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MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016

THE RAPTURE PROCESS

“Behold, I show you a mystery; WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP, BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED,

IN A MOMENT, IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE, AND WE SHALL BE CHANGED.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.

O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? (1 Corinthians 15:51-55)

There is a Rapture PROCESS that no one talks about.

The traditional pre-trib teaching is that the Rapture could take place AT ANY MOMENT, when we least expect it, without ANY SIGNS OR WARNINGS.

And that it will be INSTANT: That one moment we’ll be here on earth in these mortal bodies, and the next (before we even have time to realize what’s happening) we’ll be in heaven in the Presence of Christ.

That teaching IS FALSE.

The confusion stems from the fact that the prophecy establishment took 1 Corinthians 15:51-51 (quoted above) and ran with it IGNORING other passages that CLEARLY indicate A BRIEF TIME GAP BETWEEN THE START OF THE TRIBULATION, our TRANSFORMATION, AND OUR collective TRANSLATION.

As with any other topic, we must take into consideration EVERYTHING that God says about it in His written Word.

Otherwise we end up with HALF TRUTHS, time and again.

Half-truths are LIES.

Our TRANSFORMATION from mortal to immortal DOES take place in AN INSTANT.

However, there ARE SIGNS that precede the Rapture. (Matthew 24:29-30; Revelation 6:12-17)

And there is a Rapture PROCESS. Matter of fact, we may be transformed into immortal beings, and STILL HANG AROUND on earth, and/or in some intermediate dimension, BEFORE we are ALL CAUGHT UP TOGETHER and appear in heaven.

Perhaps the CLEAREST place to see this is Revelation 6:12 - 7:9:

Let’s keep in mind that there were NO CHAPTER DIVISIONS in the original Bible. Chapter divisions were placed there AT THE SOLE DISCRETION of the MORTAL, FALLIBLE translators.

Sometimes they got them right. Others they butchered up the text, giving the FALSE impression that the subject matter CHANGES from one chapter to the other.

I have edited certain portions for the sake of continuity of thought.

Let’s read it as ONE LONG, CONTINUOUS TEXT:

“And I saw when He (Jesus) had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, THERE WAS A GREAT EARTHQUAKE; AND THE SUN BECAME BLACK AS SACKCLOTH OF HAIR, AND THE MOON BECAME AS BLOOD;

13And THE STARS OF HEAVEN FELL UNTO THE EARTH, even as a fig tree casts its unripe figs, when it is shaken by a mighty wind.

14And THE HEAVENS DEPARTED AS A SCROLL WHEN IT IS ROLLED TOGETHER; AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND ISLAND WERE MOVED OUT OF THEIR PLACES.

15And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the generals, and the mighty men, and every slave, and every free man, HID THEMSELVES IN THE DENS AND IN THE ROCKS OF THE MOUNTAINS;

16And said to the mountains and rocks, FALL ON US, AND HIDE US FROM THE FACE of Him that sits on the throne, and from THE WRATH OF the Lamb:

17For THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH HAS COME; and who shall be able to stand?

And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth…

2And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, TO WHOM IT WAS GIVEN TO HURT THE EARTH AND THE SEA,

3Saying, DON’T HURT THE EARTH, NEITHER THE SEA, NOR THE TREES, TILL WE HAVE SEALED THE SERVANTS OF OUR GOD ON THEIR FOREHEADS.

4And I heard the number of them who were sealed: and THERE WERE SEALED A HUNDRED AND FORTY AND FOUR THOUSAND OF ALL THE TRIBES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL…

9AFTER THIS I SAW A GREAT MULTITUDE, WHICH NO MAN COULD NUMBER, OF ALL NATIONS, AND TRIBES, AND PEOPLE, AND TONGUES, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

(THAT’S the Rapture)

10And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God who sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” (Revelation 6:12-17, 7:1-10)

These verses indicate a clear sequence of events:

1. The Tribulation begins with a large earthquake, the sun turns black and the moon blood-red.

2. Stars fall from sky.

3. Sky rolls up like a scroll.

5. The 144,000 Israelites from each of the 12 tribes (except Dan) are sealed.

6. Then the COLLECTIVE CHURCH appears in heaven in glorified bodies.

There is instant TRANSFORMATION.

There is even an instant APPEARING of the Church in heaven.

But there is A PROCESS that must take place BEFORE that TRANSLATION.

We will give more details in tomorrow’s message.

SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016

 

SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016

HONOR YOUR MOTHER

For God said, 'Honor your father AND MOTHER' (Matthew 15:4)

“Many women do noble things, BUT YOU SURPASS THEM ALL.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

HONOR HER FOR ALL THAT HER HANDS HAVE DONE”… (Proverbs 31:29-31)

What does it mean to "honor" someone?

To regard them with great respect and esteem.

Most mothers deserve honor.

If, for no other reason, because THEY BROUGHT US INTO THIS WORLD.

If men had to deal with the hormones, bloating, morning sickness, weight gain, discomfort, carrying a baby to full term, and then the pain of childbirth, to boot... the human race would be extinct.

Being a mom not only involves pain and discomfort but carries tremendous responsibility.

After the baby is born, comes the unenviable task of raising him, her, or them.

Any mom will tell you it's a ‘round the clock, 24/7 proposition.

There are some notable mothers in the Bible:

Eve, Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, Rachel, Ruth, Elizabeth and, of course, THE MOST FAMOUS MOTHER in His Story, Mary.

We can all learn something from these mothers.

Eve was created in the image of God, as the ideal companion to Adam.

Although she was deceived, she became the "mother of all living" (Genesis 3:20).

Sarah was loyal to Abraham, even when he passed her off as his "sister". She became the first of Israel's Matriarchs and is the first woman mentioned in Hebrew's 11 "Hall of Faith" (Hebrews 11:11).

Rebecca is the first woman in the Bible to give birth to twins. She was assertive enough to favor Jacob over Esau and deceive the aging Isaac into bestowing the birthright blessing on Jacob.

Inevitably, this caused strife between her two sons.  Yet God used her deception to advance His purpose (Romans 9:13).

She became the second of Israel's Matriarchs.

Leah had six boys and a girl, and had to deal with the unpleasantness of not being too attractive and sharing her husband with her beautiful sister.

That, I assure you, was no picnic. She always felt unloved and had to play second fiddle to Rachel since Jacob loved and preferred Rachel, while he slept with Leah mostly out of "duty" (Genesis 29:32,39).

Yet God showed favor toward Leah and she gave birth to HALF of Israel (6 of the 12 tribes), thus becoming the third of Israel's Matriarchs.

Even though Rachel was beautiful, and Jacob was deeply in love with her (can you imagine WORKING 7 YEARS just so he could marry her?), she was barren and became jealous of Leah, her homely yet fertile sister.

Eventually she gave birth to Joseph and died giving birth to Benjamin.

Ruth forsook her country and family in order to worship the true God and became part of Jesus' genealogy (Ruth 1:16; Matthew 1:5).

Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist in her old age, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and was so sensitive to Him that her baby leaped, while still in her womb, at the sound of Mary's greeting (Luke 1:41-45).

And Mary's faith and obedience, upon hearing Gabriel's Announcement about her conception and Virgin Birth of the Messiah, were truly remarkable (Luke 1:38).

This is especially true when we consider she was barely a teenager.

What we can learn from these mothers is that God is good, He is faithful, He is MERCIFUL, often chooses the weak to confound the strong, and while NO MOTHER IS PERFECT, He will bless and use every woman that obeys Him to fulfill His purpose.

Happy Mother's Day!

SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2016

HOW CHRISTIAN WOMEN SHOULD DRESS

Dear sisters in Christ, FORGET WHAT LYING MINISTERS TELL YOU TO PUT YOU IN BONDAGE: If they had their way you’d all end up looking like "The Church Lady" on “Saturday Night Live". . .

HOW do you think the world came up with that unfortunate, yet PAINFULLY ACCURATE, stereotype?

Time and again I’ve seen THE SAME HYPOCRITICAL MINISTERS WHO POOH-POOH pretty clothes, pretty hair, jewelry and make up BURN WITH LUST whenever an attractive, well-groomed lady walks by.

The only directive given in the New Testament regarding women’s appearance is they are TO DRESS "MODESTLY" (1^st Timothy 2:9).

“Modestly” means WITH MODERATION, reserve and propriety.

God wants you to be attractive, NOT SLUTTISH.

And there’s a BIG difference.

If your boobs are showing or half your tush is hanging out... THAT’S SLUTTISH.

You want to look beautiful and successful, NOT CHEAP.

Does this mean Christian women should look all bleached-out, frumpy and ugly?

Hell, no!

Christian ladies should look AND FEEL SPECIAL and BEAUTIFUL.

God WANTS YOU TO look good. After all, if you’re Christian, YOU REPRESENT HIM.

You’ll feel better about yourself, and those around you will feel better, too.

You’ll be A MORE EFFECTIVE WITNESS for Jesus and His Gospel, if you look good and feel confident.

Your OUTER beauty should match your INNER beauty. (1 Peter 3:3-4)

It should be a REFLECTION OF THE BEAUTIFUL JESUS you have INSIDE.

If you want to properly represent the God who lives in you, the Kardashians ARE NOT your role model, NOR is J. Lo, NOR (for more "mature" gals) is Dolly Parton.

Nor are certain "Christian celebrities” who resemble Halloween masks...

Out of Christian love “they” shall remain nameless ... Ahem…

One must also CONSIDER THE SETTING: obviously you’ll dress a certain way if you’re going to the office and ANOTHER WAY if you’re going to the beach.

To attend worship services, you should dress pretty much the way you’d dress to go to the office: look elegant, professional and discreet.

Slacks and blouse are fine. Skirts and blouse are fine (NO MINI SKIRTS). Dress suits and pant suits are also fine, as are dresses. Jackets are fine.

The most obvious difference is that you can wear a hat to worship services, IF you feel so inclined.

For the beach, or to lounge around the pool, one or two-piece bathing suits are fine, SO ARE SHORTS with an appropriate top, as long as they DON’T SHOW TOO MUCH. NO THONGS. No bikinis.

Save those for the bedroom.

Use your common sense: Don’t wear a “teeny weenie yellow polka dot bikini”...

And if you’re TOO YOUNG to remember that OLD song, then these guidelines apply ALL THE MORE.

These are ONLY GUIDELINES, given in line with Scripture, for those who are uncertain about what they SHOULD WEAR.

Will anyone GO TO HELL for NOT abiding by these?

No.

Will they fall into DISFAVOR with God if they don’t follow these?

No.

Will they LOSE SALVATION over wearing a mini-skirt, short shorts, halter tops, or teeny bikinis?

Absolutely NOT!

While those are IMMODEST ways of dressing that DO NOT CONFORM to the New Testament, and NOT befitting Christians…

Salvation (Jesus) CANNOT be lost: PERIOD.

What if I want to wear MORE CASUAL clothes, like jeans and tees?

That’s fine, too.

Before preachers dish out their holier than thou, man-invented “dress code” they should remember two things:

1. That ALL the New Testament requires is MODESTY. And,

2. That not everyone has a closet full of clothes from which to pick and choose.

There may be poor people in your congregation WHO HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO WEAR than a pair of overalls or jeans. And there’s is NOTHING IMMODEST about wearing them.

Women, DON’T LET ANY LEGALISTIC JACKASS put you in bondage.

Remember your heavenly Father LOVES YOU!

Jesus LOVES YOU JUST as you are.

He’s not looking to criticize or condemn you: He wants you to look and feel your best.

Remember you ARE HIS TEMPLE. You have JESUS HIMSELF (LITERALLY) and His HOLY Spirit, LIVING inside your body.

Where God’s Spirit is, THERE’S FREEDOM, NOT BONDAGE! (2^nd Corinthians 3:17)

To sum up: it’s great to look good on the outside, but also to LET YOUR INNER BEAUTY SHINE.

That INNER BEAUTY should be reflected in your attitude, words and deeds.

And also IN YOUR APPEARANCE!

As Jesus put it: "LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, that they may . . . GLORIFY YOUR FATHER who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

So, LOOK GOOD, BABY! Knock ‘em dead!

And let Jesus, His Spirit, and His Love SHINE THRU you!

Like Father like daughter: You’re beautiful BECAUSE HE IS!

Friday, May 5, 2016

FASHION AND BEAUTY

Every so often women still ask about such things as "is it O.K. to wear make-up, cut, straighten or curl your hair, or wear slacks? Yes, yes, and YES!

I thought WE’D LEFT ALL THAT LEGALISTIC BONDAGE BEHIND in the 70's and 80's, but apparently, it’s still around.

There’s NOTHING WRONG with wearing make-up.

There’s NOTHING WRONG with cutting or styling your hair, or wearing jeans, or any other kind of slacks, or wearing jewelry.

It’s disheartening that supposed "ministers" of Christ SPEND SO MUCH TIME AND ENERGY FOCUSING ON THE EXTERNAL, INSTEAD OF THE INTERNAL.

If they spent half that time focusing ON DEVELOPING THE SPIRIT, the INNER MAN, THE INNER JESUS, we’d have a spiritual giant of a church, instead of a pathetic pygmy.

1. The "ANTI-PANT" Scripture is Deuteronomy 22:5: "the woman shall not wear that which pertains to a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abominations to the Lord your God".

A. That was part of the Sinai law. Jesus DELIVERED US FROM the Sinai law (Romans 7:6; 10:4).

He DOESN’T DEAL WITH US by the Law (thank God!) but by the Royal Law of Divine Love and Divine Grace. (Romans 13:9-10)

B. This verse is talking about women DELIBERATELY DRESSING TO LOOK LIKE men, or men DELIBERATELY DRESSING TO LOOK LIKE women. It refers to CROSS-DRESSERS OR TRANSVESTITES!

C. There are men’s pants and WOMEN’S PANTS. Anyone with half a brain knows the difference between one type and the other. That’s why department stores have a section for men’s apparel and another section for ladies’.

Women who wear WOMEN’S PANTS are NOT, repeat, NOT dressing “like men”.

D. When that verse was written (some 3,500 years ago) THERE WERE NO PANTS!

Both MEN AND WOMEN WORE ROBES.

Therefore, this verse CANNOT refer to women’s slacks or ANY OTHER KIND OF “pants”.

Therefore, to say that that verse forbids women to wear WOMEN’S slacks IS A BLATANT, UNSCRIPTURAL LIE.

2. The "ANTI - MAKE-UP" scripture is 2^nd Kings 9:30 which says that Jezebel, the evil queen, "painted her face, and placed a tiara on her head, and looked out a window".

This, religious minds contend, proves that "women of God" AREN’T SUPPOSED TO WEAR MAKE-UP.

(By that line of reasoning, they’re not supposed to wear tiaras or look out of windows, either).

It is A SAD, SAD DAY in God’s Kingdom when His supposed “ministers” WHO ARE WOEFULLY IGNORANT OF HIS WORD -- EVEN OF HIS GOSPEL -- and, obviously, LACK SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT -- choose to focus on such INCONSEQUENTIAL NONSENSE.

Really, “minister of Christ”, DON’T YOU HAVE ANYTHING BETTER TO DO? Not to mention ANYTHING BETTER TO PREACH???

That stupid DISTORTION of God’s Word is TOTALLY REFUTED by Queen Esther, THE BEAUTIFUL AND GODLY queen WHO SPENT A WHOLE YEAR (12 MONTHS) APPLYING COSMETICS and RECEIVING SPECIAL BEAUTY TREATMENTS. (Esther 2:7, 12)

As feisty C.M. Ward once put it: Xerxes took one look at Esther and “broke ALL THE LAWS of his own kingdom”.

Beautiful Esther, guided by the Holy Spirit, SINGLE-HANDEDLY SAVED ISRAEL FROM ANNIHILATION.

Had Israel been destroyed by the Persians, as wicked Haman had plotted, there WOULD BE NO MESSIAH, NO SAVIOR, and ALL MANKIND WOULD BE DOOMED.

THAT FACT pretty much DESTROYS the stupid anti-make-up argument.

3) Finally, there’s THE "ANTI-HAIRCUT" SCRIPTURE. 1^st Corinthians 11: 13-15:

"Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God WITH HER HEAD UNCOVERED? Does not nature itself teach you… that IF A WOMAN HAS LONG HAIR, IT IS A GLORY TO HER: FOR HER HAIR IS GIVEN HER FOR A COVERING"?

This, legalistic preachers teach, PROVES WOMEN AREN’T SUPPOSED TO CUT THEIR HAIR. . . EVER.

That Scripture DOES NOT SAY that women SHOULD NEVER cut their hair.

If you read the PREVIOUS VERSES, they talk about a woman SHAVING her head: (verse 6) “it is a disgrace for a woman TO HAVE HER HAIR CUT OFF OR HER HEAD SHAVED”.

Paul was against women shaving their heads or wearing their hair extremely short.

It’s one thing to have hair LONG ENOUGH to LOOK LIKE A WOMAN, it’s ANOTHER thing to NEVER cut your hair.

Nowhere does this Scripture, OR ANY OTHER SCRIPTURE, indicate that feminine hair is NEVER to be cut.

As for those who use these verses as pretext to impose head covering on women, verse 15 tells us, clear as a bell, that a woman’s hair IS her covering.

I have a couple of suggestions for this bunch of stupid religious losers who focus on such things: first of all, GET SAVED.

That’s right: Invite Jesus TO ENTER YOUR HEART.

If you were saved, YOU’D KNOW SALVATION IS BY GRACE THRU FAITH, NOT BY WORKS LEST ANY MAN (OR WOMAN) SHOULD BOAST (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Salvation is A TOTALLY UNDESERVED GIFT that CANNOT BE EARNED by works, or by LOOKING a certain way.

It CANNOT BE EARNED BY UGLINESS, or by ANY OTHER MEANS.

Second, unless you do get saved, QUIT PRETENDING TO BE A MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST, AND JOIN THE LOCAL MOSQUE.

I’m sure you’ll feel more comfortable there, where every woman IS FORCED TO COVER HER HEAD.

HOW CAN THE CHURCH WASTE PRECIOUS TIME ON ALL THIS LEGALISTIC CRAP?

WHAT does any of this HAVE TO DO WITH SALVATION, for heaven’s sake?

WHAT does it have to do WITH ONE’S HEART? Or winning the lost? Or growing in faith? Or developing godly character? Or living and walking in the spirit?

Does God really care whether women wear their hair long, medium or short? HOW EXACTLY DOES THAT CHANGE who they are inside?

"Man looks at the outer appearance, but GOD LOOKS AT THE HEART" (1^st Samuel 16:7).

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2016

CATACOMBS OF PRISCILLA

One thing I love about archaeology is that it provides hard evidence which confirms and/or reveals past events.

Such is the case with the Catacombs of Priscilla, located underneath the Via Salaria in Rome, not far from the Vatican.

Excavations there began in the 19^th century. However, only recently have certain frescoes been uncovered (or, perhaps, they were uncovered long ago, and only recently MADE PUBLIC) which totally DEBUNK religious tradition and TOTALLY SUPPORT the New Testament text that speaks of women playing A PROMINENT MINISTERIAL ROLE in the Early Church.

It doesn’t take much imagination to figure out WHY organized religion would try so hard to keep these findings under wraps.

And even though they were made “public” in November, 2013, they have received VERY little publicity. Certainly NOWHERE NEAR what they should have received CONSIDERING what they reveal.

These frescoes date back to the EARLY third century A.D. and they SHRED OFFICIAL RELIGIOUS DOGMA, as well as INTENTIONAL MISTRANSLATIONS of the New Testament, TO PIECES:

In case you missed it, I said: “INTENTIONAL mistranslations” of certain New Testament passages.

The first fresco is somewhat reminiscent of the Last Supper,depicted much later by renowned artists like Ghirlandaio and Da Vinci.

It shows a group of WOMEN, sitting around a table, with one woman sitting on the left, and she is BREAKING COMMUNION BREAD to share with her sisters in Christ.

In other words, they are celebrating Communion, or the Eucharist.

Imagine THAT... Women celebrating Holy Communion WITHOUT a MALE “priest” uttering any “MAGICAL WORDS” OVER the “host”!!!

 

The other marvelous fresco shows… (Hope you’re sitting down for this...) A WOMAN PREACHING!!!

The VERY SAME THING Jesus COMMANDS (yes, COMMANDS) in Matthew 28:10.

The very same thing Luke reports in Acts 16:40.

The very same thing Paul says in Romans 16:1, 3, 7; 1 Corinthians 11:5, and Philippians 4:2-3.

That’s 8 DIFFERENT Scriptures, not that I’m counting...

And, while the Word of God is ABSOLUTE TRUTH and requires NO VALIDATION, now we have the archaeological evidence to PROVE IT.

Women were partaking of the Lord’s Supper, as Jesus commanded.

Women were PRESIDING OVER Communion services.

And women… WERE PREACHING!!!

 

You should have seen and heard the hypocritical “theologians” in Rome trying to wiggle their way out of their dilemma -- and still trying to defend and justify their religion’s misogynist bias, DESPITE the evidence.

Talk about CONTRADICTIONS: on the one hand they turn Mary into a goddess; on the other hand they don’t want ANY OTHER WOMAN to be part and parcel of spreading the Gospel.

Personally, I think A LOT MORE “nuns” should be “priests” and A LOT MORE “priests” should be “nuns”.

I’ll let you think about that for a while…

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2016

SHOULD WOMEN BE SILENT?

Did Paul tell Christian women essentially to shut their big bazoos?

It's hard to believe that the same man who penned those immortal words "there is NEITHER Jew nor Greek... MALE OR FEMALE" (Galatians 3:28) would CONTRADICT HIMSELF in such blatant fashion.

Not to mention the same man who sent special greetings to Phoebe, A DEACONESS (Romans 16:1) to Junia (a FEMALE APOSTLE, Romans 16:7) to evangelist Priscilla (Romans 16:3) whom he also called his "fellow worker in Christ Jesus" THUS ELEVATING HER TO HIS OWN RANK, and to TWO FEMALE EVANGELISTS Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2-3) saying that they "have LABORED SIDE BY SIDE WITH ME in the Gospel".

I find EVEN HARDER TO BELIEVE that the SAME God who said He is "NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS" (Romans 2:11), the SAME God who made man and woman EQUAL in the Garden of Eden, the SAME God who created BOTH in His Image, the SAME God who said "let THEM (male and female) HAVE DOMINION" (Genesis 1:27-28) would CONTRADICT HIMSELF (i.e., LIE) and say:

"You know what? I changed my mind: I am now a respecter of persons: I PREFER MEN OVER WOMEN: AND I WILL CALL ONLY MEN into the ministry"

The original New Testament was written in Aramaic or Greek IN THE FIRST century A.D.

Your English Bibles DID NOT EXIST UNTIL the 14th century A.D.

The first uniform translation into another language (Latin), known as the Vulgate, was done by Jerome and took place late in the 4th century A.D. (A THOUSAND YEARS before your English Bibles existed).

By then the organized religious hierarchy was entrenched at the Lateran Palace and was DICTATING doctrine according to THEIR WHIMS.

These are the same tyrants who SOLD Jesus (Salvation) or a shorter stay in an invented place called Purgatory for MONEY, as if God's Grace could be BOUGHT.

The same tyrants who BANNED Bible reading FOR 10 CENTURIES and determined that THEY were the ONLY ONES entitled to read God's Word and to INTERPRET IT.

By the time the 14th century came around and English translators like John Wycliffe took a crack at it, religious brainwashing had taken its toll.

I don't care HOW MUCH whichever version of the Bible in English you use says it was translated from the "original manuscripts", translators are HUMAN. Need I say more?

HUMANS whose translations, intentionally or otherwise, are prone to reflect their own religious persuasions and/or bias; including 13 CENTURIES of RELIGIOUS DEBRIS and TRADITION for which, if they had the guts and moral integrity to challenge, they would be called into account and would have to "explain" under threat of "excommunication", torture and even GRUESOME DEATHS.

That religious hierarchy had decided IT ONLY WANTED male "priests" and NOT women.  Their wishes AFFECTED and REFLECTED on Jerome's translation and every translation since, including those by so-called "Protestants".

Fact: The FIRST to EVER proclaim the FULL Gospel (the Resurrection) of Christ WERE WOMEN (Matthew 28:10).

Fact: Women served Jesus along with men in various ministry offices for the first three centuries of the Church era (Acts 16:40, Philippians 4:2-3; Romans 16:1, 3, 7).

Fact: Women DIED AS MARTYRS along with men during those first three centuries.

When Christianity became institutionalized in the fourth century, it turned into Christianism: that's when misogyny set in and translations were made to reflect the Church's OFFICIAL discriminatory doctrine.

A perfect example is 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 says: "let your women keep silent in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also says the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husband at home: for it is a shame for a woman to speak in the congregation."

That’s what Corinthians have written to Paul, seeking Paul’s consent for women being silent in the congregation.

Look at Paul’s ANSWER in the very next verse, 1st Corinthians 14:36: "WHAT? Did the Word of God come from you? Did it (the Word) come to you (men) ALONE?

But THAT VERSE IS NEVER QUOTED:  As if it WASN'T IN the Bible.

This is a rhetorical question/answer. Paul was referring to what Corinthians had written and after citing THEIR STATEMENT about women "keeping silent", he says: "What?" Are you speaking God's Word? Is that what God's word says? Did God ONLY speak TO MEN?"

Thus, he clearly indicated that he DID NOT AGREE with the men who had written such nonsense, and that women are NOT to be silent in church.

Paul himself says a bit earlier in 1 Corinthians 11:5 "But EVERY WOMAN THAT PRAYS OR PROPHESIES with her head uncovered dishonors her head..." so, evidently, WOMEN WERE PRAYING AND PROPHESYING!

HOW can someone PROPHESY IN SILENCE?