From: Kent Hovind
Sent: June 21, 2009
To: Pastor
First read: Acts 12:1-10
KH: Hello, Pastor. I really enjoyed your sermon today!
Pastor: Well, thank you!
KH: I would like to talk with you about one point you made if you have a minute.
Pastor: Sure, just let me finish shaking hands and we can talk…There, how can I help you?
KH: Your message about Peter resting on God’s Word and being able to sleep between those soldiers in prison was great (Acts 12:1-10). It is a timeless truth that is so helpful these days, especially to me.
Pastor: Thank you. I needed that lesson as well. God was not just speaking through me; He was speaking to me also.
KH: You’re welcome. I do have a concern about one little comment you made in passing.
Pastor: Which one was that?
KH: In verse 4 where it says Herod was going to bring Peter out “after Easter,” you said, “This is a bad translation. It really should be Passover.”
Pastor: Yes, I did say that. All new Bible translations say Passover and nearly every Bible college and seminary teaches that as well. Only the King James Version says Easter. They somehow missed that one.
KH: That’s what I want to talk with you about. I know you love the Lord and His Word, but I really believe that one little comment is much more serious and will do much more damage than you think.
Pastor: Well, let’s go sit in my office and you can explain why you feel that way…There, I’m curious why that comment would bother you. The footnotes in nearly every study Bible teach that it should be Passover and that’s what I learned in seminary.
KH: I know. That’s what I was taught as well. Both of my study Bibles, The Defender’s Study Bible by Henry Morris and the Study Bible from Liberty University are ones I use every day, and love. I love those men and their study notes. I know they love the Lord just as you do but there are five reasons why this comment is a dangerous error, in my opinion.
Pastor: I’d love to hear them.
KH: All right. My first concern about changing this word to Passover is that it is just not true and would make the Bible teach an error. The Bereans listened to Paul preach and then searched the scriptures to see if what they had heard matched up (Acts 17:11).
Pastor: That’s correct. Many things get preached or taught from pulpits that are sincere but false. Peter taught truth in Matthew 16:16, but let Satan speak through him just 7 verses later in verse 23. I sure don’t want to do that!
KH: I know you don’t. You are a man of God and always seek to know and teach the truth. That’s why I asked to speak with you. There is no way the word could be Passover. I’ll show you. Read the story of the original Passover in Exodus 12:1-28 please.
Pastor: …All right.
KH: When was the Passover?
Pastor: The night of April 14 (Ex. 12:18).
KH: Right. Now, when were the days of unleavened bread?
Pastor: The next seven days after Passover (Ex. 12:18-19).
KH: Right again. Now read Lev. 23:5-6 please.
Pastor: It says the same thing.
KH: Correct. Now look at Numbers 28:16-17.
Pastor: Same thing again. Passover on the 14th, then seven days of unleavened bread.
KH: Right. There are three witnesses (Dt. 17:6, 19:15; Mt. 18:16) that say the days of unleavened bread were after the Passover. Now, read Acts 12:3-4 and tell me when Peter was arrested.
Pastor: He was arrested during the days of unleavened bread (v. 3).
KH: So that means that Passover was over, doesn’t it?
Pastor: Yes, it does! I never saw that before. Wow!
KH: Wicked King Herod celebrated the pagan festival of Istar or Eastre, the Teutonic goddess of spring. That’s when the earth regenerates itself so they have fertility symbols like eggs and bunny rabbits. To change it to say “Passover” would not only be wrong, it would be an attempt to “Christianize” a pagan holiday. The King James translators are the only ones to get it right. Herod wanted to kill him after Easter, his pagan holiday which is set by the moon not the calendar.
Pastor: I see that now. Thanks. You said there were five reasons my comment concerned you. That was one, and a good one by the way, what are the other four?
KH: Well, secondly, it sets a dangerous precedent. If you or Bible commentators can change this word, why not other words? Where does it stop?
Pastor: Good point. That would be a slippery slope, wouldn’t it?
KH: I think so! Thirdly, comments like that raise doubts in the minds of every one. Satan used the same tactic on Eve in Genesis 3:1. He got her to doubt the words that God had said. It was his first and most effective attack on God’s Words. “Yea, hath God said?” Worked then and it works now.
Pastor: It sure was, and is. I fell right into it, didn’t I?
KH: I know it wasn’t intentional on your part, and I knew you would receive this with a good spirit (Pro. 9:8; 12:1). That’s the reason I asked to speak with you about this.
Pastor: Thank you. I’m glad you did. What are the other two reasons?
KH: Well, anytime a preacher, teacher, or Bible commentator (James 3:1) says, “This would be better translated…” or “In the original Hebrew or Greek this really means…” it sets up a sort of priesthood. It makes the average person in the pew think, “I’ve never studied Greek or Hebrew or been to seminary, so I can’t possibly understand the Bible without these teachers.” This discourages Bible study by the average layman and makes job security for the teacher. It goes right back to 1 Timothy 6:10.
Pastor: Now that you mention it, I did feel that way as I was learning those languages in school. The teachers and the advanced students often had a “smarter than thou” attitude. I confess that I sometimes feel a little aloof myself as I “correct” God’s Word. By His grace I won’t do that again.
KH: I know that is your spirit, and I’m glad. The last reason is that it makes God a liar.
Pastor: How is that?
KH: Well, in Psalms 12:6-7 he promised to preserve His words. What good would it do for God to speak to various prophets and have them write down His exact words and not preserve those words for us today? He allowed the original manuscripts to be destroyed so people wouldn’t worship the paper, but I believe, after a 40 year study on this topic, that He “inspired” the text in Hebrew and Greek then “preserved” it for us in English in the KJV. If that is not God’s Word, where is it?
Pastor: Good question.
KH: I suggest you read New Age Bible Versions by G.A. Riplinger or The Answer Book by Sam Gipp. We sell both of them in the bookstore or on www.drdino.com.
Pastor: Thanks, I’ll get them and read up right away. Thanks for stopping me today. I sure don’t want to raise doubts about God’s Word.
KH: I know that. Thanks Pastor, keep up the great work for the Lord. And next time you get tempted to say, “This would be better translated…” please don’t say it.
Pastor: I won’t.
Dr. Kent E. Hovind is currently at the Edgefield Federal Correctional Institution in South Carolina. Please send postcards and letters to:
Kent E. Hovind #06452-017
FPC Edgefield D-2
P.O. BOX 725
Edgefield, SC 29824
Feel free to send Dr. Hovind a letter or postcard. Please understand he is not able to answer every letter he receives, but he certainly appreciates any support and encouragement. He can also receive new books, but only directly from bookstores. And no hardcover books are allowed. No DVDs, CDs, or anything hard or sharp such as staples, etc (no tracts with staples in them). Do not send more than one tract at a time, as all gifts containing more than one tract will not be allowed. Do not put “Dr.” on his name, or it may be discarded by the guards. They do not always return postal items that are not delivered to inmates, so you may want to save a copy before mailing, so that you might try again in the event that he was recently moved for example.
Mrs. Hovind is currently at the Federal Correctional Institution in Marianna, FL. Because of prison regulations, Mrs. Hovind can only receive letters. Please refrain from sending stickers, stamps, books, or media of any kind. If you would like to write her letters of encouragement, please send them to:
Jo D. Hovind #06453-017
FCI Marianna, Satellite Camp
P.O. Box 7006
Marianna, FL 32447
Please write with the understanding that whatever you write could be subject to monitoring by the guards. Please do not write politically-charged or tax-related comments, etc. In the event that Dr. or Mrs. Hovind is moved to another facility, one can always check for current addresses by using the Inmate Locator on the Bureau of Prisons website:
http://www.bop.gov/
Encouraging comments on this blog are greatly appreciated, and Dr. Hovind does read all approved comments.
From the CSE team,
Thank you for your continued support.
Dear Kent …
You have been on my mind alot lately… I just finished watching (Again) “Age of the earth” and “The Dangers of evolution”. I watched them as the Pastor of my church says his next series is going to be on, “People’s World View”.
I could not think of anything better on world view’s than your “DVD’s God has so blessed you with.” Dr. how can, or what can I compare you to? A VOICE that very few hear … then it’s to late!” You were loud and clear when I first heard you, but as you said: “Hundreds of us are chopping at the branches and only one at the root”. Be ENCOURAGED I wrote this in my post past but it is SOOOOOO TRUE ABOUT YOU. Daniel 11:33-35- “And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. THIS IS NOW !!! How many of of the Virgins see this!
Your above post … So true … How true? I think I have finally found a decent word preaching church (Even though they use NIV). I use KJV but, not afraid of other versions. I know the difference and correct when needed. I am one, “Up on the times” and Bible prophecy, A.K.A. (Conspiracy Theorist … No such word in Dict. but, that is what your labeled by the fooled, lazy, and true Conspirators). I was asked “Nicely” not to bring my thoughts into the church … Nuff said. I have to obey, and look at my own attitudes, at the same time make sure I am not Deceived. Doc, Acts 12:1-10 … if I can give you what I heard?
Bro … I just finished listening to the news when I started reading your post. I work with (City) Government. Not a rule maker or changer but, I understand when I have to write a report, they don’t go by emotion but, by fact and law.” Just give me the “Facts” (What happened) and leave out your personal opinions. (or “What I think”. That is for a Judge to decide). When I read Acts 12:1-10 … “IT HIT ME LIKE A TON OF BRICKS” … Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him
Did you “HEAR THAT”!? We glance through the Bible like it’s a “STORY BOOK”. Luke … just reported that 2 men were killed, and another was being held prisoner by 16 Roman soldiers. (Probably lumped up too).
Most importantly … as you reminded us, on your “Dangers of evolution” dvd … PRAYER, is what “Moves” the hand of God.
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their
land.
Conformation: Daniel 9 … Daniel was speaking, and praying, and confessing his sin and the sin of his people Israel, and presenting supplication before the LORD our God … while he was speaking in prayer, God HEARD HIM!
and Acts 12… Did we / I “MISS” the basic, fundamental principal of Scripture? “Just talking to our Heavenly Father”? Maybe like a woman, God has to be, “WOOED”. I don’t mean this in a disrespectful way or comparison but, just “The same Designer”, that created “US” … His children … His stubborn, rebellious, high minded, stiff necked children … “IN HIS IMAGE” on day 6 … do ya think with the Mind, Will, and Emotions we ALL have … He has them also? Do we obey out of “Obedience, or Love”? If you notice in Daniel 10:12… Daniel chasten (humbled) himself before God, & his words were heard. And Acts 12 but prayer (Speaking to your Heavenly Father) was made “without ceasing of the church” unto God for him. And the result can be seen. Father … what is your Church doing wrong? Is it timing, is it laziness. What! Please show us what time it is…
Kent, Daniel says Daniel 2:44 says, “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: …” Dr. Your sleeping with the guards, maybe God needs you there for when He pulls us out. (Somebody got to be there to break the hardest one there)?
Last thought: Remember when you were younger, and your family were going out to some fancy dinner or a relatives house … your parents would dress you and your brother and sisters first? You all end up sitting on the couch with your shoes and jacket’s on? It feels like that now brother!!! … Only instead of saying, “How much longer to your Parent’s … It;s “How much longer God”. He’s got your back … I wish I could do more for you brother…
Anthony
Amen, to Don’t Say That. In addition to the two books Dr. Hovind recommended, I would add, “One Book Stands Alone” by Dr. Douglas Stauffer. It details the Satanic attack on the KJB and the problems with the anemic versions based on the Alexandrian text used by Westcott & Hort and Nestle et al.
Hang in there Dr. Hovind, many of us are praying for you and Mrs. Hovind. I trust God will answer our prayers and deliver you soon. Dr. Don Boys has written an excellent article at cstnews.com about your ordeal.
Thank you for addressing this topic of Passover and Easter. A wonderful example of why I am KJV only. May God continue to bless you.
Thank you for your insight on this seemingly insignificant point.
i am beginging to see why people have spent a life time studying the Bilble, and learne someting new everytime the read it.
Many Thanks and Good luck to you.
Joe
I have hard words for you …
This ministry is breeding hate. I see it every day at work. division being created by Christians. Are we not suppose to love? Where is love in this ministry? And Love of enemy? If you do not have love in this ministry, it counts for nothing. I beg you. Love your evolutionist enemies.
Passover thing: This is an example of how certain doctrines can be used to make us miss the point entirely.
The word Passover, as used at least in the New Testament can mean either after the feast itself OR after the entire festival week. In this case, it means after the festival week because otherwise the context doesn’t make sense. Textually, Easter makes less sense because there was no such celebration at that time. It’s plainly obvious that the translators of the KJV chose to use the word Easter because it identified with Christian readers more than passover – but it doesn’t matter. Easter is the new passover that Jesus commemorated at the last supper, and his disciples would have understood it as such – it was never originally a celebration held separately from passover. So, really, both are correct. If you read God’s instructions in Exodus carefully, passover technically lasts the entire 7 days but the passover feast, where the passover lamb is eaten is only on the first day of passover.
BUT! This is NOT THE POINT! It was a miraculous escape that proves God’s love. God loved his servant Peter so much that he miraculously released him from Prison so that he could use him as a key player in solving a potentially viral conflict between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians. Peter, a Jew himself, chose the path of Christ – the path of love and restoration. This is an important lesson – WAY more important that whether it happened before, during or just after passover. If these are the things that cause people to lose faith, then I would question if they are worshiping the bible above God.
oops – greek word for passover (pascha) can mean either the passover supper, the passover lamb or simply just “passover”.
and Peter was used in solving the conflict some time after the miraculous escape.
Anyway, the point is that the bible is clear about what the point is. Anything we add to that truth deserves to be questioned.
Sorry I’m just being diligent.
It is a good spot on the Passover / Easter thing. The word used is translated as Passover 28 times and as Easter once. It is clear the KJV guys actually thought long and hard about what was written. It is perhaps a pity they did not translate it as “festival of Istar” so we would draw from it Herod’s pagan ways rather than associate it with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thanks for pointing this out though. I’m actually making notes in my Bibles (I keep and refer to several version including the KJV of course) to correct this where it is in error.
I cannot say the KJV is without it’s own issues though. The “Johannine comma” thing to name one (comma actually meaning ‘short phrase’), where effective a whole line is added to 1 John 5:7-8. This shocking addition was not present until it crept into various Latin versions of the Bible in the Middle Ages. The early Church Fathers never used it because it did not exist in their day in any Greek text. In much the same way that removal of words is bad (Rev 22:19), so is the addition of words or phrases (Rev 22:18) no matter how well intentioned. I must say, I am no fan of Ms. Riplinger – many of her opinions offend even those who use and adhere to the KJV. The KJV-only people can be rather unpleasant and lacking in grace at times
Your understanding and method is a lot more rational than theirs so a healthy distance is best kept from them 
By the way I do so love your work and that of Eric and your ministry (congrats on the ‘Creation minute’ vids guys). You have helped so many people. I became a believer earlier this year after 40 years of being an atheist. And I was helped a lot by your debunking of evolution as non-scientific nonsense. While I don’t agree with everything as you do, it’s what side we are on that matters. And you helped me to change sides – the Holy Spirit and the word of God had more to do with it, but you certainly helped a lot
And I thank you so very much for that.
I pray for you and your wife, and for the speedy return of the money donated by so many people so that you may spread the Word of God as far as possible.
God bless you all.
Dave
Hi Brother Hovind,
One more point on the Passover/Easter debate is that William Tyndale who invented the word Passover, is also the one that put Easter in the KJB instead of Passover, not that he put it in directly but they used his translation work.
Thanks Brother. Making mention of you always in my prayers.
David
More websites for research.
http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/sbs777/
http://www.thewordsofeternallife.com/easter.html
The parallels of the Prophet Jeremiah, and the state of our nation…
Chronology of Jeremiah: (who NEVER got ONE convert by the way!) Kent Hovind, praise God, has gotten many(including my nephew, who was growing up under Catholic indoctrination when I showed him Kent’s videos)!!!
…perhaps the lack of converts was because the land of Judah was so saturated with “God talk”…
America today is saturated with too much Jesus talk!
…and by way of intellectual puritanism, Jeremiah’s audience ignored and rejected the very idea of judgment! In America today – we sift through the Bible and ALL their translations, and pull our the “positives” – primarily because it is comfortable and convenient!
Jeremiah prophesied the Word of the Lord; Kent has worked the same WORD into his creation seminars…it eventually became offensive to professing Christians!(the demand to MATURE, take it to the next level by way of self-study is peppered all over his seminars)
Jeremiah’s message, that was put in his heart by the LORD, was rejected by the people…Kent Hovind sits in jail, and believers flock to Ben Stein’s movie “Expelled”; the designer of the “intelligent design” being used to set up the Christian Totalitarian State and theocracy is NOT Jesus Christ!
The movie provides a nice opening to a witnessing opportunity, but “positive God-talk” will prevail, and the concept that judgment has arrived in America will be rejected in favor of maintaining creature comforts.
Jeremiah didn’t want to go to Egypt; and in His God-given wisdom prophesied against going to Egypt…and the fundamentalists today, like Kent Hovind, are still saying “don’t go to Egypt!”
We are bold and unafraid to say there is a New World Order -
Barrack Obama is now the President of it as of last week as head of the Security Council of the United Nations -
We do question the Federal Reserve money system,
We do question the physics behind the Oklahoma City bombing, and we entertain the questions posed by pilots, engineers, and architects surrounding September 11th.
But the REMNANT does not concern themselves with inundating Christian and conservative talk radio with like questions that promote critical thinking, and promote patriotism while rejecting the evil Nationalism which is rooted in political correctness.
Nebechanezzer gave Jeremiah permission to make his CHOICE to go to Egypt, or stay.
We too, can preach Creation to the Gentiles like Kent told us to; or go the way of Egypt and elevate Hugh Ross, Ben Stein, and focus solely on the “positive message” of creation – ignoring our responsibility to preach the whole counsel of God, and the message that the stench of man’s sin and rebellion reached the highest Heaven and made God repent he had made man, and had no choice but to destroy him; save Noah and his faithful family.
Jeremiah stayed in Jerusalem with the REMNANT. VERY few of us have not let the allure of money, and the temptation to seek after filthy lucre taint us; we are staying true to the Gospel!
Eventually, those fugitives did FLEE to Egypt; and Jeremiah was at some point FORCED to go to Egypt as well.
We, Americans, are about to be FORCED into submitting to the New World Order…Christians and ALL.
In Egypt – the REMNANT stoned Jeremiah to DEATH.
Read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs – if we stay true to this message – we will be killed for His name’s sake!
Kent WARNED us in DVD #5
Camp FEMA the movie is available ONLINE
http://snardfarker.ning.com/video/campfemamovie1of11-1
Br. Moderator-Joshua, September 24th, 2009 at 8:56am YoCuzwaasup said [quote]
Just give me the “Facts” (What happened) and leave out your personal opinions. (or “What I think”. That is for a Judge to decide).
unquote: Brothers, deferring to “experts” of any description is fraught with danger. “Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” [1cor6.3]
Turning Jurists or professional fiat currency money paid Judges, into a new “priesthood of experts” might be one reason for the mess that the Western World has become.
Lord Sir Edward Coke, who lived around the time of the translation of the King James Version, said that a Jury is there to decide matters of fact. A Judge, I would suggest, is merely a public servant there to ensure that the due process of natural justice is followed. Apart from this their opinions are of no more value than any member of the properly convened jury. The process Jesus gave us is fundamental to common law. I suggest that the jury is a natural expression of the body corporate [Corpus Christi - latin]. I suggest that a Jury is what creates law; not in the least respect by the manner in which they ratify or deny an existing statute with their deliberation on it. More Power to Godly People!
Dear Levity Project,
On September 26th, you said,
“I have hard words for you …
This ministry is breeding hate. I see it every day at work. division being created by Christians. Are we not suppose to love? Where is love in this ministry? And Love of enemy? If you do not have love in this ministry, it counts for nothing. I beg you. Love your evolutionist enemies.”
Levityproject, you are wrong in your estimation of the CSE ministry and Dr. Hovind’s work. I know that we live in a “Kum-by-ah” society where we are supposed to only tell people positive and affirming things. But what good is being overly-cautious to prevent offending someone (which is what the world calls being a loving Christian)–when if we had just spoken the truth and risked offense–that person might have been spared from eternal damnation from God in the lake of fire? Wouldn’t you agree that true love is helping someone in their greatest need? If I truly love my son, I’m not going to let him play in traffic. He might think I keep him from playing in the street b/c I’m mean or I don’t love him, but the opposite is true–I want him to be safe. Christians who spread God’s word spread it so that the hearers might believe and have eternal safety–even though they may look to the world as being hateful! Dr. Hovind’s ministry is spreading truth. Truth may be offensive (Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart..”)
But though truth is offensive & painful to receive at times, it is not ever a matter of hate to spread truth. If people don’t come to the knowledge that there is a Creator and that He already holds them in condemnation in their unregenerated state (John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”), then how can they get saved? People that believe that they are here by some random accident don’t realize their dire situation–how they will face a great, and terrible, just judge–who will offer no pardon and no mercy if they do not accept Christ as their Savior!?! When Christians share the truth, they do it–not to divide, but that people may know the truth.
Now of course, we should be gentle in personal evangelism, with our co-workers and such, but it is no shame to call lies, lies and truth, truth–to dispel dark hearts and dark minds with the light of God’s Word. We must do so!
Our coversations should be done with a compassionate heart:
2 Timothy 2:22-26 says, “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
But we are also called to be bold and unashamed!:
Acts 4:29 “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word”
2 Timothy 1: 11&12 “Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
Thank you CSE team for your ministry. May you continue to spread truth!
Crystal
Dear for Jesus’ name: Phillip-George (c)1974
WHA …?
I often wonder if people read Brothers Hovind posts as I always see corrections. I think you need to read my post again. There has been a governmental system in play since Moses time. Each culture does it somewhat differently. During Daniel’s, Isaiah, Esther, Jeremiah Nehemiah, Ezra, lifetime It’s been unfolding. Ever since God gave Daniel the interpretation to King Nebuchadnezzar dream in Daniel 2 … Gods plan has been in play. If all you see is what you wrote above, you don’t know what I meant. What I was saying in my ENCOURAGEMENT to our brother was, “When I am to write a “Legal report” I am to leave out “Personal Opinion” Example: (What I would have done, or not done, the person is a nice or not nice person … anything that has nothing to do with FACTS, or What Happen at the given time.)
So I know we are reading the same book … Romans 13:1-”Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God”. Unless that was placed there as an Illuminati trick … (Jesus confirms the context, “That all power is in God’s hand”, in John 19:11- “Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.), even Daniel 4 The king states after he thought he was all powerful … I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Our court system … as flawed as some have made it, is still of God. (God will judge) Those who Killed J.F.K., Dr KIng, Tim Russert, Alex Russo, Those who jailed Dr. Hovind & Jo and countless others will have to answer to the Supreme Ruler. Daniel 2:44 states “And in the days of these kings (OUR TIME) shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
When we are to give a witness, I am to witness what I saw, The court better be doing what it has been called to do or else it will suffer under the hand of the God who set it up. We the Godly need not chant like fools but stand on Gods holy word and take the advice of Jesus after healing the lame man In John 5:14- “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee”.
Want to really have your noodle fried? In John 19:11- “Jesus answered, Thou (Pilate) couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin”. Whom was Jesus speaking about? Judas? The religious leaders? Me? You? Did you ever think it might be … God the Father? Does that mean … God sinned? In making us, “Human Beings” You have to admit … God missed the mark! (Sinned). We are a royal screw up of a race BUT God redeemed us. Who can defeat a perfect Savior? Only a Perfect God. Who can please a perfect God? Only a perfect Savior.
Is what I said true, “I Don’t know”. Just one of the many questions I have when I see my LORD, face to face.
Hi Kent,
I always admire that you are able to produce such interesting and thought provoking work almost always on a weekly basis, this post is no exception: I too have come to hold to the KJV as the correct version. I was recently asked by a friend to give reasons as to why I thought so, these were the reasons I gave at the time.
Firstly, the evidence in the ground says that once upon a time animals and insects etc. grew to a size which their present day descendants would find impossible to reach. My conclusion therefore is that once upon a time the earth was much more conducive to life than it is now… Something happened and now it isn’t: This relates perfectly to the Biblical account of the flood.
Therefore the evidence in the ground tells me that the Bible is true; there is a God and there is Judgement.
Secondly, if God can create the world (let alone everything else) I am sure he can write a book without making any mistakes.
Thirdly, Jesus said, “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Matthew 5:18.
I am given to understand that the English equivalent of a “jot & tittle” would be as a dot or a comma, ie a small mark in the writing. So Jesus is commenting here on the exactness of the written word.
Jesus also said, “Scripture cannot be broken” John 10:35. Therefore if Jesus himself sees that scripture is exact and cannot be broken, how should we therfore think to differ in our opinions?
So what does scripture say?
Psalms 12:6-7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. (7) Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt PRESERVE THEM from this generation FOREVER.
As I am not aware of any original translations, this would make Jesus/God a liar if there wasn’t a correct translation to be had for this/our generation.
Fourthly, (leading on from the third). All the other versions come with a copywrite, which says that the scripture belongs to ‘such and such a person or company’ (so it does not belong to God then?) & we cannot copy or distribute it without consent, I guess they must have changed the words somehow or else how did they get a copywrite?
Fifthly, and very personally, I’ve been reading the KJV only for some time now, and when I hear or read another version, bits just jump out at me as being wrong. It is said that the best way of spotting a fake anything is to thoroughly study the original work. I look at the others and find that they are just not right. I gave some examples, things such as missing verses and changed words such as the Passover/ Easter issue that you highlighted in this post.
Lots of Love
Jason x
br. Kent, br. Moderator,
Chuck Missler has been quoted herein, as saying the bible contains in excess of 200 rhetorical devices. Jesus, we know, spoke parabolically and cryptically. He himself says there are things hidden from some. Certain of the disciples were not to discuss some matters until after the resurrection.
Jesus walked to Golgotha. He wasn’t dragged screaming ‘blue murder’, ‘unfair’, ‘I demand a retrial’. We don’t know if Jesus was a roman citizen. What we do know is that Saul/Paul used that argument in an appeal process but that Jesus did not! Did Jesus enter a plea? None is recorded.
Jesus said he laid down his life and that no man could force him. I find his discussion with Pilate one of the most fascinating discussions in scripture.
john 19.11 “Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.”
This might sound semantical, because it is; but Jesus was not actually telling Pilate that Pilate has any power over him. Jesus walked to Golgotha. Judas betrayed Jesus to the Sanhedrin, the Sanhedrin betrayed Jesus to Pilate, Pilate tried to pass Jesus to Herod, Herod betrayed Jesus back to Pilate, Pilate handed Jesus over to men who were prepared [on behalf of the Roman Empire] to whip, punch, mock and kill the physically manifest body of the Author of Life.
There are differences between the Roman Empire and today’s England, Canada, America, New Zealand. I find it fascinating that King James translators lived contemporary with William Shakespeare, Sir Francis Bacon, Sir Edward Coke. Four men who could have passed each other in the street or theatre are arguably the four most influential people the world has known. Skakespeare covers modern media, reporting, entertainments, T.V. radio, theatre. Sir Francis Bacon launched modern scientific methods, the control variable experiment, the empirical inductive method. Sir Edward Coke gave us the modern legal system, common law process. King James cemented the protestant reformation built on sola scriptura. These four men couldn’t have done it without each other, couldn’t have done but that God were there to bless a time and place in History.
Whether people know it or not, acknowledge it in the slightest, the world has an enormous debt to these four men. That we stand on the shoulder of giants.
Coke said, “They (corporations) cannot commit treason, nor be outlawed, nor excommunicated, for they have no souls.”
A trial judge has no authority over the mental functions of a Jury Member, any more so than a torturer has power over the mental function of the soul in the stock or pillory. The inquisitors may have been able to force some confessions out of people but they couldn’t get them to believe those confessions. A little leaven [or Levin] can certainly spoil a lump.
Submit to what? a corporation with no soul or a man doing the wrong thing?
What are these flags flying for? Jesus or a Corporation called Pigs in Mud?
Coke Again, “Reason is the life of the law; nay, the common law itself is nothing else but reason. The law which is perfection of reason.”
But alas for men to be reasonable they first must have a living relationship to their own soul. Which is why I vote Jesus, in Land where there is no mythical separation between church, state and reason. For Jesus is Lord of All.
br. Moderator, I hope you find these few words evocative.
ChrystalG
I appreciate what you are saying.
I’m not advocating for a “Kum-by-ya” look the other way attitude. Yes, we are suppose to expose lies and spread the truth. But one lie is that the gospel has anything to do with pitting ourselves in some sort of worldly war against another person (whether violent or not). Jesus gave us one command … that we Love one another (John 13:34,1 Peter 3:8, 1 John 3:11, 1 John 3:23, 1 John 4:7, 1 John 4:11,1 John 4:12, 2 John 1:5, Romans 13:8, Ephesians 4:2, Hebrews 10:24 etc). It doesn’t matter what the world calls a “loving Christian” – it’s what Jesus calls a “loving Christian” that matters. He spells it out for us very plainly (Luke 6:27-28).
Another lie would be that Jesus did not raise from the dead. Yet another lie might be that Jesus was actually the devil in disguise. These are at least lies worth doing something about. But the incredibly gray area of Genesis interpretation is not a worthy cause for God – unless the point is to establish the supremacy of God FIRST (rather than a young earth and by extension a scientifically proven God), or the necessity of sabbath rest. Ask a rabbi what Genesis 1&2 mean … Just because we are Christians doesn’t mean we have the corner on biblical understanding.
Accountability and protection is no doubt an important aspect of love. An evolutionist needs to be held accountable if they reject another scientific view on the basis that it conflicts with their own, and evolution needs to be held in it’s place as one theory is a sea of scientific theories. But the same goes for a Christian scientist. As far as science is concerned, I have yet to see any real science come out of the creation science movement. I realize that this pins me, as a Christian, right up against the wall. But to be fair, if Creation science is ever to be taken seriously by the scientific community, they will have to be willing to be wrong. I am also at the same time deconstructing a thousand years of doctrine and philosophical theology here. But we need to remember that we view the bible through a particular lens … and this lens (whether we realize it or not) greatly affects how we live our lives and interpret the world around us, and also defines our understanding of the truth of the bible. You need to know this.
For a people who are more educated than anyone else in history, we tend to take a very un-educated, assuming, and blind approach to the bible. We rarely question why we do things the way we do. We are always too willing to just accept the norm. We also tend to conveniently ignore, or explain away (usually using some sort of circular reasoning) things in the bible that conflict with our understanding of how the bible is “suppose” to be interpreted. As a statement of obvious fact, rhe things we say and believe about the bible today are derived from theology – which is man-made philosophy about the bible, God, Jesus etc.
Jesus understood exactly what the Torah and prophets were all about – he got the spirit of the Law, while his contemporaries did not. The message of the Law, and I argue the entire bible as we know it, is Love – the Love of God. The reason that the Word of God is like a double edged sword is because it slices our hard, un-loving attitudes and mind-sets and pierces us with the knowledge of the truth – that is, Jesus.
If the idea of this ministry is evangelism and the purpose is to get people to come to Christ by promoting a literal interpretation of Genesis, then they have totally missed the point. Look up what it means to be a disciple in first century Israel. It is in this context that Jesus tells his disciples to go and make disciples.
God truly loves evolutionists, even the most evil ones. But our constant putting them down will only serve to harden their hearts even further. We must choose humbleness. “they have condemned themselves already” … this is true … ALREADY! But as Christ’s people, we have the authority to be partners with Jesus as he un-does their condemnation by showing these people God’s love! Our actions as Christ’s people have the potential to affect the the eternal state of others in a very real way. If I, as a Christian, am always harsh and judgmental in the way I present truth, I do nothing to help and I only serve to destroy. Yes we need to show people truth, and yes sometimes the truth hurts. But we also need to meet people where they are at … by showing them forgiveness … asking for forgiveness, and being the kind of other-centered people that reflect Jesus to a very broken world. Let God to the work, and let us obey him.
We are not in the ministry of what is written on tablets. We are in the ministry of the spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:7-8
Jesus says “follow me” not “follow the book”. The Pharisees followed the book – to the letter! Where did that get them?
Truth is not a ‘something’, it’s a ‘someone’. Jesus. John 14:6
Below is exactly the kind of thing that Gets us Christians into trouble.
2 Timothy 2:22-26 – Paul is re-contextualizing Jesus’ message of Love and applying it in detail to Timothy’s circumstance.
Acts 4:29 – The word to be boldly spoken was the Lordship of Jesus Christ through his death and resurrection. Not the authority and infallibility of Torah.
These two passages tell us two things about spreading the good news about Jesus. 1) do it boldly, and 2) do it in love. It has nothing to do with spreading the infallibility, authenticity and authority of rhema (the Greek word for scripture).
Ryan
Dr. David Cloud has written quite a number of books on the Bible Version issue at http://www.wayoflife.org/
One is titled “Why we hold to the King James Bible” ISBN 1-58318-104-0
He has read and studied over 600 books concerning the Bible version issue.
Presently he is a missionary to Nepal.
Kent,
You are on my heart a lot. The world is going crazy. I would like to thank you again for your posts defending the perfect word of God in the English language, the KJV. I think it was the Tyndale Bible that uses Easter every time since “Pascha” was an untranslated word. Also I would like to give this link of others I have showing that the Johannine Comma, I John 5:7, should be in the word of God. God promised to preserve his word and he did.
http://www.ovrlnd.com/Bible/casefor1john57.html
Ekkman
how is the KJV translation (something that requires an incredible amount of interpretation) infallible? I can think of at least three ways that the KJV does a worse translating job than other translations. Do you have faith in the bible alone or in Jesus alone?
Dr Kent Hovind,
Thanks for this enlightment. I pray our living God would continue tolet your light shine for His glory in Jesus’ name
Exactly as I see it!
Have been using the KJV for over 20 years and deeply value the truth conveyed in the specific words selected.
Favorite example: KJV
God breathed into Adam’s nostrils the breath of life and he became a living SOUL.
Nearly every other translation
he became a living BEING.
The soul is the God given unique quality of human life. It imparts an immaterial, spiritual, and moral element.
By stripping out the word SOUL and making it BEING the other translations only teach that man, like any other animal has a quality of life – nothing more, nothing less.
flesh + soul = being. A fox is not a being because a fox has no soul. We are ‘beings’ because we have a soul. But in the middle ages context, I believe people would often call other people “souls”(i.e. what a kind old soul). The difference is simply re-contextualization from middle ages UK English to modern American English. One is no better than the other as long as you understand the full context of each.
Dr Hovinds zeal in keeping God’s word intact is crucial if we are to come to God as God wants us. (Thank You Dr Kent Hovind)
There is a reason why the bible warns us not to alter even an “Iota”. Man thinking himself higher then he should often adds his own translations or takes out words from the Bible. Or gives more credit to one verse over another. it’s wrong….. Often credible speakers like Kent have a Theory about something and openly talk about it in front of a wide range of audience. I only want to say at some degree to some ears it could be misleading since they might think to highly of Kent and believe everything he says. Or take it wrong which is to be understood it can happen, and is something that only immature Christians who might not understand that a theory is only a theory. But Paul in such instances warns us not to be a stumbling block for anyone. So we must be careful. So Yes it’s important that Gods words remains intact.
For to come to God we must do so by Gods word. It’s true that we are called to “follow Jesus” and to “love one another”. well, how do we do that? In 1 John 5 : 3 “For that is to love God, that we keep his commandments….”. and 1 John 2 : 5 “He who keeps Gods commandments, in Him is truly the love of God perfect….”. in order for us to love God and reach such perfection. we must obey His command and laws. In order to know what he wants us to obey we must read and study the bible. In order for the bible to teach us as God will have it taught, our bible must be authentic and intact from alterations by man. This cannot be stressed enough. In some churches they preach almost entirely translated sermon. Which of course is not all wrong for they are compiled to discuss a point, verse or phrase. But any reference in a sermon should really be verses entirely from the bible. Because if you stand in front of an audience and preach what God wants from your listeners. Or just simply do something you believe is Gods will. You better make sure its written in the bible and that it is Gods will! For if it’s extra biblical you are using Gods name and word in vain. God will not have that. So we must be careful how we receive the bible and apply it to our lives.
When I picture Jesus sitting on the mound preaching “Blessed are yea….” it really is a different picture then the account when he was evacuating the temple. He was not only a gentle teacher but also a man with authority who used it occasionally.
So is it ok to call someone a liar? Or should we try to get to him in a nice cushy way? Both can be used. But lets see what Revelations tells us about being blunt and unashamed.
In Revelations 3:15 we read; “if only yea were cold or hot, but yea are lukewarm”. Lukewarm is the comfort zone that we all like to be in most of the time. In this case just simply not bothering any one and as a result living in peace with everyone ignoring whats wrong. Cold and hot are extremes we choose to avoid. Think of having hot or cold poured over your back….. you can try this when you shower. Turn the water to completely cold for a few minutes. Then back to as hot as you can take it. Do this back and forth several times. This is called hydrotherapy. Very invigorating. It really gets your blood moving and dilates arteries and skin pores. which in alternative medicine is often used to promote healing. So what does God mean with this? I have a friend who has a video of a sermon on this. In Asia where Laodicea is located. I’m not sure what the modern name is. This city in which the church was that Revelation 3:14-22 speaks of here. there was (it probably still is today) a river or brook passing through. And this tributary was branched or connected to two sources of different water. One was a hot springs from a neighboring city. The other was cold springs from yet another city from a different direction. So the water became lukewarm where it merged in Laodicea. Interesting… Now what are hot springs and cold springs still used for today? They are therapeutic resources often prescribed by doctors and help people for many ailments. They contain valuable minerals that promote healing and generally lead to better health that otherwise might have been unfeasible. Both the cold and the hot have their own special attributes. If you mix the two you get lukewarm water and the minerals reacting to the temperature change may settle out or become stagnant and ineffective. So Laodicea had an undesirable lukewarm stream passing through or near their city with no healing benefits for it’s people. Apparently the church in that city was very much like their river. What the video is saying is that God wants us to be cold or hot. How? Since these springs had healing power to people. we spiritually must possess healing power to be used on people. Since both hot and cold are extremes we must often be extreme in admonishing a brother of his wrongs so that he might see his error and correct his ways. Or be an eye opener for our otherwise fellow man thus bringing about a change of heart that they might be saved also. There are many ways we can do that. Kent Hovind has done much to open eyes and light darkened hearts. Since we are people with ailments we must constantly go back to those springs to sustain our health. Also must we as Christian continually use therapy that brings results and keeps our church spiritually healthy. Even if that means making enemies at times, we must use uncompromising corrections that are stern and often harsh. That is; Extreme but with meaning and love towards our fellow man. Extremes can really hurt. But they are often necessary. For instance; if someone lies. You can call him a blatant liar…. right out. That will raise his hair. Show him how it’s wrong and that it really upsets you and how low he has come. This will hurt most anyone and can lead to repentence. If someone in your church commits adultery. tell him you will not tolerate this and exclude this person and call him a nonmember till he admits his wrong and begs forgiveness. Harsh, isn’t it. God expects his children to be the salt of the earth. would you like to have someone rub salt into your wound? No, well then be careful and don’t get wounded; (stay away from sin!). Anyway this is what I took away from this lesson that you can read in Revelations 3. it goes on and says in verse 18. “I advice yea to buy gold from me that is purified with fire”….. This means; take council in Gods word (bible). mirror yourself therein that you may see where you are wrong. Notice how it says. “purified with fire” -pure and true and genuine. that is what God says of his word. It has no error. It has substance, is real and alive. God calls it “Gold”. that means it’s priceless. it was made pure in “Fire”…. it is tested, thorough and found perfect. we MUST NOT bend or alter Gods word!
Kent…. Your effort and labor of love will not go unnoticed before God.
I follow everything you are saying. The problem is that you are applying eastern and western thinking in the wrong places.
Western thought deduces things from the abstract to the concrete, which is what you seem to have done. But on closer inspection, you have actually taken something written in terms of concretes (people and water), and turned it into an abstract concept having to do with the properties of hot springs and then returned it into something that is both concrete and abstract by saying that we need to have similar properties, but in a spiritual way.
Ancient Near Eastern thought is entirely different (backwards, actually) from this. Here is an ancient Near eastern perspective on the same verse of revelation. Hot and cold (as related to a drink – v3:16) are being used as a parallel to the deeds of the church. A hot drink and a cold drink in the right situation are soothing, and so are swallowed. But a lukewarm drink is spit-out and has no use.
With that understanding, we can now conceptualize a bit using western thinking. what kind of deeds could be considered hot and cold? Why is being ‘lukewarm’ not good? In answering these questions with the above understanding, we can apply the verses to our modern context with the truth of the scripture remaining fully in tact.
In terms of what it means to love God, yes we find that 1 John tells us to keep the commands of God. But again, you are applying eastern and western thought incorrectly to come to your conclusions. Starting with the eastern understanding: the commands of God are a parallel to love and loving God is a parallel to loving others. Loving others is also a parallel to loving ourselves. The old covenant of the law is a parallel to the new covenant of the spirit: the old covenant was written on tablets of stone, but the new covenant is written on the hearts of men.
Now move on to western thinking. Love in the bible is an abstraction and so isn’t laid out directly in terms of anything concrete (say, as opposed to the creation account, which is very concrete). But western society has wrongly turned love into something concrete – we equate it with some sort of emotion or feeling. This is entirely FALSE. Using the overarching example of Jesus’ life as the concrete indicator of the abstraction of love, we can clearly see that love is a choice: a choice to be other-centered, sacrificial, giving, patient, kind, life-giving and gentle in spirit.
I could go on and on …. like when Jesus gets mad and throws the people out of the temple – we tend to immediately turn that concrete example of righteous (and focused) anger into an abstract principle that any time we consider ourselves right about something (especially a spiritual matter), it is OK to get angry. The truth is that Jesus was angry because people were using the temple in a way that made a mockery of God – so with that understanding, we can now apply this to today.
making sense?
Maybe more importantly, what attitudes will lead one to these lukewarm deeds?
Saul and Ryan – I think you are both coming to basically the same conclusion: that this is about so much more than just water. Looking at the cultural context of biblical passages is a great practice – and can help us figure out how people might have interpreted the scripture when it was first read. once we understand the original context, we can then transport it’s inherent truth into our own context without ‘re-defining’ it.
I’d also like to apologize for something I said earlier: I’ve been reading a KJV with a concordance … and those translators DO seem to use words that speak better to the meaning of the Greek/Hebrew. There also seem to be some cases where the NIV uses words that make more sense (but that’s more in terms of culture and sentence structure). I think that a good approach to scripture is to use several translations and a lexicon/concordance if possible. Many of the new translations speak to our doctrinal and cultural understanding of the bible, and I don’t think the KJV is exempt from this. But I also think that this is NOT a mistake. It is very good! It reinforces the truth that the God of the bible is a transcendent God, and that the fundamental truths of the bible are consistent across vastly different cultures. However, I also think that we need to understand the ANCIENT cultures of the Jews, the Babylonians, the Egyptians, the Persians and the Romans and Greeks. In understanding these cultures, I think that we will gain an even clearer understanding of the Biblical story and of the transcendent truths contained in scripture.
Saul, I applaud your efforts in trying to understand the cultural context of revelation. Keep digging!! Ryan, I also applaud your efforts to try to understand how people from different cultures and times think, and while it’s an important area of study … it might be best left to people with doctorates in philosophy of thought
Best,
LP