What is Wrong With THE BIBLE? part 1

What Is Wrong With THE BIBLE?

     Let us start out with what is right with THE BIBLE. THE BIBLE is a new miniseries that is supposed to be based on The Bible.  It is a very good idea to produce a show of this magnitude.  The writers and producers are Catholics, and there goal is to encourage people to read their Bibles.  That being said, it is not the purpose of this essay to tear apart their work, just to compare their show with what the Scriptures really say.  When the author of this essay posted on Facebook that the miniseries would be better if they hadn’t deviated from scripture, someone commented that “there will always be critics.”  It is easy to sit back and say that they should have done this, or shouldn’t have done that.  This author is not attempting to break down, but to build up.   Since the producers of THE BIBLE have produced this to get people to read their Bibles, then this essay can be used as a guide to see how things really were in The Bible.  It is the hope and prayer of this author that people are not offended by this essay, but rather encouraged to check everything and discouraged from blind acceptance of what others teach.  All Scripture references in this essay will be quoted from The ISR version of The Scriptures 1998 edition ©2005 Institute for Scripture Research.   You will find that our Heavenly Father’s Name and His Son’s Name are written in Hebrew.

     The show starts with people on a boat during a storm.  One of the men on the boat is telling the story of creation to a girl on the boat.  The boat is poorly constructed, and leaks.  This is supposed to represent Noah and the flood.  Let us see how this reads in The Scriptures.

“ “Make yourself an ark of gopherwood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with tar. “And this is how you are to make it: The length of the ark is three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. “Make a window for the ark, and complete it to a cubit from above. And set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. "

(Genesis 6:14-16 The Scriptures 1998+)

These instructions do not mention tapering off the bottom like a boat, they are uniform and consistent, box-like.  Also note that this ark is covered both inside and out with tar.  This was not represented in the show.  Let’s continue reading.

 “On that same day Noaḥ and Shĕm and Ḥam and Yepheth, the sons of Noaḥ, and Noaḥ’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, went into the ark, “

(Genesis 7:13 The Scriptures 1998+)

A child is not mentioned in this scripture.  It is possible that there were children that were not included in the scripture, but it is dangerous to speculate about such and add to the scripture.  After the storm ends, we see Noah climb a ladder, and walk out to the open air.  How does this compare with scripture?  We see in the above reference (Genesis 6:16) that there was a window near the top of the arc, and a door in the side which was large enough to cover all three floors of the arc,  no mention of a ladder leading up to the roof nor any opening in the roof.  Here is the scripture reference showing what happened after the storm, and Noah leaving the arc.

 “And it came to be, at the end of forty days, that Noaḥ opened the window of the ark which he had made, and he sent out a raven, which kept going out and turning back until the waters had dried up from the earth. “

(Genesis 8:6-7 The Scriptures 1998+)

“And in the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. And Elohim spoke to Noaḥ, saying, “Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. “Bring out with you every living creature of all flesh that is with you: of birds, of cattle and all creeping creatures that creep on the earth. And let them teem on the earth, and bear and increase on the earth.” So Noaḥ went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him, every beast, every creeping creature, and every bird, whatever creeps on the earth, according to their kinds, went out of the ark. And Noaḥ built an altar to יהוה, and took of every clean beast and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And יהוה smelled a soothing fragrance, and יהוה said in His heart, “Never again shall I curse the ground because of man, although the inclination of man’s heart is evil from his youth, and never again smite all living creatures, as I have done,”

(Genesis 8:14-21 The Scriptures 1998+)

     The show then jumps to the story of Abram.  There are some variances here, but poetic justice prevails here.  The time limitations, and etc considered, these are not major enough to call out.  Having said this, a reader might wonder what they are, so here is the list: Abram was not named Abraham until a while later, Abram’s father went with them as far as Haran, and this is probably where they picked up Lot.  Later, as the story progresses, it is time for Abram and Lot to separate.  The scripture says this was Abrams idea, but in the show, they show Abram protesting.  This author questions why.  Next, they show Abram rescuing Lot.  Lot was taken captive when the Eylamites came to punish the rebellion of the Sedomites.  in the opinion of this author, the key to this story was missed.  Here is the scripture that they overlooked.

 “And Malkitseḏeq sovereign of Shalĕm brought out bread and wine. Now he was the priest of the Most High Ěl. And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Aḇram of the Most High Ěl, Possessor of the heavens and earth. “And blessed be the Most High Ěl who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tenth of all. And the sovereign of Seḏom said to Aḇram, “Give me the people, and take the goods for yourself.” But Aḇram said to the sovereign of Seḏom, “I have lifted my hand to יהוה, the Most High Ěl, the Possessor of the heavens and earth, not to take a thread or a sandal strap or whatever is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Aḇram rich,’”

(Genesis 14:18-23 The Scriptures 1998+)

This is the first time that our High Priest appears in the flesh.  Next in the story of the destruction of Sedom, the two angels are shown begging for Lot’s help.  This is, again, the opposite of what the scripture says.

 “And the two messengers came to Seḏom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Seḏom. And when Lot saw them, he rose up to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground, and he said, “Look, please my masters, please turn in to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet, and rise early and go your way.” And they said, “No, but let us spend the night in the open square.” But he urged them strongly, and they turned in to him and came into his house. And he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. “

(Genesis 19:1-3 The Scriptures 1998+)

This author is dismayed that they did not clearly define what the men of Sedom wanted to do to the visitors in Lot’s house, and Lot’s daughters should have been much older.  Lot offered his Daughters to the men of Sedom, and it is possible that they were married.

“And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, and let us ‘know’ them.” So Lot went out to them through the doorway, and shut the door behind him, and said, “Please, my brothers, do not do evil! “Look, please, I have two daughters who have not known a man. Please, let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you wish, only do no deed to these men, because they have come under the shadow of my roof.””

(Genesis 19:5-8 The Scriptures 1998+)

“And Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place, for יהוה is going to destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be as one joking.”

(Genesis 19:14 The Scriptures 1998+)

Then the show tells the story of Yishma’el.  The scripture says that he was sent away because he was mocking Yitshak.  The show chose to imply that he was sent away because Abram loved him.

 “And the child grew and was weaned, and Aḇraham made a great feast on the day that Yitsḥaq was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Haḡar the Mitsrite, whom she had borne to Aḇraham, mocking. So she said to Aḇraham, “Drive out this female servant and her son, for the son of this female servant shall not inherit with my son, with Yitsḥaq.””

(Genesis 21:8-10 The Scriptures 1998+)

The producers of the show wanted to portray the sacrifice of Yitshak through the eyes of Sarah, but the scriptures seem to imply that Abraham was not dwelling with Sarah after the sacrifice.

“Then Aḇraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Be’ĕrsheḇa. And Aḇraham dwelt at Be’ĕrsheḇa.”

(Genesis 22:19 The Scriptures 1998+)

“And Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years, the years of the life of Sarah. And Sarah died in Qiryath Arba, that is Ḥeḇron, in the land of Kenaʽan, and Aḇraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.”

(Genesis 23:1-2 The Scriptures 1998+)

     We then fast forward to Mosheh.  Although it is very much likely the he knew he was adopted earlier than his adulthood, this was an efficient way of telling the story of his birth without using too much time.  They only have ten hours to tell everything in the Bible.  There are minor discrepancies throughout this story, but again poetic liberty must be allowed.  This author does not like Yehushua (Joshua) being portrayed as one who doubts, and Mosheh should have been told to take off his sandals, but the only major problem this story has with the scriptural account is the first meeting with Pharaoh.  Here is what the scriptures say.

 “And יהוה spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon, saying, “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Show a miracle for yourselves,’ then you shall say to Aharon, ‘Take your rod and throw it before Pharaoh, and let it become a serpent.’ ” So Mosheh and Aharon went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, as יהוה commanded. And Aharon threw his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the practisers of witchcraft. And they, the magicians of Mitsrayim, also did so with their magic. And they, each one, threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But the rod of Aharon swallowed up their rods. And Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as יהוה had said. And יהוה said to Mosheh, “The heart of Pharaoh is hard, he refuses to let the people go.”

(Exodus 7:8-14 The Scriptures 1998+)

Would it not have been more awesome to show this than to have Mosheh beaten and dragged off?  This author also thinks it would have been great to show the chariot wheels getting stuck in the mud, and The Pillar of Fire leading Yisrael through the sea instead of hand-held torches.

Did we Evolve?

    Last month, we established that every belief system must have a solid foundation.  Any one who bases their belief on the inspired writings will not be susceptible to various and strange doctrines.  Now we will examine some ideas about how we came to exist, and see if they agree with scripture.   Is the theory of evolution based in scripture?  If you take off the first letter in ‘solution’, and replace it with the first two letters of ‘evil’ then you get ‘evolution’.  There are very few people who claim to believe the scriptures that accept the entire teaching of evolution.  Many people, though, do believe parts of this falsity.  When a lie is repeated consistently over and over again for more than 1000 years, it becomes believable.  People will believe what they are taught, and people have a right to believe what they chose to believe.  This author chooses to believe scripture.  Here is a paraphrase of the entire teaching of evolution.  “In The Beginning, there was nothing, but a very small dot.  This dot contained all matter and energy in a super-compressed state.  This dot exploded sending matter out.  Some of the matter is still burning from the explosion.  This is what stars are.  Stars also expelled excess matter and this matter cooled and became planets, asteroids, and comets.  These planets, comets, and asteroids circle around their parent star which is called a sun.  The larger pieces of matter captured smaller pieces and made them into moons.  Other small pieces of matter collided with the planets and moons.  A collision of a big comet and the planet we live on (earth) somehow caused life to begin on earth.  This life was originally just a microscopic pool of liquid.  Then it started growing and eventually split into two cells.  The two became four, the four became eight, and the doubling process continued. Some of the cells mutated into other types of cells.  The mutations that were weaker died, while the mutations that were stroner survived.  After many billions of years this process of survival of the fittest produced the forms of life we have presently.”  The theory fails to explain what the dot was in, or what the continuous expansion is expanding into or what lies beyond.  The account described in Scripture, clearly states that the earth was created before the sun.  The Scriptures also prove that everything was created in six cycles of darkness and light.  Some people teach that there is a gap between Gen 1:1 and Gen 1:2.  In other words, Elohim created the Heavens and the earth in on instant.  Then the earth became void and without form.  Then He re-created the earth in one week.  People can speculate that the Garden in the land of Eden was not created immediately after the first Sabbath, but this, too, is only speculation.  The Scripture states that Elohim rested on the seventh cycle of darkness and light, and then planted a garden on the earth that He had created the weak before.  It does not say how long He waited to do this.  Although a gap between Gen 2:4 and Gen 2:5 is possible,  it is not necessary for anyone to believe this.  It is written in Torah that we do not need to know these things (Deut 29:29).   This author has yet to see a scripture that stated the earth is billions of years old. Saying that there is a gap in the scriptures between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 is like saying that the scripture is incomplete.  This is why many people refuse to believe any part of the theory of evolution, or big bang theory, or anything else being taught by those who are trying to disprove scripture.   Since there are those that do not believe the account in scripture is literally true, we will look at the world around us.  Since (according to the theory) it is possible for the earth to just develop life on its own, or with the help of a few comets, then other things should evolve on their own as well.  If we took a watch apart, and put all the pieces into a bag, how long would we have to shake that bag so the parts will assemble themselves into a watch.  If you say that there is a difference between the watch and the earth, you are right.  We should have put basic elements into the bag, and let the elements form themselves into gears and springs and such, then the gears and springs could continue to form themselves into a watch.  The Earth is still more complex than this. There are some who say that the evolutionary process was caused to happen by the creator of the universe.  If this is the case, why did He not say so.  If the earth and everything in it, on it, above it, and around it was not created in six literal cycles of darkness and light, is Elohim a liar?   According to the theory, the gorillas, the chimpanzees, the orangutans and the humans all evolved from the same animal, through a long process of mutation.  The weaker mutants died, and the stronger ones lived, and the process is still happening now.  There have been experiments that appear to establish this.  Now, we must pause to review the scientific process so everyone will understand what a theory is.  The process starts with an idea.  Then the person, or people who came up with the idea formulate a hypothesis, by making a statement of their idea, and showing how an experiment will prove them right.  Then they set up the experiment, and if their idea is proven right, it becomes a theory.  If, afer many people have done many experiments, all experiments prove the theory right, then the theory becomes a scientific law over time.  The law of gravity is an example of a scientific law. Peolpe have constructed anti-gravity devices using magnets, which cast doubt, but it has not been proven wrong.  If an experiment does prove a theory wrong, then it must be completely thrown out and a new idea formed based on the failed experiment.  To this date, no one has proven gravity wrong conclusively, so it stands as a law.  The theory of evolution has been proven right by very few experiments.  Some scientists have done experiments involving bone marrow, and the results did not clearly prove that the bone marrow from orangutans was like the bone marrow from humans.  That experiment was inconclusive, but the theory still stands.  Then some other scientists were experimenting with the eye.  The more they study the eye, the harder it is for them to believe that the eye has evolved.  Since the eye could not have evolved, the theory must be discarded, and the entire idea of evolution reconsidered.  By their own process, the theory of evolution can not stand!  As sure as the sun moves across the sky, this lie is over. At least, it should be.  Many schools have attempted to teach “creative design” because technically, there is no theory of evolution. Yet they are still forced to perpetrate this lie!

    Still some people hold on to the idea that the creation process was slow and gradual over a long period of time.  Some people who claim to believe in YAHWEH , are now saying that we were cloned by creatures from other planets.  Space does not permit this author to elaborate on every time that The Urantia Papers contradict themselves. The Sumerian texts, that are being quoted by people who make this claim, have also been found to be in error.  The letter that Shaul wrote to the Colossians (Col 1:16) clearly stated that Yahshua created us.  Since it would be physically impossible for many plants to exist without animals to spread their seeds, we must conclude that the entire creation process was completed quickly.  Therefore there is no reason to doubt that the account in Bereshith (Gen 1) is true.  For that matter, is there even a verse, in the accepted scripture, that says there are other planets?  This question will be addressed in the months to come.  Any comments that explain the viewpoint of “Creative Evolution”, or “Alien Cloning” are welcome.  We only ask that you clearly make your point using the accepted scriptures. 

What Does It Mean To Believe?

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Yohanan (John) 3:16 says “For Elohim so loved the world that He gave His only brought forth Son,

so that everyone who believes in Him should not perish but posses everlasting life.” That means that

everyone who believes in Elohim should live forever. Ya’acob writes in his letter, “Even the demons believe,

and shudder.” This is found in James 2:19 in The Bible So unless demons will live forever in a state of

rebellion, there must be more to belief than just acknowledging the existence of what you believe in. Let us

take for example, the President of The United States of America. We can read in the papers, or see on the

news the name of the person who currently holds that office. Nearly everyone will know that he is the

President. How many people believe that he should be president, or how many people believe that he is

taking the country in the right direction? Now the list is smaller, is it not? This brings up the question: “What

does it mean to believe?”. Would you, dear reader, say that you believe in Elohim? To believe in someone,

is more than just acknowledging their existence, or acknowledging that they occupy an office. To truly believe

in someone, you must believe that everything they say or do is right. Are you still claiming to believe in Elohim

now? Of all the people who believe in a higher power; how many people believe that hwhy is Elohim. How

many people truly believe in hwhy? Do You?

Wayyiqqra (Leviticus) 11:1-42 clearly describes food that is safe to eat and abominations that are not

edible. We will encounter people who say they believe, but they do not believe that they need to obey this

command. Do they not believe that hwhy meant this for all people or for all time? Do they believe that they

can cleanse the unclean by feeding the beast clean grains, slaughtering it a certain way, or through

refrigeration and freezing? If so, they believe in themselves or they don’t believe that hwhy knows everything!

There are some that believe that hwhy spoke this only to make us feel as if we are not worthy to be in His

presence. If you believe hwhy loves you then you will know that He did not make a law that He doesn’t expect

us to obey, and He did not put restrictions on us to make us feel unworthy to be in His presence! He gave

us perfect instructions to keep us from dying or to keep us healthy, wealthy and wise! Because of the

improper slaughtering in butcher shops, and/or preparing of foods in many Restaurants; some people who

believe in hwhy are abstaining from eating in restaurants, and many more are becoming vegetarians! If

people do not believe that this command applies to them, forcing them to obey it will not save them. We can

challenge them to follow these instructions to prove they will be healthier, and sometimes this leads them to

believe that hwhy is right. Doing what the law says will sometimes help someone believe, but doing without

belief will not get anyone into the Kingdom. On the other hand, why would one want to eat something that

Our Creator calls unclean. For example, hwhy said pig is unclean, and this author, believing that hwhy

knows best, does not eat pig. We cannot force people to believe; but what we believe will be reflected by what

we do. How can a person blatantly ignoring The Word of hwhy convince someone that hwhy is love?

The same concept works with other scriptures as well. Some instructions are not as specific so

let's not focus on what others are doing, just live what we believe. Does Wayyiqqra 19:19 include

cotton polyester and/or other synthetic blends? Debarim (Deuteronomy) 22:11 infers that it

doesn’t, however this chapter raises other questions. In verse 5, what is a man’s garment that a

woman is not to wear, and vice versa? How does verse 12 apply today? Is this command only for

the men, or is it for everyone? Is this command only for the children? See Bemidbar (Numbers)

15:37 41 for another reference. How do we make the fringe? Are we supposed to wear garments

that have four corners? Enough about clothes, let's talk about hair. Does Yehezqel (Ezekiel)

44:15 31 apply to us today, or just the priests of the time it was spoken? What does 1st Corinthians

11:14 mean? Is Paul saying that a man must cut his hair in the Greco-Roman fashion? Is Paul

simply saying that a man who doesn’t cut his hair is putting himself below Yahshua? (See Strong's

# 819 in Vines dictionary). 1st Corinthians 11:6 says that if a woman does not cut her hair, then she

must wear a covering. Is it possible that Paul is explaining why men don’t wear coverings?

Certainly a man wearing a crown (a type of covering) would be highly esteemed. Is being shamed

a bad thing in this context? There are many more issues in which it seems the scripture is unclear.

Are these scriptures to be taken literally, or are they metaphors? Although some people do take

Debarim (Deuteronomy) 6:8 literally, most of us see that as symbolic. To this day, I do not know

of anyone who took Debarim 10:16 literally. We know that we cannot convince anyone, it is the Spirit

that teaches all of us. The best way to handle such issues is to pray that hwhy reveals the truth to us. Some

will accept the truth. Others will reject it. We should be humble, and be constantly asking ourselves, “Am I

the one who is rejecting the truth?”.

What about the way we treat other people? Prophecy tells us that there will be peace on earth when

the Kingdom comes. Revelation 20:4 says that those who are martyred for proclaiming the truth, or for

refusing to follow the beast will be priests in The Kingdom. Matt. 5:11-12, and Matt. 10:22 say the same. Do

we believe this? Matt. 7:7-12 says that hwhy is our provider. Do we believe this? Is the way we treat other

people reflecting this belief? For example suppose that you walk up to your car and find someone trying to

hot-wire it. According to the letter of the law, that person now owes you two cars (Shemoth/Exodus 22:4).

Romans 7:6 says that we should serve in newness of Spirit and not in oldness of letter. A typical response

from a person led by The Spirit might be this: “Friend, what are you doing to my car? If you had asked me,

I would have let you use the car. But to show you that hwhy loves you; here are the keys, take the car and

be at peace.” If hwhy wants you to have your car then that person will flee. If that person needs your car for

whatever reason and it is good in the eyes of hwhy for him to have your car, then you know that hwhy will

not leave you without transportation! Would your response resemble this? Paul gives a list of characteristics

of a person led by the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21. Galatians 5:22-23 gives a list of Spirit led traits. Which list

best describes how you would respond to a person stealing your car? What if someone smacks you in your

face? The scriptures, (Matt. 5:39-48, Luke 6:28-29, Romans 12:17-210) are quite clear about how we should

respond. How many people would be guilty of murder if they reacted in the flesh, and the fight escalated?

Did Stephen (Acts 7:57-60) throw the stones back? What if you walked in to your house and saw someone

attacking one of your children? Would you trust that hwhy can protect your child, and pray for the salvation

of the attacker? Ephesians 6:16 says that your belief is a shield. If action is needed, let hwhy take that

action. You don’t stand a chance against that demon without hwhy. If we lose sight of the goal, (or doubt),

we could react in the flesh instead of letting the Spirit control our actions!

How great it is that YAHUSHUA died for our sins -- Especially when we are the ones that are in need of

forgiveness! Although we would like to remain in the Spirit and never sin, there will be times when we fall

short and need YAHUSHUA to fix our mistakes. It might not be even as extreme as the above examples.

We need to be on guard at all times because people are watching us, and will use the fact that we sinned to

justify their own sin! We are to be set-apart as hwhy is set-apart(Galatians 5:14-18, 1 Peter 1:16). Let us pray

constantly that the flesh will submit to the Spirit at all times. The only way we can live without sin

is to abide in the Spirit at all times. Many of us believe this is possible. This author has not

accomplished this goal yet. If we do fall short of the goal, do we believe that we can be forgiven if

we ask for forgiveness and repent? This is the most important thing to believe! Ibrim (Hebrews)

4:16 says to come boldly to the throne. How can one who does not believe in forgiveness be bold

in front of The Almighty? Will we stand on the day of resurrection, if we do not know that hwhy

is forgiving? So then, it is belief (faith) that gets us into the kingdom and not works. If we believe

in hwhy then we will do what He says. If we believe in ourselves and abide in ourselves, then we

will never be good enough. May hwhy bless you in your study of His word!