Brandan Kraft’s Violation Of Revelation 22:18-19
“We think the book of James is trash…I personally cannot find anything of redeeming value from the book of James”
(Brandan Kraft – July 19th, 2007 (Kraft posted the following quote on his forum in a thread titled, “James Exposed.” The remark was made in Brandan Kraft’s first post on the very first page of the thread).
Brandan Kraft wrote:
“There are other topics in James that I also find questionable such as chapter 5. What is James’ primary beef with rich people? It’s almost like it has gnostic roots.”
“Nicholas, it has [been] posted numerous times on here, I don’t think anyone here resents anyone for embracing the book of James as “canonical.” Yes it is in the canon, but reprobates put together the “Canon.” The “canon” as everyone calls it is an invention of men. Usually, it’s the supporters of the “canon” that resent the dissenters. They can’t stand that we think the book of James is trash. I don’t think there was any conflict here, and I agree, there is a lot of inspired writing out there that is not in the canon that in my opinion is authoritative. You’ll even find some of it right on this website.“
In the same post the heretic Brandan Kraft writes:
“I personally cannot find anything of redeeming value from the book of James or from the account of his life found in the gospels and the books of Acts other than the fact that it simply reminds us that we will never be free of the leglizers until Jesus returns. We are experiencing the tribulation that began with “certain” followers of James. . . .”
(Brandan Kraft – July 19th, 2007 – “James Exposed.”).
“To say James is authoritative because it’s in the bible is about as dumb a statement that can be made because the BIBLE is not authoritative. The BIBLE is a COLLECTION of books that a group of men DECIDED was authoritative.”
“I despise the book of James!”
(Brandan Kraft – Myspace profile)
What does God’s word say about this heresy and hatreed towards his word?
Revelation 22:18-19
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Below is an excerpt from a short study or Revelation 22:18-19, the link to the full article is at the bottom of this page.
Already in Deuteronomy 4:2 God said, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you”.
God anticipated that the children of Israel would tamper with the Word of God. But Deuteronomy 4:2 is not as strongly worded as Revelation 22:18-19, because Deuteronomy 4:2 only concerns the commandments of God.
We also read in Proverbs 30:5-6 the equivalent of Revelation 22:18, where God says, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar”.
And as you know, “all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone”.
What is the main problem with adding or taking away from the words of the Bible?
There Is No Fear of God Before Their Eyes (2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
In the second letter of Peter God addresses the problem of false teachers who quietly shall bring into the church damnable heresies.
Why will they do that?
It is because there is money to be made in those heresies, and moreover, “There is no fear of God before their eyes”.
2 Peter 1:20
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2 Peter 1:21
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Verse 20 says that we may not approach the Bible with our own interpretation. We may not come to our neighbor and say, “Whatever the Bible means to you is the truth for you”, for the next verse says that the words in the Bible are words from God. God spoke in old time through the mouths of holy men of God, and what they said and what they wrote are words that were given them by God the Holy Spirit.
Therefore we may not invent an interpretation that comes out of our own mind, or invent an interpretation that came from the culture of those days. It must be an interpretation that harmonizes with the remainder of the Word of God, for God cannot lie. And thus we must approach the Bible with awe and respect, and with fear and trembling, as if God was speaking to us personally.
A passage that is often quoted in support of 2 Peter 1:21 is 2 Timothy 3:16-17, where God says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works”.
What it all boils down to is this:
God spoke the words of the Bible, and we better listen carefully, or else we may be guilty of contempt of God. At any time that we encounter a passage that we must understand, or a problem that we face in our life we must ask:
What did God say?
What is God’s opinion about this matter?
Holy men of God spoke and wrote the words that God moved them to write. In the Old Testament God’s words were written in Hebrew, and in the New Testament God’s words were written in Greek. We have in our hands the KJV, which is as close as possible a word by word translation out of the Hebrew Masoretic Text and out of the Greek Textus Receptus. These are the two most reliable documents of the Word of God.
Which God Are We Worshipping? (John 1:1, Revelation 19:11-13, James 3:1)
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Here in this verse the Lord Jesus Christ is called “The Word”, the Logos. Moreover, when God says “the Word was God” He underscores that Jesus Christ is not only the Son of God, but He is fully God.
In many other parts of the Bible God identifies “the Logos” with the Word of God, the Bible. And thus we come to recognize that the Bible, the Word of God, is identified with the Lord Jesus Christ. God confirms this conclusion in Revelation 19:11-13, where Christ appears as the Judge of all the world, and He is given the name: “Word of God”
Revelation 19:11-12
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
What does this tell us about the Word of God?
It tells us that the Bible, the Word of God, from cover to cover, is a description of the Lord Jesus Christ. And now the adding or taking away from the Word of God enters into the equation. The Bible is our Authority. Not only is it a description of the Lord Jesus Christ, but it also has become the Authority that we obey. If then we would add or take away from the Bible we would produce another authority over us, and thus another god which rules over us.
Let us consider a vivid picture of our actions:
When we add to the Bible by claiming additional messages from God, like the Roman church has done through the centuries by adding the utterances of the saints as if they were inspired by God, then we have changed the face of Christ.
Every time we add another message from God, it is as if we have produced another lump on the face of Christ, and thus we have produced another god, which does not look at all like Christ.
Every time we take away from the Word of God it is as if we have gouged out a piece of flesh out of the face of Christ, and thus we have produced another god, which does not look at all like Christ. And thus we would engage in the sin of idolatry. The sin of idolatry is the sin that God hates most of all.
Revelation 21:8 says that idolaters have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. And the false teachers who have created these idols, who lead others with them into Hell, shall receive the hottest place in Hell according to James 3:1. And thus we can see that the doctrine of Revelation 22:18-19 is a most useful doctrine, for it gives us the discernment to know right from wrong. This is the sharp edge of the sword of the Spirit. This is the most useful tool God has given us to defend ourselves against the wiles of the Devil and against all the evil forces that try to persuade us to come to their side. Even if one day we would stand all alone, we would still see right from wrong. Praise God that He has given us this tool of discernment.
AMEN.
To read the full article please click below.
http://testallthings.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/a-short-study-of-revelation-2218-19/
Chris you have yet exposed another heretic who has rejected His Word. Thanks for the information.
Larry Phillips
Hey Larry, I’m kind of disappointed in my fellow Missourian (the show me state)! Why not examine what it is I believe and discuss how you got your bible. All I see from you guys is a bunch of harsh rhetoric with no rhyme or reason to what you believe. And Luba, you are the one I’m most disappointed in!
Brandan, I thought you’ve done being disappointed with me when I first rejected the way Mr Higby and other people on your forum treated the Book of James. Since then you’ve regressed into labelling this inspired Epistle ”trash”, and that on top of urging people to reject yet more books of the Bible as uninspired! Who has appointed your mentor Mr Higby an arbiter of the Word of God? And you following him blindly! Talk about being disappointed!
There can be no discussion between unbelievers and believers in 66 Books of the Bible. These two groups of people have no common ground whatsoever because they have opposite authorities, which makes any debate between them meaningless.
Shame on all instigators of the destruction of Scripture and their followers!
I find the following statement made by Brandan Kraft very disturbing:
“To say James is authoritative because it’s in the bible is about as dumb a statement that can be made because the BIBLE is not authoritative. The BIBLE is a COLLECTION of books that a group of men DECIDED was authoritative.”
This is exactly the same comments I have heard from unbelievers many times in the past.
Surely as Christians, knowing that God is sovereign, his Holy Word complete, inspired and preserved is our answer to such ignorance.
If anyone, Brandan and others included, question the epistle of James (and various others) where do they stop?
If the bible is merely “man’s” creation, then what is to stop them questioning other “books” in the future?
(I say “books” as I believe the bible, God’s holy word, to be ONE book, which should be taken as all or not at all)
Is this not the case with the liberals?
They deny the literal days of creation, the virgin birth, the age of Methuselah…..they take away from God’s word……they violate Reevelation 22:18-19.
It is also so disturbing to me, and so arrogant, that basically what is being said by these opposers of God’s word, (the epistle of James especially), is that “Well, these books and a few verses here and there aren’t of God, but WE’RE happy with these ones”
This is such BLASPHEMY.
We should not be followers of men, but of GOD, and him alone.
Nobody here has given me a reason why I should embrace James. Is it because YOU do? Is that the only reason? Is it because a bunch of councils said I should? WHY should I embrace James – because all of CHRISTENDUMB / churchianity does? Give me a break!
I believe in the Gospel of Justification by Christ Alone. I believe in experiential justification by faith alone. THAT is what I use to judge ALL things. James ch. 2 goes against this teaching, and that is why I reject it. You can call me a heretic, call me names, etc. But it doesn’t change the fact that I have an objective standard while YOU rely on councils, tradition, and the doctrines of MEN to determine what is authoritative for your life. I REST on the sword of the Gospel – not the determination of reprobate men that you all are exalting!
I’ve invited Chris to discuss this with me rather than slam me from a distance. I personally do not think he knows how to defend his position. And Luba, I don’t think you know how to defend your position either. Your sharp rhetoric against me without any logical argument only shows your position is rooted in emotionalism and is akin to superstition rather than Gospel light. I’m willing to discuss this with you too if you are so inclined. I’ll even debate you via voice and record it so that you can “expose” me even further if you desire.
None of you are banned from our website and may participate if you desire. I am however left to believe that you cannot defend your position with sound reason and Gospel propositions if you continue to stonewall and refuse to debate me mano-a-mano. Tossing the “liberal” word around to prove a point is a logical fallacy used to scare your readers into thinking you’re “right”. It only affects those who have an obsession with the Roman Catholic religion and her protestant stepdaughters!
Gospel Blessings,
Brandan
Brandan,
1 Can you name a person who commands you what to do? No, you cannot, and yet you are complaining that people are forcing you to accept the Book of James as inspired part of the Bible! Nobody is forcing you to do anything. People are responding, they are not telling you what you should or should not accept. You are allowed to reject the Epistle of James as uninspired (nobody stopped you so far), and people are allowed not to agree with you. Or not? Or are you allowed to express your views but others are not allowed to respond the way they wish to your ideas? And if they still dare to, ‘they are on crack’, as you’ve politely remarked when they quoted your own words. Spoilt children usually figure things out by such logic.
2 Never will I discuss with you anything concerning God and His Word in 66 books. Not in voice, nor in writing. You and I do not stand on the same platform, we do not have the same foundation from which we can discuss God’s Word, nor do we have the same final and absolute authority. The way the Book of James was placed among 66 books of the Bible is not the issue for me but it is the decisive issue for you – a Trojan horse into the destruction of the Word of God: complaining about some council, or some people… I know that it is what you want to squabble about back and forth, but I am not going to do it. God can use any means to make sure that His whole counsel is available for His children to believe, rejoice and to live by – to each generation according to God’s revelation in their age and time. I am delighted and endlessly grateful TODAY for each and every one of the 66 inspired by God books. You do not share this conviction, and therefore we cannot discuss anything of God with you.
3 While not discussing with you how the book of James came into the cannon of Scripture, I can prove to you that theologically it fits perfectly into the whole Bible because it’s doctrine is identical. A very simple example: if Rahab sat in Jericho, loudly repeating on and on that she loves Hebrews’ God but did not do what she did to help the spies, how would her faith in God look? People would have good reason to doubt her faith. Everybody knows that the help this woman provided is NOT a contribution into her salvation, is NOT adding to the Work of Christ on the cross, but a result of God’s mercy on her.
Or if Abram went on repeating: ‘I hear You, God. Fine, yes, I believe you very much with all my heart’, but kept on sitting in Ur – what kind of faith in God’s Word would it be? How could Abraham prove that he really believes what God told him other than acting upon his faith? There is not one proof of your theory in the Bible that faith without resulting works is the true faith – not one.
If Abraham announced that he believes what God tells Him and loves the Lord but was not ready to sacrifice Isaac – what kind of faith without works would it be? And yet it is exactly what you cannot stand in the Book of James – the fruits, the proof of people being saved. James does not say anything at all which the rest of the Bible does not teach. James writes to people (probably such ones like yourself) that it won’t do repeating that they are saved by God’s grace alone in Christ alone while leaving their brethren starving, freezing and in all kinds of trouble when they could have helped! How does what James is saying differ from the rest of the Bible? It doesn’t!
What if Paul after his conversion went on repeating on and on that he believes in salvation by grace alone in Christ alone but did nothing – what kind of faith would it be? The truth that God knows His people from eternity does not cancel His decree that His converted people must evince their faith by their works! A new-born Christian cannot continue living in sin as he did before his conversion – that is what the Bible is teaching.
The Epistle of James is exactly and precisely what the rest of the Bible is teaching consistently, persistently and on every page! James is saying the same thing: he is addressing antinomians like yourself, trying to help them by pointing out what God teaches in His whole Word – faith without works=fruits is not a true faith but a false one, because anybody can repeat ‘I am saved by God’s grace in Christ alone’ – it is not hard to make such pronouncements, but to prove by the befitting fruits that this faith is real is another thing. Jesus Himself said many times: by their fruits ye shall know them! How is James different from what Jesus says?
I looked very hard but could not find one verse which teaches that a converted child of God should not bear any fruit of the Holy Spirit indwelling him, thus evincing that the faith he has is true faith. Obviously, works by themselves do not prove that one is a Christian, but it does not mean that now the works by true faith should be chucked into the bin. Because works, same as faith, can be false, does not allow us to discard these works. There are many false christs around – do we discard the Lord of Glory because of the false christs? There are plenty of false gospels around – why don’t we ditch the true one on these grounds? So then, if works can be false and not a guarantee that one’s faith is the true one, do we now dismiss the doctrine of resulting works out of God’s Book? Do we throw away the truth because it is perverted non-stop millions times per day?
But you don’t like this God’s doctrine that His people have to manifest fruits of their true faith, do you, Brandan? And therefore you use various ‘obstacles’ as an excuse for the exclusion of the Book of James, as well as other books, out of Scripture. As I’ve mentioned before – you go ahead and believe what you wish, remembering that others have full right to vigorously disagree with you, and hopefully they will oppose your views without pronouncing you being on crack.
4 You have accused me of being guided by emotion instead of basing my statements on facts. Again, Brandan, you are making accusations without being able to back them up. There was not one statement of mine which was based on my emotion and not on proven facts. Since I first protested against your treatment of the Book of James, did you or did you not regress into calling this Epistle ‘garbage’? You did not use this language when we communicated with you last time, but now you do blaspheme the Word of God openly and proudly, and therefore I wrote that you’ve regressed, and therefore we cannot discuss with you any one thing of God. So I am not making statements based on my emotions, although I am appalled beyond words by your attitude to the Word of God. Nothing emotional here, only statements of proven facts of what you are writing and my response to it.
James 1:16-18
Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
This is the truth upon which James is founded, interpret the book in light of this passage and it is consistent with the rest of the NT. Peter tells us about Brandan and others here:
2 Peter 3:14-18
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Remember the scriptures were not written using chapters and verses, this is a modern invention introduced to help people find certain passages. We are to teach the whole counsel of God, not just snippets from here and there.
Michael Lyman, a good reminder that the Bible is One Word of God, never to be interpreted by a verse read in isolation.
May I ask you whether you believe that people are not obligated to believe the gospel and to repent?
God commands all men everywhere to repent, the elect are able to do so because of regeneration, the reprobate disobey this command as they do all the commandments of God. The reprobate are neither able or willing to do so.
Acts 11:18
When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”
Acts 13:48
Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
John 6:28-29
Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
John 6:35-66
And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”
Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”
These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”
When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
Matthew 1:21
And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
The Lord Jesus accomplishes all He has ever planned to do, He will save His people from their sins.
John Newton the author of Amazing Grace also wrote the following hymn:
1 The castle of the human heart,
Strong in its native sin,
Is guarded well in every part
By him who dwells within.
2 For Satan there in arms resides,
And calls the place his own;
With care against assaults provides,
And rules as on a throne.
3 But Jesus, stronger far than he,
In his appointed hour,
Appears to set his people free
From the usurper’s power.
4 “This heart I bought with blood,” he says,
“And now it shall be mine;”
His voice the strong one armed dismays;
He knows he must resign.
5 In spite of unbelief, and pride,
And self, and Satan’s art,
The gates of brass fly open wide,
And Jesus wins the heart.
Luke 11:21-22
“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. “
Michael,
Thanks for the answer.
I asked because there are people who believe that God does not command reprobates to believe the gospel and therefore they don’t have to – because they are not capable of believing and repenting. This vain theory is called rejection (?) of the ‘duty faith’, ‘duty repentance’ and maybe some other ‘duties’ are there.
Good that you are not one of those who think that there are people who are not obligated to God to believe and to obey His commands. The fact that nobody can believe without God’s grace in Christ by the Holy Spirit does not mean that those who are not ordained to eternal life somehow skip the responsibility to believe and to repent.
James is Scripture. I know in my very soul that it is.
Have nothing to do with Hyper Calvinism, it goes nowhere but into the wilderness of speculation.
The Bible is God’s book, end of story.
Maybe Darth Gill will as happened in StarWars return to the fold one day. The last two verses of James are of interest here.
If anyone believes that James teaches justification by works then they are not understanding it properly and should humble themselves before the word of God.
And to be honest, if he says that he cannot find anything in the letter of James of worth and obviously inspired then I would say that he could be ‘devoid’ of the Spirit of God.
Strong words but maybe needed in this case.