The word "beguiled" in Genesis 3:13 means, "deceived." Then in 1 Timothy 2:14 we see that word "deceived" two more times. Could it be the Lord is trying to get our attention concerning this subject of "deception?" It would certainly seem so!

For some time now I've been guilty of procrastinating when it comes to writing about what I believe the Word of God teaches concerning "deception". When studying "the deception of mankind", we must also take a close look at "the fall of mankind" and whether or not it is Biblically correct for women to fulfill leadership roles in the Church.

The reason I've been reluctant to tackle this particular subject is because there has always been (and I'm sure there always will be) tremendous opposition to Truth and about what God has to say about it. Even though Genesis 3:13 states very plainly what took place between Adam, Eve, and the serpent in the Garden, the Truth concerning Eve's beguilement by the serpent is opposed by numerous believers. Why? Because it goes against the grain of contemporary traditional church structure and modern activity.

Even as I write, several Christian denominations are dividing and splitting apart because of erroneous interpretations of the scriptures which cover this controversial subject. The division exists simply because few, if any, have had the courage and Holy boldness to search the Scriptures and then preach and teach the Truth. God's Will provides for a specific chain of command and way of doing things within the Church. Each of us should search for His perfect Will and way concerning this very controversial subject!

Because God has placed me in the ministry of teaching, I've had a desire to present what I believe God's Word has to say about deception and its effect on the woman's position within the family and the Church, and the reasons behind it all. Why are so many women reluctant to be submissive? I believe it's from a lack of knowledge of the Scriptures in certain areas which results in a tendency to accept the World's erroneous messages.

The Lord has made me aware that many in Church who condone women in leadership roles within the Church while professing their obedience to the Word are not thinking correctly. Without realizing it, they're not thinking in line with God's Will and Word. When one's thinking is wrong, then one's believing will also be wrong. Then believing wrongly causes one's actions to be wrong as well. So we must get our thinking, our believing, and our actions together and make sure that each is in complete harmony with the Will and Word of God in every area of our lives.

I've heard it said (and it seems to be true) that many church going Christians today are acting like baby birds sitting in a nest. They sit there with their eyes shut and their mouths wide open, just waiting for someone to bring the food and poke it down. But seldom, if ever, do they examine what they're swallowing. They have complete trust in the provider to bring only that which is beneficial.

Because many Church people have not personally studied the Scriptures for themselves, their spiritual discernment is grossly limited. These will "amen" and "swallow" practically anything and everything they hear or read, especially if it comes from someone who has an impressive educational background and what they say sounds good! As a result, we have numerous believers today who have been worldly and religiously brainwashed instead of New Testament and Holy Spirit taught. I believe this explains why we have so many today who are "tossed about by every wind of doctrine".

It takes no time at all for erroneous teachings to become traditions --- traditions which are not easily overcome and destroyed. After becoming traditions, these erroneous teachings become solidly entrenched and passed on from one generation to another as being Biblical Truth. The younger generations are more vulnerable and will nearly always easily accept these false teachings. Soon that which they have accepted ends up being all they know. Then they are prone to say things like, "that's the way our Church has always believed it," which is merely another way of saying, "that's our tradition, and we're very comfortable with it just as it is!"

So I believe it's high time to "spill the beans" so to speak - - - to give Truth the opportunity to overcome the false. It's time to boldly oppose false teachings and reveal what God really says about the spiritual relationships of those in the Family and those in the New Testament . The devil has had his way with the family and the Church far too long.

Today, as a result of our Biblical ignorance, we have multitudes of both dysfunctional families and dysfunctional Church congregations. If the Christian family is to function as God has ordained for it to function, then we saints need to be edified in this particular subject area, just the same as we need to be edified in all of the other areas of our Christian life.

The edification of the Body of Christ --- edifying those who are hungry and teachable is the only motive for this teaching. Over the years, I've noticed that most people will fight for their right to be wrong! They'll fight for their traditions and resist the Truth. Jesus had something to say about man's traditions. In Mark 7:13a He said, "Making the Word of God of none effect through your traditions."

In teaching the following, I will, no doubt, be labeled as a "male chauvinist". But the Lord and those who know me well know that I search only for the Truth of God as He reveals it by His Spirit. I search only for God's Will in this area because I know how important it is concerning man's well being, and how it can tremendously affect the daily life of every believer, both in the home and in the Church. You and I should never forget that, according to the Bible, God ordained and instituted the family long before He ordained and instituted the Church. This should tell us something about the importance of the human family in the eyes of God. However, we must also be aware that since Satan's ultimate goal is the destruction of the Church, in order for him to achieve that, he must first destroy, or at least bring disruption and confusion into the human family.

This lesson is not for everyone! It's being presented here only for those believers who hunger and thirst for more Truth. Please understand, that it is not intended to be anti-woman. To the contrary! It is presented in order to expose some of the works of darkness which the enemy is so cleverly using in our day and time (see Eph. 5:11 and 2 Tim. 4:2). It's for believers who have a desire to look further into those scriptures that we seldom, if ever, hear preached or taught. Why are they so seldom preached or taught? There are various reasons:

One reason is that many Church leaders are fearful of offending their flock and losing them as members which, of course, would result in reduced financial support.

These Scriptures are also being ignored and avoided today because some simply don't want to be confronted with the Truth! "How could that be?", you say. "I thought everyone wants more of the Truth!" Well, not so. Facing the Truth is not always a very popular thing to do. It's not a convenient thing to do! Today, in these times, presenting and being associated with Truth can bring about unpleasant controversies and persecution. Jesus said that He didn't come to bring peace, but a sword (Matt 10:34).

That's part of the "suffering for Christ".

But, as a disciple of Christ, we should always endeavor to be a doer of all the Truth. We might as well face it. Failing to be a doer of certain scriptures on which we have the light is just as wrong in the eyes of God as failing to believe certain scriptures.

If, however, you happen to be one who sincerely desires to know the Truth and if you have a teachable spirit, then this teaching should be beneficial to you. If you think it might be, then before passing judgement on it, please read it in its entirety. Afterward, if you still find that you're unsure about it, then simply lay it aside for possible future reference. Who knows? Someday you just might want to reconsider it!

After studying this subject, from Genesis to Revelation, I believe there's a very good reason why we have so many misguided and unhappy people in our society during these latter days. This is one study that should open the spiritual eyes of anyone who has discernment to see that Satan's main objective is to destroy the Church. In order to accomplish this he has launched a diabolical plan which employs many evil concepts.

You see, he realizes the only way he can destroy the Church is to first destroy its basic structure, the human family. And he also knows the best way to destroy the family is to pervert the God directed order of the family structure. He reasons the best way to eliminate the family structure and make it ineffective and nonproductive is to pervert the family's headship and make it ineffective. Therefore, he has set about to distort and upset the family's headship level of authority and effectiveness by utilizing the same weapon he's been using for thousands of years --- deception. It worked in the "beginning" and it still works today!

In other words, if Satan can first weaken and then destroy the authority and effectiveness of the family's headship, he can gain an excellent foothold from which to continue his attack on the Church. Once he destroys the family, he then has a much better chance of obtaining his goal.

Through deception he employs several evil concepts. Some of these evil concepts are: 1) the gay rights movement; 2) the feminist movement; 3) denominational divisions; 4) equal pay/equal rights movements; 5) distortion of the Holy Scriptures; 6) the anti-marriage concepts; 7) modern day cloning; and 8) The ACLU. There are many more! This teaching, however, is primarily concerned with number five above - - - those concepts that have now crept into the Church through the distortion of the Holy Scriptures.

I believe there are five (5) major false Biblical premises existing today which are being promoted and taught within the Church. Those who teach these false premises are unknowingly aiding the enemy. Some are so entrenched in these false premises that nothing short of an act of God will set them free! Following is a list of these five major false premises which are prevalent with us today because of Scripture distortion and a failure to rightly divide the Word of Truth:

1. That Joel Chapter 2:28-32 was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts Chapter 2;

2. That "to prophesy" means "to preach";

3. That "the 120" of Acts 1:15 (men and women) were also present several days later when the Holy Spirit empowered the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost;

4. That Galatians 3:28 proves women are on an equal plane with men concerning participation in Church leadership;

5. That the scriptures plainly indicate and support the ordination of women to each of the five fold ministry offices of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher as set forth by Paul's letter to the Church of Ephesus in Ephesians 4:11.

The remainder of this study will explain why these distortions are false and attempt to reveal what God really has to say about it. We also need to realize the impact that DECEPTION has had, and continues to have, on the "HEADSHIP" of both the family and the Church.

Why did the Lord God choose to make man before woman?

Even though God is a Spirit, throughout the Scriptures we see that the Godhead is always referred to as being MALE --- as he, him, his, father and son --- not FEMALE --- as she, her, hers, mother or daughter. It would also seem from the verses here in Genesis that the male gender of mankind has been made in God's exact image and likeness! This does not mean, however, that females are inferior to the males in any way. Nor does it mean that the Lord God thinks less of, or has less love for, the woman than He does the man.

It is not generally known, but in the beginning (before the Fall), the wife was not to be, in any way, subordinate to her husband. However, God is omniscient and He knows the end of all things even before they begin. There is nothing in the past (before the creation of mankind) nor in the present or in the future of which Almighty God is not aware.

Therefore, already knowing that Adam and Eve would eventually become disobedient and bring about calamity to all of mankind, God formed a divine plan for man's survival and protection within both the human family and the future Church. This, I believe, resulted in His bringing forth the man before the woman. We know from the Scriptures that Adam was formed first, then Eve (Genesis 2:18, 21-22; 1 Timothy 2:13).

Some four thousand years after God created man and woman, He sent His only begotten SON (not daughter) to planet Earth to be the perfect sacrifice for all of mankind. When Jesus became of age, He began His ministry and the Church was begun as He chose twelve MALE apostles! There's no evidence in the Bible of any female apostle! Today, the angels, also being spirit beings, are often described as being feminine. But, once again, this is not according to the Bible The angels whose names are mentioned have masculine names - - - Lucifer, Michael, and Gabriel.

The fall of mankind was accomplished through Satan's ability to deceive the woman. After the fall, God ordained the male be the head of the human family (and therefore also the Church). Why the Church also? Because the Church basically consists of the familiy. God created the human family before He created the Church. Since the Church is made up of the family with Christ as its Head, and since Eve was the one who was deceived, not Adam (1 Timothy 2:14), God ordained for the male gender to be the dominant one in both the family and the Church. This is still in effect and is to be the situation until God brings us back to our original state as it was in the beginning, before the fall.

Now please understand something. At this present time, the MAN (husband) is only to have temporary authority over the woman (wife) in the areas of HEADSHIP (LEADERSHIP) in the FAMILY and the CHURCH. This has not been changed, deleted, or altered in any way since God issued the penalty to the woman (Eve) back in Genesis 3:16, ". . . . . and he (thy husband) shall rule over thee."

You see, that part of the penalty ("the law") was something new for the woman. Otherwise, if the husband (Adam) was already ruling over the woman (Eve), it would be no penalty. Can you see that? Therefore, this is to be the current situation in every Christian family and every Christian Church even today and should remain so until the second advent - - - until the second coming of Christ when He will set up His kingdom here on planet Earth. Today, however, it seems that man is attempting to rewrite the Word of God to suit himself! But God will not be mocked!

Believers should understand that the "Church" is actually a type (or extension) of the "Human Family". In God's way of doing things (according to His written Word) only the man is to be the head of the Family and the Church. Therefore God will also hold the man responsible where both of these areas are concerned.

When a family headship is established according to God's instructions, both the man and the woman will each have their own specific Godly duties and responsibilities to perform in the family and in the Church. In other words, the man will have been entrusted with certain duties and responsibilities which differ from the entrusted duties and responsibilities of the woman. The man is not to perform, nor is he responsible for performing, the duties of the woman. Likewise, the woman is not to perform, nor is she responsible for performing , the duties which have been assigned to the man.

It seems that the theme of male headship is to be the proper Godly order for every area of mankind's life. Why? In Genesis 3:16 God did not specify in what areas of life the man (husband) would rule over the woman (wife). Therefore, one must conclude that it would apply in all areas of life. So that is another reason to believe this same theme of male leadership and responsibility is to be carried out in the Church. The Family and the Church are similar and parallel one to the other in many ways. As further evidence we also have the theme of male leadership in the animal kingdom.

After creating the man (Adam), God saw that it was not good for him to be alone. So He took a rib out of Adam and made a woman. And according to the Holy scriptures here in the Book of Genesis, the woman was made for a specific purpose. She was made for the purpose of fulfilling a special need. She was made by Almighty God for the specific purpose of helping the man. But she was not made, as some seem to think, for the purpose of leading or dominating the man. Nor was she made for the purpose of emasculating or replacing the man. In other words, the woman was made to "complete man", not to "compete with man!"

A spirit has been loosed in our World today which is not of God's doing. This satanic spirit's primary assignment and purpose is to destroy the Church. But, as has already been pointed out, in order to accomplish the Church's destruction, this spirit must first pervert and destroy the order of God's headship within the human family. Satan has unleashed a "Jezebellic Spirit" on planet Earth which seems to be especially effective and strongly entrenched here in our United States of America among the younger women. This Jezebellic spirit's first assignment is the complete destruction of the human family by emasculating or eliminating the man in order to annihilate the Church.

We are now living in the latter times spoken of here in verse 1. More than fifty percent (50%+) of all marriages today end in divorce. Today, only one out of every four families function as a whole unit --- with a husband, a wife, and children all living together under one roof, under one last name. Three out of four families are now led and supported by a single parent. The institution of marriage is all but dead. Multitudes of men and women live together avoiding the Word of God and the making of any commitments!

Many addresses today use two names and even many children's parents have two different names. Most TV shows make a mockery of the institution of marriage. Every day thousands of children are being born out of wedlock. Multitudes of children will never know or even meet their biological father! Even our government discourages marriage through various governmental tax penalties and welfare programs. Millions of today's younger women try to look and act masculine.

It is not uncommon to see men who have longer hair than women and wear as much or more jewelry than women. These satanic perversions are being manifested more and more every day. What has become of the real men? What has become of what we used to know as a "lady"? We are surely living in the last days!

As has already been pointed out, behind all this anti-family activity is a satanic spiritual conspiracy. This spirit is working through non-believers and believers alike in order to accomplish Satan's plan to destroy the Church. This conspiracy is presently being enforced through several general organizational areas of our society. One is a very strong Worldwide Feminist Movement, especially here in the USA, which, in the name of civil rights, is out to control, to emasculate, and even to eliminate the male gender if possible.

Television commercials, movies, and TV shows depict the male as the most ignorant and least needed member of the family, and therefore someone to ridicule and be disrespected. Misguided women (including some Christian women) are doing their utmost to replace man in every facet of society, even in the military and vocational areas. Why is this happening? Because Satan's number one motive is to destroy the Church by first destroying the family.

Another area in which this anti-masculine war is being waged in order to destroy the Church is through the so called "gay rights" movement. Homosexuals would have us believe, and even attempt to teach our children in the public school systems, that homosexuality is an acceptable alternative lifestyle. This lifestyle, while it might be acceptable to a lost and dying World, is highly unacceptable to God. Homosexuality is a lifestyle which was created by Satan, and it's high time that we Christians wake up and begin to figure out why all these evil movements are so prevalant today! The Lord talks about homosexuality in Romans, chapter one.

You see, the Lord warned us about all this in His Word. However, I'm beginning to wonder if anyone is reading God's Word these days. It doesn't really take a lot of discernment to figure out what's going on here and why! No longer am I surprised at anything Satan or his followers might try to do. But what really concerns me the most are those Christians who have accepted this and going right along with most of what Satan is doing. They act as if these evil concepts are really the norm!

There is yet another general area which divides believers. It's what we know today as "Chuch Denominations". The enemy has divided the Church into numerous groups according to differences of belief which concerns only a small percentage of Bible interpretations. Most Christian congregations share common beliefs covering about ninety percent of what the Bible teaches! In other words, we've been majoring in the minors and minoring in the majors. Much energy is being spent on fighting each other, rather than on resisting the devil. Apparently "divide and conquer" is very effective.

One of the latest schemes of the devil to eliminate the need for the man is through cloning. Sheep, cows, pigs, rats and other animals have already been successfully cloned. More than likely, a human will be cloned in the very near future! Cloning is now one way to reproduce life without the use of man. DNA taken from that which is to be cloned and injected into the egg of a surrogate female is all that is needed. The male species is circumvented altogether and no longer needed. Are you beginning to get the picture?

Unfortunately much of this "replacement of man" has now carried over into the Church and is spreading like a cancer. Never in Church history has the "feminist movement" and the so called "equality movement" been so bold and strong. Homosexuals are only one of many groups attempting to obtain authority and positions of leadership within the Church! Every day, more and more women are boldly standing in the pulpit as teachers and preachers and pastors, believing they're doing the Will of God.

If this is the Will of God, then His Will and Word are not in agreement and we have an even greater problem! But I believe we know better. God's Word and God's Will are one and the same. They are united. As I've previously mentioned, entire denominations are beginning to divide once again because some in the Church want to distort and misinterpret the Scriptures. In some cases they will go so far as to attempt to rewrite the Word so that it will support what they so desperately want to believe concerning the Lord's teachings about headship in the family and in the Church. There are so many today who hear what they want to hear and believe what they want to believe, in order to justify their perverted lifestyles - - - so they can live and do things their way!

Apparently most of the Born-again women who seek and accept leadership positions within the Church are not aware that they're playing right into Satan's hands. Like Eve, they have been BEGUILED! They've been deceived, as was Eve, by the "great deceiver" --- by the one known as "the father of lies". Numerous Christian men, especially those of the younger generations, have also been misled and pressured into believing that by accepting and condoning feminine leadership roles within the family and the Church. They believe they're being tolerant, loving, and of course, politically correct!

This current false doctrine which teaches that women are equal to men in family and Church headship is also currently being taught in our seminaries today under the title, "The Doctrine Of Egalitarianism". This doctrine advocates and teaches that women are equal to men in every ministry within the Church. In other words, according to this doctrine there are no areas of today's organized Church where women should to be excluded, from the bottom all the way to the top.

Our younger generations today are being taught this doctrine by our secular public schools, by our colleges and universities, by our seminaries, and by our Churches themselves! The majority of these youth (and their parents) have very little Word knowledge and therefore see no contradiction concerning this doctrine and the Holy Bible. However, those who are aware of and understand Satan's motive to destroy the Church --- those who also believe that every scripture is the inerrant Word of God, see this doctrine as a gross violation of God's Will.

Claiming Acts Chapter Two as being the time when Joel's prophecy was fulfilled is at the top of the list of the major reasons and justification for those who see no wrong with women fulfilling leadership roles in the Church. They claim this was when the prophecy of Joel 2:28-29 was fulfilled. They make this claim because, if it was fulfilled at that time, then they can easily support and justify their liberal agendas.

But is this the case? Was Acts Chapter two the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy? Does the Bible truly support their claim? Let's let the Word intrerpret the Word. Let's look to the Bible for our answers? The Holy Spirit is our Teacher and He will only teach the Truth to the family of God! He leads us in nothing but the Truth! We certainly can't improve on a situation like that, so let's see what the Bible says.

Let's go back to the year of 30 A.D., on Resurrection Sunday, fifty days before the Feast of Pentecost of Acts Chapter Two. Toward the end of Resurrection Sunday, Jesus instructed His followers to wait in Jerusalem for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Then for the next forty days, the Lord Jesus taught the disciples about the Kingdom of God. Then for the remaining ten days, until the Day of Pentecost, the apostles and disciples met together from time to time and the Word tells us they were united in prayer and supplication (Acts 1:14).

Fifty days after Jesus was resurrected, when the Jewish "Feast of Weeks" (better known to us as the "Day of Pentecost") arrived, the scriptures tell us that there were devout Jewish men who had come to Jerusalem from every nation under Heaven to this Feast. Have you ever wondered why there were so many "Jewish men" from so many different places at this particular feast? Well, there are seven individual Jewish feasts (or memorials) which take place each year, and Pentecost is one of those seven. The Jewish people are to observe these seven feasts forever, according to God's instructions. These seven feasts or memorials, beginning with the first feast are:

1) Passover, 2) Unleavened Bread, 3) First Fruits, 4) Pentecost, 5) Trumpets, 6) Atonement, and 7) Tabernacles. Now for the answer to our question of why so many men were at that particular feast, let's look in the Book of Deuteronomy and learn another instruction from the Lord God concerning three of these seven feasts.

So we see that God instructed every Jewish man to be present in Jerusalem during three specific feasts, every year. And as we can easily read, the Feast of Weeks (or Pentecost) is one of those three feasts. Now that should explain to us why there were so many MEN from so many different areas present during the Acts chapter 2 Feast of Pentecost. The women were not commanded to be there, only the men.

Now when the Holy Spirit fell on those male followers of Jesus at about 9 AM of on that particular day, they began to speak in tongues --- in various dialects. To the average person who happened to be present in Jerusalem on that particular feast day, those apostles appeared to be drunken. Some of the Jewish men who had come to the Feast of Pentecost and who happened to be near where the Holy Ghost fell that morning on the twelve (12) apostles assumed they were drunk and said, "these men are full of new wine" (Acts 2:13). In reply to that accusation the apostle Peter stood up "with the eleven" (Vs. 14) and addressed the Jerusalem crowd and said:

At first glance, it would seem that Peter was also saying that Joel's prophecy was being fulfilled at this time. But sometimes things are not always as they appear. In order to explain, Peter continued speaking to the crowd and began to quote Joel Chapter Two which, by the way, was often read in the synagogues on the Sabbath and with which most any good Jewish man would be familiar.

At this point it should be noted that Peter's statement concerning Joel's prophecy was not a word for word quote. However, what Peter said, as recorded here In this 17th verse of Acts Chapter Two, although not a word for word quote of Joel, was still Truth. This deviation beween Peter's statement and what Joel actually prophesied has most likely caused many to misunderstand both of these Scriptures! Let's go back to the Old Testament Book of Joel and see exactly where Peter differed from Joel's words. If there is any difference, and there is, then what Joel prophesied would be the most accurate. Therefore let's see if we can determine the meaning of Joel's prophecy.

Peter said, "It shall come to pass in the latter days, . . . . ." So we see that Peter's statement wasn't an exact quote. You say, "Well, so what? The idea is still the same isn't it?" Well, not exactly! What we must determine is 1) what does Joel's prophecy mean; 2)has it already been fullfilled?; 3) if it has been fulfilled, then when was it fullfilled; and 4) if it has not been fulfilled, when will it be fullfilled?

Peter used the words, "last days". Joel said, "afterwards". Is there a contextual difference? When did the "last days", as spoken by Peter, begin --- or have they begun? In Acts 2:17 Peter said, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, ...." The key companion word in Joel's prophesy to "last days" is "afterward." Now we need to determine just how "last days" and "afterward" are used in context and also the time period to which Peter and Joel were referring.

As I studied Joel's prophecy, I asked the Lord about Joel's use of the word "afterward" in verse 28. I asked the Lord, "Afterward what, Lord?" His answer to me was, "After what Joel prophesied in the preceding 27 verses!" Then I wondered, "Why didn't I think of that! It certainly makes good sense to me." As soon as I carefully re-read and searched those preceding 27 verses (Joel 2:1-27), there was no doubt as to the particular time period to which Joel's prophesy referred.

That period of time to which Joel's prophecy referred is "The Tribulation Period". As you probably already know, "The Seven Years Of Tribulation" will immediately follow the Rapture of the Church, and precedes the Second Coming of Christ. So to say that Joel Chapter Two was fulfilled at the Feast of Pentecost of Acts Chapter Two which took place in the year of 30 A.D., would indicate that the Rapture of the Church, the Seven Years of Tribulation, and the Second Advent has already taken place!

If that's the case, then the Church (including you and me) has already missed both the Rapture and Christ's second coming! It would also mean that Peter, during that particular time (fifty days after Resurrection Sunday) was living out his life during the "last days"! No, I don't think so! That was almost two thousand years ago and we are the ones who are living in the last days!

To help our understanding, we could put it this way. You and I are presently living in "the latter days", in the latter portion of what is commonly referred to as the Dispensation (or time period) of the Church Age. This Church Age will end when Christ returns for His body, the Church. This return, known as "the catching away" or "Rapture of the Church" is not to be confused with His Second Coming which will take place seven years later after the Rapture, because when He returns for the Church He doesn't actually come to Earth. He stops and meets the Church in the clouds. Immediately following that event, there will be a seven year period of time known as "The Seven Years Of Tribulation".

So, before The Seven Years of Tribulation can begin, this major spiritual event known as "The Rapture" must first take place. The next dispensation, the one following "The Seven Years Of Tribulation" will be The Millennium (or the one thousand year reign of Christ on Planet Earth).

Now according to the scriptures, it will be during that time --- during that one thousand year reign of Christ that the devil, who is also known as "the great deceiver", will be chained up in the bottomless pit. The devil's incarceration will begin almost immediately following the "Second Coming Of Christ" and "The Battle Of Armageddon". Throughout the devil's one thousand year imprisonment he will have no liberty and therefore no ability to deceive! Let's read about that in the Book of Revelation.

We've not yet even come to that time period known as "The Seven Years of Tribulation", much less "The Millennium" which follows, because we've yet to experience "The Rapture Of The Church." We're still here on planet Earth. If "The Rapture" is already history, then I wouldn't be writing on this subject and you wouldn't be reading it!

So what period of time was the Holy Spirit referring to in Joel's prophecy when he used that word "afterward"? Ans. He was referring to that period of time commonly referred to as "The Millennium" which will take place immediately following "The Tribulation Period". How do we know for sure that this is the correct period of time to which Joel refers? Ans. Because right after Joel prophesied about "The Tribulation Period", in the first 27 verses, the very next verse (verse 28) says that God will pour out His Spirit "AFTERWARD". In other words, God was saying through Joel, "AFTER" the Tribulation Period, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh;" And we've already established that the dispensation which follows the Tribulation Period is "The Millennium". So Joel couldn't have been referring to the Pentecost event of Acts Chapter Two of 30 A.D. as some profess because that was almost two thousand years ago!

"ALL FLESH":

Want more proof? Then let's take a look at some events which will take place during that Millennial dispensation. But before we do, let's first examine one more key phrase in these same scriptures. The key phrase I'm referring to is that of "all flesh". If "all" means "all", then it's fairly obvious that God's Spirit has not yet been poured out upon ALL flesh!

Now what about that phrase "all flesh" as found in Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17? To what does "all flesh" refer? Those who would like to justify the female gender in family and Church leadership says "all flesh" means both men and women. Proponents want to make a gender thing out of it. They proclaim since Acts Chapter Two was the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy, then women were never meant to be excluded from fulfilling Church leadership roles or any Church ministry. I believe they have obtained this erroneous belief because they have associated the phrase "all flesh" with the words "sons and daughters" (ie. meaning both genders).

But what's the real meaning of this two word phrase --- "all flesh"?

This scripture is from the apostle Paul's epistle to the Church at Corinth. He very plainly informed them (and us) that there are four kinds of flesh --- man, beast, fish, and birds. This phrase, "all flesh", is used thirty-eight times in the Old Testament and five times in the New Testament. One of these five verses in the New Testament is this verse in 1 Corinthians above. A second is the one found in our key verse in Acts 2:17. Of the forty-three verses which contain the phrase "all flesh", contextually not one single verse indicates to or even suggests that that of gender, or that it means "man and woman", or "male and female". In each case, it means just what it says, "all flesh" --- all four types of flesh - - - meaning man, beast, fish, and bird !

Someone says, "OK, so what? Suppose what you say is correct. That still wouldn't change anything, would it?" Well, it very well could! If we can determine, from the Word of God, when God's Spirit will be poured out upon all flesh (on man, beast, fish, and bird) then we would have a very good clue as to when the fulfillment of Joel Chapter Two, verses 28 and 29 took place, or will take place. Some say it was fulfilled on the "Day Of Pentecost" of Acts Chapter Two, which I believe to be erroneous. Since we know that the one thousand year reign of Christ, also commonly known as "The Millennium", immediately follows "The Seven Year Tribulation" period, let's look at another prophecy that refers to this Millennium time period and see if we can come up with a clue.

Notice the absence of fear and violence during this one thousand year time when Christ Jesus literally rules Planet Earth. Isaiah prophesies that the wolf will dwell with the lamb; that the leopard will lie down with the kid; and that small children will actually be able to safely play in and around deadly snake dens. Verse nine says, "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain". How will all this be possible? What is going to happen that would cause the actions of all of the Earth's inhabitants to change so much from the way we know it to be today? The answer is three-fold.

First and foremost, during this period of time Jesus Himself will literally be the "King of kings" and "Lord of lords", here on planet Earth. Now it doesn't get any better than that when it comes to leadership!

Secondly, the Heavenly Father's Spirit will be poured out upon "all flesh" --- on all men, on all women, on all beasts, on all fish, and on all birds. Therefore every living thing --- every person, every beast, every fish, and every bird --- will know King Jesus.

Thirdly, Satan, to whom the Word refers as "the great deceiver", will be chained up and held in the bottomless pit during this entire one thousand year period. The devil will be rendered totally powerless and unable to deceive or wield his influence on planet Earth during this entire one thousand year period!

"So just how does Satan's deception affect the woman headship question", you ask? In order to answer that, let's examine some key scriptures that discuss that very subject and see. Paul wrote an epistle to Timothy who was the pastor of an early New Testament church. In that epistle, Paul gave him some instructions about the behavior of women in the Church because of this very subject, deception. Now let's not make the mistake that some have made concerning these verses. All scripture (including the following) is inspired by God (2 Tim 3:16).

The New English Version is somewhat more stern about it then the KJV. It states the following:

As I've previously pointed out, the subject of deception is mentioned more than once. The reason the word "wife" is associated with the word "woman" and the word "husband" is associated with the word "man" in verse 12 is because the Greek word for "woman" (gune) is the same Greek word for "wife". Likewise the Greek word for "man" (aner) is the same Greek word for "husband". In other words, those two words can be translated either way and still be correct. However, when we read these verses in context, it seems more logical that it would have been more accurate had the King James translators used "wife" and "husband" there in verse 12, instead of "woman" and "man" since the subjects mentioned are Adam and Eve, a husband and wife team.

Was Paul correct when he told Timothy that it was Eve who was deceived and not Adam? Or was Paul a woman hater as some have suggested? Once again, maybe we ought to go back to the source --- back to the Book of Genesis and check out the fall of mankind! Let's see if we can determine who said what to whom and why!

From these verses we have a picture of Adam standing there beside Eve ("her husband with her:). He wasn't off somewhere else in the garden naming bugs or something! But did you notice that Satan never said one word to Adam?! According to the Genesis account, Satan's entire conversation, which was loaded with deceit, was directed, not to Adam, but to Eve! Now I suspect Satan must have had a good reason for this. Could it be because Eve was more intelligent than Adam and therefore easier to converse with? Or could it be that six thousand years ago Satan knew something about the woman that we don't know about or realize even today?

There are two words in the above verse that we should look at closely. These two words are, "weaker" and "vessel". First let's look at the Greek word for "vessel". Strongs' definition for the Greek word "skeuos" is: "a vessel, implement, equipment or apparatus (literally or figuratively; specifically, a wife as contributing to the usefulness of the husband)." The Greek word for "weaker" is "asthenes". Strongs' definition for this word is: "strengthless (in various applications, literal, figurative and moral)". Putting these two words together in describing the wife as part of a husband and wife unit, it would seem to indicate that, as a part of that unit, the woman is the weaker of the two, or the weaker link.

But regardless of the intended meaning of this particular scripture, we know from other scriptures that only the woman was deceived (1 Timothy 2:14). It has been my experience, since becoming a child of God and the years following, that Satan will always attempt to work and unleash his evil ways by attacking the weakest area he can find. Consider how he never attacks God Himself. Why? Because he knows that Almighty God is omnipotent. Nothing can compare with the power of God! Satan seeks the weakest link or areas of weakness, not strength. In James Chapter One and Verse Thirteen, the Bible teaches us that God cannot be tempted with evil.

Going back to the time of the fall of mankind, Satan's choices for areas of weakness was somewhat limited. At that particular time there were few individuals for him to consider. For some reason Satan chose Eve and tempted her with the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Our adversary is not ignorant. Intelligence and evil can easily be companions. Evidently he had knowledge of the fact that Adam wouldn't be as easily deceived as Eve. He must have known that Adam would be more difficult to deceive than Eve. And we know from the scriptures (1 Timothy 2:14) that Adam was not deceived, but that Eve was. You see, Eve not only listened to Satan's lies, she believed those lies, which consequently brought about the violation of the rules which God had established for both of them. Adam's disobedience came when he listened to Eve and harkened unto her voice instead of the voice of God. (Genesis 3:17)!

THE PENALTIES FOR MANKIND'S DISOBEDIENCE:

Let's look now at some scriptures in the Book of Genesis which have to do with the penalties for Adam and Eve's disobedience. Their disobedience resulted in the fall of mankind and hence trouble for mankind ever since.

I think it's noteworthy that one portion of God's penalty for the woman's mistake in the garden with the serpent, was that her husband would, for the first time in history be her ruler. Notice the word "shall", meaning future --- "he shall rule over thee". You see, before "the fall", Adam had no authority or rule over Eve! This subordination requirement for the wife was first laid out here in verse 16. It was something new. It began as Almighty God Himself established the law as part of the punishment for the woman's disobedience. So the wife's submission unto her husband and his role as ruler began with the disobedience and fall of mankind!

Now pay attention here. You can search from cover to cover in the Bible, including the maps, and nowhere will you find in the Word of God where this penalty has ever been rescinded or altered to any extent! As a matter of fact, in the latter part of 1 Corinthians 14:34, which was written in about 59 A.D. by the Apostle Paul, we see that he actually reaffirmed that wives were still under the obedience of their husbands at that time. This was some twenty-nine years or so after Acts Chapter Two!

It will be rescinded some day, because God is in the process of restoring both mankind and the Earth back to the original state of being before the fall of mankind took place. When will that occur? I'm not sure. But it probably won't happen until sometime after the New Jerusalem comes down to Earth from Heaven (see Revelation 21:2-7), which follows the Great White Throne Judgment (see Revelation 20:11-15).

As previously stated, Eve was created in the beginning by God for the purpose of completing the man, Adam. In the beginning the woman was not created for the purpose of servitude within the husband and wife situation. She was originally created to be a co-laborer with her husband, Adam, so that, together as a unit, they might rule over everything God created and placed upon Earth (Genesis 1:28).

However, something took place which altered this original plan of God. That original plan was temporarily changed by the penalty which was instituted by the Lord God upon the woman because of her disobedience. Even though she was tempted and deceived by Satan, she willfully chose to disobey God. Now keep in mind that during this time of temptation and deception, she had no knowledge whatsoever of good or evil.

Now let's focus for just a moment on that small period of time between Eve's disobedience, when she partook of the forbidden fruit and before Adam partook of it. We don't really know the length of time of which this consisted. We have no scriptures that indicate just how much time lapsed between Eve's disobedience and Adam's disobedience. It could have been minutes or hours, or it could have even been days. But what we do need to consider is the spiritual status of our main subjects, Adam and Eve, during this time period.

Let's also keep in mind that both Adam and Eve were completely innocent before they committed their acts of disobedience. Now the instant Eve broke God's commandment, several things happened. First, she received the knowledge of good and evil; secondly, she fell from God's grace; and thirdly, she was in need of a savior.

Through the fall Eve became lost. You and I came into this World already lost because of their fall. Now we have escaped this lost condition through being spiritually born-again - - - through our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Eve also experienced being born-again. But her born-again experience was in reverse to ours. We were born-again from death unto life. She was born again from life to death.

But during this time period of undetermined duration, Adam remained innocent of violating any of God's law. He had yet to partake of the fruit that would instantly give one the knowledge of good and evil. So on one hand, during this period of time, we have Eve, controlled by Satan, and on the other hand we have Adam and his God, the Heavenly Father.

Now it's decision time for Adam. What's he going to do? Is he going to obey God's instructions, or is he going to listen to Eve and obey her? Remember, she has disobeyed God and now has Satan as her lord! Also don't forget that Adam still has not fallen and still has no knowledge of good and evil during this time of decision as Eve now has. Well, you and I know it's always better to heed the Words of the Creator Himself. But unfortunately Adam made a huge mistake and chose to place the importance of his wife's words over and above the Words of Almighty God! Ever since, mankind has been inundated with multitudes of satanic temptations. At any rate, deception remains to be our basic subject and the Bible tells us that Eve was deceived but Adam was not.

As previously mentioned, one of the five false premises used for justifying and giving women authorization to preach and fulfill various rolls of leadership within the Church, is the claim that "to prophesy" means "to preach". These proponents teach that Acts 2:18 which says, "your sons and your daughters shall prophesy", is really saying, "your sons and your daughters shall preach." But there are no Scriptures in the Word of God which specifically state that women are to preach or ever did preach. There are simply no references in the entire New Testament where any woman ever fulfilled that particular office with the Chuch.

There are, however, several examples in both the Old and New Testaments, where it states that women did prophesy. There were occasions in the Old Testament when women prophesied and there were occasions in the New Testament also when the female gender prophesied.

Acts 21:9 - "And the same man (Philip) had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy."

It seems clear from these two scriptures (and there are others) that women prophesied during early Church times. But in order to further justify authorizing women to fulfill the pulpit as preachers and teachers in the Church, those supporters simply claim that "to prophesy" means "to preach". Let's look now at both of these words and how they appear in the Strongs Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible.

In 2 Timothy 4:2 the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy and told him to "Preach the word;" The Greek word for preach in this scripture is "Kerusso" which, according to Strongs, carries the following meaning: "Of uncertain affinity; to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel)."

On the other hand, "prophesy" comes from the Greek word "propheteuo", which in accordance with Acts 2:17 states, "your sons and daughters shall prophesy" and carries this meaning: "To foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office."

So the words "preach" and "prophesy" are two distinct Greek words which have two different definitions. And they have both been translated into two different English words which have two different definitions. There is no Biblical proof that these two words have the same meaning. These definitions indicate that "to preach" means to "forth-tell" (especially the gospel), while "to prophesy" means to "fore-tell".

"Preach" seems to deal primarily with the "good news" or gospel which, of course, has already been accomplished and established by Christ at Calvary. But the word "prophesy" is more associated with the future - - - with that which is yet to be accomplished and established. In other words, "prophesy" deals with the future, and "preach" doesn't.

Those who claim that women were Biblically given the "OK" to prophesy during the Feast of Pentecost of Acts 2:17, either don't know or have forgotten, according to the Old Testament, women were already prophesying many years prior to that time. This ought to indicate to us that the time in history when women began prophesying couldn't have been at the Feast of Pentecost of Acts Chapter Two.

We know from the Old Testament scriptures that there were prophetesses many years priior to 30 A.D.. Three of those who are mentioned in the Old Testament are: Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah. There were also a few false prophetesses mentioned as well. For example: "Some women of Judah", Noadiah, and of course, Jezebel. In the New Testament Book of Acts, we're also told about the four virgin daughters of Philip "who did prophesy". So it would seem that "to prophesy" does not mean "to preach", and the foretelling of events by women did not begin in Acts Chapter Two!

In the Old Testament Book of Isaiah we find something rather interesting concerning the judgment of Judah. The Lord very plainly told the people of Judah (and I believe that it also applies to us as well) that if they expected things to go well with them, they would not only be expected to be willing to follow the Lord's instructions, they would also have to be obedient and act accordingly. But they didn't.

When the people of Judah drifted away from God and boldly and openly rebelled against His commandments, there were definite consequences to be paid. One of those consequences was that children would become their oppressors. Another result was that their women would become their leaders and those women leaders would lead the people in such erroneous ways that they would eventually be destroyed.

Well, it seems that history usually has a way of repeating itself. Here we are in the Twenty-First Century. The vast majority of the people of USA have certainly gotten away from God and His ways. Today, Christianity is openly and boldly criticized by many. Movies and television thinks nothing of belittling Christ, His Word, and His followers. Prayer and the Ten Commandments have been taken out of our public schools. Homosexuality is blatantly displayed as an acceptable lifestyle for all to see. Rebellion has now become the norm.

Many in this nation are now about to receive their just rewards. God will have to pass judgment upon the USA just as He spoke to Judah through Isaiah some 2700 years ago. Children have already become our oppressors. Parents can't even discipline their own children now without the threat of the child calling 911 and having the parents arrested for "child abuse". Women are now involved and entrenched in leadership roles in virtually every facet of our society while the husband (if there is one) tries to fulfill the role of a stay-at-home mom with the children. In some cases the children are farmed out to be looked after by who knows what kind of a person or persons! Few women today are "keepers at home" as God instructs them to be in Titus 2:5. The divorce rate is higher now than in any time in our history (over 50%). Millions are simply living together, outside the confines of marriage. How long is God is going to be willing to "look the other way" at OUR rebellion?

Even more disheartening, however, is the fact that many of the ways of our sick society have now obtained a foothold in the Church. Multitudes of Church going people ought to go through their Bibles and tear out all the pages that contain scriptures with which they disagree. It's difficult to understand why so many refuse to acknowledge, preach, and teach those things that are plainly printed on the pages of God's Holy Book! We had better wake up before it's too late, if it isn't already!! If we don't, and unless the Lord returns soon, many in this nation of ours will die by the sword as God has stated in His Word!

We've already established, according to the Bible, that women prophesied in Old Testament times and that they prophesied also in New Testament times. So now let's take a Biblical look at the Teaching ministry. Does the Bible authorize women to teach? For the answer to that one, we'll need to look once again at the Scriptures. First, let's refer back to the apostle Paul's epistle to Timothy as recorded in First Timothy. Remember, "woman" can also mean "wife", and "man" can also mean "husband".

Now, once again, let's not forget the source of these scriptures. The Holy Spirit is the One Who inspired these verses and it was also the Holy Spirit who inspired Paul to write this epistle to Timothy. Paul lists two areas here in which it is Biblically unlawful for women to participate. The first one has to do with "teaching the husband". Verse eleven is very plain that the woman (wife) is not to be the man's (husband's) teacher.

The second area which is forbidden in a husband and wife relationship is that of "the wife's domination over her husband". Once again we come back around to the subject and area of HEADSHIP.

In our day and time many men have been manipulated by the wife into believing that the husband is suppost to "rule the roost", so to speak, concerning the headship at his home. But a more important question is "Who rules the rooster at your house?" It so happens that in this country of ours a very large percentage of men are dominated and controlled by their wives! Few women will admit that they are the dominant one in their family. Why? Because, deep down, they know it's not according to God's Will! But if we ever expect to realize and experience the abundant life as God has given to us, then we're going to have to be very truthful and honest with ourselves and others.

Now that we've discussed women teachers in a husband and wife situation, what about women teachers in other areas? What about the woman teaching someone other than her husband? Is this according to the will of God? Here's where we need to be very cautious.

In the past I've heard the following excuse: " I haven't taken any authority from my husband. I'm still submitted to him. I asked him if I could to teach this mixed couples class and he gave me his permission. What's wrong with that?" Well, in a situation like that we have a complex problem.

While it may be true that this wife didn't circumvent her husband's authority, yet, on the other hand, we have a husband who gave his wife permission to ignore the Word of God and to violate 1 Timothy 2:11. Here we have a wife who is seeking a reason (a better word would be "excuse") to ignore that very same scripture! This husband, for one reason or another, chose to place his own word and authority over that of the Lord rather than confront his wife with the Truth. Of course, most of us know and realize that what she wanted to do was not according to the Will and Word of God. God's Will and Word must always come first, regardless of who might be involved.

The problem arises when we fail to be a doer of all of the Word of God. If we ever expect to resist the devil and keep him off our back, then we're going to have to be a doer of all the Holy Scriptures! You see, "the buck stops here" --- with us --- with you and me! Simply knowing the Word is not enough. We must also be doers of the Word. So what does the Bible have to say concerning the ministries of women?

Now remember, the epistles were written only to the family of God --- not to the lost. A close inspection of these five verses tells us that the older and more spiritually mature women have been ordained to be teachers. However, the Bible does give us some extra light on this subject. It further states that these older women are to teach a particular group of believers (the younger women) and they are to teach them specific subjects. These older women are to teach the younger women in the body of Christ and they are to teach them the following eight things: 1) To be responsible; 2) To love their husbands; 3) To love their children; 4) To be discreet; 5) To be chaste; 6) To be keepers at home; 7) To be good; and 8) To be obedient to their own husbands.

Looking up the contextual meaning of some of these key words will enhance our understanding of what the apostle Paul was writing to Titus. Those key words are "sober", "discreet", "chaste", "keepers at home", and "obedient".

First of all, the key word "sober" means "to make of sound mind, i.e. (figuratively) to discipline or correct". The key word "discreet" means "safe (sound) in mind, i.e. self-controlled (moderate as to opinion or passion)". The next key word is "chaste". It means "properly, clean, i.e. (figuratively) innocent, modest, perfect". Next is a three word phrase, "keepers at home". Its contextual meaning is "(a guard; be 'ware'); a stayer at home, i.e. domestically inclined (a good housekeeper)". The last key word is "obedient". Its meaning is as follows: "to subordinate; reflexively, to obey".

Very few congregations today are following these instructions. Few, if any, of the older women in the Christian congregations are teaching the younger women anything. The result is:

1) Many younger women are psychologically messed up and suicide is escalating daily!

2) As far as loving their husbands, those who are properly married don't stay married but a short time these days. The divorce rate is exceptionally high, and many never learn the difference between "love" and "lust".

3) When it comes to loving their children, most of the younger women today place their own selfish ambitions and desires ahead of that which is best for their husband and children.

4) Self-control is almost a thing of the past, especially in the areas of drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and sex.

5) A very large percentage of young women today will have lost their virginity before they marry, and most of them will end up ignoring marriage altogether by living with a man out of wedlock.

6) How many young women do you know today who are domestically inclined to be "keepers at home"? Most are busy eight to ten hours a day, five or more days a week, trying to get established in a career, thinking that they must prove that anything a man can do, they can do equally as well or better! They're sacrificing precious time with their children for a so-called career. They don't realize that they, their children, and their husbands are the real losers here in these types of situations!

7) Now what about that word "Good"? "Good" is practically a non-existent term these days. Young people are currently being taught in our public schools that there is no such thing as "right and wrong", "good and bad". They're taught that "good" is merely a relative term, and therefore no such thing as good and bad. Once they get that lie planted in the minds of the youth, then they can introduce the idea that there's no such thing as "sin"!

8) Last, but not least, how many women are really subordinant to their husbands these days? There's a popular tradition among those who actually do get married these days to have the word "obey" removed from the marriage vows.

So why are we having so many problems in the family today? Why is the percentage of Christian divorces identical to that of non-Christians? The answer is very simple. It's because we Christians have not been doers of the Word. Older Christian women, who should be teaching the younger women, have become more preoccupied with their desires of being pastors or associate pastors, or with teaching doctrine, than with fulfilling their God given ministry as set forth in the book of Titus.

Of course these women must have some sort of justification to support their desires and actions. So most simply claim that either the man isn't doing what they think he's been called to do, or that he isn't doing a satisfactory job! Quite often you can hear these same women saying something like, "If the men would only do what they're supposed to be doing, then we women wouldn't have to take over and do it for them".

In fulfilling the ministry of man, overly ambitious women miss out on the very ministry to which God has called them. They have become more than willing to step in and take over the ministry to which God has ordained and commissioned a man to do. They're very eager to correct a perceived problem which belongs to the Lord. It's His poblem and His business to correct the man! Soon or later there will be an attempt to replace men altogether!

These verses very plainly give us the requirements for the person who seeks the office of a "bishop". What is a "bishop"? According to "Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible" the word "bishop" comes to us from the Greek word "Episkopos" which is defined as "A superintendent, ie. a Christian officer in charge of a Church body." It is used four times in the New Testament. After doing some research on this word, particularly in the Book of Acts, it seems that the word "bishop" can also mean "overseer", "elder" or "pastor".

The Biblical requirements for a bishop, overseer, elder, or pastor in these seven verses also indicate that the person who fills any of these positions in the Church is to be of the male gender. The word "man" is used two times, "he" is mentioned five times, and "his", one time. The words "woman", "she", or "her" is never mentioned. The real clincher is that this person must be "the HUSBAND of one wife"! I know of no way a woman can fulfill that requirement! That's one of those pages these proponents of women elders, overseers, or pastors need to tear out of their Bibles!

Here again the scriptures strongly indicate that those who serve in the capacity of a deacon must be of the male gender. These Holy inspired scriptures tell us that the wives of the deacons must be grave, not slanderers, sober, and faithful in all things. It also says in verse 12 that deacons should be the HUSBANDS of one wife, which is the same requirement given for a bishop. Nowhere do the scriptures indicate that women may, in the absence of a man, nor at any time, fulfill the office of pastor, co-pastor, bishop, overseer, or elder. To do so would be a violation of the scriptures and Will of God Who inspired these verses!

The word "deacon" is from the Greek word "diakoneo" which means, "An attendant; To wait upon". We can find that Greek word in the New Testament twenty-five times, twenty-two of which have been translated as "minister".

We can clearly see that major difference between "Episkopos" and "Diakoneo" in the Book of Acts, in Chapter six, where the number of disciples had grown and now included many Grecians. The Grecians were complaining to the Hebrews that their widows were being neglected when it came to mealtimes. Apparently there weren't enough table servers.

Notice that the Word says that the twelve apostles requested that "seven MEN" (vs 3) be appointed as deacons in order that the Apostles might concentrate on "prayer and ministry of the Word". In the early church, they appointed seven men as deacons to physically help the Church, so that the Apostles (all men) could continue ministering to the Church in spiritual ways. So the basic difference between a pastor, or elder and a deacon, is that deacons minister in physical areas while pastors and elders minister in spiritual areas.

In the early Church the Apostles, the elders, and the pastors were all men, and the deacons were all men as well. The words "apostlettes", "pastorettes", or "deaconess" do not appear anywhere in the Bible. It has been said that since God spoke through an ass (Numbers 22:28-30), surely He could also use women as well. Well, God can sovereignly use whatever or whomever He chooses. But just because He used an animal on this particular occasion, does not give us the Biblical authority to ordain donkeys, unless He specifically instructs us to do so! Why He didn't use another man, or a woman instead of an ass, it is not known! But God is soverign and He can do as He pleases.

PART 5 - FIVE COMMONLY HEARD EXPLANATIONS

In this Fourteenth Chapter of 1 Corinthians the apostle Paul wrote the Corinthian Churches concerning the proper order of Church services. As always, we must never forget the Holy Spirit's authorship throughout the entire Bible. It isn't just Paul's opinion or preference. The Holy Spirit is the One who inspired him to write these scriptures. In verse 37 the Holy Spirit goes so far as to say something to the effect that if a person has any spiritual maturity at all, he or she should recognize the fact that these commandments are from the Lord Himself!

Verse 34b tells us "for it is not permitted unto them (the women) to speak" (KJV); "They (the women) have no license to speak" (The New English Version); and "They (the women) are not to take part in the discussion" (Living Bible). The setting, as provided in verse 34a, is "in the Churches". But this doesn't mean that women are to become completely silent from the time they enter the door of the church building until they leave the premises! Certainly Not! This is talking about their addressing the congregation --- about preaching and teaching. It's talking about taking part in doctrinal issues within the confines of the church meeting place.

In the King James version of verse 34b where it says, "for it is not permitted unto them to speak", the word "speak" comes from the Greek word "laleo". It means "to talk, i.e. utter words". That same Greek word "laleo" has been translated by the King James people as "preach" in Acts 16:6; as "preaching" in Acts 11:19; and as "preached" in Mark 2:2, Acts 8:25, and Acts 13:42. So we would not be in error to interchange the word "speak" with the word "preach" in verse 34b. It could just as easily read, "for it is not permitted unto them (women) to preach."

Verse 34c says that women are "commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law". To what law does this refer? Answer: The Law of Subordination as stated by Almighty God in Genesis 3:16d. If you remember, part of the penalty for for the woman (Eve) for allowing herself to be deceived by the serpent (this includes all women born since the fall) received the following three part penalty which is still in force today. 1) Woman's pain during pregnancy will be increased; 2) Woman's desire shall be for her husband; and 3) Woman's husband shall rule over her. Verse 34 of 1 Corinthians Chapter 14 is referring to part 3 ("and he shall rule over thee") when it states, "but they (women) are commanded to be under obedience (to their husbands), as also saith the law".

However, women do have the same authority as do men when it comes to reconciling the lost to Christ, i.e. ministering to the unsaved in a one on one setting. But as long as "The Law of Subordination" (Gen. 3:16d) remains in effect, the husband is still the head of the wife in all areas of family and Church life. Even when a husband is not submitted to Christ as he should be, it is not up to the wife to correct the situation. As long as she remains submitted, as the Word instructs, God is well able to deal with him!

So you see, in both the family and Church settings, the husband is to be the head of the wife. The woman is not authorized to preach, she is not authorized to teach, and, according to the qualifications of elders and deacons, she is not authorized to fulfill either of those positions either.

However, today the Church has wandered so far to the left that it no longer respects or pays any attention to these scriptures. Seldom, if ever, do we hear sermons or teachings in support of these scriptures. It seems that we've become more concerned today with being "Socially and Politically Correct" than we are with being "Biblically Correct"! Generally speaking, much of the Church today has "itching ears" and has become more obsessed with pleasing themselves and others than they are with pleasing God. And when they are asked, "According to the Scriptures where is the authority given for women to partake of leadership or headship roles in the Church?", most cannot give an answer. And then there are others who, in order to justify their "itching ears", misinterpret and twist the scriptures to make them say that which conforms to their way of thinking.

An explanation often heard when someone attempts to justify women participating in areas of leadership in the church is, "Back in Paul's day and time women were ignorant and not allowed to participate in spiritual leadership. In Church the women all sat together on one side and the men sat on the other side. If a woman didn't understand something, she would yell across the room to her husband. Of course this would temporarily disrupt the meeting. But the situation is much different today. Today women are much smarter and better educated then they were back then. Women are no longer separated from the men in Church as they were back then either. Today, most women need to explain spiritual things to their husbands. Women are so much better educated then ever before in history and ought to be allowed to address the entire congregation, including her husband, especially if she has been called to prophesy, preach or teach"!

There are, however, several problems with this particular explanation. First of all, there is no scriptural, historical, archaeological, nor literary evidence of any Biblical Church where the men were separated from the women.

Secondly, those who adhere to and accept this rationale, whether they realize it or not, are actually advertising and promoting the false idea that these New Testament scriptures are no longer valid or relevant to the Church today. The only value of these scriptures is that of being historical. If that happens to be true (and it's not), we couldn't stop with these scriptures here in 1 Corinthians. We'd have to ask ourselves, "What about other scriptures - - - the rest of the Bible? Maybe there are other scriptures which are not relevant today as well"! Also, if these scriptures really no longer apply to us today, why should we continue to carry them around? Why not just tear those particular pages out of our Bibles and lighten our load a little!

Well, that's far fetched all right, but down deep a true child of God knows in his or her heart that it's dangerous to start picking and choosing scriptures. Because when we begin to pick and choose scriptures, we've just appointed ourselves both judge and jury of the Word of God. We've just placed ourselves above His Holy Word. Basically we've set ourselves up to be our own God! And no human being has that kind of authority or ability from any source! No! Sooner or later we're going to have to face it. Every child of God must ultimately come to the point in life that he or she accepts all of God's Word, or none of it! We can't pick and choose because we've not been authorized to judge the Word and then eliminate what we don't like and accept what we do like!

Thirdly, this explanation also suggests the idea that God is not omniscient (all knowing). It promotes the false idea that He permitted these "outdated" scriptures to be included in His New Covenant with mankind, because He didn't happen to be far-sighted enough to realize just how intelligent, educated, and immune to deception twenty-first century woman would be! He actually gave us some Scriptures that are now outdated! So what do you think? Can you really buy into that? No, I didn't think so. God is omnipotent (all powerful), omnipresent (everywhere at once), and omniscient (all knowing). You see, He knows the end of all things before the beginning takes place!

A second common explanation and false rationalization is: "What about Kathryn Kuhlman?" or "What about this woman or what about that woman"?, and they name various famous women of the past and present who were or are seemingly very successful in various Church ministries.

Certainly God is sovereign and can do whatever He desires. It's not that He can't or won't minister through woman. However, according to His Word, working through women in a formal Church setting is not His perfect will because of the Law of Subordination which is still valid . Nor is it His perfect Will for the wife to take any kind of authority over her husband for the same reason. It's just not His highest and best way of doing things. Miss Kuhlman said on one occasion that in the beginning of her ministry God first called a man, but that he refused and wouldn't accept the responsibility.

She also said that after the man refused, God called her. As to the validity of her statement, no one can say. The bottom line is, we are to be governed by God's Word and His commandments. In Numbers chapter 22 God used an ass to speak His message. Well, God is sovereign and can use whomever or whatever He pleases. However, no where in the Bible will you find scripture that supports the ordination of an ass. The point is this: In these New Testament times God has many more men on whom He could call before running out of possibilities and before finding it necessary to compromise His Word and call upon a woman!

We need to be aware that God has three wills. He has His acceptable will, He has His good will, and He has His perfect will. Just because God has, in the past, accomplished some good things through certain women, does not indicate that His perfect will was involved. Most likely, it was accomplished through His acceptable Will.

It certainly doesn't appear from the scriptures that His perfect will concerning Church headship includes animals or women. As children of God we should endeavor to accomplish His perfect will here on Earth in accordance with all of His written instructions. Those who promote this explanation as an excuse to place women in places of headship within the family and/or Church are simply judging God's Word by their experiences, when they ought to be judging their experiences by His Word!

A third explanation which is widely used by women in the Church today is: "I'm not violating God's Word because I'm not exercising authority over by husband. He gave me permission to preach here." Or "He gave me permission to teach this class of mixed couples." The question should then be asked, "Who gave your husband permission to give you permission to do something which is contrary to God's Word?" We have already covered this area, therefore need we say more?

COMMON EXPLANATION NO. 4:

Some Church-going people say, "The apostle Paul imposed these restrictions on women because he was a woman-hater. He didn't like women and never married".

In Hebrews 13:4 Paul said, "Marriage is honorable in all ...." In his first epistle to Timothy (1 Tim. 3:1-13) he set forth the qualifications for bishops (elders) and deacons, stating that they should be the husbands of one wife, rule their households well, and see to it that their children are well disciplined. Then over in Titus 1:5-10, when he wrote to Titus, he also stated similar qualifications for bishops. If the apostle Paul had hated women or had felt that all ministers should be celibates, he would have advised Timothy and Titus to place unmarried men in these Church positions. But he didn't.

In Romans Chapter 16, Paul instructed the Church at Rome to greet Priscilla and Aquila, "unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the Churches of the Gentiles". In Colossians 3:19 he wrote, "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them". Do these words seem like the words of a woman-hater? No, of course not!

Well, once again, we must remember that the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write these epistles. So, in a sense, these instructions are straight from the Lord Himself. He only used Paul to do the writing. And no one could ever treat women with greater respect than the Lord Jesus Himself! However, the "Law of Subordination" will remain in effect until God's Spirit is poured out upon all flesh --- upon all mankind, all beasts, all fish, and all birds. But, as has been previously stated, this will not take place until after Christ returns to Earth.

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The one explanation that is probably heard most often, especially from women is, "If the men would only do what they're supposed to, we women wouldn't have to be doing it!" When a free-willed man chooses to refuse to perform the ministry to which God has called him, why is there always an ample number of women ready and more than willing to take his place? Why are so many women eager to jump in and help God?

The Truth of the matter is Almighty God needs no help, in any area, from anyone! He has other men He can call upon. Men, not women, are to perform the ministries to which men are called. And women, not men, are to perform the ministries to which women are called. And God doesn't need our help in the calling the men or the women! If a man isn't functioning as he's supposed to, Christ is his Head, and He can certainly fix the problem without the help of woman.

We have looked at and discussed quite a few scriptures which describe God's perfect Will concerning headship within both the family unit and the Church. We learned that woman was created to "complete man" but not to "compete with man." Now it's time for us to make up our minds about what the Bible really teaches concerning this highly controversial subject. When asking those proponents of feminine leadership in the family and in the Church about their beliefs, they are usually at a loss for an answer at first. Then, after a few moments, they will begin by giving one or more of those six common explanations which we've just covered. Why? Because there is no hard Biblical evidence which supports women fulfilling the role of apostle, pastor, preacher, teacher, bishop (elder), or deacon. Why? Because if there were any evidence, it would violate other Scriptures. In other words, there would be a conflict within the Scriptures.

The one and only reason we are given in the Word for "The Law of Subordination" (Genesis 3:16) is because the serpent deceived Eve. She was BEGUILED when she freely chose to heed and believe the serpent instead of God. It should also be pointed out that Adam wasn't innocent either! He freely chose to heed the words of Eve instead of what God had told him. You can read about his penalty in Genesis 3:17-19. But let's not confuse the woman's penalty with that of the man!

There are always consequences to pay when we violate the commandments of God. That's one reason this teaching is being made available for those of you who love the Truth. Someone in the Body of Christ must take a stand and be bold enough "to tell it like it is"! This subject is not a popular one to be sure. But if we continue to rebel against God and His law concerning "headship" in the home and in the Church, you can be sure that there will be consequences to pay.

We've discussed a lot about what women should not be doing. What does the Word of God have to say about what women should be doing, especially within the family? Proverbs 31:11-28 gives us a good look at the virtues of the wife as seen through the eyes of God. She is to:

Gain the trust of her husband (vs. 11);

Comfort, encourage and embrace her husband with good all the days of her life (vs.12);

Be willing to work with her hands (vs. 13);

See to it that there is always adequate food in the home (vs. 14);

Prepare and dispense the food to the household (vs. 15);

Conduct the business affairs of the household prudently (vs. 16);

Maintain herself spiritually, mentally, and physically (vs. 17);

Enjoy what she does for her family and consider it to be good (vs. 18);

Learn the techniques of sewing and mending (vs. 19);

Be ready to help the poor and the needy (vs. 20);

Make sure that each person of her household has proper clothing (vs. 21);

Also make other coverings for the family (vs. 22);

Be well known and respected by others because she is a Godly wife (vs. 23);

Make things that can be sold in order to suppliment the family income (vs. 24);

Be clothed with strength and honor (vs. 25);

Be watchful of her speech and be prone to show kindness (vs. 26);

Not allow idleness to disrupt or neglect her household duties (vs. 27);

Earn the praise and respect by both her husband and her children (vs. 28).

In addition to the above, we must understand that "The Law of Subordination" does not prevent women in the family situation and also in the Church:

1. From praising the Lord;

2. From worshipping the Lord;

3. From praying;

4. From prophesying;

5. From fulfilling the role of a "Titus Woman" and teaching the younger women;

6. From performing menial tasks;

7. From being involved in the ministry of reconciliation.

It does, however, prohibit women from holding or operating any place of authority in a formal Church meeting - - - in any authority which would place her in an elevated position which is equal to or above that of her husband. This includes, of course, holding and attempting to function in the offices of apostle, pastor, evangelist, preacher, and teacher (except that of being a Titus Woman teacher), bishop (elder), or deacon.

In other words, The Law of Subordination" probhibits women from holding any Church office which might place her in the position of formally addressing the congregation as a whole, including her husband.

Now suppose that you have been sitting in a jury box in court and have just been presented this Scriptural evidence and you are asked to consider the preponderance of the presented evidence concerning the spiritual legality of positions of leadership within the home and the Church being held by women. In other words, you are asked to give a "yes" or"no" answer to the following two questions:- - - According to the evidence herein presented, 1) Does God's Word currently forbid a married woman to fulfill the role of headship (leadership) within the human family? 2) Does God's Word currently forbid women (all women, married or single) to fulfill the role of headship (leadership) within the Body of Christ (the Church)? How would YOU answer?

When it comes to evidence, we must consider only the evidence which comes from the Holy Bible - - - not the evidence dictated by the traditions of men, not the evidence based on what everyone else is doing, and not the evidence based on our personal preference! The written Word of God is the only reliable and creditable source available to us and it's the only source we need. It conains all the answers to all our questions. Almighty God has abundantly revealed His Perfect Will to us concerning this subject. He also has also preserved it and seen to it that it has been recorded that we might read it and believe it. Now that you've read it, the question is: Do you believe it?