Bible Doctrine

Sin is not impossible for the fully surrendered child of God – but it is unbearable! The very instant the totally surrendered child of God sins there is conviction. One’s conscience is immediately assaulted and the sinner knows they are then unclean in the sight of their heavenly Father. They have the sense they have failed. Remorse sweeps over them like waves crashing against the seashore. Inwardly they cry out, “My God, what have I done? Wash and cleanse me from my sin. Restore to me the joy of my salvation.”

It is tragic in the extreme that many Christians are totally convinced all God sees when He looks at them is the righteousness of Jesus Christ regardless of any sin they might commit. When both the Psalmist and the apostle Paul speak of how blessed is the one to whom the Lord will not impute sin, the context in both instances show that forsaken sins OF THE PAST are spoken of as being forgotten and forgiven. (See Psalm 32:1-5 and Romans 4:6-8).

Jesus warned that “Whosoever commits sin is the servant (slave) of sin” (See John 8:34). “If the Son therefore shall make you free (from sinning), you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). Jesus is an expert at what He does! But He works His wonders in the arena of faith. If Satan can convince you that no human being can break with sin while still in the flesh, he knows that such a person will then have no faith to believe continual holiness and purity of life is possible. The result is such a believer instantly lacks faith in God’s ability to work and, therefore, God cannot work in such a life. Satan will bring to mind three or four scripture passages that seemingly support his erroneous doctrine. Literally scores of victory passages are forgotten. Passages seemingly supporting defeat are remembered and the child of God is made a servant of sin. Believer, how do YOU view sin? Is it unbearable or inescapable for you?

God help you to understand.

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

Donald Wiley

(This article was first written April 15, 2016).

Remember that we are dealing with a God who drowned every single human being on earth save for the members of one small family. God has a flip side. Unlike many human beings, God says what He means and means what He says. We need to keep that thought in mind when we read the Holy scriptures.

Many humans, even believers, will spend countless hours glued to their television sets and seldom, if ever, read the scriptures. The scriptures contain the mind of God. They tell us how God thinks, what troubles Him, what angers and even infuriates Him. We can be thankful that God is slow to wrath, has perfect control of His temper and is great in mercy. But scripture warns He will not stifle his anger forever.

Who would you hold to a stricter standard of conduct, your eighteen year old son or your eight year old son both guilty of the same offense? Who do you think God holds to a stricter standard, one who was converted many decades ago or one who was converted last summer? And what does the new convert say about you if now he reads his Bible daily and seeks to be well pleasing to God in every choice he makes?

It is a devil’s lie that all God sees when He looks at a Christian is the righteousness of Jesus Christ. When God looks at you He sees YOU! When first converted and the blood of Jesus Christ is applied to our past never forget that THAT is what has just occurred. Our godless, unholy, sinful PAST is obliterated. Any sin we then commit after that point God sees and commands that it be confessed AND FORSAKEN! (Read the first three chapters of Revelation if you doubt what I just said). “If WE (we believers) confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9). Yes, at that point, not before. “He that covers his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). Don’t return to your sins like a dog returning to its’ vomit. Don’t return to your sins like a sow returning to wallow in the mud after being washed! (See 2 Peter 2:22; Also Isaiah 55:7).

Yes, God punishes unforsaken sin in the believer’s life. “But if you be without chastisement, whereof all (God’s sons and daughters) are partakers, THEN ARE YOU BASTARDS (illegimate children – not truly converted), and not sons” (Hebrews 12:8).

Jesus Christ warned in the clearest, plainest language that multitudes will hear Him say to them, “Depart from me you workers of iniquity I NEVER KNEW YOU!” Those “believers” who continue in sin day in and day out will learn too late that Jesus always said what He meant and meant what He said. Their argument that Jesus was only speaking to the Jews in the four gospel accounts will prove to be an empty argument. God help us all to understand and to daily walk in righteousness, bringing every thought into captivity to Jesus Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 10:5; Mark 7:20-23; Matthew 23:25-26; I Peter 1:14-16 and Isaiah 45:7).

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

Donald Wiley

The only time the above statement is absolutely true and factual to the most extreme or nth degree is when the person saying it is complete in Jesus Christ, walking in holiness and purity of life day by day. When a transgender person makes that claim they defame God. When a lesbian or homosexual says “God made me this way,” they, too, defame their Creator.

In the beginning God made human beings male and female, distinctly different from one another. No human power on earth can change that distinction. Body parts can be surgically removed or altered, hormones can be injected, the way one clothes themself can be dramatically changed, personal pronouns can be switched and a female can adopt a male’s name or vice versa, still the male remains a male and the female remains a female.

God have mercy on those who attempt to corrupt God’s handiwork and insist God is the corrupter thereof. They will have a heavy price to pay either in this life or the next.

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

Donald Wiley

The souls under the altar in Revelation 6:9 are told “that they should rest yet for a little season until their fellow servants also and their brethren that should be killed as they were should be fulfilled” (verse 11, Revelation 6). If one allows the Bible to interpret the Bible, they will find these words in Isaiah Chapter 57, verses 1 and 2: “The righteous PERISH (DIE), and no man lays it to heart (consider what is really happening), and merciful men are taken away (by death), none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace. THEY SHALL REST IN THEIR BEDS, each one walking in his uprightness.”

The “beds” these righteous who perish rest in are their death beds – their graves! There is even an old Christian hymn that contains the words “shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming, ” the well known hymn “Softly and Tenderly.” Remember, the Bible over and over again refers to death as “sleep.” It would only naturally follow that one’s grave would then be called their bed.

Revelation 6:9 speaks of “the souls of them that were slain.” These are not living souls, but slain or dead souls. I AM a soul. You ARE a soul. We don’t have souls residing within us. We ARE souls, that is we are living, breathing beings. That’s what an abundance of scripture reveals the soul to be.

Although the text in Revelation 6 says that these slain souls speak or cry out, this language is figurative and not to be taken literally. It is similar to the figurative language employed in Psalm 19 where the earth and sky are said to utter speech and that “there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.” (See Psalm 19, verses 1-4).

Anyone who uses the text in Revelation 6 to prove that martyrs go to heaven when they die must also teach that they then are gathered under this great altar and cry out, “How long, O Lord, how long?” They appear to be getting a little tired, if not frustrated at remaining under this altar. Heaven isn’t all it’s cracked up to be evidently. It appears to be a place of frustration and not knowing what is going to happen next and when. When one takes obvious symbolic language and tries to force literalness into the text, well, they quickly run into some gigantic problems.

Stop and think for a moment. What would one find under an altar that historically was used to offer sacrifices to God – a lot of blood, right? It is the blood of these martyrs, like Abel’s shed blood, that cries out for vengeance. (See Genesis 4:10-11). Murdered Abel was actually not speaking at all. He was dead. These “souls under the altar” are actually not speaking at all. They, too, are dead, but their blood – figuratively shown to be pooling beneath this altar of sacrifice – is crying out for vengeance!

Solomon had it right when he wrote: “The dead know not anything!” (See Ecclesiastes 9:5). God gives foundational truth in the writings of the prophets and Hebrew scriptures. We are to build upon that foundational doctrine, not pit scripture against scripture and try to DISprove the accuracy of these Old Testament texts. (“Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return” is foundational truth. No later scripture contradicts that divine truth.  “He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14).  We tend to forget it.  Where does the sacred inspired record of God place the dead redeemed?  Asleep in the dust of the earth! (See Daniel 12:2).  Remember, it was Satan who introduced the lie “You shall not surely die.” (See Genesis 3:4 and 19). Satan was telling mother Eve, “Hey, girl, you have an immortal soul. You don’t really die. Death is only an illusion. Don’t listen to your Creator. Listen to me.”

He who has ears to hear, LET HIM HEAR!

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

Donald Wiley

In Job 42:7, God is speaking to a man named Eliphaz, and this is what God says to that man: “My wrath is kindled against you, and against your two friends, FOR YOU HAVE NOT SPOKEN OF ME THE THING THAT IS RIGHT!”

Preachers, ministers, evangelists, Bible teachers – we all better get it right. Many a preacher, in facing Jesus Christ at the judgment of believers, expecting to see His beaming smile and words of appreciation and thanks will instead hear the same words God spoke to Eliphaz many centuries ago.

I will yet stand before the judge of all the earth. I certainly do not want Him to look upon me in anger and disgust, and say, “Get out of my sight!” Therefore, when I write these articles I do so prayerfully and only after much intense study and perusal of all pertinent scripture. I read and reread carefully every word that I have written before I finally hit the “send” button. I never remotely consider whether I am in agreement with any preacher, or denomination, or the popular interpretation of some text. I earnestly seek to know whether or not I am saying what God’s Word really says in a given matter or subject.

There is going to be a lot of singing and jubilant hand clapping around the throne of Jesus Christ, but, at least for a time, there will also be some bitter weeping and mind-numbing sorrow. Let’s now look a bit more closely at Revelation 6, verses 9 through 11: “And when He (Jesus) had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain (yes, these DEAD souls) for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held (holding fast to the truth of God). And they cried with a loud voice (remember this passage, like much of Revelation is symbolic, not literal), saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our (shed) blood (which caused them TO DIE) on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them, and it was said unto them that they should rest (in their graves – that’s WHERE your Bible says we rest) yet for a little season until their fellow servants also and their brethren that should be killed as they were (note well these “souls” have been killed and are, therefore DEAD) should be fulfilled.”

Remember, the scriptures clearly state that you ARE a soul. You do NOT have a soul residing within you somewhere – not in your heart, not in your mind, not in each and every cell or atom of your body. The word “soul” comes from the Hebrew word nephesh, which means simply “a living, breathing creature.” There is no such thing as a disembodied soul. The disembodied, but invisible, souls of the dead are not flitting through the air 24/7 as folks breathe their last on this earth.

Your life is not in a “soul.” Your life is in your blood! Note well these inspired words of utter truth found in Leviticus 17: “And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eats any manner of blood (animal or human), I will even set my face against that soul (that person, that living being) that eats blood (note well, God Himself says souls CAN EAT), and will cut him off from among his people. FOR THE LIFE OF THE FLESH IS IN THE BLOOD” (verses 10 and 11).

Your Bible, your Creator, the Speaker of all truth, says your life resides in your blood – NOT in an immortal soul. The Bible nowhere ever connects those two words together – immortal and soul. Such would be a contradiction in terms. To be continued………

Christ’s Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

There is an old question, dating back to the 17th Century, that asks the question, “How many angels can fit on the head of a pin?” My question is this, “How many souls can God fit, or cram, under an altar?” Why do I ask such an apparently silly question? Because there is a passage in the Book of Revelation that some use as proof positive that one’s soul definitely does go to heaven or hell the moment a person dies. Here is that passage: “And when he (the Lamb mentioned in verse 1 of Revelation 6) had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?’ And white robes were given unto every one of them, and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled” (Revelation 6:9-11).

So, how many souls do you think God could fit under the altar of His temple in heaven? 

These “souls” are mentioned one more time in the Book of Revelation: “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them. And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).

The “they” spoken of as sitting on thrones refers back to the Lord’s army spoken of in the 19th verse of chapter 19. Those who were beheaded “for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God” bear witness to the fact that Jesus is the Son of God as plainly revealed in the Word of God! The worldwide religion that kills Christians executes them by decapitating them, cutting off their heads. That is one horrible characteristic that identifies the false religion that will yet rule the world at the time of the end, the last days of man’s rule on earth!

Now, returning to Revelation 6:9-11 and the curious phrase “souls under the altar,” think for a minute: what collects under an altar of sacrifice? Blood of course. And that is what John saw pooling under this altar. And that shed blood of the Lord’s servants cries out for vengeance in the same sense Abel’s blood cried out for vengeance when slain by his brother. “And the Lord said unto Cain, ‘Where is Abel, thy brother?’ And he said, ‘I know not. Am I my brother’s keeper?’ And He (the Lord) said, ‘What have you done? THE VOICE OF YOUR BROTHER’S BLOOD CRIES UNTO ME FROM THE GROUND.'” (Genesis 4:9-10. See also Hebrews 11:4). Was Abel’s blood literally crying out to God from the ground where it was spilled? Of course not. The Lord is using obvious figurative language, and He does the same in Revelation 6 when speaking of “the souls under the altar.”

God gives us basic foundational knowledge in the Hebrew scriptures. And over and over again God’s Word emphasizes; “The dead know nothing!” (See Ecclesiastes 9:5). “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goes forth (he exhales his last breath). He returns to his earth. IN THAT VERY DAY HIS THOUGHTS PERISH” (Psalm 146:3-4). “In death there is no remembrance of thee. In the grave who shall give thee thanks?” (Psalm 6:5).  Where does the prophet Daniel place deceased believers when we breathe our last?  “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake (be resurrected – brought back to life), some to everlasting life (yes, we are only HEIRS to everlasting life now), and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:20).  Paul said he believed ALL THINGS which are written in the law and in the prophets.  (See Acts 24:14).  Paul absolutely believed every statement of scripture in this paragraph.  Read them again.

The Book of Revelation uses a lot of symbolism and figurative language. Don’t take Revelation 6:10-11 and insist it is literal language being used there, especially when God emphasizes again and again that the dead are just that, really and truly dead, awaiting a resurrection to bring them back to life. (Oh, by the way, the apostles never contradict that truth of God, believe it or not).

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

Donald Wiley

At some point in time Donald Wiley will strike the keys of this keypad one last time. No one anywhere at any time will read and ponder anything new that I have written. My life course will have ended. I will join the great train of humanity that are now only memories. It is this knowledge that compels me to write, write, write.

I will be writing somewhat more on the theme “Souls Under The Altar,” as there is much more to be considered from the holy scriptures in order to understand Revelation 6, verses 9 through 11 aright, the passage that speaks of “the souls under the altar.”

In Genesis 4, verse 10, God is speaking to the first murderer, Cain, and says to him, “What have you done? THE VOICE OF YOUR BROTHER’S BLOOD CRIES UNTO ME FROM THE GROUND.” That statement, like the passage in Revelation 6 about the souls under the altar, is not to be taken literally. All God was saying to Cain was that Abel’s death needed to be avenged.

You have no idea how often I have praised God for the enlightenment and spiritual understanding He has given me. It amazes me that He would use someone like myself to speak on His behalf. The only explanation I can give is that given by the apostle Paul in I Corinthians 1:27, “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yes, and things which are not (are of no reputation, but are big fat zeroes) to bring to nought things that are (of great reputation), that no flesh should glory in his presence” (verses 27 through 29).

So, you see, I was a perfect candidate to be used by God. Perhaps some angel observing my former life said to God, “I have found a perfect candidate for you to forgive, impart to him your Spirit, and enlighten him in your word. His name is Donald Wiley.”

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

Donald Wiley

Folks who think they are “locked in” to salvation due to their belief that Jesus died on the cross to save them need to read “the rest of the story” as Paul Harvey would have put it. (Paul Harvey was a radio commentator who told human interest stories that always had a surprise ending. After sharing the ending of the story when coming back on the air following a commercial break, Paul Harvey would then say, “Now you know the rest of the story!”). those who wholeheartedly embrace the “once saved, always saved” doctrine need to hear the rest of the story.

I have no doubt all the members of the congregations in Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea probably thought they were “locked in” to salvation and had nothing to worry about. Read what Jesus Himself says to them as recorded in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Some of their pastors might have assured them that when Jesus spoke the words “it is finished” on the cross he was making reference to their secured salvation. Perhaps it didn’t dawn on them that when Jesus spoke those words He had not even died at that point. Therefore the penalty for sin had not even been paid yet when He said, “It is finished!” Therefore, He could not possibly have been referring to our salvation. And Paul plainly declares that Jesus was raised from the dead for our justification, and Jesus was a full three days away from being resurrected when He said, “It is finished!” So He could not have been referring to our salvation or justification when He uttered those words. (See Romans 4:25). The King James translators would have gone a long way in preventing far reaching confusion had they correctly translated the Greek word teleo (pronounced tel-EH’-o)) as “executed, discharged or performed” as teleo has all those meanings. Jesus realized there was one prophetic Psalm that had yet to be discharged or performed before He could die. He, therefore, cried out,”I thirst” prompting the Roman soldiers to lift a hyssop sponge filled with vinegar to His mouth (John 19:28-30), thereby fulfilling Psalm 69:21,”in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”

Many preachers have a bad habit of parroting one another. What one says most others say the same, especially if they realize the “great theologians” of centuries past have said the same thing. That is why there are entire denominations that hold to the “once saved, always saved” error.

Romans 8:38 contains a long list of things that cannot separate us from God. Nothing sinful is mentioned in that list, though, because Paul well knew and taught what Isaiah had warned about long before – that our sins can indeed separate us from God if not confessed and forsaken. (See Isaiah 59:2). The apostle John warned that the sexually immoral, murderers, idolators and ALL liars would be denied entrance into the holy city. (See Revelation 22:15). He further warned that if anyone by their belief or teaching deleted anything from the warnings given in that book they would find their names expunged from the Book of Life. (See Revelation 22:19). It matters not how secure one thinks himself, or herself, to be – they can still forfeit their salvation. I came perilously close to doing so myself. I know of what I speak. Think on these things and may our Lord give you light and understanding.

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

Donald Wiley

More than once Jesus said to His disciples, “Why reason ye among yourselves” (Matthew 16:8), or, “Why are you asking one another of what I said? Ask me!” Jesus is the source of eternal truth. If you want to get your doctrines and beliefs straight, saying what Jesus says in a given matter, go to Jesus, go to the Word of God – the Bible, especially the four gospel accounts that contain the very words that Jesus spoke.

Many in reading the scriptures, especially the gospel accounts – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – fail to take into account the preconceived ideas and beliefs of our Lord’s disciples upon reading some of the questions His disciples asked Jesus. Remember, Jesus’ disciples did not expect a sacrificed Messiah. When He spoke of His impending betrayal and crucifixion, they asked one another “What is He saying? What does He mean?” They expected a conquering Messiah – a glorious one who would throw off the Roman yoke and return Jerusalem and Israel to their former glory. “Then He took unto Him the twelve, and said unto them, ‘Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished, for He shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on, and they shall scourge Him, and put Him to death, and the third day He shall rise again.’ AND THEY UNDERSTOOD NONE OF THESE THINGS, AND THIS SAYING WAS HID FROM THEM, NEITHER KNEW THEY THE THINGS WHICH WERE SPOKEN.” (Luke 18:31-34).

Who do you think was hiding these truths from the disciples? Satan, of course. NEVER underestimate the deceiving POWER of Satan. Here was Jesus, in person, speaking as plainly as language will allow to His own disciples and Satan hid from them the plain truths Jesus was uttering. And, Satan can do the same with you, friend, whoever you are if you allow any manner of sin to control in your life. These disciples, from the time they were little boys, had heard and been taught that the coming Messiah would be the greatest. most successful leader Israel would ever have. He would outshine Moses and Joshua, David and Solomon. He would deliver Israel from all her oppressors. So, when Jesus said He would be delivered into Roman hands, mocked, spat upon, whipped and put to death, Satan was easily able to hide from them the plain truth of Christ’s words. So, too, with many Christians today. Many Christian denominations have taught profound error for so long to so many, now when they hear the truth, if it is ever presented to them at all, they can’t receive it. Jesus’ own words can be read or quoted to them verbatim, still it is hid from them neither know they the things which are spoken. Sin has an accompanying blinding component. Continue to knowingly, wittingly sin and spiritual error will slowly and surely color your thinking and beliefs. The prophet Daniel understood this truth perfectly writing of how one must turn from their sins in order to comprehend and understand God’s truth. (See Daniel 9:13). The apostle Peter stated that this was a divine spiritual law, stating that men “stumble at the word, BEING DISOBEDIENT, whereunto also they were appointed” (See 1 Peyer 2:8). God’s high regard for spiritual truth is seen in how He absolutely refuses to grant spiritual understanding to those who continue in disobedience. God help you to understand is my prayer.

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

Donald Wiley