THE GREAT TRANSGRESSION
PSALM 19 in the Holy Bible contains a wealth of important information given to us by Almighty God providing further understanding of His Holy Word. The above title comes from verse 13:
“Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from The Great Transgressions. “
This quotation is from the Authorised King James Bible (hereafter called the AV Bible). By comparison of two phrases from this verse 13 with five other Bible translations of the same verse, the prominence and authority of the AV Bible is manifested:
First phrase: ‘presumptuous sins’
In five other Bible translations we read:
(1) ‘sins of self will’
(2) ‘wilful sins’
(3) ‘pride’
(4) ‘deliberate’
(5) ‘presumptuous sins’ This is the same as the AV Bible.
Presumptuous sins must mean sins of which the sinner is unaware that they are sins; (either through ignorance or by accident). In other words, a (possibly subconscious) presumption that such an act is or was not a sin; or to presume incorrectly that we are righteous and do not sin. We can of course ask for God’s help to protect us from all sin as well as wilful, deliberate sins or pride (as in 1, 2, 3 and 4 Bibles above). But surely the Christian is expected to use self control and not embark on such sins.
David the Psalmist prophetically used the term ‘presumptuous’ sins here because he was asking for protection in a situation where it was almost impossible to defend himself.
Second phrase: ‘The Great Transgression’
This is quoted in the same five translations as:
(1) ‘any great transgression’
(2) ‘many a transgression’
(3) ‘crimes’
(4) ‘great sin’
(5) ‘of great transgression’
The important part of this phrase in the AV Bible is the use of the definite article – the great transgression which is missing in the five other translations. If the Psalmist had meant ‘any transgression’ surely the words ‘the great’ are superfluous. Again, if it was only in respect of the Psalmist’s own transgressions, ‘my’ should have replaced ‘the.’
The use of the definite article ‘the’ indicates one specific transgression. ‘Great’ can mean outstanding, enormous, massive, or universal, etc. Transgression is used here in its plural form, in the sense of the great mass of the world’s transgressions. ‘The great transgression’ can only refer therefore to some then future transgression (i.e., active apostasy and iniquity) so great and outstanding as to warrant this special and important statement – the great transgression.
The only great transgression that the Bible prophetically records elsewhere, is the universal worldwide spread of iniquity and apostasy which will identify the end of the latter days just before the return of The Lord Jesus the Christ. It is referred to elsewhere in the Bible by several names: ‘the great tribulation, the time of Jacob’s trouble, the day of Christ, the indignation, etc.’ David the Psalmist was prophetically asking for God’s protection from presumptuous sins at the time of the great transgression. The Bible records in prophecy the then future occurrence of universal apostasy and iniquity. Paul tells us in II Thessalonians 2:3:
“.. .For that day (the day of Christ) shall not come, except there come a falling away (universal apostasy) first.”
Jesus, in referring to the great ‘day of Christ’, tells his disciples in Matthew 24:21:
“For then shall be great Tribulation (troubles), such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
Daniel 12:1 records:
“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people (Israel): and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book.”
Jeremiah confirms the same message in his chapter 30 verse 7:
“Alas for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.”
The Bible requires, that for any matter to be established, two or three witnesses are required. Here these four quotations witness the same truth – the great transgression resulting in severe tribulation.
In passing, it is worth considering briefly the rest of Psalm 19. The first six verses refer to the broad sweep of the heavens above us. In two previous publications of the Ensign Message, Volume 5, Nos. 3 & 4, 2003 under the heading ‘The Heavens Declare the Glory of God, Part 1 & Part 2‘, the hidden message behind these six verses was all revealed. It was shown that the heavenly constellations (referred to as the Mazzaroth in Job 38:32) and the ancient names of many of the stars in each revealed a divine prophetic story originating back in aeons of time. The story was that, in the then far distant future, our world and the inhabitants would be rescued and saved (from evil) by a child born of a virgin – none other than the story of the divine birth of Jesus the Son of God and his salvation, was written in the heavens long long ago! It must be made clear that this story has absolutely nothing to do with astrology. It is based on the great truth that God produced the heavens, the Mazzaroth, and named the stars.
Job 9:8 tells us: “(God) Which alone spreadeth out the heavens…”
Psalm 147:4 reveals more: “He (God) telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.”
Isaiah 40:26 in the majestic words of the AV Bible tells us:
“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in-power; not one faileth. “
Paul in his writings refers to Psalm 19 in Romans 10: 18:
“But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went unto all the earth, and their words unto the end of the world.”
David the Psalmist of Psalm 19, obviously knew about this divine prophetic star message. This knowledge most likely dated back to Seth and Enoch, son and grandson respectively of Adam, who were reputed to have knowledge of the stars.
The remaining verses of Psalm 19 confirm and praise the Lord’s law, judgements and statutes. Verse 9 states:
“The fear of the Lord is clean enduring for ever.”
This does not mean being afraid of the Lord. It means complete trust in the Lord with a loathing of evil. Verse 14 gives us a wonderful prayer/benediction:
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer… “
Returning now to the differences in translation of the AV Bible in Psalm 19 verse 13 compared to five other translations. By comparison it is established that the five translations in respect of ‘presumptuous sins’ and of ‘the great transgression’, do not convey the important deeper meaning of the Word of God. It must therefore also be concluded that other translations may not always be relied on to convey the complete meaning of God’s Word. Lastly, it must be pointed out that translations are usually copyright. Therefore each must be different one to another, as was shown in respect of Psalm 19:13 above. I believe the AV Bible to be the only true Word of God. Psalm 12: 6&7 tells us emphatically:
“The Words of the Lord are pure word: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, Thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”
Here we are told that God will preserve His Word for ever. The Bible is the only source of God’s Word that we have.
The Authorized King James Bible was first published in 1611. It was written in the English language of that time. Language authorities now generally agree at that time the English language probably reached its peak of perfection. The history of translating and preparing the AV Bible of 1611 is well documented. It provides an amazing story of great care and skill by some 54 devout Christian scholars of immaculate reputation, and of a good, devout King James, who were, I believe, all proceeding under God’s guidance. King James was after all a descendant of King David. Who better to authorize the production of the Bible? God prophesies in the Holy Bible that David’s royal line would be established for ever. With over one hundred Bible prophecies confirming this truth! No other royal line other than that from David to our present Queen Elizabeth II has existed through this past 3000 years. So King James I of England must have descended from King David!
Several English Bible translations preceded the 1611 AV Bible. These were used together with the Hebrew Masoretic Text for the Old Testament, and the Greek Received Text for the New Testament. When published the AV Bible came into general use, and soon became popular and universally used. It was also used for translation into other languages in subsequent years.
The AV Bible was and still is used to spread God’s Word to true Israel and throughout the world to all mankind now for some 400 years.
The most important argument for claiming the supremacy and authority of the Authorized King James Bible as follows hereafter, must take prime place over all other arguments: Whatever sort of God do you and all people think we have? An elderly gent in long robes (white of course)? A clever sort of man with wings? A superman with a cane ready to punish us for our sins? etc. NO! NO! NO! Some at any case do not believe in God, others think we originated by accident. Truly,
“The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (I Corinthians 3:19.)
Take heart, for in reading your bible you will find that we have the one and only God, an infinite being, described as omnipotent (of infinite power) omnipresent (He is everywhere) omniscient (of infinite knowledge). He is ONE God in three beings (The Holy Trinity) – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. He created the heavens, the earth, and all living things (including of course us) and all inanimate things on the Earth.
He is merciful, powerful, just, kindly and benign. The most important description for us is that He is our Saviour, Jesus the Christ who can save us from and forgive us our sins, simply by our believing in Him and His Salvation. He is the great rescuer from evil for all mankind. All this, but only if we also obey all his rules and laws which are only there for our benefit and well being.
Make no mistake, to behold this great, kindly, merciful and just God of ours would be an outstanding experience. Nobody has seen God the Father. He is a spirit and invisible to us mortal people. Many thousands saw Jesus the Son of God at his first advent some 2,000 years ago. All mankind will see Jesus at his second advent, which is getting nearer now.
So then, in the light of the above, does anyone dare to think that God has been unable to ensure that His Word in the Holy Bible – the only source of our knowledge of God – over thousands of years of history, remains true to His Word? He is well able to defend it against all attempts to alter or corrupt it. Read Psalm 12: 6 & 7 again. Our God always advocates truth, honesty, faith, kindness and all the virtues. He also condemns all evil, iniquity and apostasy etc. At His promised return, soon now, all apostasy and iniquity will be eliminated and replaced with all the virtues, including universal peace, righteousness and tranquillity.
Your writer advocates the use of an Authorized King James Bible with references. The use of the 17th Century English in this AV Bible does have advantages:
1) Modern English fails to distinguish between singular or plural pronouns in 2nd person usage. ‘you’ is used in both singular and plural form. The original Greek and Hebrew Texts differentiate between the singular and plural. The AV Bible therefore uses the following pronouns in 2nd person usage as in the original texts:
Singular: Thou, Thee, Thy, Thine
Plural: Ye, You, Your, Yours
Pronouns in the 1st and 3rd person usage are as in modern English. Remember then that ‘you’ and ‘ye’ are always plural in meaning in the AV Bible and are replaced by ‘thee’ and ‘thou’ respectively in singular form.2) The word ‘Lord’ referring to God is always printed in capitals to differentiate from other lords.
3) The translating was done from the texts word for word into English. Where the implied meaning in the original text did not convey itself in the English, the translators added one or more words in italics. Such words may not be part of God’s Word.
4) Is it not appropriate that God’s Word should be written and spoken in a unique language of majestic and brilliant expression which be easily understood with care and frequent Bible reading.
We come back again now to Psalm 19:13:
“Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.”
We saw above how ‘the great transgression’ relates to the time just before the second advent. The word transgression(s) occurs ninety one times in the AV Bible. Only in Psalm 19:13 is it described as ‘the great transgression.’ This relates to II Thessalonians 2:3 here repeated again,
“… that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first.”
Universal apostasy and iniquity, is the final warning of Christ’s imminent return to this earth.
My friends, look around you! Do you recognise that the great transgression is now here and well entrenched?
To any that do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and his salvation and may read this article, it is high time to seek the Lord. Isaiah 55: 6 & 7 tells us:
“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”
God has been very patient with universally sinful mankind over some six thousand years. Rampant uncontrolled iniquity in the past necessitated the removal of the perpetrators to prevent further spread of evil most likely… Examples of this were: The Adamic race in the flood, Sodom and Gommorah, and Nineveh. All were destroyed. Perpetrators of iniquity run a very grave risk of removal from this world at the second advent of Jesus the Christ. Psalm 34:21 tells us:
“Evil shall slay the wicked… “
Paul also tells us in Romans 6:23:
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Aided by Satan, our own sins literally destroy us, unless as Paul says, unless we put our trust in Jesus Christ and abandon iniquity.
The Bible contains many prophecies of unprecedented troubles and disasters just prior to the second advent, some of which can be seen. Isaiah 26:20-21 tells us:
“Come my people (Israel), enter thou into thy chambers, and shut the doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be over past. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.”
Isaiah continues in Chapter 13 verses 9 to 14:
“Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinner thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and I will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious (rare) than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir (probably a unique treasure). Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee everyone into his own land.”
Proverbs 2:22 continues:
“But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.”
I Thessalonians 5:2-3 (Pt) repeats the similar line:
“…the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them… and they shall not escape.”
Malachi 3:2 asks the question:
“But who may abide (survive) the day of His (Jesus) coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth?”
Who indeed!
Jesus himself also warns us in Matthew 24:21:
“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no nor ever shall be.”
Hosea scolds Israel in chapter 13 verse 9:
“O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself (by sin); but in me (God) is thine help.”
Joel has the same message in chapter 2 verses 31 & 32:
“The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant (of Israel) whom the Lord shall call.”
In Romans 10:13 Paul gives the same assurance:
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
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Proverbs 3:25 & 26 gives us confidence:“Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”
Finally Revelation 7:13 & 14 (Pt) reveals the ultimate triumph:
“What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? These are they which came out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Jesus the Christ).“
These last twelve quotations from Isaiah 26 to Revelation 7 from the AV Bible, give a picture of the time of the great tribulation following the great transgression. Further comment is not needed or appropriate, except to say that they only form a small part of the numerous similar prophecies in our Bible. The sheer quantity of these prophecies emphasises their truth and importance and we dare not ignore them or forget them!
Now a change from the message of impending troubles and tribulation to the also impending message of great joy, peace, righteousness and happiness of the time after the second advent of Jesus the Christ King of Israel and redeemer of all mankind.
We start with the resurrection of all the faithful Christians of all mankind including true Israel, when Jesus appears in the heavens. Paul tells us in I Thessalonians 4: 16-17:
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel (Michael?), and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
Paul also tells us in I Corinthians 15:51 & 52 (Pt):
“… We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality.”
Our mortal bodies at that time will be changed to immortal bodies which will be incorruptible, glorious, powerful etc. Job tells us in his chapter 19 verses 25 to 27 (Pt):
“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: (though being long dead) yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.”
Isaiah 40:5 tells us:
“And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”
Isaiah 40:31 describes the incorruptible bodies into which we shall be changed:
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
What a wonderful transformation to look forward to.
Jesus speaking in John 14:2-3 states:
“In my father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. “
Also in John 14:12 Jesus reveals:
“Verily,Verily,I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my father.”
We are also given a wonderful picture of how nature will become pure and benevolent. Isaiah 11:6 to 9 (Pt):
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”
Hosea in his chapter 2: 14 to 23 records the restoration of true Israel and should here be read. Verse 23 tells us:
“And I will sow her (Israel) unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.”
Jesus the King will reign at first over true Israel, and finally over all the earth. Revelation 11:15 tells us:
“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.”
These prophecies of the reformation from evil to good give a beautiful picture of the Kingdom of Heaven in the 1,000 year reign of Jesus the King.
The general evil curse on nature in the vegetable and mineral world will also be removed. Such pestilences as locusts, mosquitoes and swarms of insects destroying vegetation and spreading disease, will cease. They will no longer be able to injure or destroy. A happy picture for us all especially for the farmers and gardeners among us.
We are also told how all our vegetation will prosper with abundant fruit, vegetables, cereals and trees, etc. All nature will be freed from the curse of evil.
In view of this beautiful picture of the removal from this world of evil in man, beast and all nature. Plus the resultant wonderful, peaceful benign world to come. How extremely foolish are most of mankind in following and allowing continual unrighteousness and evil to exist and be practised. The kingdom of heaven on earth is not far off now, and will be available to all mankind; subject of course to general abandonment of unrighteousness; and repentance and belief in Jesus the Christ and his salvation, resulting in being forgiven for all our wrongdoings. Malachi 3:2 above asked the question:
“who may abide (survive) the day of his (Jesus’s) coming?”
Without general repentance, the answer may well be – ‘not many.’ God is always available through prayer to assist any wishing to reform and repent.
God’s words to Israel in Ezekiel 33:11 also apply to all mankind:
“As I live, saith Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?’
David’s words from Psalm 19 verse 14 above are repeated here:
“let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer.”
AMEN
