0221 February WEB
0221 February WEB
0221 February WEB
2 •
WWW.THEBEREANCALL.ORG FEBRUARY 2021
“[The Bereans] . . . searched the scriptures daily, [to see] whether those things were so.” —Acts 17:11
Question: I’m confused about the “security of the believer.” To created…eons ago” as you have stated? In the beginning God
me, it sounds like “once saved, always saved,” which doesn’t fit said “everything” that He had made was “very good” (Gn 1:31).
in with my understanding that believers can lose their salvation Are you implying a special creation of the angels at a different
by turning their backs on God. time and place before “the beginning of the creation?”
Response: The doctrine of “Eternal Security” engenders no end of Response: You have clearly put much thought and study into
strife. But a discussion of the pertinent scriptures must be according it in the spirit of a Berean. However, you make some incorrect
to 2 Timothy 2:15, in which we are told to “rightly divide the word assumptions. The statement, “the serpent was more subtil than
of truth.” Everything must be considered in context. The passage in any beast of the field which the LORD God had made” (Gn 3:1) does
John 10 contains declarative statements of the Lord Jesus Christ, not include Satan as a “beast of the field.” It includes the physical
with no qualifiers. Jesus made five clear statements concerning His serpent in the garden through which Satan spoke. He is called
sheep (those who believe and follow Him), in contrast to those who “that old serpent,” but he is not a literal, physical snake created
did not believe (v. 26). Some defenders of the “falling away” doctrine with the other creatures. When Satan came into existence cannot
try to draw a distinction between Christians who continue to follow be derived from this passage.
Jesus throughout their lifetimes and those who eventually turn back. Second, you seem to assume that the creation of “the heavens
Jesus, however, shows that He was making a simple distinc- and the earth” (Gn 1:1) includes what Stephen described as “the
tion between the Pharisees who did not turn to Christ and those heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand
who did (vv. 24-26). The verses put the security of eternal life in the of God” (Acts 7:56) and what Paul called “the third heaven” (2 Cor
strong right arm of God. The verse says “no man may pluck them 12:2) where God dwells. The words “heaven” and “heavens” are
out.” The good shepherd recovering his lost sheep (Mt 18:12-14) used both for the physical “heavens” related to earth and a part
and the Father disciplining His children (Heb 12:5-12) are excellent of the physical universe (the atmosphere and the stars) as well as
examples of God securing our salvation. Other people argue that for heaven, the “Father’s house,” which has neither physical nor
in John 10 some have added meanings that do not agree with the spatial relationship to earth. Surely the “place” where God dwells
words or the context of the passage in John. Perhaps the clearest is neither physical nor part of the physical universe and must have
example is 2 Peter 2:22, which discusses false prophets, not true always existed. This is also where angels dwell.
believers. These “false prophets” (2:1) are “wells without water The creation spoken of in Genesis refers only to the physical
(v. 17).” A well without “water” (water is biblical metaphor for universe. The heaven(s) in Genesis 2:1 refer to the stars, not to
the Holy Spirit) has the same exterior appearance as a bona fide angels. In other places it is clear when “heaven/heavens” refers
well but looks entirely different to one who possesses the abil- to the physical realm and when it refers to God’s presence; also
ity to look inside (1 Sm 16:7). These false prophets are specifically when “host” refers to stars and when it refers to angels. You seem
contrasted with Lot who, despite his compromises and disobe- to assume that “host of heaven” always means angels, which is
dience, is still called a “righteous man” (v. 8). As verse 22 care- not the case. For example: “as the host of heaven cannot be num-
fully explains: “…it is happened unto them according to the true bered” (Jer 33:22). The statements—“God saw every thing that he
proverb….” Another verse cites the dog that returns to his vomit had made, and behold, it was very good” (Gn 1:31), and “Thus the
because that’s what dogs do. The sow returns to wallowing in heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them” (2:1),
the mire because that’s what a hog does. Neither the dog nor the as well as “from the beginning of the creation God made them
pig has had its nature changed. Nor were they “born again” or male and female” (Mk 10:26)—all refer to the physical universe,
changed into another species. The dog experienced a temporary which had a beginning, not to the dwelling of God and angels nor
purging and the sow underwent a washing. But there was no eter- to angels themselves.
nal meaning, even with spruced up appearances—like the white- We have no biblical reason to believe that angels were cre-
washing of a tomb (Matthew 23:27). ated simultaneously with the physical universe and man. We are
Those who have been drawn by Christ (who draws all men not told when they were created. Both Old and New Testaments
[John 12:32]), may temporarily “escape” the pollution of the world show a close association of angels with God, and it would seem
by attempting to conform, but Scripture plainly states that their odd indeed if they did not exist until the physical universe was
conformity is not real because their true nature (as that of a dog or created. Surely the positions of power that angels manifest in the
pig) soon manifests itself. Book of Revelation seem to be of a more permanent nature than
to have originated with the creation of the universe and man. One
Question: In one of your newsletters you said that before man function of angels is to praise God and surround His throne. It
was created, Satan had already rebelled and taken countless hardly seems reasonable that there would have been no angels
angels with him. You stated, “A rebellion led by Lucifer eons to worship and serve God before the physical universe (of which
ago had taken place….” It sounds like you hold to some form they are not a part) was made.
of the “gap theory.” Creation had a beginning, and “in six days There even seems to be a hint that man’s creation came about
the LORD made heaven and earth…” (Ex 20:11). I believe it is as a result of Satan’s rebellion. Surely man plays the key role in
clear that the angels were created as well in those six days. God the final defeat of Satan. We see this in the part played by Job
said, “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the in the controversy between God and Satan; Paul tells us that
host of them” (Gn 2:1). This “host” certainly could include angels we “wrestle…against spiritual wickedness in high places [i.e.,
(Neh 9:6, Ps 103:20-21, 1 Ki 22:19, et al.). God said the serpent was heaven]” (Eph 6:12).
“made” just as the beasts of the field (Gn 3:1) and was “perfect God has existed forever. I think it reasonable that angels have
in thy ways from the day thou wast created” (Eze 28:15). Where been in His presence for “eons” of time by earth’s reckoning, and
is the scriptural evidence that Satan rebelled “before man was also that Satan probably rebelled long before man was created.
Dear Berean Call, smidgen myself. One pastor “declared” my town to have no
I have benefited from your ministry since the 80s. My family more shootings. (Didn’t work.) Another commanded sickness to
throughout my teen years was involved in a “Christian” cult. I leave, with increasing volume, as if that would work. (It didn’t.)
was able to get out and my parents eventually left. But it was The Another group [was] teaching “healing of emotions” per John
Seduction of Christianity that freed the rest of the congregation. Sandford—I left that group with your website address, which
Someone read it and passed it around…it was not an authorized they looked up, [from] a March 2014 TBC Newsletter. Also a
book for them to read. I am so enjoying your Apostasy Update pastor recruiting unsuspecting women to anoint with oil [as
with Carl Teichrib. You both have confirmed so many things I’ve they] went forward for prayer and healing. Then there was the
wondered about and revealed things I was unaware of. Please keyboard player who put a single note on auto for “mood” during
continue your newsletter and podcasts. CJ (email) prayer—while he left for several minutes. Your heart must really
ache with all you see and discover. RW (CT)
Dear Brothers and Sisters at the Berean Call,
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus. I have lapsed from Dear Tom,
your mailing list and would greatly appreciate receiving your I received information I thought you might be interested in
newsletter again if possible. I’ve recently moved to our prison’s since it relates to the field of psychology. I spent ten years in the
“faith-based” dorm and realized it is “multi-faith based.” A real seminary studying for the Catholic priesthood. In those days, we
mixed bag. One of the biggest doctrinal issues is the Hebrew didn’t have any psychological teaching that I recall. This newer
Roots movement and Messianic Jews who are not Jewish or material seems to be something current, since there is so much
Hebrew. discussion about the mental well-being of priests. The leadership
I remember some of the articles in your newsletter touched in the seminary is seeking ways to cure their sexual problem. This
on these issues, and I know I can easily refute the legalism from just shows that there is a definite “elephant in the room.” Keep up
Galatians and Romans alone. Thank you for the help. JS (TX) the good work. PM (CA)
Hello, Dear TBC,
I’ve just re-watched a DVD of Dave Hunt on “Matthew 16 [Apostasy Update #15] with Carl Teichrib was such an
and the Cross.” I thought it was so good and would be wonderful important discussion! I was caught up in exactly what these fine
for giving to others, saved or lost. I’m thankful to the Lord men were talking about for more than a decade until my great
for the TBC ministry warning of what’s out there. I’ve seen a Lord and Savior Jesus Christ pursued me and removed the scales
from my eyes. One thing I would like to add is that the deception
is slow and subtle. The darkness sucks you in in such small
TBC NOTES amounts over time that you don’t realize how deeply into it you
have become. At that point, it takes the hand of God to deliver
you from it. Praise God, He pulled me out of this evil deception.
God Bless America! Seriously? I pray for my friends and family that are still prisoners of this.
ANON
In October of 2017, I wrote a TBC article titled “Bless
God!” Sadly, Americans in general haven’t been blessed
by God, nor have we blessed Him. It’s not just the fact that QUOTABLE
evil is increasing exponentially throughout our society. It’s
more basic than that. We are a country of religious plural- God’s ultimate kingdom is far more wonderful than human
ism, i.e., one country, many religions. There’s the prob- imagination can even conceive: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
lem. God’s blessings, and our blessing Him, can only take neither hath it entered into the heart of man, the things which God
place in obedience to His truth: “God is a Spirit: and they hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). The entire
that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” universe, so contaminated by Satan’s cosmic rebellion, will be
(John 4:24). That cannot happen among those who haven’t replaced instantly by a “new heavens and a new earth, wherein
been born again, among those who do not believe John dwelleth righteousness” (see 2 Peter 3:13).
14:6 or Acts 4:12: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, The new universe will be inhabited by those who have repented
the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but and received God’s remedy so that He could create them anew
by Me” and “Neither is there salvation in any other: for (Ephesians 2:8-10). In perfect bodies, no longer susceptible to temp-
there is none other name under heaven given among men, tation and sin, and filled with Christ’s love, theirs will be eternal
whereby we must be saved.” bliss in God’s presence and the inconceivable adventure and joy
Nevertheless, we who worship God in spirit and in truth of the wonders He has planned for all eternity.
can bless God as well as bless America by sharing the good At any moment it could be too late to respond, but as yet Christ’s
news of the gospel with fellow Americans as the Lord gives gracious offer of pardon and eternal joy is still open: “He that
us opportunity. This we know because, “The Lord is…long- heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlast-
suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but ing life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from
that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). death unto life” (John 5:24). “Therefore if any man be in Christ he
is a new creature: Old things have passed away; behold, all things
T. A. McMahon are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17)!
Executive Director —Dave Hunt
BABIES ARE BORN READY TO READ married a child. But telling the truth is a
dangerous enterprise these days. THE BEREAN CALL
Icr.org, 12/17/20, “Babies Are Born The book, according to the report, Founder: Dave Hunt
Ready to Read” [Excerpts]: Dogs don’t “was promoted as a ‘characteristically Executive Director: T. A. McMahon
read the words on a page. Neither did irreverent and entertaining’ indictment of TBC ONLINE
Coco, the famous gorilla that learned to the ‘outrage mob.’” But the outrage mob To receive The Berean Call by email or to access our
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FEBRUARY 2021
Future
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