As a product of the “60’s” being 18 years old in 1969 (in what should have been my high school graduation year) and visiting the San Francisco “Haight-Ashbury” district in 1970, I know a little bit about ‘getting High” from personal experience. There are a whole lot more things I could tell you of experiences I had in that era like staying in a commune and having a roommate with a drug dealing brother and perhaps some time spent in the county jail that I would still like to forget. Is the FBI still looking for me or am I just paranoid? I have to be vague about some things due to employment and law enforcement reasons.

Suffice it to say I have “been there, done that”, concerning everything that was happening in the sixty’s and the seventy’s. And on the subject of drinking, they used to say about me that “I must have a cast iron stomach” because I could clean off the table at closing time of everyone’s leftover or partial drinks of any kind without suffering any ill effects other than an increased buzz. I was a human alcoholic drink garbage disposal. That may have seemed like a good thing at the time, I could get lots of free leftover drinks, but according to the bible the end results would not be good.

Is. 5:22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks,

I copped my first buzz in tenth grade on homemade wine from a friend’s parent’s stockpile they kept in the basement. The parents of my friend were on vacation and we did some serious damage to their wine cellar stash. It was in a sense, “an immediate and wonderful success”. I found that an alcohol buzz just made me so much more sociable. I didn’t have fear of talking to women when I had a buzz on like I did when I was sober. Without a buzz my mind seemed to go blank around girls I liked. I could only talk to the ones I was not attracted to, but a six pack or a couple of GIQ’s, (Giant Quarts) some Bali Hai, Boones Farm or some Bacardi and cokes gave me the all of the liquid courage I needed and wanted. I was instantly psychologically addicted to alcohol because of what it did for me, and my entire goal for each week in high school from tenth grade on was to secure enough booze for Friday and Saturday nights to have a successful weekend of partying. If I couldn’t get my weekend stash I was a miserable whiner and even my best friends had trouble putting up with me. I was a jerk when I had alcohol and a jerk when I didn’t. Oh, how I would like to go back and kick my own butt for being such and idiot and treating my best friends, male and female like I did. There were people who were genuinely concerned about me back then and I dumped on them like they were someone in the bottom of an outhouse. Some I still apologize to when I run across them, but I live 1500 miles away from where I grew up, so it doesn’t happen very often any more. If any of my high school friends read this, I apologize to you for every stupid thing I did, drunk or sober.

I have said all of that to impress upon the reader that I know the joys of getting high, stoned, ripped and copping a buzz. (I’m not sure what they call it in today’s lingo.) I don’t want you to think I’m some jackass college professor who took a toke but didn’t inhale, (like some of our former presidents) or someone who was one of those disgusting little miss prissy good two shoes social drinkers. I identified with the saying “I’m not an alcoholic, I’m a drunk. Alcoholics go to meetings.”

However, after many years of indulging in this type of behavior I can tell you something as a fact. I can look back and see that my incidents of non voluntary involvement with the law, wrecking cars on a regular basis, and my failure in relationships of all types, with male friends and with female friends can be traced back to stupid things I did when I was high on one thing or another. I also frequented “Blind Pigs” which are after hours joints because I couldn’t get enough to drink by a measly 2:30 AM. Not when I didn’t get out of work until eleven PM or midnight.

Being drunk or stoned can help in breaking the ice and starting a relationship, but later it can and most certainly will destroy it.

Getting high on chemicals is also a negative when a situation occurs such as the police being at the door and you have a gun and drugs to dispose of. At least on booze sometimes shock can sober one up swiftly, like being beat down with a billy club. That always helped to sober one up. In fact, after viewing a beat down or surviving one in the drunk tank, one even forgets all about going to the bathroom. LSD however doesn’t work that way for most of us. We want to come down in an emergency, but can’t, so we get the sh*t kicked out of us instead. I’m sorry if some of this lingo may offend some Christian’s a little bit, but those who lived this life can identify with me fully I’m sure. It may bring back some old memories of things you have long since forgotten, or have wished to.

It was after having been in that type of a situation that made me very careful where I did drugs. I wanted to be in a safe secure situation where I had many friends around to protect me should problems arise. “Crackhouse Mary’s” place was not the place to be unless you wanted to get robbed, busted, raped (mostly for girls) or freak out while on a trip.

If you are a drinker or a stoner, look back on your life and just see how may of the bad things that happened to you occurred when you were under the influence of something or even if you were not high yet, you were at a gathering that was getting together for that purpose. My stupid big mouth could get me into a fight even if I was not partaking of the adult party favors just yet.

Even things that may not be illegal, like getting into a car accident while on the way to a bar or club sober were things that happened to me in the course of daily life, and I just could not figure out why I had such bad luck. Just think, if I had not been going to that place the accident would not have happened. My car would have been in my driveway the next morning instead of in a ditch.

In some foreign countries they have a policy concerning auto accidents. The foreigner is always at fault. Why you might ask? Because their theory is: “If you were not here it would not have happened.” Even if someone else ran a red light or a stop sign, if you had not been in their country, driving through that intersection, it would not have happened, or at least not to you. Therefore you are at fault even if it’s not your fault.

While that may be a little harsh, look at it this way. If you are at a wild party with friends who are doing drugs and it is raided, you are usually hauled away in the paddy wagon with everyone else even if you are completely drug free and sober. Why? Because you were frequenting a place where lawbreakers were congregating and you are assumed to be one of them until proven otherwise. The law may state that in this country we are innocent until proven guilty, but in fact, that is not always the case in real life. Many people are fired from jobs when a scandal breaks into the media even before any charges have been filed or anyone has gone to court. Just recently many people were fired at Penn State and Syracuse on just the accusation of wrongdoing. (Note: I am not defending the accused persons here; just trying to show you how important it is in our lives to stay away from any situation where lawbreaking is going on.) On many job applications they ask: “have you ever been arrested,” not “have you ever been convicted.” It doesn’t seem to me like legally they should be able to discriminate against one for being arrested, but they do. If you want a better chance of success in the working world, keep your record clean. 

Murphy’s Law

“Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong, and that at the worst possible moment.”

That was the story of my life. I just couldn’t figure out why such bad things always happened to me. Was I born under a bad sign or what? Seriously, at times I wondered if I had just been born on the wrong day. I didn’t get it that when you called the cops “Pigs” to their face and made fun of them that they might take offense and throw you in Jail. Ha Ha, has anyone else ever made that stupid mistake? Wasn’t it my right to free speech that allowed me to call them “pigs?”

God had a plan though, knowing my hard headed personality He had to bring me all the way down to the bottom before I could repent. I could not repent earlier because I had no concept that I was doing anything at all wrong. I was just a normal guy I thought, trying to have some fun whenever and wherever I could. After all, isn’t that what life is supposed to be all about? “Eat. Drink and party for tomorrow we might die.” Wasn’t that everyone’s philosophy, or should it have been? I just didn’t get it. Even the bible said something like that, I thought.

Is. 22:13  But see, there is joy and revelry, slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine!  “Let us eat and drink,” you say, “for tomorrow we die!”

Luke 12:19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’

Murphy’s Law is true. How so you may ask? Any lost person is on their way to hell when they die. So, no matter how much fun they have along the way of life, no matter how much money they make, no matter how successful they are at the pursuit of pleasure, the end will always be bad.

1Cor. 6:9-10 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God ? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God .

1Cor. 6:11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Rev. 21:8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Rev. 22:15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Rev. 20:15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

WOW! Does that or does it not describe some of us party people? Always on the lookout for a good time! That could have been my motto.

However, does the means justify the end? Are we really having such a great time that it is worth being separated from our creator forever? Some say that when death and hell are thrown into the lake of fire the people in it will simply cease to exist.

Rev. 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Even if that were true, do we really want to cease to exist when all of our dreams of eternal happiness are finally within reach? Do we really want to see billions of people going into eternal happiness while we are vaporized out of existence? Admittedly, being annihilated sounds a lot better than eternity in hell, but with the luck that I had in my old life, the doctrine of total annihilation would not turn out to be true, and there I would be for all eternity, shoveling coal with a red guy jabbing me in the butt with a pitchfork.

Has your luck been like that? Do you really want to take a chance on believing what some atheist says, that there is no God and no hell and life will simply end when we die? Are you really feeling that lucky? I know I wasn’t. With my luck eternity would be a thousand times worse than even what the bible says about it. Murphy’s Law would strike me again like a bolt of lightning out of the blue. By the way, atheists may not believe God exists, but that is not the important question. The important question is does God believe they exist? 

The White Panthers

When I was young I discovered an organization that mirrored a lot of what I was thinking in those days. That organization was the White Panthers. We were not racists, but the exact opposite. We were for freedom for all people of all colors. Later the name was changed to the Rainbow Peoples Party”, not to be confused with some who have stolen the name now to and use it to promote other causes. We were for freedom for everyone to do whatever they wanted. Live and let live and if it feels good do it!

It sounded good, especially with the Vietnam War going on and the military-industrial complex seemingly making all of the money off of the backs of the workers and the bodies of poor dead soldiers. I’m not trying to revisit that time period except to show you what my mindset was like during that era and before I became a Christian.

The White Panthers (From Wikepedia) were a far-left, anti-racist, White American political collective founded in 1968 by Lawrence Plamondon, Leni Sinclair, and John Sinclair. It was started in response to an interview where Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, was asked what white people could do to support the Black Panthers. Newton replied that they could form a White Panther Party. The group took the name and dedicated its energies to "cultural revolution." Sinclair made every effort to ensure that the White Panthers were not mistaken for a white supremacist group, responding to such claims with "quite the contrary." The party worked with many ethnic minority rights groups in the Rainbow Coalition.

The group was most active in Detroit and Ann Arbor , Michigan and included the proto-punk band MC5 which Sinclair managed for several years before he was incarcerated. From a general ideological perspective, Plamondon and Sinclair defined the White Panthers as "fighting for a clean planet and the freeing of political prisoners." The White Panthers added other elements such as advocating "rock 'n roll, dope, sex in the streets and the abolishing of capitalism." Abbie Hoffman was part of the White Panthers, mentioning it in Steal This Book.

Plamondon was indicted as a co-conspirator with Sinclair in connection with the bombing of the CIA office in Ann Arbor a year after the founding of the group. Upon hearing on the left-wing alternative radio station WABX that he had been indicted, he fled the U.S. for Europe and Africa , spending time in Algeria with exiled Black Panther Eldridge Cleaver. After secretly reentering the country, and on his way to a safe house in northern Michigan , he was arrested in a routine traffic stop, joining Sinclair, who had been sentenced to nine and half years in jail for violating Michigan ’s marijuana possession laws, in prison. Plamondon was convicted and was in prison when Sinclair was released on bond in 1971 while appeals were being heard on his case. Sinclair's unexpected release came two days after a large "Free John" benefit concert, with performances from John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and Stevie Wonder, was held at the University of Michigan 's Crisler Arena.

In November 1968, Fifth Estate published the "White Panther State/meant". This manifesto, emulating the Black Panthers, ended with a ten-point program:

1. Full endorsement and support of the Black Panther Party's 10-point program and platform. 

2. Total assault on the culture by any means necessary, including rock and roll, dope, and f****ing in the streets. 

3. Free exchange of energy and materials—we demand the end of money! 

4. Free food, clothes, housing, dope, music, bodies, medical care—everything free for every body! 

5. Free access to information media—free the technology from the greed creeps! 

6. Free time & space for all humans—dissolve all unnatural boundaries! 

7. Free all schools and all structures from corporate rule—turn the buildings over to the people at once! 

8. Free all prisoners everywhere—they are our comrades! 

9. Free all soldiers at once—no more conscripted armies! 

10. Free the people from their phony "leaders"—everyone must be a leader—freedom means free every one! All Power to the People, with upraised fist!

You may ask, why did you put that quotation in this article? It is there to show where anger and dissatisfaction with the political situation can lead when a person does not take into account God’s Word. Yes, in a lot of ways we were nuttier than fruitcakes, but at least we recognized that something was rotten in our governmental system, even though we had no real clue as to what it was or what to do about it.

Again you may ask what does all this “White Panther” stuff have to do with being sober. Actually, a lot. Our real answer was to get stoned or drunk, and stay that way as much as possible. Throw in a lot of sex and pleasurable activities and make sure that the government would pay for it without us working! Now, does that not sound like a great plan to you for people who do not know Jesus? I was caught up in it hook, line and sinker at that time. I did work but I partied every chance I got.

There is one big difference though between 2012 and the seventy’s. In much of our drug use, particularly LSD, we really were looking for answers. At the advice of Dr. and Guru Timothy Leary we were looking for answers to the age old questions of life through the use of mind expanding drugs. We were often hoping to astral project somewhere to meet with some being to give us answers to solve the issues that prevailed on our planet. We wanted to make earth heaven, and we were looking to drugs for an answer as to how to do it.

Today’s Oxy generation just seems to want to stay stoned for the pure pleasure of it and steal from anyone, family or friends to keep it going. Those I talk to seem to have no desire for anything but to “stay high till they die”. Satan has them in his deeply in his clutches. The are in so deep that for many only a miracle from Jesus can set them free enough for a moment to even make a rational choice to escape bondage or to stay in it. They are prisoners in a dark world. Thankfully, that is just what Jesus came to do, set people free.

Is. 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,

Caveat Emptor

When I was in high school I remember clearly (amazing isn’t it, I wasn’t drunk or hung over. Probably couldn’t get any booze that week) being taught about caveat emptor, many, many times.

Caveat emptor; From Wikepedia, the free encyclopedia

Caveat emptor (/ˌkæviːɑːt ˈɛmptɔr/) is Latin for "Let the buyer beware".[1] Generally, caveat emptor is the property law doctrine that controls the sale of real property after the date of closing.

Under the doctrine of caveat emptor, the buyer could not recover from the seller for defects on the property that rendered the property unfit for ordinary purposes. The only exception was if the seller actively concealed latent defects or otherwise made material misrepresentations amounting to fraud.

Before statutory law, the buyer had no warranty of the quality of goods. In many jurisdictions now, the law requires that goods must be of "merchantable quality". However, this implied warranty can be difficult to enforce and may not apply to all products. Hence, buyers are still advised to be cautious.

United States

The modern trend in the US, however, is one of the Implied Warranty of Fitness that applies only to the sale of new residential housing by a builder-seller and the caveat emptor rule applies to all other sale situations (i.e. homeowner to buyer).[2] Many other jurisdictions have provisions similar to this.

In addition to the quality of the merchandise, this phrase also applies to the return policy. In most jurisdictions, there is no legal requirement for the vendor to provide a refund or exchange. In many cases, the vendor will not provide a refund but will provide a credit. In the cases of software, movies and other copyrighted material, many vendors will only do a direct exchange for another copy of exactly the same title. Most stores require proof of purchase and impose time limits on exchanges or refunds. However, some larger chain stores will do exchanges or refunds at any time, with or without proof of purchase, although they usually require a form of picture ID and place quantity or dollar limitations on such returns. 

Caveat venditor is Latin for "let the seller beware". It is a counter to caveat emptor and suggests that sellers can also be deceived in a market transaction. This forces the seller to take responsibility for the product and discourages sellers from selling products of unreasonable quality. 

In our high school our wise economics teacher also instructed us that ‘caveat emptor” could also be applied to many things in everyday life. An example would be “If you get drunk, don’t be surprised if you get mugged.” The summary of the lesson was, “never put yourself in a vulnerable position unless it is absolutely unavoidable. 

That was very good advice that I didn’t take very often until about twenty five years later, but I never forgot it. Caveat emptor can also be taken to mean, “don’t put yourself in a position to be robbed, raped, beaten, defrauded, responsible for someone else’s crime or in any other situation where the outcome could be bad.”  

Here in America we love to flaunt our freedom. We wear leather jackets that have a pot logo on them and then wonder why the cops search us and our scooters. Women dress like streetwalkers and then wonder why guys make snide comments or perhaps do even worse things resulting in rape. Even older people fall for promises of 12 to 15 percent interest rates on their retirement savings and then are outraged that a Ponzi schemer has wiped out their retirement program. If someone could really get 12% interest on a long term basis, they would certainly not share that information with the common man. Maybe with a billionaire for a nice cut of the profits, but not with Joe Blow the Ragman. (That would be me) 

The majority of the world in this day and age is out to scam anyone and everyone that they can. Even the bible says so.

2Tim. 3:51 But mark this: There will be terrible (Perilous) times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 

Even if we are not in the last days, people will be people, acting similarly down through the centuries. Every robbery, rape, murder and theft throughout the course of recorded history can be traced back to people who want what they want and will go to any means to get it, legal or illegal. That is why we have to beware at all times. That is why we should follow “Caveat Emptor.” Don’t put yourself in a position where you can be taken advantage of. That is why it is unwise to get drunk and high, especially in public places with no one to protect you and watch out for you.  

Due Diligence  

In the same vein as caveat emptor is due diligence. People today want everything done for them and handed to them on a silver platter. Let me give you an example. Not long ago I read an article about a criminal who got out of prison on parole and started a phony investment company bilking many out of their savings, which some of them were counting on for retirement. In our world today people sometimes think that ‘due diligence” is ready the phony brochure that a con man prints up guaranteeing 10 to 12 percent returns and is insured by the federal government. None of the investors took the time to check with the better business bureau about this company or research the mans past on the internet or talk to other people about it. They just wrote their $100,000.00 checks expecting to collect $12,000.00 a year for life, guaranteed by Uncle Sam.   

But oh my, you should hear them cry now that the company has proved to be a fraud and the founder is back in prison. He just wanted to live high on the hog for a few years knowing that sooner or later he would go back to prison anyway because he wasn’t the type to work at the car wash for years and years to come.  

It is this same type of laziness in thinking that is bred by alcohol and drugs. We have all seen the commercial about the forty year old pothead living at home saying “aw ma, I’ll look for a job tomorrow.” Once again, “Stinking Thinking” is what it is called in AA.  

Stinking thinking dictates that everything bad that happens to me is someone else’s fault. It’s all because of my ex-wife or ex-husband, or my current wife or current husband, or my boyfriend or girlfriend because they won’t marry me, or it’s the lawyers fault, mine or my ex’s. Or it might be the governments fault, state, local or federal. Perhaps it is the president’s fault; he won’t approve any more welfare or unemployment. Maybe it’s my former employers fault, or the people in the churches fault or the pastor’s fault. Do you see where we are going here? Ultimately this kind of thinking leads to the fact that everything is God’s fault because he could fix it if he wanted to, either that or he does not care or does not exist. If he does exist it is most certainly his (or hers for the feminists) fault. If we persist long enough with this line of reasoning we will find ourselves at war with God, and that is a war we cannot win. We must come over to his side, not he to ours. God is not going to be convinced by any argument to do our will and our bidding like a genie popping out of a bottle to grant us three wishes.  

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.  

The worldly lying thinking outlined above will eventually make us enemies of God, and then Murphy’s Law will really become a reality in our lives. The wisdom and whining of this world will lead us down the path eternal destruction from the presence of the Lord. 

2Th. 1:9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power  

Have Friends to Help  

I’m a pretty stupid guy sometimes but I did do one thing right in my drinking days. I always chose a girlfriend that didn’t drink as much as me and let her drive. Not only was she more sober but the cops would often let a female off if we took a cab home and parked the car, where on my own with my smart mouth I would have been heading straight for the slammer. I was not one of these guys who insisted on driving because I was too drunk to walk or because I was too macho to let a girl drive me home from the bar. Thankfully I never got a DUI due to that habit. How the women put up with me though, I’ll never know. Who wants to cart a drunk around? At any rate, I was practicing caveat emptor. I had a designated driver before they were invented, usually someone who at least cared a little bit about me.  

One thing about it, I was no cheapskate. If a woman wanted to go to a concert or a football game or whatever, I was always willing to pay, as long as she would take me to the bar to get drunk afterwards and drive me home. My point is, if you make it a part of your life to look out for someone else when you can and have them look out for you, life will go a lot smoother. Oh, how about that, the Bible says the same thing. If only I had read it in about 1968 and applied it to a lot more things than getting home safely from a night out on the town. 

Eccl. 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.  

By now I’m sure you see what I am doing with this study. I’m tying wisdom, and common sense in with what the Bible already teaches. It’s amazing how much plain old common horse sense is contained in the Bible. Just read the book of Proverbs for yourself sometime and find out.  

Many alcoholics are brilliant people. They have brain smarts but do not have the common sense to apply it. That often also applies to some drug addicts. You are not necessarily an idiot just because you have been a drunk for many years. Although we  have killed a lot of our brain cells with booze and drugs we may have billions left, those we do have left will suffice us to get through life if we begin to use them wisely and don’t destroy any more of them. 

The Joy of Being Able to Come Down 

After a particularly bad experience of not being able to come down during a bust, I learned that for me anyway, booze was better than drugs. I seemed to be able to pull myself together a lot quicker after 18 beers and a pint of rum than being stoned on orange wedges, purple haze or blotter acid. I began to gravitate more towards booze than pills in the mid seventies. I did not care for being robbed, rolled and beaten without being able to punch back. What good does it do to carry a CW if you are too stoned to use it? 

Anyway, the point of this little treatise is not to glorify being a stoner, but to share how pleasant it is to be in control of ones faculties when necessary. 

I remember one incident, a new year’s party, where I finally got a date with a lady I had been pursuing for quite some time. For the occasion I got some great Hawaiian weed. I broke it out about 11:00 PM and began to toke it up. By midnight I had passed out in a corner in a heap and didn’t wake up until about 6:00 AM the next morning. Where was my date? Well, since I was out cold she hooked up with one of my best friends that night since he didn’t bring a date. Boy, was I mad, not so much at my friend but at myself. A little weak Mexican weed would have been fine, why did I have to get that Hawaiian?  Heck, we had a key of Mexican for the party; I shouldn’t have brought any at all. After that I only smoked pot at the end of the night to put myself to sleep. 

Anyway, I am relating some of these bad experiences to you to see if perhaps they compare to some you have had. If you make it a practice to cop a buzz I’m sure you have some stories to tell yourself. Since I made it a part of my lifestyle to use pharmaceuticals and partake of adult beverages for many years, I could tell stories for weeks with out stopping.

Stories of winding up in strange places with strange women, often with my wallet many thousands of dollars lighter. One time I even wound up in Las Vegas married to a waitress before I came to. (Soon annulled by the way) What a fiasco that was. I was the joke at work for years. “Don’t give him a vacation they would say, he might come back married.” While that might seem funny, I was engaged to another young lady at the time and believe me, that was not so funny, getting that mess straightened out without have some serious unwanted genital surgery. I had to sleep with one eye open for a long time.

Another reason for telling you about these experiences is to show how after many, many years I can now see how drinking or getting high caused almost every major problem in my life. If I work my way back usually there is a bottle at the bottom of things. Now it is not like that for everyone because not everyone is a drunk. However, if we find out where in life is our major sin or weakness, we will often find that almost all of our problems somehow lead back to that one item. That item could be greed, lust, pride or anything else. To get ourselves fixed we need to figure out what keeps wrecking us. In that sense you may want to read this book even if you have absolutely no problem with alcohol or drugs. Whatever in our lives we place ahead of God becomes our God. That is where the problems begin. Fix that one thing and you will be on the road to a lot better life. 

While I can look back on many things now and see a humorous side to them, if I had not quit that lifestyle I would either be dead or still doing those stupid things. Of course, most of us do many dumb things when we are young. That is how we gain experience and wisdom, by doing things that don’t work and learning from our mistakes.  

Psa. 25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways ; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.

Even the writer of the psalms had problems as a young man. Nothing has changed in our time, and God is still willing to forgive.  

The problem comes when we do not learn from our mistakes and keep on repeating them for a lifetime. Then one day at sixty some years old we realize that our life is almost over and we have basically accomplished nothing of lasting value. What will we say we check out and stand before our maker?  

Rom. 14:10 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.  

Rom. 14:12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.  

2Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ , that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 

Heb. 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account .  

1Pet. 4:5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 

How can we give a good account of ourselves when we have made a big mess of the life that God gave us and have accomplished nothing or almost nothing of eternal value?

It Can Take Years for Our Brain to Recover  

It can take years to get that stinking thinking out of our minds. It is not like if you dry out for 48 hours you are now a completely normal and rational person. The alcohol may be out of ones system to the point of passing a breathalyzer, but idiocy and lunacy after years of partaking of it takes about 5 years to get fixed, and that is if one works all of the steps in AA and / or follows the leading of the Holy Spirit. Things will improve though with each passing day. If you have ever watched a drunk stay off the booze there is marked improvement after 3 days, 30 days, 6 months, a year and for quite a few years after that. Eventually though we do reach a plateau where we are now the best we can be with what we have to work with, short of a miracle. 

What about God instantly healing us? Yes, he can do that. But without constantly guarding ourselves against stupid thoughts we can easily slip right back into bad old habits. That is why it usually doesn’t work that way. Recovery from alcoholism is usually a gradual process, not in the complete abstinence from drinking but from a change in the thinking. Many are delivered from drinking instantly after conversion, but how many become nice people instantly? That usually takes time. 

In my walk with the Lord and in quitting drinking I continued to see improvement in the thinking processes department for about five years. Others may have different results of course. It depends on what you had to work with at the start and how much of it you destroyed with drugs and alcohol. One thing is certain, no matter how much you have left, if you stop pickling it with alcohol it will work much better. 

An old saying in AA but one that is still and always will be true is this; “There is no problem so bad that alcohol cannot make it worse.”  

Stopping drinking will always make things better in the long run. Withdrawal may give us many hardships in the short run, but given time things will always improve if we live long enough. If we have received salvation through Christ then at least things will get better when we die. If we can’t all win here at least we can all win at the endgame. 

Date Rape 

Another consequence of getting high is often what today is called “date rape.” In my younger days a lot of what is considered to be criminal acts today were just considered jokes back then. 

I remember one incident where a very good looking young lady who had been pursued without success by kind of rough and tumble looking guy for about two years had an incident. The girl got smashed and passed out at a party. Her admirer followed her into the bedroom and spent the night with her. In the morning she said at breakfast, “you pig, you took advantage of me when I was drunk and passed out.” “He said; I sure did and boy was it ever fun,” and everyone laughed including the girl. It was just normal in those days, at least in my circle of friends for a very homely fat ugly girl to take advantage of the best looking “Italian stallion” of a guy if he got drunk, and vice versa, No one was even angry about it for more than a few minutes and then it was a big joke which we would laugh about until the next weekend when something new happened. Sex, drugs and rock and roll was basically our religion. The things we did would have made a plot every week on “Law and order SVU.” Sex was a big game and the winner was the person male or female who stayed sober enough to get what or whom they wanted every weekend. A drunk was fair game, after all we were all at the house party voluntarily, and we were there to get high and have a good time. On top of that (no pun intended) often everyone wound up in a Mazola party anyway or cherry Jell-O in the bathtub was always a good joke. Kind of like joining the mile high club. Strip poker or Chug-A-Lug was usually a good warm up party game.  

Today however that type of behavior can have much more serious consequences than a few days of embarrassment. With AIDS and Herpes now on the scene the result can be a permanent social disease or one that leads to an early death.   

My point is that staying in control of ones self is even much more important now than it was in the seventies.  

The one who stayed sober enough to take advantage of some other drunken fool was the weekly winner back then most of the time. That same person if they made it a practice in other parts of their life was usually the most successful in their chosen career also.  

Prov. 25:28 Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.  

Acts 24:25 As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come,… 

Gal. 5:23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  

2Tim. 3:3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  

2Pet. 1:6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control , perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;  

A person who can control themselves has a lot better chance of coming out ahead in any endeavor in life than one who does not. Isn’t that just what the bible says? 

Be Not Drunk With Wine

So, now let’s get down to some brass tacks. The bible says: not to be drunk with wine, but to be filled with the Spirit. It doesn’t say we can’t use a little alcohol for medicinal purposes like a little wine for the stomach or a hot whiskey sling. (sometimes called a hot toddy) A “LITTLE” wine can soothe stomach ailments and I know from experience that a toddy will sweat a cold out of you faster than anything. There are medicinal uses of alcohol and most cough medicines contain some. The bible says not to get drunk, it does not say we must have total abstinence. However, if you do not have self control then go to the doctor and get a prescription rather than use an old home remedy. It makes no sense to get healed of a cold just to die in a car accident caused by drunkenness. Better to abstain 100% from all alcohol then to be tempted to get drunk. 

If you are an alcoholic or have an addictive personality then stay away from drugs and alcohol altogether. 

What the Bible Says About Drinking and Drunkenness

If you are a drunk and have ever been around a bible Thumper, you probable have heard a lot of bible verses about drinking. However, I bet you haven’t heard of some of the one’s I’m going to show you. Keep reading, you might get real surprise about what is in the bible. 

Noah Gets Drunk 

The first verse about drunkenness in the Bible pertains to Noah, although there is almost no doubt that alcohol was discovered and distilled long before the flood. According to our best estimates the flood took place about 1656 AM. (Not in the morning, AM stands for After Man was created.) 

After Noah vacated the Ark , he planted a vineyard.  

Gen. 9:18-19 The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan .) These were the three sons of Noah, and from them came the people who were scattered over the earth.  

Gen. 9:20-21 Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan , saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside.  

Just looking at a naked man was not enough to get the curse that Ham received. Indeed, they probably had all went swimming naked at one time or another. Notice that Noah was inside his tent. No one had to look at him lying on the ground, all they had to do is stay out of his tent. Noah’s son Ham did something to him, and there are not really that many things you can do to a naked drunk. Use your imagination a little bit. Even if Ham did not rape him he was being disrespectful to his father. 

Gen. 9:24-25 When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him, he said, “Cursed be Canaan ! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers.”  

My point here is that from the first mention of drunkenness in Genesis, it probably resulted in sexual sin. Is it any wonder that drunkenness sexual sin and rape still go together today? Wine inflames a person’s sexual desire until they do crazy things that they would never do sober. Ham was probably drinking too. 

Noah’s younger son did not just look at him. The verse continues on to say that Noah cursed him for what he had “done” to him.” What it appears that ham had done is see Noah lying there naked and drunk and homosexually raped him. Ham was the youngest son, probably weaker than his older brothers so he could not rape their wives or them. Or he would face death. So, he raped his father when Noah got drunk, and Noah cursed him for it. See, dysfunctional families were normal even way back then. That doesn’t make it right; it just makes it the way it is. Notice how even the righteous preacher Noah didn’t take responsibility for his actions. He put the entire blame on his son, not on the fact that the real problem was that he (Noah) got drunk and passed out and was unable to defend himself. Like Adam, Like Noah, Like us. Play pass the blame game.

While on the Subject of Sex…  

Some of you may think I’m stretching the interpretation about what Ham may have done to Noah but I will show you some verses from the Bible that seem to support that position. 

In the Old Testament book of Leviticus God gave his rules against incest. Remember, prior to this there was no law against it so in the beginning it was perfectly legal to have children with a close relative. Adam and Eve’s children no doubt had to marry each other to get the species started, not much different than dog breeding or keeping alive a nearly extinct species. 

Gen. 5:4 After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 

Now some time after the flood, in Moses time, and when the earth now had a large population on it God gave rules against the intermarrying of close relatives, no doubt for a good reason, to prevent birth defects. He implemented the other rules of sexual conduct to maintain an orderly society. Murder follows adultery and all sexual sin.  

Lev. 18:6 KJV None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.  

You will see here that “uncovering their nakedness” means sexual relations. In fact the NIV translates it exactly that way. That is why I suspect that when Ham “uncovered his father’s nakedness,” he did more than sneak a peek.  

Lev. 18:6  NIV “ ‘No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the LORD.

Before we continue on I want to tell you a true story. I was still a drunk at the time but I was studying the Bible. I came across the verses about rules for sexual relations in Leviticus and got a big kick out of them. One night a group of us got together at my apartment for some more drinks after the bar closed. A good friend and co-worker of mine who happened to be Roman Catholic was talking about a woman and her daughter who frequented the same haunts as we did who together would regularly pick up a guy and take him home and share him. Of course I had to chime in, “hey, that’s against the bible.” He said, you’re crazy, there’s nothing about that kind of stuff in the Bible.  

So me, being who I was and never missing a chance to cause trouble, I got out a bible and showed it to him. He freaked out and accused me of having a fake bible or the devils bible or being a heathen. I told him to go look at any bible his priest had in the church and he would see the same things written there. He insisted I was out of my mind, a lunatic and sacrilegious. It was hilarious and the uproar went on for about an hour, disturbing everyone else who lived in the building.   

There is a point to this story besides entertainment and that is that there are many, many things in the bible that you will never hear preached from the pulpit. If you really want to know what the bible says read it through cover to cover. I used to read for about fifteen minutes every morning before work and by doing so I completed it in about a year. Read slowly and think about what you are reading. Get a hi-liter and mark interesting or odd things. Reading the bible can really be enjoyable, especially the first time through. It’s almost like Forrest Gump and his box of chocolates, you just never know what you are going to find. If you take the time to read through the bible in one year I guarantee you will come across some amazing things that you never dreamed were in there. You will probably find many right in this little book, perhaps in these next few verses. 

Lev. 18:7 “ ‘Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; do not have relations with her.  

Lev. 18:8 “ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; that would dishonor your father.  

Lev. 18:9 “ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.  

Lev. 18:10 “ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter; that would dishonor you.  

Lev. 18:11 “ ‘Do not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father’s wife, born to your father; she is your sister.  

Lev. 18:12 “ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s sister; she is your father’s close relative.

Lev. 18:13 “ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, because she is your mother’s close relative.  

Lev. 18:14 “ ‘Do not dishonor your father’s brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations; she is your aunt.  

Lev. 18:15 “ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife; do not have relations with her.  

Lev. 18:16 “ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would dishonor your brother.  

Lev. 18:17 “ ‘Do not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. Do not have sexual relations with either her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter; they are her close relatives. That is wickedness.  

Lev. 18:18 “ ‘Do not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living.  

Lev. 18:19 “ ‘Do not approach a woman to have sexual relations during the uncleanness of her monthly period.  

Lev. 20:11 “ ‘If a man sleeps with his father’s wife, he has dishonored his father. Both the man and the woman must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.  

Lev. 20:17 “ ‘If a man marries his sister, the daughter of either his father or his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They must be cut off before the eyes of their people. He has dishonored his sister and will be held responsible.  

Lev. 20:18 “ ‘If a man lies with a woman during her monthly period and has sexual relations with her, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has also uncovered it. Both of them must be cut off from their people.  

Lev. 20:19   “ ‘Do not have sexual relations with the sister of either your mother or your father, for that would dishonor a close relative; both of you would be held responsible.  

Lev. 20:20 “ ‘If a man sleeps with his aunt, he has dishonored his uncle. They will be held responsible; they will die childless.  

Lev. 20:21 “ ‘If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity; he has dishonored his brother. They will be childless.  

Now, this is a perfect opportunity to show that when you read or study the bible you cannot take a verse out of context and establish a doctrine based on that one verse. In Leviticus 20:21 it says that a man must not marry his brothers wife. Now let’s look at another verse.

Deut. 25:5-6 If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel . 

In the case of the death of a brother it was God’s command that the living brother should impregnate the dead mans wife so that there would be someone to inherit his property. Remember, under God’s Old Testament rules no one would ever be homeless because family property could never be sold, therefore it was important for every husband and wife to have at least one child to carry on the family name and inherit the property. What a wonderful plan God had. Every father was to leave some land to every male child or to a female that did not have a husband’s side to inherit from. Oh, if only we would follow God’s way there would not be one homeless person in the United States . Even immigrants were required to follow God’s laws if they settled in Israel so the first generation of an immigrant family should somehow, someway acquire some land and begin that practice. There is always cheap land somewhere in some state. Five acres will house numerous generations. One apartment house on a quarter acre can easily house twelve people. If we just would do things God’s way what a wonderful world it would be. 

Anyway, now you know all about God’s rules for sex. Do you see how getting drunk and high can lower our will power and lead to violations? When that happens we are outside of God’s will for our lives and then Murphy’s Law starts coming into effect again. Everything is working for the bad instead of the good, thanks once again to booze and drugs. 

Is. 5:11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks , who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine. 

1Pet. 4:3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.  

Those of you who have been heavy drinkers for a long time and have watched up close up the goings on in the bars, (perhaps experienced them, or maybe you were a bartender) is it not true that getting drunk leads to lust? It certainly did in the bars I frequented. In fact, I was very good at picking out who was going home with whom. It was a little game I (we) played. I would make my choices about midnight and then wait until closing time to see if they came true. The bartender was good at it too. Sometimes we guessed together to see who was right. The only thing that could throw it off is if a “Hottie,” male or female, walked in after midnight , that would be a game changer. 

Anyway, we see that Noah’s vineyard experiment didn’t work out so well, not unlike some of my own experiments.

Abigail and Nabal  

1Sam. 25:2-3 And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel ; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel . Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.  

You can read the whole story in 1 Sam 25 but suffice it to say here that Nabal was an evil man and a drunk. He angered the future king of Israel David with his clouded thinking to the point that David was going to kill him. Nabal’s wife heard that David was angry and while Nabal was getting drunk she tried to smooth over the situation with David. She didn’t dare to approach Nabal while he was partying so she waited until morning to tell him that he had almost lost his life last night.  

1Sam. 25:36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.  

Nabal was a real party animal. Eat, drink and be merry was no doubt his motto also, just like some of us.  

1Sam. 25:37-38 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died. 

WOW! Is that scary or what? Did you catch it? The Lord smote Nabal, the big drunk. It wasn’t even drinking that killed him; it was the Lord who was fed up with Nabal’s actions. If you want to make an enemy out of God just go ahead and follow Nabal’s example. Drink and party and treat everyone else like dirt, including your wife and acquaintances, everyone except for your drinking buddies. God killed Nabal because he was a drunken jerk and an idiot.  

Lot and His Daughters 

After the destruction of Sodom Lot’s teen-age daughters believed that the entire world was destroyed. They were living in a cave and cooked up a plan.  

Gen. 19:32-34 Let’s get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father.” That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and lay with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Last night I lay with my father. Let’s get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and lie with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.”  

From the non biblical historical record, The Book of Jasher, we are given a few more details.  

Jasher 19:55-60 And Lot and two of his daughters that remained with him fled and escaped to the cave of Adullam , and they remained there for some time. And Abraham rose up early in the morning to see what had been done to the cities of Sodom ; and he looked and beheld the smoke of the cities going up like the smoke of a furnace. And Lot and his two daughters remained in the cave, and they made their father drink wine, and they lay with him, for they said there was no man upon earth that could raise up seed from them, for they thought that the whole earth was destroyed. And they both lay with their father, and they conceived and bare sons, and the first born called the name of her son Moab, saying, From my father did I conceive him; he is the father of the Moabites unto this day. And the younger also called her son Benami; he is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day. And after this Lot and his two daughters went away from there, and he dwelt on the other side of the Jordan with his two daughters and their sons, and the sons of Lot grew up, and they went and took themselves wives from the land of Canaan , and they begat children and they were fruitful and multiplied. 

In fairness to the girls, they thought that the whole earth was destroyed. Lot obviously knew better though because he had been on many journeys with Abraham and had also been carried captive by the kings a few years earlier. With his wife gone perhaps he neglected to tell the girls that there was a world full of men out there. Whatever the case may be, Lot should not have gotten drunk and slept with his daughters. Somehow booze and sex just seem to go together. It seems you can’t have one without the other.  

King David’s Sons Had Problems With Booze and Sex  

2Sam. 13:1-2 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.  

Amnon had a lust problem involving his sister. We have already seen in the Law of Moses that it was not permissible for Amnon to marry his half sister.  

Amnon and His Friend Hatch an Evil Scheme  

2Sam. 13:36 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man. And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king’s son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister. And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand. So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.  

2Sam. 13:7-10 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.

Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes. And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him. And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.  

Amnon Rapes Tamar  

2Sam. 13:11 -14 And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister. And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel : do not thou this folly. And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel . Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.  

After the Rape, He Hates Her

2Sam. 13:15 -17 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone. And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her. Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.  

We are not told why he hated her so much after he had forced himself up her but it may be that she now reminded him of what an evil man he was. He had no doubt learned much of the Law of Moses from his father and the priests, so now perhaps he hated himself also, and felt guilty when he looked at her. 

2Sam. 13:18 -20 And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king’s daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her. And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.

And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.

Absalom Plots Revenge 

2Sam. 13:21 -27 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth. And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant. And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him. Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee? But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.  

Absalom Murders Amnon  

2Sam. 13:28-29 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous and be valiant. And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.  

2Sam. 13:30-33 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left. Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent. And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead. 

Rape was the cause of the first problem and the murder of Amnon was made possible by his getting drunk. It would not be surprising if Amnon was a drinker and fell in love with his sister in the first place due to boozing it up. They certainly didn’t have any trouble getting him tuned up so they could kill him. Once again, booze and sex cause a dysfunctional family.            

Let’s look at a couple more scriptures that bare this out. 

Lam. 4:21 Rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom , you who live in the land of Uz . But to you also the cup will be passed; you will be drunk and stripped naked.  

Hab. 2:15 “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies.  

Did you think it was your discovery that “Candy is slicker but liquor is quicker?” People have been getting other people drunk to take advantage of them since the discovery of the effects of the first clay pot of fermented grape juice.  

What is a Harlot 

Some people think that the word “harlot” in the bible always means “prostitute.” Sometimes these words can be used interchangeably but often a harlot just means a girl who is unmarried and not a virgin, except in the case of rape. In the Old Testament “Rahab the harlot” is translated “Rahab the Tavern-Keeper” by Josephus. She was just a girl who owned or worked at a bar and had some boyfriends. In the scriptures there were only two choices for an unmarried woman, virgin or harlot. (Again, except in the case of rape) In today’s English we would probably call a harlot a “skank” and a prostitute a “whore” or a “working girl.” Not all non virgins meet the definition of skanks, some just have one live in boyfriend and are faithful to him, at least most of the time. 

So then, a prostitute dispenses her favors for money. A harlot is just a girl who likes to have fun without being a bride first. Like the song says: “Girls just wanna have fun.” So what are you young lady? If you are male you might just be a sleaze bag.  

What about Gays and Lesbians? 

Luke 13:1-3 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  

Luke 13:4-5 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem ? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  

The bible forbids all sexual contact except between a male man and his female wife. There is no difference between premarital sex, extramarital sex, bestiality, homosexuality, lesbianism, incest and any other sexual deviation you can possibly think of. It’s not like there is going to be a hotter place in hell for one group versus the other.  

It is ironic to see a gay bashing guy who is living with his girlfriend act as if he is standing up for God and America by persecuting gays. He is in just as much trouble as they are and will share the same fate unless he repents. We have seen in Leviticus the rules for sex. One sin is not listed as having someone just spend a little time in purgatory while another one sends you to hell. Let’s go back and look at how serious this issue was and is. 

Deut. 21:18-21 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. They shall say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a profligate and a drunkard.” Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid. 

That seems pretty harsh doesn’t it? Hey, he just seems like a good old boy who wants to go to town, get drunk and chase the ladies, what could be more all American than that? My point is not that we should go back to capital punishment for such things, but that many of the people who are accusing others are hypocrites. They point the finger at one group while all the time they are doing things that are different but just as bad. 

James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 

There is only one criteria for salvation and that is absolute perfection. If we cannot keep the whole law for our entire life, from cradle to grave we are lost. You may ask, how can that be? Let’s look at it mathematically in baseball terms. If a baseball player struck out once in his career and hit a home run every other time he was at bat, what would his batting average be? It would depend on how many times he was at bat but it would always end in a 9. If he came up to the plate 10,000 times his average would be 9999. He could never again achieve perfection even if he were to bat a million, ten million, or a hundred million times. There would always be a 9 at the end. He could never get back to all zeros, perfection. It is the same for us. One sin in our lifetime condemns us to hell forever unless we accept the free gift of God, the perfection that is obtained by believing in Jesus Christ. Faith in Christ erases all of our strikeouts and only our home runs are left on our record. That is the brilliance of God’s plan. Simple and perfect.  

Matt. 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 

Gal. 2:16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. 

Rom. 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.  

The points above are what a lot of Christians are unclear about. They think that there are big sins and little sins and if you just do little ones you can go to heaven. Sin is not the issue at all. Jesus paid for every sin that was ever committed or will be committed. Anyone who will may receive that forgiveness.  

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Well, you might say, that was easy! I’ll continue on in my sinful ways but believe in Jesus and be saved. Sounds like a good plan, I like that. If only it worked that way, what a great religion that would be. Sin all your life and go to heaven at the end. The problem with that is that Jesus said that anyone who truly believed in him would realize what a great thing he had done for them, and realizing it they would love him.  

John 14:15   “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 

John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” 

John 15:10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  

There is the catch. If we truly believe we will love, and if we love we will change our behavior to what He desires. That’s the catch; if your behavior doesn’t change you are a liar if you say you love him. There is just no getting around it. If you truly believe in Jesus your behavior will change, it must change. So, all who do not repent, believe in Jesus Christ and live for him are in danger of hellfire. Not just any specific group of biblical lawbreakers.  

1John 2:4 The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  

Having said that none of us will ever achieve perfection in the flesh. In our minds maybe, but the flesh will never get back to perfection. It must die or be shed like an old snakeskin. The point is some of us become so caught up in some sin before or even after we are saved that we cannot seem to get rid of it completely. It is always there lurking, ready to jump up and bite us at any weak moment. It is like trying to strangle a seven headed dragon that we have by the neck. We keep getting bit even while we are trying to strangle the life out of it. Why are some who have spiritual power in some areas not able to escape sin’s clutches in others? I don’t know. We will find out at the judgment seat of Christ. Lonnie Frisbee is one example. To read more about him and his achievement and struggles click on the link below. I will present only a short synopsis of his life here. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonnie_Frisbee

 Lonnie Frisbee 

Lonnie Frisbee (June 6, 1949 – March 12, 1993) was an American Pentecostal evangelist and self-described "seeing prophet" and mystic in the late 1960s and 1970s. Despite, or possibly because of, his hippie appearance and being a man who says he struggled with homosexuality, he had notable success as a minister and evangelist especially in the signs and wonders faith movement of the 1970s and 1980s.

Frisbee was a key figure in the Jesus movement and eyewitness accounts of his ministry documented in the 2007 Emmy-nominated film Frisbee: The Life and Death of a Hippie Preacher explain how Frisbee became the charismatic spark igniting the rise of Chuck Smith's Calvary Chapel and the Vineyard Movement, two worldwide denominations and among the largest evangelical denominations to emerge in the last thirty years. It was said that he was not one of the hippie preachers, "there was one."

 Frisbee functioned both as an evangelical preacher also privately socialized as a gay man before and during his evangelism career. This is held in tension with the fact that he said in interviews that he never believed homosexuality was anything other than a sin in the eyes of God. His death was due to AIDS in 1993. 

The early church recognized that some have problems that cannot seem to be cured.  

From the Didache – 100 AD 

Didache 6: See that no one causes you to err from this way of the Teaching, since apart from God it teaches you. For if you are able to bear the entire yoke of the Lord, you will be perfect; but if you are not able to do this, do what you are able.  

The difference between Lonnie Frisbee and a lot of people today is that he recognized the sin in his life as sin. He did not try to say that because he couldn’t overcome it that it was normal. That would be senseless. God hates that. That will bring his wrath upon us.  

Is. 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil , who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.  

It would be like someone dying of cancer saying that cancer causing agents should be injected in everyone so we could all die the same way. It is the same with sin. Just because there is something that we cannot seem to win the battle against we cannot call that thing “good.” If we are overcome with a sin we should not hide it but let it be known publicly and not try to conceal it to obtain or keep a position of leadership in the church. Like it said in the Didache, if you can perform the whole counsel of God, by all means do so, if you can’t do it all then do all of it you can. (My paraphrase) If you have to step down from leadership and take a secular job due to sin in your life then do so. Perhaps God will heal you of the problem someday or perhaps it is not his will for you to be in the hierarchy but just to tell people about Jesus in your everyday life.  

Howard Pittman 

Howard Pittman, a Baptist minister for 35 years, died on the operating table in 1979. He relates how an angel came and took his soul before God where he (Howard) wanted to ask God to extend his life on earth. Howard had always considered himself to be a good Christian man, a servant of the Lord. Read his whole story at: 

http://www.near-death.com/forum/nde/000/89.html

Chapter 10:  The Rude Awakening - (From the book “Placebo” 

My escort told me to stand to one side of the Gates and present my case. He assured me that God would hear and answer my request. As I stood before the Gates, the sense of joy, happiness, and contentment radiated out from Heaven. I could feel the warmth it produced and as I stood there to plead my case. I could feel the awesome power of God. No being could possibly appear before Him, even separated by a gate as I was, without experiencing this awesome power, might and majesty. At first I had a sense of fear, sort of guilt feeling that is always produced in me when I believe I have imposed on others. In my mind's eye I could just visualize a busy God who was annoyed with me for taking Him away from important things. Then, just as suddenly as this feeling came, it passed. I then found strength or boldness in my belief that I had served my God faithfully for many years. To me, I was convinced that this request of mine would be a snap! 

Boldly I came before the throne and started out by reminding God what a great life of love, worship, and sacrifice I had lived for Him. I told Him of all the works I had done reminding Him that I was now in trouble and only He could help by granting me an extension on my physical life. God was totally silent while I spoke. When I had completed my request, I heard the real, audible voice of God as He answered me. 

The voice I heard was not like the sweet voice that Satan had used to trick me before in the valley. You could put together the noise of all the storms, volcanoes, tornadoes, and hurricanes and they could in no way imitate what I heard. The sound of His voice was in no way like the sweet voice I talked about earlier. The sound of His voice came down on me from over the Gates even before the words hit me. The tone of His anger knocked me on my face as God proceeded to tell me just what kind of life I had really lived. He told me what He really thought of me and even others who did as I had. He pointed out that my faith was DEAD, that my works were NOT ACCEPTABLE, and that I had labored in VAIN. He told me that it was an abomination for me to live such a life and then dare call it a life of worship. Furthermore, He said to those who do it, they are in danger of experiencing His everlasting wrath. As God dealt with me, He displayed His wrath to me. Notice, it was not His everlasting wrath. He did say there are some who will experience His everlasting wrath. 

I could not believe He was talking to me in this manner! I had served Him for years! I thought I had lived a life pleasing to Him! As He was enumerating my wrongs, I was sure He had me confused with someone else. There was no strength left in me to even move, let alone protest, yet I was panicking within myself. No way He could be talking about me! All of these years I thought I was doing those works for God! Now He was telling me that what I did, I did for myself. Even as I preached and testified about the saving grace of Jesus Christ, I was doing that only for myself in order that my conscience might be soothed. In essence, my first love and first works were for myself. After MY needs and wants were met or satisfied, in order to soothe my conscience I would set out to do the Lord's work. This made my priorities out of order and unacceptable. Actually, I had become my own false God.  

As God told me about my true motives, the verse of scripture in Matthew 16:24-26 and Luke 14:26-33 became so clear to me. In Matthew 16 it states, Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him DENY himself and take up his cross, and follow me, for whosoever shall save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. In verse 23 of this same chapter Jesus makes the following statement: So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not ALL that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 

Only now as I was here before Him being chastised did those two portions of scripture become crystal clear to me as to their true meaning. As God told me about my TRUE MOTIVES, I could see plainly for the first time how MY WORKS were DEAD. Because God was displaying His wrath toward me, I could not stand nor could I speak. No strength was left within me as I was nothing more than a wet rag lying there writhing in agony. It indeed, was fortunate for me that this was not God's everlasting wrath, only temporary wrath. However, at this time I did not know this was only temporary. 

It needs to be stated that at no time while God was chastising me did He say I was not saved nor did He say that my name was not in the Lamb's Book of Life. He never mentioned salvation to me at all but only spoke about the works produced through my life. He told me the type of life I lived was an unacceptable life for a true Christian. As He spoke to me of my dead works, he indicated that there are some people who are not saved but think they are. These people will experience His everlasting wrath. He also made it plain to me that there are others of His children who will find themselves in my present condition on Judgment Day. This revealed to me the true meaning of 1 Corinthians 3:15 which states, If any man's works shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 

Howard was returned to this life and commanded to tell his story, which is still being done today.              

Now this is where things really get difficult, our motives. How can w even know when we are doing things for the right reasons?  

Jer. 17:9 KJV The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 

Jer. 17:9  NIV The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 

I mean, how do I know I’m even writing this book for the right reasons? The bible says to lay up treasure in heaven, which I am trying to do, but is that selfish? Is it selfish to want a mansion in heaven rather than a pop-up camper in the Utopian RV park? I don’t have the answer but one thing I can say for sure is that a lot of what we think we have done for Christ is going to be burned up at the judgment seat. That being the case we had better try to get our motives right and do as much as we can. Maybe a little will survive. God commands us to lay up treasure in heaven so all we can do is try. It is those motives that are going to be the problem when all of the truth comes out. 

Matt. 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  

The Recabites 

The bible says that we can learn a lesson from the true account of the Recabites. 

Jer. 35:1-3 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah : “Go to the Recabite family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the LORD and give them wine to drink.” So I went to get Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons—the whole family of the Recabites.  

Jer. 35:5-6 Then I set bowls full of wine and some cups before the men of the Recabite family and said to them, “Drink some wine.” But they replied, “We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jonadab son of Recab gave us this command: ‘Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine.  

Jer. 35:8 We have obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab son of Recab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine 

Jer. 35:12-15 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying: “This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem , ‘Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?’ declares the LORD. ‘Jonadab son of Recab ordered his sons not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather’s command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me. Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, “Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your fathers.” But you have not paid attention or listened to me.  

Jer. 35:16-17 The descendants of Jonadab son of Recab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.’ “Therefore, this is what the LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.’”

 Jer. 35:18-8 Then Jeremiah said to the family of the Recabites, “This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have obeyed the command of your forefather Jonadab and have followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.’ Therefore, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jonadab son of Recab will never fail to have a man to serve me.’”  

The lesson here is not about wine but about obedience. Wine is used as an example of a father instructing his children not to engage in bad habits and the children following his command for generations. God compares the Rechabite family’s obedience to what Israel and we should be doing. Notice that because of their faithfulness in obeying their human ancestors command God has rewarded the family with the promise that their will always be at least one person in their family tree serving the Lord. Somewhere in the world today there is a Rechabite who is faithful to God, and probably a lot more than one. What a wonderful heritage the Rechabites have. That is why obedience is so important. It brings God’s blessings.  

New Testament Priests: Deacons and  Elders  

1Tim. 3:1-7 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, (Bishop, Elder, Priest or Pastor) he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.  

1Tim. 3:8-10 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. 

Titus 1:6-9 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness , not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Deacons, elders and all other church workers are held to a higher standard than bench warmers and pew sitters. If you want to get on God’s team and play there are high standards that must be met first. We would not have anywhere near so many scandals in the Church as we do if every denomination would hold everyone in leadership to these rules. At times the Church is an embarrassment to Christ due to the nuts we have in the pulpit and on television.  

Wine is Not for Priests, Princes or Kings 

There are certain people on jobs where they should not partake of alcohol or at least not while they are doing something that requires their complete attention and concentration. Kings and priests fit this description.  

Rules for Priests and Prophets  

Lev. 10:9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.  

Ezek. 44:21 No priest is to drink wine when he enters the inner court.  

Rules for Kings 

Prov. 31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:  

Prov. 31:4 “It is not for kings, O Lemuel—not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer,  

Eccl. 10:17 Blessed are you, O land whose king is of noble birth  and whose princes eat at a proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.  

Nazirites  

There was a special class of people set apart for service to the Lord called Nazirites. Samson was one along with John the Baptist. Some were not to drink wine for a specified period of time, other like John abstained all of their lives. 

Luke 1:11-15 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 

Luke 1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth, He leaped in his mother’s womb when Mary, the pregnant future mother of Jesus came to visit. This is something for Christians who believe that abortion is OK to think about. If a baby is not a human being until it is born, how come the things above could happen? What if John or Jesus had been aborted? Oh, God would have found a way around it, but would you want to be the doctor or the mother at the judgment who aborted John or Jesus? 

Matt. 11:11 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  

The Death of John the Baptist 

Mark 6:14 -17 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.” But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!” For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married.  

Mark 6:18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”  

Mark 6:19-20 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.  

Mark 6:21-24 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee . When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.  

Matt. 14:8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”  

Mark 6:26-29 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother.

Matt. 14:12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.  

Once again, sex and a drunken party got someone in trouble, this time it was the king. Unless he repented before he died he will have all eternity to think about how stupid he was for doing such a thing. 

Rules for Old Testament Nazirites and Their Mothers 

Judg. 13:7 But he said to me, ‘You will conceive and give birth to a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from birth until the day of his death.’”  

Judg. 13:14 She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, nor drink any wine or other fermented drink nor eat anything unclean. She must do everything I have commanded her.”  

Num. 6:3 he must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drink. He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins.  

Of course not every child is a Nazirite but it would be a good practice for pregnant women to avoid alcoholic beverages.  

Amos 2:12 “But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.  

Allowable Uses for Alcohol and Wine 

Wine and alcohol can be used as medicine for sterilizing cuts and wounds and for soothing stomach problems. I’m not sure scientifically how it works but perhaps the alcohol helps kill unwanted bacteria in the intestinal tract or perhaps the grape juice just promotes healthy digestion. In any case, Paul recommended it to Timothy because he had frequent digestive problems. 

Luke 10:34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine . Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.  

1Tim. 5:23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.  

Remember, in ancient times they did not have the pain killing drugs or the antibiotics that we have today. We still today put alcohol in our squirt bottle hand wash germicides. A little wine to kill stomach bacteria makes perfect sense. Giving wine or strong drink to someone who is in terrible pain or dying is a good thing to do. Some would take these exceptions though and try to justify drinking a gallon or two of wine a day. People always want to stretch a good thing out to outlandish extremes. 

Prov. 31:6 Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish;  

Even up until the late 1800’s alcohol was used as a pain killer for surgery. Remember the old westerns where the country doctor had to dig a bullet out of a cowboy using only a couple of slugs from a whiskey bottle as a pain killer? Well, it was just common sense to give alcohol to someone who was dying or undergoing a painful medical procedure. It was the best they had at the time and is what was used for thousands of years until the invention of modern pain killers.  

Psa. 4:7 You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.  

Psa. 104:15 wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart.  

Zech. 9:17 How attractive and beautiful they will be! Grain will make the young men thrive, and new wine the young women.  

Wine gladdens the heart of human beings. There can be no disputing of that fact. Look how accurate the Bible is, wine bread and (olive) oil are things that are listed as things that make life better. It’s not rocket science, just common sense. However, too much of a good thing is not a good thing. Everything must be done in moderation. Too much wine makes us drunk, too much food makes us fat and too much oil on the skin, well, I don’t know what that will do. Maybe give us pimples. The point is moderation in all things is the key, And to be good witnesses for Christ we must avoid even the appearance of evil, so we can’t go down the street staggering from wine and expect that people will want to come and ask us about our walk with Jesus.  J

1Th. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 

1Th. 5:22 Avoid every kind of evil.  

The Wedding at Cana  

Well, here go all the Baptists. Not many of them will read past this section.  

John 2:1-5 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee . Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”  

John 2:6-8 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so,  

John 2:9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee . He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. 

John 4:46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee , where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum .  

In John 4:46 we see that there was some royal folks in Cana . Where there are royals there are also rich people so now we can understand why Jesus made from 120 to 180 gallons of wine for the wedding. They had already used all that they prepared so the people had celebrated a lot already. Then Jesus made between 400 and 700 more liters of really good wine. Even if each person had one more liter to drink, that’s a pretty big wedding. It was no ordinary affair. Someone with a lot of money was funding this thing. The banquet even had a master of ceremonies or perhaps he was the dad who was paying for it all.  

The point is that Jesus probably made enough wine so that every adult in attendance could drink about one liter. It wasn’t like he made 500 liters of wine for some boy marrying the girl nest door with 25 people attending and they were going to drink until they all dropped. Jesus made enough so everyone could have a taste of the good stuff and by the time it ran out the wedding would be over.     

Jesus had a great opportunity here to preach to the wedding goers about the dangers of alcoholism. He could have preached that God ordained that they should run out of wine before they all got drunk and got into trouble.  

Regardless of whether or not the wine he created from water contained alcohol or not, Jesus did not bring the wedding celebration to an end. What he made tasted so good that they certainly thought that it was aged and fermented drink even if it wasn’t. The implication is that Jesus had no problems with people celebrating by partaking of adult beverages at a wedding. 

So, here is where it gets sticky, like spilled wine. Is it or is it not OK to drink fermented grape juice? The real problem comes in due to our human nature. We want yes or no, all or nothing, not, well, maybe a little. Think of wine as a medicine, like an aspirin. If you call the doctor and he says; “take two aspirins and call me in the morning,” does that mean that if you take the whole bottle of 250 pills you will get well quicker? Of course not. It might kill you or at the very least you will have to be taken to the hospital to have your stomach pumped. It is the same with Wine. A little can be good, a lot is bad. To a person who is an alcoholic or has an addictive personality, a little is bad. Everything must be done in moderation. That is what we humans find very difficult.  

Phil. 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men.  

We have this same problem in the church with spiritual gifts. If we allow them in the church they often get out of control. People say, (especially women) I have a word from the Lord and I just have to say it, and they go on and on talking and taking up the whole service and often saying nothing of any real value to the general congregation. The pastor may not even have time to deliver the sermon. Perhaps the word was meant for one individual only and should have been given to them privately. 

1Cor. 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.  

1Cor. 14:32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.  

Many churches have just shut down the working of the spiritual gifts in the church service because the people using them are just too difficult to control. Once they start they don’t want to stop and sometimes even say that they can’t stop. If they say they cannot control themselves then they are either lying or being controlled by another spirit not of God. God’s prophets can control themselves and do things decently and in order as his word commands.  

You may ask, why are you touching on spiritual gifts when we are studying alcohol? The reason is because the same problem is involved with both. Human self control. The gifts are good and to be used for edification of the church and fermented wine is good to gladden the hearts of people at a wedding celebration. Used in moderation and when one is in control of ones self, both are good. Both, like too much aspirin can be bad when used to excess. 

Jesus Will Not Drink Wine Again Until He Drinks with Us

Matt. 26:29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 

Mark 14:25 “I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God .” 

Luke 22:18 For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”  

The real point is he will drink it again. Will it be fermented? I don’t know, but even if it is I’m sure that his new body will suffer no ill effects from it either way, nor will ours. He says he will drink it with us in his kingdom.

 Luke 12:37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.  

Not only will he, the Master, drink it with us, he will wait on us as like a table waiter. If Jesus Christ serves me something I’ll be glad to drink it even if all of the Baptists and AOG people leave. I’ll drink theirs too! 

Matt. 11:16-17 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: “ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 

Matt. 11:18-19 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.” 

Luke 7:33-34 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ’  

Matt. 1:20   Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.  

Basically what this tells us is that people who do not want to repent will instead find fault with the messenger. God sent the message of the truth though John the Baptist who drank no wine and followed a strict diet and Jesus both drank and created wine and also ate a normal diet. They both preached the same message, repent and turn to God. The message was rejected by the majority of people and when they could not find fault with the message they found fault with the messengers. Drinking or not drinking was not the real issue, repenting was and is the issue. 

Is. 5:12 They have harps and lyres at their banquets, tambourines and flutes and wine, but they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD, no respect for the work of his hands.  

The whole thing in a nutshell is this: Fear God, and if you drink do so in moderation and if you do not drink do so unto the Lord.  

1Cor. 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  

Wine Used for Celebrating a Great Victory

With 318 men God gave Abraham the victory over multiple armies. The priest of Salem came out to welcome Abraham and to celebrate with him with bread and wine.

Gen. 14:18-20 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.  

Jasher: 16:11-12 And Melchizedek king of Jerusalem, the same was Shem , went out with his men to meet Abram and his people, with bread and wine, and they remained together in the valley of Melech. 

Note: Jasher is a Jewish historical book. It is not scripture but is mentioned in the bible as a historical reference. Josh. 10:13  & 2Sam. 1:18   

And Melchizedek blessed Abram, and Abram gave him a tenth from all that he had brought from the spoil of his enemies, for Melchizedek was a priest before God.  

The first king of Jerusalem Shem, also known in his kingly role as Melchizedek brought out bread and wine to celebrate the great victory that God gave Abraham over the kings who kidnapped his nephew and his nephew’s family. Here a true priest of God used the bread and wine as the elements to a victory celebration. 

Unknown to them at the time they were also portraying the suffering and death of Christ for our salvation for which we still use bread and wine in celebrating communion.  

What Are the Characteristics of Drunkenness?  

Job 12:25 They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.  

Psa. 60:3 You have shown your people desperate times; you have given us wine that makes us stagger. 

Is. 19:14 The LORD has poured into them a spirit of dizziness; they make Egypt stagger in all that she does, as a drunkard staggers around in his vomit.  

Jer. 25:27  “Then tell them, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Drink, get drunk and vomit, and fall to rise no more because of the sword I will send among you.’  

Hos. 4:10-11 “They will eat but not have enough; they will engage in prostitution but not increase, because they have deserted the LORD to give themselves to prostitution, to old wine and new, which take away the understanding 

Joel 1:5 Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail, all you drinkers of wine; wail because of the new wine, for it has been snatched from your lips.  

Joel 3:3 They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for winethat they might drink.  

Ezek. 23:33 You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, the cup of ruin and desolation, the cup of your sister Samaria .  

Is. 28:7 KJV And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine ; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions.  

Is. 28:7 NIV But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.  

Drunkenness can make us Grope, stagger, have dizziness and cause vomiting, Both old and new wine take away the understanding. Addiction to alcohol can cause people to sell children into prostitution to finance their booze habits. Drunkenness is also closely aligned with sorrow. It can cause a person to be befuddled which means all mixed up. Due to that there are errors in their decision making processes. 

Notice that Hosea 4:11 says that both old wine and new take away the understanding, which make the theory that some churches have that new wine is grape juice invalid. Joel also says that drunkards are wailing because both old and new wine has been taken away from them. Sorry those with that theory. Both old and new wine is alcoholic.

Being filled With the Spirit Resembles Being Drunk  

Very often in the scriptures drunkenness and the Holy Spirit are compared. Alcoholic physical drunkenness is the closest thing we humans have that can be compared to being spirit filled. Even booze is sometimes referred to as “spirits.” While the outward appearance is similar the results are entirely different. Too much wine leads to sin while being filled with the Holy Spirit leads to doing God’s will.  

Acts 2:12-13 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”  Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.’”  

Acts 2:14-15 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem , let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!  

Acts 2:16 -18 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days,… 

Acts 2:21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’  

King Belshazzar’s Feast 

If you are still reading this book after what you have seen so far that is a miracle in itself. So far there has been something here to anger every Christian group, left wing group and right wing group. No one has been forgotten. That’s just it, God leaves no one out, we are all just sinners saved by grace, and none of us are perfect. You are probably angry if you just found that out.  

Eph. 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. 

No one can boast about earning their own salvation. You either got it through Jesus or you don’t have it.  

This next section reflects the attitude of the proud and boastful. The subject here is King Belshazzar but a person can be rich or poor and still have that same proud and obstinate attitude towards God.  

Dan. 5:1-3 King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem , so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem , and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them.  

King Belshazzar had no respect for God as he was using the holy articles from the temple in Jerusalem for common glasses for his nobles, wives and mistresses to get drunk with. Along with that they were all worshipping lifeless idols as they were partying. 

Dan. 5:4-6 As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone. Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way.  

Dan. 5:7-9 The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers and diviners to be brought and said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.  

Dan. 5:10-12 The queen, hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. “O king, live forever!” she said. “Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale! There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king, I say—appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. This man Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.”  

Dan. 5:13-16 So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah ? I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it. Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”  

Dan. 5:17-21 Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means. “O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. Because of the high position he gave him, all the peoples and nations and men of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like cattle; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone he wishes.  

Dan. 5:22-24 “But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.  

Dan. 5:25-28 “This is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN  “This is what these words mean: Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”  

Dan. 5:29   Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.  

Dan. 5:30-31 That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.  

The point here is not the fact that the king drank wine although too much imbibing of the fruit of the vine may have helped lead to his fall by destroying his brain cells. The important thing is his irreverent attitude towards the true God, and that when he knew better. His father was the king before him and the events of his fathers reign were well known, including his time of madness and subsequent restoration to the throne. Junior certainly should have had some respect for God, even if he did not choose to serve him, but he had none. He paid for it with the loss of his kingdom and his life. It is a historical warning to us of what can happen if we become too focused on having a good time and forget to remember our creator.  

Eccl. 12:1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”— 

What Happened To King Belshazzar Will Happen Again  

In the Biblical book of Jeremiah, God had him make a prediction that Babylon would be destroyed and never rise again. Babylon was located in southern Iraq and was just beginning to be rebuilt By Saadam Hussein when he invaded Kuwait . He was planning a grand opening for the city with Madonna being the star performer. It never happened. US troops used the area he had completed for waging war against him. Saadam’s power was greatly weakened after the first Gulf war and of course after the 2^nd war he was executed. Babylon was never completed. 

We will look at the prophecies of Jeremiah first. He predicted these things about seventy years before they happened in Daniel’s time, which we just read about. Daniel was a teen-age boy when Jeremiah was prophesying in Israel . Daniel was carried off to Babylon shortly thereafter when Israel lost the war and was conquered by King Nebuchadnezzar.  

Jer. 51:1-2 This is what the LORD says: “See, I will stir up the spirit of a destroyer against Babylon and the people of Leb Kamai. I will send foreigners to Babylon to winnow her and to devastate her land; they will oppose her on every side in the day of her disaster.  

Jer. 51:7  Babylon was a gold cup in the LORD’S hand; she made the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore they have now gone mad.

Jer. 51:11 “Sharpen the arrows, take up the shields!  The LORD has stirred up the kings of the Medes, because his purpose is to destroy Babylon . The LORD will take vengeance, vengeance for his temple.  

Jer. 51:24 “Before your eyes I will repay Babylon and all who live in Babylonia for all the wrong they have done in Zion ,”  declares the LORD.  

Jer. 51:48-49 Then heaven and earth and all that is in them will shout for joy over Babylon , for out of the north destroyers will attack her,” declares the LORD. “ Babylon must fall because of Israel ’s slain, just as the slain in all the earth have fallen because of Babylon . he will repay in full.  

Jer. 51:57 I will make her officials and wise men drunk, her governors, officers and warriors as well; they will sleep forever and not awake,”  

Jer. 51:62 Then say, ‘O LORD, you have said you will destroy this place, so that neither man nor animal will live in it; it will be desolate forever.’  

Jer. 51:63-64 When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the Euphrates . Then say, ‘So will Babylon sink to rise no more because of the disaster I will bring upon her. And her people will fall.’” The words of Jeremiah end here.  

The destruction of the ancient city of Babylon by the Medes and the Persians was just a down payment on the final fulfillment, which is predicted in Revelation. Many prophecies have multiple fulfillments, each one being of greater magnitude than the previous one until the final fulfillment occurs. The final fulfillment may not be just a city but an entire system of commerce based on the system the dictator Nimrod implemented after the flood. Basically Nimrod controlled all the money so he controlled almost all of the people, leading them into idolatry. According to the book of Jasher, Abraham was one of the few to escape his grip by moving to Jerusalem with Noah and Shem. 

This type of system will once again be in place before the return of Jesus Christ when antichrist comes to power.  

You may be saying, hey wait a minute, this book is supposed to be about booze, drugs and sex, how come you are talking about future as yet unfulfilled prophecy? Well, that’s a good question and a good question deserves a good answer. The answer is because God compares the end times scenario to people (The world) who are deceived by a drunken prostitute. 

Rev. 17:1-2 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.  With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”  

Rev. 17:4-6 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.  

Rev. 17:15&18 Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”  

Rev. 18:1-3 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. With a mighty voice he shouted: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird. For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”  

Rev. 18:4-5 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.  

Rev. 18:6-8 Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup. Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.’ Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.  

Rev. 18:9-10 “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: “ ‘Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!’  

Rev. 18:11-13 “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more—cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men.  

Rev. 18:20 Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you.’”  

Rev. 18:21-23 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again. The music of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again. No workman of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again. The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Your merchants were the world’s great men. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray.  

Rev. 18:24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the earth.”  

Not just Babylon will reel and stagger like a drunkard, but the whole planet earth. Perhaps and asteroid will hit it. Not to worry though, the saved will be fine. The Lord knows how to take care of his own. It’s just one more good reason to serve the Lord now in case this all happens in our lifetimes. Even if it doesn’t, we could have a heart attack or be run over by a truck at any time. The end of the world for each of us individually is when we die. 

Is. 24:20 The earth reels like a drunkard, it sways like a hut in the wind; so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion that it falls—never to rise again.  

If you would like to read more about as yet unfulfilled biblical prophecy read “Countdown to 6000” available on Martview or at www.countdownto6000.info 

Be Careful Using Wine  

Luke 21:34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. 

Luke 12:45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. 

Matt. 24:49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.  

Eph. 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.  

Titus 2:3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  

Rom. 14:21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.

Some have used the verse above to mean that all Christians at all times should never partake of any alcoholic beverage because some weak Christian might be tempted to drink. If that were the case Paul would just have given the command “If you are saved, never partake in fermented drink.” That would have settled it. It’s funny though, I’ve never seen a one of them who was a skinny vegetarian because of that verse. Usually it was a big fat white guy with a white shirt and tie on running for the buffet line. The one who looks like Jackie Gleason in “Smokey and the Bandit.”

What he was really saying here is that if you are at a gathering with weak Christians who have a drinking problem, such as newly recovering alcoholics, don’t flaunt your freedom in Christ by drinking in front of them. They might feel compelled to partake to show that they are strong Christians too and fall off the wagon and go on a long drinking binge. That applies even if there is just one person in that situation there. 

What he is saying is restrain yourself. Just because you have the will power to do or not do something don’t flaunt your power in front of those who don’t. Doing so could cause your brother or sister in Christ to fall into sin. He said the same thing about food. It’s the same as teasing a chocoholic on a diet about how delicious the “Death by Chocolate” is. But, just because you don’t eat it in front of them at a get together does not mean that you are to be a hypocrite and pretend that you never eat chocolate or sweets. In fact, it is best not to even say a word about it at all. Just do the right thing and try not to tempt anyone to sin with your own actions.  

The bottom line is don’t abuse your own freedom in Christ and will power by making others feel like 2^nd class Christians because they are not yet strong enough to do what you do and perhaps never will be. That is not the loving thing to do. 

Rom. 14:1-4 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.  

Rom. 14:5-6 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.  

Rom. 14:13 -19 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.  If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.  

Rom. 14:20-23 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. 

Wine in God’s Kingdom 

There will be wine in God’s Kingdom. Will it be alcoholic wine? We have no idea. My guess would be maybe during the “millennium” it will be alcoholic wine. After that I cannot see any reason why it would be necessary. After everyone has their new spiritual bodies it would seem to me that we will be 100% happy without food or wine at all, so what would be the point. Again, that’s just a guess. Yours is as good as mine.  

Hos. 2:8-9 She has not acknowledged that I was the one who gave her the grain, the new wine and oil, who lavished on her the silver and gold—which they used for Baal. “Therefore I will take away my grain when it ripens, and my new wine when it is ready. I will take back my wool and my linen, intended to cover her nakedness.  

In the Old Testament God told the prophet Hosea to remind the people that it was He who had provided them with all of their wonderful blessings including grain, wine, silver and gold and wool and linen. He went on to say that he was going to take those things away because of their disobedience. Could this be what is happening in the United States today? Is God taking away our blessings because we have deserted him?  

Deut. 14:26 Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish.  

In the Old Testament God permitted the people who came up to Jerusalem to celebrate the “Feasts of the Lord” to purchase wine or strong drink to use while they were there. This was when they brought their tithes to Jerusalem three times a year.  

1Cor. 11:21 for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk.  

In the New Testament many churches claim that only unfermented grape juice was used for Christian gatherings and communion. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians shows that this is untrue. If some were already eating and drinking before others arrived and were already drunk when the rest of the guests got there, doesn’t that prove that it was alcoholic wine they were using? How were they getting drunk if it was only grape juice?

Now the point is Paul did not condemn them for using a fermented beverage. He condemned them for not being polite and caring about others needs to eat and drink. Paul could have easily said that God does not allow Christians to have fermented drinks at their get togethers. He did not do so. Maybe some Christians have been wrong to condemn the Roman Catholics for allowing beer to be served at their Friday night fish fries.  

I’m not promoting drinking, I don’t partake at all myself. I just don’t want people twisting the scriptures either one way or the other. I just want a true interpretation. If someone lies and twists the scriptures in one area, how do I know that they are not lying about more important areas, like my salvation? Just tell the truth!  

The whole truth of matter is that God does not forbid partaking of fermented beverages. He just forbids partaking so much that one gets drunk. He also says to obey the laws of the land you live in. If the laws says don’t drink and drive then don’t do it. God doesn’t set a specific number on his code of behavior like the states do. Some are .008 or .010 blood alcohol levels to determine drunkenness. God’s standard for all things is, don’t do anything that would cause you to fall into sin. If you choose to use alcohol at all, don’t ever drink enough to cause yourself to make any error in judgment that would lead to sin. That’s the standard. And because it is not the same for everyone it is hard to define and even harder to keep. For that reason, just like exercising spiritual gifts in the church, many have banned it altogether. It’s just too hard to figure out and regulate. While that may seem like the easiest and simplest way to deal with the problem, it is not the right way; We are not to add to or to take away from God’s Word. We are to follow it exactly the way he intended. That is our job, difficult or not, that’s the way it is.

Deut. 4:2 Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.  

Deut. 12:32 See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.  

Prov. 30:6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.  

Rev. 22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.  

Just do what God commands. No more, no less! 

Is. 25:6 On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines.  

After the return of Christ there will be a big celebration and the Lord will provide rich food, aged wine and the best meats for his great feast. Will it (the wine) have an alcoholic content? I don’t know but whatever it is it certainly will have good flavor. If you are a wine connoisseur you certainly don’t want to miss this wine and cheese party.  

Zech. 10:7 The Ephraimites will become like mighty men, and their hearts will be glad as with wine.  Their children will see it and be joyful;  their hearts will rejoice in the LORD.  

Joel 3:18 “In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water.  A fountain will flow out of the LORD’S house and will water the valley of acacias.  

Joel 2:19 The LORD will reply to them: “I am sending you grain, new wine and oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations.  

Joel 2:24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice.  

Amos 9:13-14 “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills. I will bring back my exiled people Israel ; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.  

The Lord is going to bless his people after his return with a great celebration. In the Book of Revelation it is called “The Marriage Supper of the Lamb.” Christ compares the ceremony for his people to a wedding and that is a fitting description. Perhaps that is why His first miracle was changing the water into win at Cana . Perhaps it was foreshadowing prophetic events that will someday come to pass. 

Rev. 19:6-9 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”   

The End

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Appendix

 To Become a Friend of Bill W.

(Founder of AA, Bill Wilson)

If you have decided that you would like to quit drinking and need some help in doing so AA is always available. There are chapters with meetings being held at various times of the day all over the world.  Click Here for AA Resources:

http://aa.org/?Media=PlayFlash

 The easiest path to follow is this:

1. Don’t drink

2. Go to meetings

3. Work the steps

4. Get a sponsor 

If you do those things you will be successful.

Uncategorized Bible Verses

 I am putting some of the verses pertaining to drunkenness and sexual sin that I did not use here at the end of the book. I did not include every verse in the Bible about these subjects in this section. If you really wish to study every verse on these subjects go to:

http://www.countdownto6000.com.tgbtest.html

and use one of the online bible study tools that are provided there for in depth study of any biblical subject.

Old Testament Verses  

Is. 56:12  “Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine! Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even far better.”  

Prov. 6:25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes,

Prov. 20:1  Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. 

Prov. 21:17   He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich. 

Prov. 23:20-21  Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.  

Prov. 23:30-31 Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!  

Prov. 26:9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.  

Jer. 48:11  “ Moab has been at rest from youth, like wine left on its dregs, not poured from one jar to another—she has not gone into exile. So she tastes as she did, and her aroma is unchanged.  

Mic. 2:11 If a liar and deceiver comes and says, ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’ he would be just the prophet for this people!  

Nah. 3:4 all because of the wanton lust of a harlot, alluring, the mistress of sorceries, who enslaved nations by her prostitution, and peoples by her witchcraft.  

Zeph. 1:12 At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’  

New Testament Verses  

Rom. 1:27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.  

Rom. 13:13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness , not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.  

1Cor. 5:11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.  

1Cor. 6:10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God . 

Gal. 5:21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God .  

Eph. 4:19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.  

Col. 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.  

1Tim. 3:3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.  

1Th. 4:5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God;  

1Th. 5:7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.  

Titus 1:7 Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.  

1Pet. 4:3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.

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Index