Bible Doctrine

In the 7th chapter of Luke’s gospel narrative, we are given the account of how a Pharisee named Simon was gracious to Jesus Christ, inviting Him into his home and serving Him a meal The account begins with verse 36 and concludes with verse 50. What is interesting about this account is how apparently insulting Jesus Christ was to this man who played His host, telling him, “I entered into your house, you gave me no water for my feet…Thou gave me no kiss…My head with oil you did not anoint.” He then spoke of how little love He was shown by Simon, His host.

On another occasion, Jesus Christ told a group of Pharisees, “You are of your father, the devil.” Pretty insulting words those, huh? But we do a man no favor when we ignore his deceptions and speak nothing but smooth and comforting words to him.

How many pastors tailor their Sunday message to their audience. If they know in their congregation they have two abortion doctors and several nurses who daily assist with abortions, are they going to call a spade a spade and say what the Bible really says about the murderous practice of abortion? If they are true representatives of Jesus Christ, they will say what God says on any given matter. If they can’t bring themselves to speak the words of their Lord, His prophets and apostles forthrightly and clearly – and in love – they need to get a job at Walmart or teach mathematics at the local high school or anything other than presenting themselves as representatives of Jesus Christ.

Two Mormon ladies visited me some years ago, introducing themselves as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I could have been super gracious to them and placated them, telling them, “Well you dear sisters serve the Lord in your fashion and are evidently faithful children of heavenly Father just like myself.” I didn’t. I stopped them short, telling them, “You are NOT the church of Jesus Christ.” I did not spit out the words in anger, red-faced and clenching my fists. I just corrected them boldly and in unmistakable language. Were they insulted? Perhaps, I don’t know. But they were given pause to THINK. If the only service I ever render to the Most High is to get folks to THINK, then I shall be satisfied with my service. I believe the Lord will be satisfied as well.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Jesus said, “If a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (See Mark 3:25). Satan knows this quite well as he had succeeded in dividing the kingdom of Israel into two entirely separate kingdoms many centuries before, the northern and southern kingdoms, kingdoms so at odds with one another that  they repeatedly engaged in battles with one another, costing thousands of Israelite lives.

Satan is extremely clever in the manner in which he divides or separates those formerly in union with one another.  He makes the separation appear as God ordained as well as beneficial to those instrumental in bringing about division between those who formerly were in harmony one with another.  His greatest feat of division occurred soon after our Lord’s ascension back into heaven following His resurrection, and that one great divisive doctrine was that the fourth commandment had been changed, repealed, made null and void.  The first time Sunday, or the first day of the week is mentioned in the history of the early church is in the 20th chapter of the Book of Acts, verse 7: “And upon the first day of the week , when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow, and continued his speech until midnight.”

Now here is the way multitudes read that 7th verse of Acts 20: “And when Sunday, the new Christian day of worship, arrived when the disciples gathered themselves together to take communion, Paul preached unto them,continuing his sermon until midnight.”  And that verse says nothing of the kind!  First, one must consider the revelation given in verses 25 and 36 through 38 in order to understand just why these disciples gathered themselves together on that first day of the week so long ago.  And it was NOT to observe Sunday as a holy day or to take communion. The Lord’s Supper is not even alluded to in that 7th verse of Acts 20.

Here are the eye opening verses of Acts 20:25 and 36 through 38. Paul is speaking and says, “And now, behold, I know that ye all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, SHALL SEE MY FACE NO MORE……”And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke THAT THEY SHOULD SEE HIS FACE NO MORE.  And they accompanied him unto the ship.”  It had been advertised by his companions that the mighty apostle Paul was passing through the area and would soon arrive in Troas enroute to Jerusalem and would never return to that area again.  (See Acts 20:4-5 with Acts 21:4).  The disciples in Troas learned that Paul would be departing from that city on Monday.  Therefore, they hastened to hear him preach one last time the previous day, which just happened to fall on the first day of the week.  Nothing in this text says anything about God’s eternal sacred sabbath having been abolished and Sunday made a new holy day for Christians.  Nor is the Lord’s Supper even mentioned.  The term “to break bread” was common terminology of the day meaning merely to eat a meal!  (See Acts 27:33-36).  And even if they had shared the Lord’s Supper on that first day of the week, there is not the slightest hint that Sunday had then replaced God’s holy sabbath with the long celebrated day honoring the sun god!  To be continued…..

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Have you ever thought about what Jesus said about the sabbath day the very last time He mentions that holy day? His very last mention of the sabbath day is found in what is commonly called the Olivet Prophecy. This lengthy prophecy is found in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. (John does not include the Olivet Prophecy in his gospel account).

Here is what Jesus said: “But pray ye that your flight (from the Roman armies as they destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D.) be not in the winter, NEITHER ON THE SABBATH DAY!” (See Matthew 24:20). Now why would Jesus say they should be concerned about not having to flee on the sabbath day? Did He not know that the sabbath day was going to be abolished in less than a week when He died on the cross? No, He did not know that and the reason He did not know it is because the sabbath was never abolished and never will be abolished. Not only was the sabbath to remain a holy day in 70 A.D., but, through His prophet Isaiah, God declares that the sabbath day will remain holy after the creation of the new heavens and new earth: “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make shall remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another (month in and month out), and from one sabbath to another, shall ALL FLESH (Jew, Gentile, Old Covenant redeemed and New Covenant redeemed) come to worship before me, says the Lord!” (See Isaiah 66:22-23).

There’s your authority, “says the Lord!” These are not the clever arguments of men. They are God’s clearly stated truths. Some might be insulted by what they have just read. If so, God Himself has insulted them, not Donald Wiley. And God have mercy on you if you are insulted, because if God’s Word insults you then you are utterly estranged from your Lord.

The prophet Jeremiah said it well when he said, “Our fathers have inherited lies!” (See Jeremiah 16:19). Any truly anointed teacher of God’s word in the year 2024 can say, and ought to say, the same thing. Christian ministers have inherited lies from those who preceded them, and one of the greatest lies they have inherited is that God’s holy eternal sabbath day has been replaced by Sunday observance. As a youth, I bought into that lie, but decades ago our Lord opened my eyes to the truth about His sacred sabbath and I assure you I will be striving diligently to honor that holy day until the day my eyes close in death. God have mercy on you if you do not do the same.

Jesus warned us that we will fall into great and grievous error if we remain ignorant of the Hebrew scriptures and that we worship Him in vain if we lay aside one of the Ten Commandments in order to hold to the tradition of men.  (See Mark 12:24-27 and Mark 7:5-13).  

From time to time I have Sunday observers urge me to lay aside my sabbath keeping and join them in honoring Sunday as a holy day.  They, of course, are certain their profound knowledge of the scriptures eclipses my shallow understanding of God’s Word.  It is pointless trying to reason with such minds.  The Lord’s counsel was and is “Let them alone,” for spiritual truth and enlightenment cannot be force fed.  The Lord will address all such issues at His judgment seat someday.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

If someone bought a brand new Bible and then took a yellow highlighter felt pen and began reading that Bible starting at Genesis 2:2-3, highlighting each and every verse that mentioned the Sabbath, continuing through the entire Bible. they would discover that in God’s mind the Sabbath was, is, and most likely ever shall be a period of time dear to His heart, a period of time of which He has ever been supremely jealous, and a period of time of which He would permit no change or neglect.

When coming to the gospels and reading those four accounts, one would quickly see that any lessening, desecrating, or change in the Sabbath was the one offense that brought the Jews instantly to white hot anger.

Therefore, to think, even for a passing moment, that God would without any warning or careful instruction move His eternal Sabbath to Sunday – a day held sacred to the worship of the sun god for thousands of years – well, the idea is absolutely ludicrous. It would have been as ludicrous as if the apostles had introduced infant sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem shortly after Jesus ascension back to heaven! And, believe me, I do not exaggerate in the least in making that comparison.

Satan’s blinding power is phenomenal, mind-boggling, stupendous, incredible and without equal or peer throughout the universe. He can introduce a false concept or belief so cleverly and in so many minds that the plain and simple truth is quickly abandoned and profound error accepted and believed by the majority! Doubt the utter validity of the two preceding sentences and I assure you, in all likelihood, YOU are one of those countless millions whose mind is heavily influenced by profound and clever satanic error.

From the very start of His earthly ministry, Jesus warned that not one jot or tittle, not one tiny change would be allowed in the holy and sacred Ten Commandments. He said heaven and earth would pass away before that would be allowed to happen. (Read Matthew 5,6 and 7 slowly and carefully if you doubt the validity of that statement).

Do NOT look at what others accept as truth in order to determine what is truth. Scripture warns that Satan deceives THE WHOLE WORLD! (See Revelation 12:9). Be different, almost unique – BELIEVE THE SCRIPTURES. Cast aside the denominational eyeglasses through which you view the scriptures. Ask God to grant you the ability to have and keep a truly open mind. Forget momentarily what Reverend So-and-So believes, what Pastor What’s-His-Name teaches, what your saintly grandmother accepted as Bible truth. PROVE all things of a spiritual nature as COMMANDED to do by scripture itself. And God help you, my friend, to understand.

Our Lord’s Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

HOW FAR WOULD RECONSTRUCTION HAVE PROGRESSED AFTER THE CIVIL WAR HAD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DECREED EVERY WHITE SOUTHERN GOVERNOR WOULD BE REPLACED WITH A FORMER BLACK SLAVE? RECONSTRUCTION WOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO A STANDSTILL. THE GROWTH OF CHRISTIANITY WOULD HAVE SIMILARLY BEEN BROUGHT TO A STANDSTILL IF GOD, WITHOUT WARNING, HAD REPLACED HIS ETERNAL HOLY SABBATH WITH SUNDAY OBSERVANCE. READ YOUR GOSPELS, FRIEND, AND SEE HOW THE JEWS REGARDED THE SABBATH RIGHT UP TO THE MOMENT OF CHRIST’S DEATH.

“TO HIM WHO KNOWS TO DO GOOD AND DOES NOT DO IT, TO HIM IT IS SIN” (JAMES 4:17). TO THOSE WHO HONESTLY DO NOT KNOW WHETHER GOD’S HOLY SABBATH IS STILL VALID AND VIOLATE THE SANCTITY OF THAT DAY, GOD DOES NOT CHARGE THEM WITH SIN.  IT IS ONLY WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS SHINED THE LIGHT OF TRUTH INTO THEIR MIND AND HEART AND THEY REJECT THAT ILLUMINATION THAT THEY ARE CHARGED WITH SIN FOR VIOLATING GOD’S HOLY ETERNAL SABBATH DAY.

“TO HIM WHO KNOWS TO DO GOOD AND DOES NOT DO IT, TO HIM IT IS SIN” (JAMES 4:17). TO THOSE WHO HONESTLY DO NOT KNOW WHETHER GOD’S HOLY SABBATH IS STILL VALID AND VIOLATE THE SANCTITY OF THAT DAY, GOD DOES NOT CHARGE THEM WITH SIN.  IT IS ONLY WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS SHINED THE LIGHT OF TRUTH INTO THEIR MIND AND HEART AND THEY REJECT THAT ILLUMINATION THAT THEY ARE CHARGED WITH SIN FOR VIOLATING GOD’S HOLY ETERNAL SABBATH DAY.

The following small article was written to my brother at 9:37 a.m., Monday, April 21, 2014.

Jesus did not portray Himself as a wealthy man with servants who treated Him much as royalty is treated, hurrying to the table after He ate and departed to see if He was through eating. Remember, the chief priests and Pharisees urged Pilate to make the tomb secure as they feared His disciples would come and steal the body and then claim He had risen from the dead. (See Matthew 27:62-66). When Peter entered the tomb “he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass” (See Luke 24:12). John’s account adds: “Then cometh Simon Peter following him (John), and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself” (See John 20:6-7). This proved NO ONE stole Jesus’ body, not the other disciples, not His enemies – NO ONE! If you are going to steal a body you wouldn’t strip it naked before departing the tomb with the corpse. You wouldn’t neatly fold the garments placed on the dead body. And the napkin wasn’t a dinner napkin! It was the napkin used with a burial shroud, much larger than a dinner napkin. Oh, He is coming back alright, but He didn’t leave a neatly folded dinner napkin to indicate He was returning. And He is not returning to a tomb. I think this synopsis makes a bit more sense than the folded dinner napkin scenario, doesn’t it?

The following follow-up article was also written to my brother at 11:16 a.m., Monday, April 21, 2014.

I wish the errors of the theologians, preachers, Bible teachers, etc. were as inconsequential as that of the folded napkin. If one would just read the account of Jesus’ burial and resurrection slowly and carefully – actually reading the closing chapters of each gospel account carefully, they would, or should, realize that the number one thought paramount in the minds of the Jews was that Jesus was a deceiver, that He could not have come back from the dead due to the horrible death he died, i.e., the beating, the spear in the side, the crucifixion itself. They should then realize the true significance of the folded head napkin and carefully laid aside burial shroud. Grave robbers, those who are trying to avoid detection by Roman tomb guards, those who come into a darkened tomb at night, would NOT disrobe the body and carefully lay aside the grave clothes. Upon seeing such, the disciples had to have immediately entertained the idea that He had indeed risen from the dead, although not yet quite believing the same not knowing the scriptures that foretold that this would occur. It was just too good to be true. But, just as the risen Lord asked for a bit of fish and honeycomb to eat in order to show them he was not a mere apparition, He could have also said, “Remember the graveclothes when you entered the tomb?” Who disrobes a corpse before stealing the same when haste is paramount in getting in and out of the tomb and away from the vicinity as quickly as possible without raising suspicion. If the theologians and preachers, etc., could only set aside their preconceived ideas, the beliefs they were spoon-fed by their predecessors, pastors, seminary professors, etc., they might then see their more profound and far reaching errors such as Sunday observance replacing Sabbath observance, death actually being death until a resurrection, God giving all humankind a grand opportunity at inheriting eternal life, instead of just a few and most of them being white folks! I fear most of them don’t even have God’s Spirit. They are just religious, morally upright, fine human beings and all, but NOT sons of the Most High God – at least not yet. Remember, Jesus did say, “My sheep HEAR my voice.” They listen to the truth and receive the same, not attempt to argue it down and proceed to embrace and teach spiritual error all their days in the flesh, even attacking and disparaging the children of God who do have, walk in and teach the ways of God more correctly.

Christ’s Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Until the moment of my death, right up until the moment I exhale my last breath and am unable to form even the semblance of a rational thought, I will remain thoroughly mystified at how professing Christians, their pastors as well as the members of a given congregation, how they are totally unable to understand Bible doctrine and truth. To my mind, this is unarguable proof that Satan really does exist, that there is an invisible, intangible blinding power at work on this earth fully capable of preventing the human mind from comprehending and understanding God’s Word. I say I am mystified in that I cannot fathom how Satan is able to do this so profoundly. I know that scripture says one’s sin gives Satan the opportunity to move and influence the human mind and thinking, but still I am perplexed at how this spirit being can so effectively blind even the scholars – those who read and write both the Hebrew and Greek languages and who minutely study the scriptures in the original languages in which they were written.

Humans have ever and always been swayed by great oratory and the power of passionate speaking. Adolf Hitler proved that point quite well. I have no doubt Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon church, was in all likelihood a mesmerizing speaker. Pope John Paul II was able to enthrall an audience with his powerful speaking. Evangelist Billy Graham, using the simplest of language and words, was able to fill huge stadiums with people eager to hear him speak, some driving from neighboring states in order to hear him preach. Yet gross error issued from the lips of every one of these men, though some, like Billy Graham did possess and teach a great deal of truth also.

We can’t say we weren’t warned. Over and over again throughout the scriptures the warning is sounded loud and clear that this world would be plagued with false prophets and teachers, and that many of them would do wondrous works – even apparent miracles. But through His prophet Isaiah, God warned, “If they do not speak according to this Word (God’s Word), it is because there is no light in them” (See Isaiah 8:20). And it is through that same prophet God declared, “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, says the Lord, So shall your seed and your name remain (the true followers of the Lord). And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another (month in and month out), and from one Sabbath to another, shall ALL FLESH (Jew, Gentile, Caucasian, oriental, etc.) come to worship before me, says the Lord!” (See Isaiah 66:22-23). They may spurn the Sabbath in this world. They won’t spurn it in the next for scripture declares in both Old and New Testaments that Jesus will rule this planet’s inhabitants with a rod of iron, forcing compliance to His will and way. (See Psalm 2:8-12 and Revelation 2:26-27). And isn’t it amazing that our Lord will have to force the rebellious to honor a day that was given them for their delight and enjoyment and fellowship with Him. Again see Isaiah 58:13-14.

I know, of course, that the one who spurns Sabbath observance does not do so with a malevolent heart or spirit. Most really are convinced God’s Sabbath ended when Jesus was resurrected from the dead. They have been taught this falsehood by their pastors who were themselves deceived into believing the devil’s lies. God will sort them out someday as to what they knew or didn’t know. It would be better by far if they would sort it out themselves in the here and now rather than just going along with the majority opinion. Folks, Sunday is NOT a holy day and is never called a holy day in scripture. The Sabbath IS a holy day and scripture declares that it is eternal and will always be holy time even in the new heavens and new earth.

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley