"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel"
How you live your life is evidence to God and man whether you are living by the word of God or the word of man. (THE NEW COVENANT)
God’s Promises to Those Who Keep His Commands
Last Supper
Language
The one who belongs listens and responds to Yehovah's words. If you don't listen and respond,
it is because you don't belong to Yehovah." John 8:47
Knowing and loving God
Deuteromy 13 1-7 Matthew 24:242 Peter 2:11 John 4:12 Corinthians 11:13-15 other Gods
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Not Human: God's nature is distinct from 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; He is not fallible like humans.
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Doesn't Lie: He does not speak falsehoods or deceive.
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Doesn't Change Mind: He doesn't regret or alter His plans or promises.
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Faithful to His Word: If God speaks or makes a promise, He will certainly act on it and make it good.Numbers 23:19 John 10:35 and scripture cannot be broken.
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1 John 2:4, if someone claims to know God but does not keep his commandments, they are considered a liar, and the truth is not in them
Leviticus Food Laws
In Leviticus 11:10-12 and Deuteronomy 14:9-10, the Bible identifies seafood without fins and scales—such as shrimp, lobster, and clams—as an "abomination" or "detestable" for the Israelites to eat
God calls homosexuality an abomination, the same abomination he calls eating pork. He calls certain animals unclean and He says don't eat them or touch them. This a sobering truth, you are questioning and refusing to obey commands in which you will be held accountable.
because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” Mark 7:19
New International Version
For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) What Defiles a Man
…18“Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, 19because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.) 20He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him.…
(In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) This was added after in translation on this is not scripture true man made
Acts: 17:30 “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him.
● Leviticus 11:24 “By these you shall become unclean; whoever touches the carcasses of any of them shall be unclean until evening; 25 whoever carries part of the carcass of any of them shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening: ● Isaiah 66: For by fire and by His sword. The Lord will judge all flesh, And the slain of the Lord shall be many. 17 “Those who sanctify and purify themselves, to go into the gardens after an idol in the midst, eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse, shall be consumed together,” says the Lord.
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Isaiah 65: I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, 2 Who walk in a way that is not good, According to their own thoughts; 3 A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face; Who sacrifice in gardens, And burn incense on altars of brick; 4 Who sit among the graves, and spend the night in the tombs; Who eat swine’s flesh, And the broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
So, this next verse is saying for us to bless Yehovah and the good provisions He gave us. Prayer after you have eaten.
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Deuteronomy 8: 10 When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.11"Beware that you do not forget Yehovah your Elohim by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; …
This is something you should really consider, Yehovah gave us good and clean food to eat, however, we choose to turn our back on him and His restrictions. Have you ever considered why Yehovah told us not to eat certain animals for food? The animals He told us not to eat are scavengers, a bird or animal that feeds on dead animals that it has not killed itself.
9 “‘Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams you may eat any that have fins and scales. 10 But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales— whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water—you are to regard as unclean. 11 And since you are to regard them as unclean, you must not eat their meat; you must regard their carcasses as unclean. 12 Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be regarded as unclean by you. Leviticus 11.
He will hold everyone accountable
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The Vision (Acts 10:9–16)
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Peter was hungry and fell into a trance. He saw a great sheet descending from heaven containing "all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles, and birds of the air." A voice told him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."
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Peter, being a devout Jew, refused, saying he had never eaten anything "common or unclean." The voice replied:
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"What God has made clean, do not call common."
Peter’s Own Interpretation
Initially, Peter was "greatly perplexed" by the vision. However, the meaning became clear when he was immediately invited to the home of Cornelius, a Roman Centurion (a Gentile).
According to Jewish tradition at the time, Jews were not supposed to associate with or visit people of other nations because they were considered "unclean." Peter explicitly interprets the dream in Acts 10:28:
"He said to them: 'You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.'"
Summary of the Meaning
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The Symbol: The "unclean" animals in the sheet.
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The Reality: The Gentiles (non-Jewish people).
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While the animals weren't exactly "thrown up in the air," they were lowered from the sky in a large sheet held by its four corners. After the sheet was lowered and then "taken up" again three times, Peter eventually provided the specific interpretation for what the dream meant.
1. Land Animals
For a land animal to be considered food, it had to meet two specific criteria simultaneously:
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It must have completely split hooves (cloven-footed).
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It must chew the cud (ruminate).
StatusExamples
Clean (Food)Cows, Sheep, Goats, Deer, Gazelles.
Unclean (Forbidden)Pigs (split hoof, but no cud), Camels (cud, but no hoof), Rabbits (chew, but no hoof).
2. Sea Creatures
For creatures living in the water (seas or rivers) to be considered food, they had to have:
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Fins
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Scales
Anything that lives in the water but lacks both—such as shellfish (shrimp, lobster, crabs), eels, or sharks—was considered an "abomination" (shekets) and was not to be eaten.
3. Birds
The Law does not give a specific physical "test" for birds like it does for mammals. Instead, Leviticus 11 lists 20 specific birds that are forbidden.
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The Rule of Thumb: Generally, birds of prey (eagles, hawks, vultures) and scavengers (ravens) are forbidden.
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Clean Birds: While not listed by name as "clean," birds like chicken, turkey, duck, and quail have traditionally been accepted because they are not scavengers.
4. Insects
Most insects were forbidden, with one notable exception: locusts, crickets, and grasshoppers (insects that have "jointed legs for hopping on the earth").
Why these specific laws?
There are three main perspectives on why Yehovah gave these instructions:
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Holiness and Separation: The primary reason given in the text is to make a distinction between Israel and the surrounding nations. To "belong" to Yehovah (as we discussed in John 8:47) meant even their diet reflected His order.
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Hygiene/Health: Many "unclean" animals are scavengers that carry parasites or toxins (like pork or shellfish). While the Bible focuses on the spiritual aspect, many see a secondary benefit in health.
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Symbolism: Some scholars argue that clean animals (like sheep) represent the peaceful nature of God's people, while unclean animals (like predators) represent violence and death.
Knowing and loving God
Deuteromy 13 1-7 Worshiping other G
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Not Human: God's nature is distinct from humanity; He is not fallible like humans.
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Doesn't Lie: He does not speak falsehoods or deceive.
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Doesn't Change Mind: He doesn't regret or alter His plans or promises.
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Faithful to His Word: If God speaks or makes a promise, He will certainly act on it and make it good.Numbers 23:19 John 10:35
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1 John 2:4, if someone claims to know God but does not keep his commandments, they are considered a liar, and the truth is not in them
Land Scavengers (The Pig/Swine)
Because pigs are omnivorous scavengers with a very rapid digestive system, they act as a "reservoir" for various biological threats.
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Pathogens (Living):
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Trichinella spiralis: A parasitic roundworm that causes Trichinosis. The larvae encyst in the muscle tissue.
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Yersinia enterocolitica: A bacteria that causes acute gastrointestinal distress, often found in pork products.
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Taenia solium: Known as the "pork tapeworm." If humans ingest the eggs, it can lead to Cysticercosis, where larvae migrate to the brain or muscles.
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Toxins (Chemical):
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High Histamine Levels: Swine have high levels of histamine, which can trigger inflammatory or allergic responses in some humans.
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Environmental Pollutants: Because pigs store waste in their fat cells due to fast digestion, they carry higher concentrations of pesticides and herbicides found in their feed compared to ruminants.
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Based on the biological facts we have discussed, here is a concentrated summary of the risks associated specifically with eating pork (swine). These risks stem from the animal's unique anatomy and its role as a scavenger.
1. Parasitic Risks (Living Organisms)
Pork is a primary host for several parasites that can migrate from the meat into human tissue.
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Trichinella spiralis: This roundworm causes Trichinosis. When a human eats infected pork, the larvae mature in the intestines and then travel through the bloodstream to embed themselves in the person's muscle tissue.
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Taenia solium (Pork Tapeworm): Ingesting the larvae leads to intestinal tapeworms. However, ingesting the eggs (found in contaminated pork environments) causes Cysticercosis, where the larvae form cysts in the brain, which is a leading cause of seizures worldwide.
2. Digestive Efficiency and Toxins
The most significant biological difference between "clean" ruminants (like cows) and "unclean" swine is how they process waste.
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Rapid Metabolism: A pig's digestive system is very simple and fast (roughly 4 hours). Unlike a cow, which has four stomach compartments to ferment and filter out toxins over 24 hours, the pig's system does not effectively neutralize or eliminate many of the poisons it consumes.
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Storage in Fat: Because toxins are not fully eliminated, they are stored in the animal’s adipose (fat) tissue. Since pork meat is "marbled" (fat is woven through the muscle), these toxins cannot be simply trimmed away.
3. Bacterial Pathogens
Pork is a frequent carrier of several bacteria that thrive in the scavenger's environment.
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Yersinia enterocolitica: This is a common contaminant in pork. It causes fever and abdominal pain that is often mistaken for appendicitis.
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Listeria monocytogenes: Pork products, especially processed ones, are high-risk for Listeria, which is particularly dangerous for pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.
4. Viral Risks
Pigs are often referred to as "mixing vessels" for viruses because their cells are susceptible to both human and avian (bird) viruses.
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Hepatitis E: Research has shown that a significant percentage of commercial pork livers carry the Hepatitis E virus, which can cause acute liver inflammation in humans.
Fact Check: Does Cooking Fix This?
As established, while cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F can kill the parasites (like Trichinella), it does not remove the chemical toxins, heavy metals, or viruses that have been biologically integrated into the meat and fat.
Natural Marine Biotoxins
These are produced by microscopic algae (phytoplankton). Shellfish eat the algae, but the toxins do not hurt them; they just store them in their tissues.
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Saxitoxins (PSP): Causes Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning. These are among the most poisonous natural substances known. They block nerve signals, leading to numbness, paralysis, and in severe cases, respiratory failure and death.
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Domoic Acid (ASP): Causes Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning. This toxin can cross into the brain and destroy neurons. Symptoms include vomiting and confusion, and it can lead to permanent short-term memory loss or death.
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Okadaic Acid (DSP): Causes Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning. This results in severe gastrointestinal distress (vomiting, cramps, and diarrhea).
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Brevetoxins (NSP): Causes Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning. These affect the sodium channels in the nervous system, leading to tingling sensations and loss of coordination.
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Fact: These biotoxins are heat-stable. This means that unlike bacteria, cooking, steaming, or freezing does not destroy them. If the toxin is in the meat, it remains dangerous no matter how well it is cooked.
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2. Bacterial and Viral Pathogens
Because shellfish are often found in coastal areas where runoff occurs, they concentrate human and animal waste products.
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Vibrio vulnificus: A bacteria naturally found in warm seawater. It can cause life-threatening blood infections (septicemia), especially in people with liver disease or weakened immune systems.
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Hepatitis A: A virus that affects the liver. Shellfish harvested from water contaminated by sewage are a major source of this virus.
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Norovirus: The leading cause of "stomach flu." Shellfish concentrate this virus from the water, often leading to large outbreaks.
3. Heavy Metals and Pollutants
As bottom-feeders, they are in constant contact with the sediment where pollutants settle.
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Mercury, Lead, and Cadmium: Shellfish can have levels of heavy metals many times higher than the surrounding water.
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Microplastics: Recent studies show that because they filter so much water, shellfish are one of the primary sources of
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microplastic ingestion for humans.