After some time away from blogging and online discussions, I’ve noticed ongoing issues with the teachings of Shepherd's Chapel, particularly their promotion of the serpent-seed doctrine. Following Arnold Murray's passing in February 2014, Dennis Murray has taken over as the primary teacher, continuing to propagate the same theological errors. Notably, Shepherd's Chapel’s website does not acknowledge Arnold Murray’s death, and many of its followers seem reluctant to discuss it. This article addresses the serpent-seed doctrine, a teaching that misinterprets Scripture to claim that Satan and Eve produced literal offspring, known as the "Kenites," who are falsely identified as Jews today. This doctrine is a heresy, and the following analysis demonstrates its biblical inaccuracies.
Judging, Trinity, Millennium, Kenites, and more.
After a long hiatus, I’m back to address comments left on this blog, many of which criticized my judgment of other Christian teachers. Some argue that judging others is inappropriate, but Scripture provides clear guidance on this matter. In 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 (ESV), Paul writes:
“For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. ‘Purge the evil person from among you.’”
This passage instructs believers to evaluate the teachings of those within the church who claim to follow Christ. Shepherd’s Chapel, led by the late Arnold Murray and now by his son Dennis Murray, claims to be a Christian ministry. Therefore, it is not only appropriate but biblically mandated to examine their teachings and warn others about errors or heresies.
Jesus and the apostles frequently confronted false teachings, often naming specific individuals or groups (e.g., Matthew 23, Galatians 2:11-14). Identifying false teachers by name ensures clarity in warning others, a practice rooted in Scripture. I stand unapologetically by this approach.
Refuting Shepherd's Chapel - Hell (Matthew 10:28)
Shepherd's Chapel, a religious group, teaches annihilationism, the belief that the unsaved cease to exist rather than face eternal punishment in hell. This doctrine, also held by groups like Seventh-day Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses, contradicts the traditional biblical understanding of eternal judgment (Matthew 25:46). This article examines the errors in Shepherd's Chapel’s interpretation, focusing on their misuse of key scriptures, and presents a clear, biblically grounded argument for eternal punishment.
Katabole and 3 Earth Ages
Several years ago, I shared YouTube videos and a blog post addressing errors in the teachings of Shepherd's Chapel, particularly those promoted by its founder, Arnold Murray. While my previous content briefly outlined and countered some of their false teachings, such as their views on Hell and the Kenite (serpent seed) doctrine, this article focuses specifically on their doctrine of the Katabole and the Three Earth Ages. This teaching misinterprets key biblical terms and concepts, leading to significant theological errors that require clear refutation.
Whosoever Will?
Who Is the "Whosoever" in John 3:16?
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16 (KJV)
John 3:16 is one of the most well-known verses in Scripture, proclaiming God’s love for the world and the gift of His Son for salvation. But who is the “whosoever” that believes? Some interpret this verse as teaching universal atonement, suggesting that salvation is available to all based on human free will. However, a closer look at Scripture reveals a different perspective.
Understanding the Trinity: One God, Three Persons
The doctrine of the Trinity is a foundational belief in Christianity, describing who God is according to the Bible. It teaches that there is one God who exists eternally as three distinct persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal, co-eternal, and each fully God, yet there is only one God, not three.
Shepherd's Chapel - My Story
I’ve publicly shared on my blog and YouTube channel that I was once a student of Shepherd’s Chapel, a claim met with accusations of lying in comments and posts. To set the record straight, here’s my story.
A Call for Scriptural Clarity
Engaging in discussions with individuals deeply committed to certain theological perspectives can be challenging, particularly when those perspectives diverge from mainstream Christian doctrine. I recently shared a video on this topic, inviting followers of Shepherd's Chapel to substantiate their beliefs with clear biblical evidence. My focus was on their teaching that the "elect" were chosen due to actions in a supposed "first earth age," where they were justified by standing with God against Satan. This concept lacks explicit support in Scripture and warrants careful examination.
The Third Heaven: Understanding Its Biblical Significance
The Bible provides profound insights into the nature of God’s creation, including the celestial realms where angels dwell. A key verse that illuminates this topic is Nehemiah 9:6, which declares:
You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. (Nehemiah 9:6, ESV)
This passage establishes God as the sole creator of the universe, encompassing the "heaven of heavens" and its "host." The "host of heaven" refers to the angels, celestial beings created to serve and worship God. This concept is reinforced in Genesis 2:1, which states:
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. (Genesis 2:1, ESV)
Here, the "host" includes the angels, created alongside the heavens and the earth as described in Genesis 1:1–2. These verses collectively affirm that the angels, as part of the heavenly host, were present from the beginning of creation, worshiping and glorifying God.
With Child from the Holy Spirit
The Bible describes the birth of Jesus Christ as follows:
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18 ESV)
God’s Unfailing Work in Salvation
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3, ESV).
What a glorious truth! Our salvation is not something we earned, deserved, or initiated. It is entirely the work of God, rooted in His great mercy. As Peter declares, God caused us to be born again. This new birth is not a fleeting moment or a fragile state—it is a transformation that ushers us into a living hope, made possible through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The same power that raised Jesus from the grave now works in us, securing our salvation for eternity. Since God is the author of our salvation, we can trust that He will preserve it forever.
The Core of Christian Faith: Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign Savior
From the perspective of Calvinism and New Covenant Theology, we affirm that Jesus Christ is fully God, coeternal and consubstantial with the Father, exercising divine sovereignty over all creation. His eternal existence underscores God’s unchanging decree to redeem His elect through Christ’s perfect work, fulfilled in the New Covenant established by His blood.
The Millennium
The Partial Preterist perspective interprets many eschatological events, such as the judgments described in Revelation, as fulfilled around the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. In this view, the Millennium of Revelation 20:1-6 is understood as either a symbolic representation of the Church age following AD 70 or a literal 1,000-year period after that event. This contrasts with Premillennialism, which expects a future literal 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth. Let’s examine key scriptures to explore this interpretation.
His Will, Not Our Own: Understanding God’s Sovereign Grace
The human heart, as described in Scripture, is deeply flawed and incapable of seeking God on its own. This truth lies at the core of understanding salvation as an act of God’s sovereign will, not human effort. Through key biblical passages, we see that salvation is entirely a work of God’s grace, initiated and completed by His divine will.
Original Sin and Ezekiel 18
Ezekiel 18:20 (NKJV): “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”
Does Ezekiel 18:20 contradict the doctrine of original sin? To address this, we must first define original sin, examine its biblical basis, and then interpret Ezekiel 18:20 in context to determine whether it challenges this doctrine.