Explain the phrase “who are those which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan?”

I look at this a little different of those who say they are Jews and are not, but of the synagogue of Satan.  We find this statement in two different verse of Rev 2:9 and 3:9.  Jesus was talking to Christian churches, Smyrna, a church under persecution and Philadelphia, a church in revival.  Jesus was not talking to the Jewish people but to the church about those individuals.  We know we are to become a spiritual Jew.  Paul tells us this in Rom 28, 29 to be circumcision of the heart by the Spirit, and then we are a Spiritual Jew.  Satan has his ministers who have slipped in among Christian churches and they masquerade as servants of righteousness or Spiritual Jews.  What is a synagogue but a meeting place or assembly for a Christian Church.  So to me this means individuals who say they are Spiritual Jews and are not and among us today in our churches.  These individuals do lie and change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.  Paul tells us “Their end will be what their actions deserve.”  Right now, this is how I look at it.  Blessing

Stephen

 (Rev 2:9 NIV)  I know your afflictions and your poverty--yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

(Rev 3:9 KJV)  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

(Rom 2:28, 29 NIV)  A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.  No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

 (2 Cor 11:14-15 NIV)  And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. {15} It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

(Jude 1:4 NIV)  For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

Explain “Quartodecmism” and its implications for the early church and today’s church.

Quartodecimanism is from the Vulgate latin, quarta decima from Lev 23: which means fourteen and refers to the early Christians celebrating Passover on the night part or eve of the 14^th of Nisan. 

The problem arose for the church of when to celebrate the Passover, either on the 14^th or the nearest Sunday.  Easter was not involved at this time.  The Asia church (eastern churches) celebrated the Passover on the 14^th as Jesus did, as John the Apostle did throughout all his life and also Polycarp (a disciple of John) did throughout his life and all of the eastern church.  The western church started to celebrate the Passover on the nearest Sunday, because they did not want to do what the Jews did.  Irenaeus explains that Anicetus became bishop of Rome in about 155 and Polycarp visited Rome to discuss this subject.  They could not change the mind of each other position and decided to observe the Passover as they have been done and leaving the question unsettled.  The reason for the peace was the Jews celebrate the Passover on the 15^th and not on the 14^th as the scriptures explain.  So the eastern church did not celebrate on the same night.  Even today the Jews celebrate on the wrong night. 

Things changed with the Council of Nicea (western church – Rome) when they declared all, I do mean, all Christians will celebrate Easter on Sunday (they brought in a very large number of pagans who celebrate Easter) and not Passover as the eastern church teaches from the Apostles.  The Council of Nicea declared that all Quartodecimans were excommunicated and then the western church (Rome) went after the eastern church members with a vengeance just as Saul did with the early church.  Then the western church (Rome) then killed, burned, murder all the men, women and children of the Quartodecimans they could find.  The eastern church again had to go undercover to teach what they learn from John and Polycarp.

If you are interested, I have done a presentation of this subject at the following location:

http://www.studycenter.com/school/slideshowdata/3011/570/slideshow/Slideshow.swf?cache_buster=0.000743002719245851

Blessing

Stephen

(Lev 23:5 KJV)  In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover.

What was unusual about Peter lodging with Simon the tanner?

Looking at Simon the tanner trade where Peter was lodging was something I did not know about  and how it was related to the message that Jesus brought.  I did not even think about the profession of being a tanner being abhorrent to the Jewish people because of the dead animals and blood and that person because of Num 19, shall be unclean because this has to do with the ceremonial contamination laws.  I can now see that Jesus taught the apostles about individuals not being unclean and Peter went part way by changing his views about ceremonial laws but not all the way .  It is ironic that Jesus used four footed beasts in the dream.  Peter said he did not eat unclean things.   This was not about unclean food, making it clean to eat but calling gentiles unclean and Peter had the chance to make it clear to the Jerusalem church that they can now eat unclean things, but he did not.  Peter said, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons” and “God gave them the like gift (Holy Spirit) as he did unto us (talking about Gentiles).”  Blessing

Stephen

(Acts 9:43 KJV)  And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

(Acts 10:6 KJV)  He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

(Acts 10:32 KJV)  Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.

tanner:  1038. burseus, boorce-yooce'; from  bursa (a hide); a tanner:--tanner.

(Num 19:11 KJV)  He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.

(Acts 10:12-15 KJV)  Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. {13} And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. {14} But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. {15} And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

(Acts 10:34-35 KJV)  Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: {35} But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

(Acts 11:17 KJV)  Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

Are the scars Jesus bore still visible?

The statement “the only manmade things in Heaven are scars” is something I do agree with.  When I read about the scars that Jesus had during His last days before his death, I can understand why individuals would not recognize him.  Isa 50:6 said that Jesus had his beard pulled out of his cheeks.  It also said that Jesus had his back beaten at the same time, meaning Jesus had scars over his head and body.  Jesus had holes in his hands and side.  He told Thomas to put your finger in my hands and my side.  We know his face color had to change because his blood and water flow out of him when the soldier pierced his side with a spear from John 19.  Jesus said he had flesh and bones when he showed himself to the apostles and others but no blood.  The main reason why they did not recognize was because Luke 24:16 said they were kept from recognizing him. It was not until their eyes were opened that they finally recognize him. 

Blessing

Stephen

 (Luke 24:39 NIV)  Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."

(John 20:27 NIV)  Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

(Isa 50:6 NIV)  I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.

(John 19:34 NIV)  Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

(Luke 24:16 KJV)  But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

(Luke 24:31 NIV)  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.