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Alcohol: Difference between revisions
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Alcohol | Alcohol refers to a fermented or distilled intoxicating beverage containing ethanol. During the period known as Prohibition, from 1919 to 1933, it was illegal to manufacture, transport, or sell alcoholic beverages in the United States. | ||
The State of Indiana had already declared prohibition in 1916 when William Branham's father started operating a moonshine still. As a child, William Branham witnessed the drunken actions of the men and women who purchased his father's alcohol. William Branham also said that a voice spoke to him as a child, while he was hauling water used to cool the still, and said: ''"Don't ever drink, or smoke, or defile your body in any way. There will be a work for you to do when you get older."'' | The State of Indiana had already declared prohibition in 1916 when William Branham's father started operating a moonshine still. As a child, William Branham witnessed the drunken actions of the men and women who purchased his father's alcohol. William Branham also said that a voice spoke to him as a child, while he was hauling water used to cool the still, and said: ''"Don't ever drink, or smoke, or defile your body in any way. There will be a work for you to do when you get older."'' | ||
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Throughout his recorded sermons, William Branham spoke harshly against drinking - especially against Christians engaging in these activities. He was eventually killed by a drunk driver. | Throughout his recorded sermons, William Branham spoke harshly against drinking - especially against Christians engaging in these activities. He was eventually killed by a drunk driver. | ||
Today, most Christians believe that it is acceptable to drink in moderation, although a few still abstain. | Today, most Christians believe that it is acceptable to drink in moderation, although a few still abstain. So is drinking really "defiling your body" as William Branham preached? | ||
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|'' | |''Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days'' (Colossians 2:16)|- | ||
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Alcohol (specifically wine and strong drink) is mentioned numerous times in the Bible, and is referred to as an intoxicant, medicine, beverage, and religious symbol. | Alcohol (specifically wine and strong drink) is mentioned numerous times in the Bible, and is referred to as an intoxicant, medicine, beverage, and religious symbol. | ||
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# I Timothy 5: Scripture says to drink wine, and not water | # I Timothy 5: Scripture says to drink wine, and not water | ||
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Scriptures against | Scriptures against getting drunk | ||
# Genesis: Wine is deceiving | # Genesis: Wine is deceiving | ||
# Numbers 6: Vow of a Nazarite | # Numbers 6: Vow of a Nazarite | ||
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Christians are taught that their body "is the temple of the Holy Ghost". (I Corinthians 6:19) As priests were not allowed to drink wine or strong drink in the temple, a modern parallel | Christians are taught that their body "is the temple of the Holy Ghost". (I Corinthians 6:19) As priests were not allowed to drink wine or strong drink in the temple, a modern parallel could discourage strong drink in the temple of the Holy Ghost. | ||
However, the Apostles told the Gentile Christians to abstain from: | |||
*pollutions of idols, | |||
*fornication, | |||
*from things strangled, and | |||
*from blood. | |||
Note of their instructions asked the Gentile Christians to abstain from alcohol. | |||
===A Separated People=== | ===A Separated People=== | ||
When Moses led the children of Israel in the wilderness, their only provision was manna, and water from the rock. Specifically, they did not have any wine or strong drink so that they would know that "I am the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 29:5-6). The result of 40 years of prohibition was that the generation who entered the promise land did so sober. This is the first instance of "prohibition for the youth" - when one generation does not drink, the next generation becomes | When Moses led the children of Israel in the wilderness, their only provision was manna, and water from the rock. Specifically, they did not have any wine or strong drink so that they would know that "I am the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 29:5-6). The result of 40 years of prohibition was that the generation who entered the promise land did so sober. This is the first instance of "prohibition for the youth" - when one generation does not drink, the next generation becomes empowered. | ||
The prophet Daniel also abstained from wine, so that he would not "defile" himself, (Daniel 1:8). The prophet Jeremiah then brought wine to the sons of Jonadab, and instructed them to drink (Jeremiah 35). They refused because of a vow they had made to their father, and Jeremiah blessed them for keepign their vow. | The prophet Daniel also abstained from wine, so that he would not "defile" himself, (Daniel 1:8). The prophet Jeremiah then brought wine to the sons of Jonadab, and instructed them to drink (Jeremiah 35). They refused because of a vow they had made to their father, and Jeremiah blessed them for keepign their vow. | ||
While those who are separated should live holy, they should not act the part of the judge, ''Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:'' (Colossians 2:16), because at the end of the day, God will judge or approve whom He will. | While those who are separated should live holy, they should not act the part of the judge, ''Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:'' (Colossians 2:16), because at the end of the day, God will judge or approve whom He will. As an example of this, John the Baptist came and did not drink wine, while Jesus Christ came and did drink wine. | ||
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*He consumed wine as part of the religous observance of communion, | *He consumed wine as part of the religous observance of communion, | ||
*He did not abstain from grapes or raisins, he cut his hair, and he did not avoid corpses ( | *He did not abstain from grapes or raisins, he cut his hair, and he did not avoid corpses (all prohibited for a Nazarite). | ||
As such, | As such, William Branham simply shunned alcohol and did not live under a Nazarite vow. | ||
===Communion and Restoration=== | ===Communion and Restoration=== | ||
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From that point on, wine came to symbolize two things: the blood of Jesus Christ (our point of contact with God), and the promise of a new kingdom. In the Old Testament, wine was also symbolized with the sacrifice lamb and restoration (Numbers 28:7, Leviticus 23:12-13). | From that point on, wine came to symbolize two things: the blood of Jesus Christ (our point of contact with God), and the promise of a new kingdom. In the Old Testament, wine was also symbolized with the sacrifice lamb and restoration (Numbers 28:7, Leviticus 23:12-13). | ||
Jesus never asked his disciples not to drink wine, but to remember him. | |||
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===Medicine=== | ===Medicine=== | ||
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===Immorality and Perversion=== | ===Immorality and Perversion=== | ||
Innocence and wine do not go hand in hand. Which is why Hosea says ''Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.'' (Hosea 4:11) | Innocence and wine do not go hand in hand. Which is why Hosea says ''Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.'' (Hosea 4:11) | ||
*''For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter: Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.'' (Deuteronomy 32:32-33) | *''For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter: Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.'' (Deuteronomy 32:32-33) | ||
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*'''Deacons''': ''not given to much wine'' (I Timothy 3:8) | *'''Deacons''': ''not given to much wine'' (I Timothy 3:8) | ||
*'''Everyone''': ''It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.'' (Romans 14:23) | *'''Everyone''': ''It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.'' (Romans 14:23) | ||
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The one scripture in the Old Testament that could be taken as a prophet's blessing on the people to get drunk reads like this: | The one scripture in the Old Testament that could be taken as a prophet's blessing on the people to get drunk reads like this: | ||
*II Samuel 6:18-19 ''And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.'' | *II Samuel 6:18-19 ''And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.'' | ||
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After the Holy Spirit fell on Pentecost, those on the streets mocked them, thinking that they were drunk. (Acts 2:13) | After the Holy Spirit fell on Pentecost, those on the streets mocked them, thinking that they were drunk. (Acts 2:13) | ||
Joel's prophecy that ''I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:'' (Acts 2:17) was demonstrated to be fulfilled by the intoxicating effect of the Holy Spirit on the first believers. | |||
Joel's prophecy that ''I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:'' (Acts 2:17) was demonstrated to be fulfilled by the intoxicating effect of the Holy Spirit on the first believers. | |||
Other references to the substitution of the Holy Spirit for the bottle are found as follows: | Other references to the substitution of the Holy Spirit for the bottle are found as follows: | ||
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===Summary=== | ===Summary=== | ||
Driving can be dangerous, but it's not inherently evil. Drinking can be dangerous, but it's not inherently evil either. | |||
What is condemned in the scriptures is drinking to excess (getting drunk). What is not condemned in the scriptures is drinking. | |||
Jesus drank wine, and created wine, and he was sinless. If drinking is a sin, then Jesus was not a perfect sacrifice. | |||
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