Replies

Thank you so much for sharing your testimony and insights!

As you, I do not value my thoughts or others above those of God but if they are validated in scripture, with 2 witnesses, I trust them and feel they are God's way of speaking. Part of that is being led by the Holy Spirit. What I do not understand is, does everyone feel that way? As I have said before, there is only one Bible but look at the different ideas taken from it. And, everyone believes they are right, that they have the way. Is this part of God's overall plan?

No, everyone does not feel that way. And yes, I assert it is part of God’s plan: all things work together for the good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8.)

Peter was not like John who was not like Paul who was not like Thomas. But Christ chose them each and every one. Likewise, Christ accepts seven different churches in Revelation 2/3. And the foundation gemstones of the New Jerusalem named after the apostles are each different gems, different colors, etc.

Altogether we a beautiful masterpiece God has cast onto a living canvas. If He had mixed all the colors of His palette into one, what could be said?

The differences between Christians never involves the core, Trinitarian, doctrine but rather comes down to that “wiggle room” of interpretation concerning the details.

It is like a diamond with seven facets. Each person facing a different facet may see something different, but it is still the same diamond and the same Light.

In vs.26, the "mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints." What do you think that mystery is?

The next verse makes it clear to me:

[Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: - Col 1:26-27

I realize you believe there was an age before this one. I do not share your spiritual understanding but rather see Genesis 1:1 as quite literally the beginning of “all that there is.” - In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.

Likewise you believe the 7 days of Genesis should be counted as 1,000 years to God. I do not share your spiritual understanding but rather see the 7,000 year clock for Adamic men beginning when Adam was banished to mortality at the end of Genesis 3.

But those are "details" - we are still looking at the same diamond, the same Light.

I thought more about your reply and question one of your statements.

"Likewise, Christ accepts seven different churches in
Revelation 2:3."

I read through the chapter again and still can't see where Christ accepted the seven churches. To me, He is admonishing five of them to change their ways. He tells them their good points and yet warns them to repent. In 2:17 He tells them they must overcome to eat of the "hidden manna".

The only 2 he approves of are Smyrna and Philadelphia. He expects the churches that truly follow Him to teach what they taught.

What are your thoughts on this?