666I.htm

666I.

REFINED GOLD FROM MUCH CLAY.
FROM THE APOCRYPHA.

THE DEBATE AT THE PERSIAN COURT,
OF THINGS THEY JUDGED THE STRONGEST.
(From The Apocrypha of the New English Bible. 1 Esdras 3:1 to 4:40).

To understand the meanings of the Apocrypha or "hidden things", one needs insight by God's power to discern and be able to reveal what has been hidden, including the dispositions of promoters of wickedness, from the standpoint and judgements of God. In this particular case, denouncing the unrighteousness of men giving glory and authority to undeserving women, making them strong.

JUDGING THE "STRONGEST THINGS".
Three young men of the king's bodyguard said: 'Let each one of us name the thing which he judges the strongest; and to the one whose opinion seems wisest king Darius will give rich gifts and prizes". "The king and the three chief men of Persia shall judge those whose statement is wisest, and the award will be made on the merits of the written statement."

ABOUT THEIR STATEMENTS.
One wrote, "Wine is the strongest". The second wrote, "The king is strongest"; and the third wrote, "Women are strongest, but truth conquers all". (V.10,11).

The first spoke of the force of wine over men, and the second described man the strongest: "'Sirs, is not man the strongest, man who masters the earth and the sea and all that is in them?'" (See 1 Esdras 3:13 to 4:42). "There is injustice in wine, in kings, in women, in all men, and in all their works and so forth. There is no truth in them; they shall perish in their injustice. But truth abides and is strong forever… Hers [truth] are strength and royalty, the authority and majesty of all ages. Praise be to the God of truth!"

THE WISDOM OF THE CHRIST.
Christ's wisdom for peoples provides the way to inherit everlasting life. And in this regard Christ Jesus answered Peter when he said to them: "Truly I say to you, There is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the Kingdom of God who will not in any way get many times more in this period of time, and in the coming system of things everlasting life". (Luke 18:29,30). A woman's strength over a man is empowered by demons, shown up by their dictatorial behaviour in word and deed, and is an abhorrence before God. Man's position and responsibilities are clearly set out in the written Word of God, clearly conveyed through His servants on earth. God is the Authority, then The Christ's authority as head of the congregation of God. Then God's glory, man. Next, man's glory the woman, when she recognises man's authority. Married women are to complement their husbands; that is, in the things their husbands are lacking.

As previously stated, a woman's glory is her hair, that is if she is allowed within the congregation of God with it. But in refusing to obey male servants anointed by God, when they give her the reason(s) for having it or her removed, she is in disgrace. A woman who is told by an anointed one that she is deserving of being shorn, but who refuses this corrective measure and is allowed to frequent one of Christ's congregations, is in greater disgrace in spirit before God than one shaved or shorn. There is hope of repentance for one shaved or shorn through its penalty of disgrace. Those told to carry out the shorning but who refuse to do so share in her disgrace. The holy requirements of a woman are described in the following scriptures:

(1 Corinthians 11:3-10. 14:33-37. Ephesians 5:22,24. 1 Timothy 2:11,12. 3:5).
(Proverbs 31:30. 10-31. 1 Peter 3:3,4. NWT).

After reading and meditating on these scriptural reminders from God's Word, one cannot fail to realise that a wife can only please God and earn her place in His everlasting arrangement by being an obedient and a helpful complement of man herself (Gen 2:20-22) as to the Lord. But if instead a woman exercises authority over God's glory, man, especially by claiming to have been given authority from God's Word to teach men the laws of God, she has rejected the authority of God and His glory, man. (1 Cor 7:16. 14:34-38). What other way could a woman spiritually teach and exercise authority over a man as Paul condemned, other than what JWs practice? (Zech 5:5-8).

12/8/80.