet earth — not heaven — is the reward of those “saved” in Christ. For most people who profess faith in Jesus, “Earth is not thy goal,” as a religious song asserts.
To settle this question from God’s word, the Bible, please see this link: http://www.herbert-armstrong.org , click ENTER HERE, select “Books & Booklets” and scroll down to the booklet titled “What Is the Reward of the Saved?” [Also, see: What Happens to Man After Death?]
Amnesia: 1: loss of memory due usually to brain injury, shock, fatigue, repression, or illness 2: a gap in one’s memory 3: the selective overlooking or ignoring of events or acts that are not favorable or useful to one’s purpose or position (Webster).
Amnesia, as Webster’s definition #1 says, has been the subject of many stories — real or imagined. An outstanding example is the true story of Anastasia, the Russian czar’s heiress who had amnesia and had forgotten who she really was.
Many who profess faith in Christ believe in His first and second coming to this our planet earth. They would refer to the “first” coming as God’s miraculously becoming a human fetus in the womb of the virgin Mary. This is theologically called “the incarnation.” The well-told story is found in Luke 1-2 and in parallel accounts in Matthew 1-2 and John 1. Many people around the world celebrate December 25 as the supposed date of the birth of Jesus Christ. In fact, Christmas is also often called Jesus’ “Advent,” which is another word for “coming.” (As we’d say, “With the advent of the computer, manual typewriters have now become junk to most people, or at best museum pieces.”) [See: True Worship and Feast of John the Baptist.]
Grabbing the world’s attention nowadays, as I write, is the just over two-month-old “martial law” declared in May 2017, throughout the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, by President Rodrigo “Digong” Roa-Duterte. Martial law was imposed by Duterte because of “rebellion” and threat to national security and integrity by the ISIS [Islamic State]-inspired “Maute” group, comprised mainly by ethnic Maranao Muslims and led by one with the family name “Maute.” The 90% Islamic City of Marawi, in the Mindanao Province of Lanao del Sur, was the target of the “Maute” group for establishing a province of the Islamic “caliphate,” much like what happened in Syria and Iraq. [See: The Children of Abraham.]
On the 24th of June each year many people in the Philippines celebrate what the Roman Catholic Church has designated as the Feast of Saint John the Baptist. The same feast is also celebrated in most other countries where there are Roman Catholics.
In many cities, towns and barrios in the Philippines people would traditionally douse water on their neighbors and passersby on this day. This is supposedly to commemorate the birth of the prophet John, who went about baptizing in all of Judea during the time of Jesus Christ (the first century A.D.).
In the Philippines, as in other countries, great value, weight or importance is placed upon the firstborn child in the family. As the firstborn (eldest) son or daughter, the panganay (Tagalog) or kinamaguangan (Cebuano) is traditionally raised up to be a kind of surrogate father or mother to help take care of the younger siblings. This was the practice especially when Filipino families were large.
The kakâ, as Tagalogs address the eldest sibling in the family, often helps discipline the younger siblings. In some cases the kakâ is expected, or chooses, to help in supporting the schooling of their younger siblings. Some firstborn here have ended up becoming old maids or old bachelors while thus supporting their siblings and, in some cases, their elderly or sickly parents, too.
It is a long-accepted truism that mankind is a bundle of extremes. Like a pendulum, at one time men’s opinion on a matter may swing one way and the next time the other way. For example, years ago baggy pants were the fashion. Now trendy pants are as tight as they can be!
But at most times men tend to be “polarized” — some people are camped in one opinion while others are camped in an opposite opinion. America’s well-established two-party political system is a good example of polarity.
Hebrews 10:4 declares: “For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” But how come, in Leviticus 4 and 5, for example, there is abundant mention of sin and trespass offering of bulls and goats, and through them the sins of the people of Israel were forgiven (Leviticus 4:19, 26, 35; 5:10, 13, 16, 18).
How do we reconcile this seeming discrepancy?