Living by a principal of the Kingdom
(Another Perspective Concerning Our Original Diet)
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In the beginning, at the Garden of Eden, our original diet consisted of fruits, grains, nuts, and vegetables.
Those who eat flesh are but eating grains and vegetables at second hand; for the animal receives from these things the nutrition that produces growth. The life that was in the grains and vegetables passes into the eater. We receive it by eating the flesh of the animal. How much better to get it direct, by eating the food that God provided for our use![1]
And when I bring this up at a bible study, I am always asked:
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Phil 3 (v. 20) For our citizenship is in heaven....
Are we a member of the kingdom right now, or when we physically get there?
II Cor 5 (v. 20) Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ....
What is an ambassador? (an official diplomat of a foreign government)
Then shouldn’t we be living like we belong to that heavenly government? Now, in this present age??
Let’s read about what Daniel, one of the greatest prophets of the Lord, had to say about this issue:
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Dan 1 (v. 6) Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. (v. 5) And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank....(NKJV)
Animal food predominated the king’s delicacies!!
In Daniel the word simply means "food," such as was supplied to the king's table. We see in the slabs from the palace of Kou-youn-jik the nature of a royal feast. Animal food predominated.[2]
Dan 1 (v. 8) But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (KJV)
What did Daniel ask for instead of eating the king’s meat and drinking his wine?
Dan 1 (v. 11) So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel.... (v. 12) Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. (NKJV)
(Verse 16) Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. (NKJV)
It is a mistake to suppose that muscular strength depends on the use of animal food. The needs of the system can be better supplied, and more vigorous health can be enjoyed, without its use. The grains, with fruits, nuts, and vegetables, contain all the nutritive properties necessary to make good blood. These elements are not so well or so fully supplied by a flesh diet. Had the use of flesh been essential to health and strength, animal food would have been included in the diet appointed man in the beginning.[3] "Successful athletes & celebrities who have adopted man's original diet!!"
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Where do you get your protein?
This makes sense when we realize the diet of a Cow and how much it must weigh. The average Cow weighs about 1500 pounds[4] and must require alot of muscle mass to move its heavy body around. Since cows do not attack and kill other animals for their flesh, where do they get all the protein that is required to maintain their muscle mass? Something to think about, when we are told that a body builder needs to have all this protein from eating flesh foods.
What is heaven like?
Rev 21 (v. 3) ....and God Himself will be with them and be their God. (v. 4) ....there shall be no more death....and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
Does eating flesh foods involve death? Do innocent animals have to suffer pain for our enjoyment?
Balaam had given evidence of the spirit that controlled him, by his treatment of his beast ....Few realize as they should the sinfulness of abusing animals or leaving them to suffer from neglect. He who created man made the lower animals also,...The animals were created to serve man, but he has no right to cause them pain by harsh treatment or cruel exaction.[5]
Prov 12 (v. 10) A righteous man regards the life of his animal, But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
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How do you think God feels about that?
Joel 1 (v. 19) Oh Lord, to You I cry out; (v. 20) the beasts of the field also cry out to You.
The Lord feels the suffering of all the animals on the earth!!
The intelligence displayed by many dumb animals approaches so closely to human intelligence that it is a mystery. The animals see and hear and love and fear and suffer. They use their organs far more faithfully than many human beings use theirs. They manifest sympathy and tenderness toward their companions in suffering. Many animals show an affection for those who have charge of them, far superior to the affection shown by some of the human race. They form attachments for man which are not broken without great suffering to them.[6]
Are we starting to see the contrast between “living by a principle” of the kingdom, and just living by the standards of this sinful world?
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What was God’s original plan for your diet?
Gen 1 (v. 29) And God said, see I have given you every herb that yields seed....and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.
The NIV says: Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food" (Gen 1:29).
Even all of the animals were vegetarians!!
(verse 30) Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food....
Another translation expresses verse 30 as: "And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground; everything that has the breath of life in it; I give every green plant for food." And it was so (Gen 1:30).
Original Diet: God gave our first parents the food He designed that the race should eat. It was contrary to His plan to have the life of any creature taken. There was to be no death in Eden. The fruit of the trees in the garden, was the food man's wants required.[7]
God gave man no permission to eat animal food until after the flood. Everything had been destroyed upon which man could subsist, and therefore, the Lord in their necessity gave Noah permission to eat of the clean animals which he had taken with him into the ark. But animal food was not the most healthy article of food for man.[7]
( English word = Herb )
Gen 1: 29 hebrew [ 6212 ] Eseb (eh’-seb) = from an unused root meaning to glisten or be green; any tender shoot.[8]
Gen 7 (v. 23) So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground.... They were destroyed from the earth.... (v. 24) And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days.
So, if there were no fruits & vegetables to eat, then they would have to eat meat!
Now, this permission to eat meat was intended to only be temporary!!
The Lord intends to bring His people back to live upon simple fruits, vegetables, and grains.... God provided fruit in its natural state for our first parents....In grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts are to be found all the food elements that we need. If we will come to the Lord in simplicity of mind, He will teach us how to prepare wholesome food free from the taint of flesh-meat.[9]
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What will our diet be like in the New Earth?
Rev 22 (v. 2) In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month.
And also in the book of Isaiah:
Isa 65 (v. 17) For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth.... (v. 21) They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
Meat is not essential for health or strength, else the Lord made a mistake when He provided food for Adam and Eve before their fall. All the elements of nutrition are contained in the fruits, vegetables and grains.[10]
But after the fall, men chose to follow their own sinful desires; and as the result, crime and wretchedness rapidly increased....They delighted in destroying the life of animals; and the use of flesh for food rendered them still more cruel and blood-thirsty, until they came to regard human life with astonishing indifference....[10]
Things haven’t changed today; they are the same as was in times past....
Before the flood there was violence in the land--heart-sickening violence. What is acted out constantly in our cities to-day? Men are killing women and women are killing men. Young girls fifteen or sixteen years old are killed because they refuse to be the wife of some man. The same state of things exists to-day that existed before the flood, and the nearer we get to the large cities, the worse the evil is.[11]
Well, you might say that, I don’t kill any animals; I just buy their meat at the grocery store. What’s wrong with that??
I was instructed that the use of flesh meat has a tendency to animalize the nature, and to rob men and women of the love and sympathy which they should feel for every one....[12]
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Do we experience a-lot of love and sympathy from people these days?
Maybe that’s why the Apostle Paul had to keep reminding us to love!!
Eph 5 (v. 25) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church....
Titus 2 (v. 4) that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children.
Col 3 (v. 19) Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.
So, eating flesh meat affects our mind and behaviors; it robs us of the love and sympathy that we should feel towards others!!
II Tim 3 (v. 2) For men will be lovers of themselves....unthankful, unholy, (v. 3) unloving, unforgiving....without self-control, brutal, despisers of good.
What do you think, is causing people to act like this?
Flesh food is injurious to health, and whatever affects the body, has a corresponding effect on the mind and the soul. Think of the cruelty to animals that meat eating involves, and its effect on those who inflict and those who behold it. How it destroys the tenderness with which we should regard these creatures of God![13]
So whether you buy it, or do the slaughtering yourself, it contradicts the principle of living as a citizen of the Kingdom.
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What is God’s plan for how the animals would interact with each other?
Isa 65 (v. 25) The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox....they shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain.
Now, animals killing other animals for food, was a result of the Sin problem!
It was not God’s original plan from the beginning!!
Adam was surrounded with everything his heart could wish. Every want was supplied. There was no sin, and no signs of decay in glorious Eden....The peaceful beasts in happy innocence played about Adam and Eve, obedient to their word.[14]
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God created us to be at peace with the animal kingdom.
Isa 11 (v. 6) The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. (v. 7) The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together.... (v.8) The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper's den. (v. 9) They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord....
So, eating a vegetarian diet, is to live by a principle of the kingdom!
It does not have anything to do with sinning!!
Those who sincerely want to glorify God, will live on this earth as if, they are living right now in the heavenly places.
I cor 10 (v. 31) Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
On the next webpage, we will look at what some of the world's best athletes and celebrities are saying about going on a vegetarian diet.
References:
1. The Ministry of Healing, p.313, par.1
2. Pulpit Commentary, verse 5. biblehub.com/commentaries/daniel/1-5.htm
3. The Ministry of Healing, p.316, par.2
4. http://www.dairymoos.com/how-much-do-cows-weight/
5. Patriarchs and Prophets, p.442, par.5
6. The Ministry of Healing, p.315-316, par.3
7. Testimony Studies on Diet and Foods, p.125, par.6
8. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Hendrickson Publishers.
9. Testimony Studies on Diet and Foods, p.125, par.7 & 9
10. Testimony Studies on Diet and Foods, p.62, par.4-5
11. Manuscript Releases (vol.7), p.57, par.1-2
12. Counsels on Diet and Foods, p.390, par.1
13. Counsels on Diet and Foods, p.383, par.2
14. Selected Messages (book 1), p.268, par.1
Image #1: Royalty–free stock image, (n.d.). Group of fresh vegetables and fruits. Retrieved from http://www.imagesthai.com/index.php?str=4&search=raspberry&stock=depositphotos
Image #2: Living with Dual Citizenship, (2011). Retrieved from https://matthewzcapps.com/2011/07/03/living-with-dual-citizenship-matthew-2215-22/
Image #3: Living Bulwark, (2015). Daniel and his friends in Babylon. Retrieved from http://www.swordofthespirit.net/bulwark/november2011p2.htm
Image #4: Q-Mars Imandel, (n.d.). Where do you get your protein? Retrieved from (www.facebook.com/giveproject) www.thegiveproject.org
Image #5: Moby, (n.d.). Inspiring the Altruistic Moment. Retrieved from http://inspiringthealtruisticmoment.com/blog/?p=17422
Image #6: Free Bible Images, (2015). Adam could eat of any of the fruit. Retrieved from http://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/creation/
Image #7: Video Web Mastery, (2016). I am making everything new. Retrieved from http://endtimes-news-alert.com/revelation-chapter-215-8/
Image #8: Perilous Times, (n.d.). Scenes of Violence. Retrieved from https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/k7bt1yPdugY4Y-Wh92qHSlCaRRQhwuHMlK0I4HuuQJx3CM1gUAU1RxUgYVWJk-DMQ05B_xE=s30
Image #9: Philadelphia Church of God, (n.d). The lion, the lamb, the little child—and you. Retrieved from https://www.pcog.org/articles/2631/peace-begins-with-you
Image #10: God’s Hot Spot, (2017). Lion, Lamb, Child Playing. Retrieved from https://godshotspot.wordpress.com/2017/04/03/lion-lamb-child-playing/
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