"That a restitution or restoration of all things would occur in these latter days, including prophecy and revelation from God to man through living prophets. (Matthew 23:34, Acts 3:19-21) ("Mormonism" Is Both Christian And Biblical, Jon M. Taylor, Ph.D.)
"Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town." (Matthew 23:34)
The first quote is supposed to be supported by the second. With this in mind, lets see what Jesus is really saying by researching the full thought in the context of other verses within the book of Matthew.
Chapter 23 is focused on the last controversies with the Jewish leaders during the "Passion Week." The heading for Chapter 23 in the Bible, is titled the "Seven Woes." Those seven woes were pointed to the teachers of the law, the Pharisees, and the blind guides. Christ concludes the seven woes to these teachers, Pharisees, and guides by stating, "You snakes! You brood vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" (Matthew 23:33)
The next verse is the verse that is in question. As a result of the actions of the teachers, Pharisees, and guides, Christ states that he is sending to them prophets and wise men and teachers. Jesus goes on to say that the teachers, Pharisees, and guides will harm (kill, crucify, flog, and pursue from town to town) the prophets, wise men and teachers He will send to them in their own time (Matthew 23:34). Then Jesus reminds the teachers, Pharisees, and guides the blood that had been shed already of the prophets in the Old Testament (Matthew 23:35). To finish out chapter 23, Jesus laments over Jerusalem.
Jesus Christ was not speaking of "living prophets" for this dispensation. This is clear. I pray that all who are sincere about knowing the truth of God's Word; go and study for yourselves and let the word flow through you in truth and light. Amen.
Matthew 23:34
For Example-Part Three
Universal (Total) Apostasy
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims to believe in a universal or total apostasy. They believe that the Church of Jesus Christ was "lost from the earth in a universal apostasy following the death of the apostles in the primitive church." ("Mormonism" Is Both Christian and Biblical, Jon M. Taylor, Ph.D.)
There are several scriptures that Mr. Taylor used to back up his claim in the quote above. In Isaiah and Amos in the Bible, the scriptures are speaking about the house of David and the land of Israel, not the church of Christ. In Ephesians, the apostle Paul is talking with the body of believers (the church.) He talks how God's people and members of God's household was built (past tense) on apostles and prophets. "Was built" means that the work of building the household of God has been done. There is no need to "re-build." Finally, in Thessalonica the concern was about the second coming of Christ; we are not to worry about it as long as you are in Christ
Mormon Creed Critque
Click on the image to read the 13 Articles of Faith put out by the Mormon church. Now, go to www.truthandgrace.com/creed.htm and read the critique put out by 'Truth and Grace'. The critique gives a very clear Cristian view about these articles. (These 'articles' are 'creeds'.)
For Example-Part Two
"That the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings, united to such a degree that they are one in purpose and action. (Luke 3:21, John 17:1-26, Acts 7:55-56, Hebrews 1:3). When Christ prayed, he was not praying to himself, but to the Father (Matthew 26:42, John 17:1-26). When he was baptized-and when transfigured on the mount-he was not playing ventriloquist when a voice from heaven testified, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I an well pleased." (Matthew 3:17) And when he was crucified, he did not ascend to himself, but to hes Father, who is also our Heavenly Father. (John 20:17)
The leaders of the early Christian church had to deal with the nature of God, or "One God who is three Persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit," in order to explain it to their congregations and all those around them. The word "persons" when applied to God can be misleading and misunderstood. It can cause people to think that God exists as three separate people or persons. This is not so. There is only one God, not two (bi-theism) or more (poly-theism). The Father is omnipresent, the Son is omnipresent, and the Holy Spirit is omnipresent, they can in no way be three separate Gods. Here are a few scriptures that say there is only one God (Matthew 28:19, Mark 10:8, 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 12:4-6, Isaiah 44:6, Deuteronomy 5:7; 6:4).
This is Absurd!
"Of you don't believe in The Holy Book of Mormon, then you don't believe in the Bible. (1 Corinthians 10:11)" (www.bomchristan.com)
First of all, the only book that is Holy is the Bible, not the Book of Mormon. The Mormons don't have a HOLY book at all.
Second, 1 Corinthians 10:11 does not even touch on any subject that it is attached to in the quote above. Paul is talking about how he and others are the same in who they are when absent from the church of Corinth or present with the same church.
For Example-Part One
"That the true nature of God as a glorified personal being with a body as tangible as man's and that in fact we are created in his image, as was Jesus Christ himself. (Genesis 1:26, James 3:9, Hebrews 1:1-3)" ("Mormonism, Is Both Christian And Biblical, Jon M. Taylor, Ph.D.) (Italics added)
This statement is only true in part. Yes, we are created after the image of God. Genesis and James state this. Hebrews speaks of Jesus Christ as an exact representation of God the Father. However, the quote says, "The true nature of God as a glorified personal being with a body as tangible as mans..." The scripture references in no way state that the 'true nature' of God is a glorified personal being nor does the scriptures mentioned say that God has a body that is 'tangible'.
The "for example" quote up at the top is not telling the whole truth. Do not be deceived by this statement.
A Bible! A Bible! A Hiss?
According to the Book of Mormon, the second book of Nephi was penned between 588B.C. and 570B.C. This book is: "An account of the death of Lehi. Nephi's brethren rebel against him. The Lord warns Nephi to depart into the wilderness. His journeying in the wilderness." according to Joseph Smith.
Within the 29th chapter of 2nd Nephi, the heading goes like this; "Many gentiles shall reject the Book of Mormon-They shall say: We need no more Bible-The Lord speaks to many nations-He will judge the world out of the books thus written." And so the story unfolds...
"But behold, there shall be many-at that day when I shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel;
2 And also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed; and my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel;
3 And because my words hall hiss forth-many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.
4 But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails [travels] and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles? (Skip 5)
6 Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews? (Skip 7, 8, and 9)
10 Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.
11 For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according their works, according to that which is written.
12 For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it. " (Funny how no other house or nation wrote it?)
The Book of Mormon states that this writing was put together as far back as 588 B.C. In the Harper's Bible Dictionary it states; "The composition of the Bible took more than 1,000 years. The O.T. developed from 1200 B.C. to 100 B.C., the only surviving portion of the national literature of early Israelites. The N.T. was written during the 1st century A.D. and possibly the early 2[n]d century."
The word "Bible" is derived from Latin and Greek languages; "biblia" or "books."
The Torah was canonized around 300B.C. and the New Testament around 375A.D, therefore, when the BOM talks about a Bible, it is incorrect. I find that the logic for "A Bible!" to be even part of the Book of Mormon is defiant. It should not even be there. All references to the Bible from the Book of Mormon are on sandy soil, not solid ground; and are to be disregarded, or even better yet, discarded!
NO MORE HISSING PLEASE!
The Multiplicity of Mormonism
Go to the web site "Smith Busters" where I got this from. It is a real good site. Check it out!
www.smithbusters.com
The Temple Has Served Its Purpose
"When Christ died on the Cross, the veil of the temple was torn in half, from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), announcing to the world that the middle partition was broken down between God and man and that mankind now had immediate access to God. No longer did man need the services of a priest to offer sacrifices for his sins. Instead, Christ has once and for all become the supreme Sacrifice and the Great High Priest. Hence the Temple had served its purpose and was no longer needed." (The Historical Background of the Construction of the Temple and Its Place in Hebrew Life and Thought, by C.D. Hansen, The Enduring Word Emphasis, Resource Magazine and Bible Commentary, December-January-February 1983-84)
