Marla, your email regarding the mistake you found in Genesis got me thinking. Nice catch by the way. There are other mistakes, big ones in scripture and I started wondering why God allows them. Here is a big one that I had at first really just took at face value. It is something that I may have pointed out to you in the past.

Matthew 28:19 KJVS
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

So if our Lord really said this, why did the apostles always baptized in the name of the Jesus Christ? And why did apostle Peter say this?.

Acts 2:38 KJVS
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

So it would appear that God allows man to alter the word of God but then one has to ask why? The Catholic church and the historical offshoots from the Catholic Church all baptize in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Ghost. The church of England, Methodist, Lutheran Church. and others. Keep in mind that Matthew 28:19 is the driving rationale behind the great commission. Which led to a lot of converts, many forced through pain of death, in the various colonies of the major European powers in America, Canada, South America, Africa, India, Australia and other parts of the globe. Also it led to the acquisition of great wealth, and power from those colonies. Not only the countries involved, but the churches in those countries. There are two major driving forces that God put into play in order to achieve His purpose in this earth. One of which is the mystery of God, which is Christ in you the hope of glory, Col 1:27, the hidden wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 2:6-8 KJVS
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: [7] But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: [8] Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Why would the princes of this world not have crucified our Lord if they knew about the mystery of God? Well, since Christ in you the hope of glory points to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which is responsible for justifying and sanctifying a believer.

John 17:23 KJVS
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that gthe world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
1 Corinthians 6:11 KJVS
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

The other mystery is the mystery of iniquity. Remember all things are of God.

2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 KJVS
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. [8] And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

You need both mysteries to accomplish God’s purpose in the earth. Evil is a necessary evil in God‘s purpose in this earth.

Isaiah 45:7 KJVS
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.

One might ask why He created evil? The answer starts to appear in the next set of verses from Romans.

Romans 9:19-23 KJVS
Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? [20] Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? [21] Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? [22] What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: [23] And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, [see Ephesians 1:4]

Let us examine more closely two of those verses.

Romans 9:22-23 KJVS
What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: [23] And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

Verse 22 and 23 are linked together by two conjunctions which begin verse 23 with “and that”, the definition or the Greek word translated into the English word “that” is below.

Thayer’s Definition
1. that, in order that, so that

The vessels of wrath fitted for destruction were necessary in order that God might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy. Appears to be a cause-and-effect relationship. Exactly why is it necessary for God to endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction in order to make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy? You never really are able to put that together until you read verses in Hebrews.

Hebrews 5:12-14 ESV
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, [13] for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. [14] But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

And who does the training?

Hebrews 12:6-11 ESV
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” [7] It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? [8] If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. [9] Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? [10] For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. [11] For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Being made perfect, is being made mature and that can only come about through experience and being trained by God. God had to create an environment in which he could train the sons of God who will rule and reign with Jesus Christ for 1000 years, Re 20:4&6. Which is His overall purpose on this earth through Jesus Christ our Lord, Eph 1:9-12.

Revelation 12:10-11 KJVS
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. [11] And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Let us circle back to Matthew 28:19 and the question of why God would allow that to be in the Bible? There is no way to say for certain if that is so, but likely God turned a blind eye to it, and endured it with much longsuffering in regards to the vessels of wrath. Satan is god of this world, 2 Co 4:4, 2 Co 11:14, It’s only natural that he was seek to control and corrupt the churches from earlier on. The apostasy of the church was starting to take hold in the early days of the church.

Jude 1:3-4 ESV
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. [4] For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 2:1-3 ESV
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. [2] And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. [3] And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

1 Peter 2:8,11 KJVS
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. [11] Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

The second and third chapter of the book of Revelation, the letters to the seven churches, will give you an idea of how quickly the Christian churches of that era were slipping into apostasy. And the letters to the churches, were to those churches at that time. And do not extend to the churches of today.

Revelation 1:19 KJVS
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be

The things which are, are the events that were taking place in and around when apostle John was on the isle of Patmos. It would include what he was instructed to write to the seven churches in the second and third chapters.

It took nearly 2000 years for that apostasy to grow towards what it is intended to be.

Revelation 17:5 KJVS
And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Revelation 18:4 KJVS
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Most if not all Christian church organizations since our Lord walked the Earth, ultimately became the work of man, striving for power, prestige, wealth and control over people. Various truths were uncovered in the scriptures in and after the Reformation, but the different men and their organization set up camp and served the created thing rather than the creator, Ro 1:25. Distorting the word of God with their various bible translations and doctrines, Eph 4:14, that separated people so they could fleece the sheep. It was also evident in the long history of idolatry and disobedience of the nation Israel.

Romans 11:1-5 KJVS
I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. [2] God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, [3] Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. [4] But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. [5] Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

I have a long history of seeking the truth in the Scriptures. I received the love of the truth when I receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Even still it takes a great deal of study and time to find the truth of the Scriptures, even though they are apparent when you develop the eyes to see? Seek and you shall find knock and it will be opened to you. Seek that goodly pearl.

Matthew 13:45-46 KJVS
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: [46] Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Revelation 12:11 KJVS
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

I liked to drive fast when I was younger. Let me tell you what cured me of that habit. I graduated high school in 1969 and bought a brand new VW beetle. We lived out in the country and the VW was practical and economical. That little car could really go around corners with the engine above the rear wheel drive. Good car for driving in the snow. I totaled two of them in a couple years time due to drinking and driving fast. A few more older cars wrecked afterwards. Had a couple motorcycles. I had a 350 Honda scrambler, and a BSA 650. I dumped the 350 Honda on a corner one time going 40 miles an hour, with just cut off jeans on, no shirt. Had asphalt burns on my knees and shoulder blades as big as ones hand. Busted a front tooth in half on that one? Young and dumb, what can I tell you. I got drafted in 1971, the Vietnam war was going on. I was lucky I ended up in Germany. I was a medic and then a drug counselor. I drove armored personnel carriers and jeeps, and cracker box ambulances in my duties as a medic. A lot of fun, driving military vehicles. Got out in 1973. I got in another car wreck, but it wasn’t my fault. Broke the steering wheel on the car with my nose. I kinda straighten out for a while then. Got married, had two sons. A couple years before my second son was born, I was baptized full immersion in the name of Jesus Christ, and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Which was a very powerful and life-changing experience for me. It was the start of my love of scripture. In 1984 we bought a five speed Honda Accord. I had never driven a front wheel drive car before. That car was fast. I went into a corner I usually took at around 45-50 miles an hour, around 55 mph. I was in fifth gear, down shifted into fourth gear, and stepped on the gas. That’s how you would take a corner like that with rear wheel drive. It was early March, it had rained and the pavement was a bit wet. But as soon as I stepped on the gas, the front wheels lost contact with the road, and the car flew off the road. Front wheel cars will do that in a corner when a transmission changes gears.There was around a 15 foot deep ditch with a creek bank. I didn’t have my seatbelt on, and I was afraid I was gonna go through the front windshield, so I threw myself in the passenger seat. The car impacted on that side of the vehicle, so essentially I speared the passenger door with my head. I broke C-5 and C-6 vertebrates both in three pieces. When I woke up, the car was upside down I was lying on the roof of the car, and I smelled gas. The radio and lights were on, so I thought I should crawl out of the car. I can’t describe how god-awful terrible I felt. I was burning and tingling all over and very weak. Then while trying to crawl out of the car I paralyze myself. They put me in a Stryker frame for some time and then a halo vest and I was paralyzed for 10 days. If you have never seen one, there are 4 metal pins that are in a band around your head that press into your skull. That band is attached to four rods that are connected to a plastic vest. I still have depressions into my skull where the pins were. You can actually feel them with your fingertips. At the time of the accident, I was boning hams at a meat packing plant. I was 6 foot 1 and weigh around 205 pounds. Well muscled from a lifetime of hard work. In the 10 days that I was paralyzed, I lost 30 pounds of muscle. Then in 10 days I started to show a little movement in my right index finger. Muscle control return very slowly. They called me the miracle man in that hospital because it is extremely rare for someone to walk again after being paralyzed for 10 days. I can remember when they first took me down to physical therapy. They had a raised platform about as high as the seat of a wheelchair with a padded wrestling mat on top. They put me on the top of the mat and told me to try to sit up on my own. I can’t describe how bad I felt. I was tingling and burning all over. I was so weak at that time I could hardly brush my teeth with my right arm. I tried to sit up, but I couldn’t. I was too weak and in too much pain. I cried like a baby because it hurt so bad. I’ll never forget, two of the female physical therapist, neither one much over 5 foot tall and lucky to weigh 100 pounds each. Got me in my wheelchair and took me over to the side and said Luke, you’re gonna have to be tougher than you’ve ever been in your entire life if you wanna walk again. Well they shamed me. My dad worked me like a man while I was growing up. Before we got a chainsaw we would go up into the woods with a two man crosscut saw and cut down a red Oak tree and then cut the log up into 10 to 12 inch pieces and split them with a ax for firewood. At the meat packing plant I did it just about every hard job in that place. I thought I was pretty tough. So I toughened up and fought against the pain and weakness and I walked again. It took three months of physical therapy in the hospital to be able to walk 100 feet on my own. Those two therapist were wrong about one thing. I had to be a lot tougher the next 40 years living with the pain and weakness from a spinal cord injury. In 97 I had four vertebrae fused with a Casper plate put in my neck. Back in the halo again for four months. I could tell you a lot of stories about all the pain, muscle spasms, burning and tingling I went through over the years. I could tell you about stubborn male pride, and not asking anyone for any help in order to prove you were still a man. I will tell you this, I don’t care how tough you think you are, in the end pain wins. It wears you down and chews you up and spits you out. The first 30 years were hard. The last 10 years extremely difficult. There isn’t the day that doesn’t go by where I pray to God to just let me die in my sleep and be done with it. I’m weary, I knew 40 years ago I was fighting a battle I could not win. I’m tired of the fight.The only thing that offsets this despair I feel, is the frequent washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit that comes over me, Titus 3:4-7. It wipes the slate clean so to speak for a while and strengthens my resolve to carry on. And let me tell you the kicker to all of this. The day of the accident, my ex-wife’s cousin, who was a Pentecostal, called me. She said Luke I had a vivid dream last night that you were in a car accident and you were terribly injured. She implored me to be careful. Around 14 hours later I was laying in that ditch paralyzed. Took me many years thinking about that to understand that according to scripture. For many years, I thought why didn’t I just listen to that warning. Then in time I realized that dreams are prophetic. I had persistent sin in my life at the time. The small still voice of the Holy Spirit was warning me to knock it off. But I am a hard head. I did not listen. As my knowledge of scripture grew, I realized that the accident was my being chastised by God. God scourges the sons He loves. Read the 12th chapter of the book of Hebrews. The final verse of that chapter is as follows.

Hebrews 12:29 KJVS
For our God is a consuming fire.

What is consumed is the old man, the flesh, Ro 6:6. One of the most frustrating battles fought in all of this is described in an article I wrote for my website.

For I do not understand my own actions

And after you read this, if interested, go to the title page and the first 10 or 12 articles on that page will cover my understanding of sound New Testament doctrine. Luke