A) THE WEDDING RING.

B) DOES GOD SANCTION THE WEARING OF JEWELRY?

C) CONSIDER THESE QUESTIONS.

D) WHERE REAL BEAUTY IS FOUND.

E) TO THE BIBLE.

F) BACK TO THE TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE.

G) A GEM FOR EACH DAY OF THE WEEK.

H) TO YOUR OBJECTIONS.

 

 

A) THE WEDDING RING

 

 

Let me first state”  That In Order To Be Successful, Reforms Must Be Conducted No Faster Than The People Can Understand These New To Them Biblical Truths.  Also keep in mind, that with God it is not so much what you can’t do, but what you can do that will bless everyone.

 

From “www.nisbett.com” we read:  “In earlier times the ring was associated with the Sun and Moon [gods].  It was an object of protection, a magical guard that warded off negativity through its continuity.  The finger on which a ring is worn has magical significance.  The index, or ‘ring’ finger was once thought to be especially powerful.  Herbal medicines were applied to the body with the ring finger to strengthen the effectiveness of the cure.  Thus, rings containing stones which speed the body’s healing are best worn on this finger.”

 

You may not view it as such, but this comes out of spiritualism; which is how God sees it.  Because we now know that the wedding ring originated in Babylon, the cradle of civilization.  The most ancient ring discovered there is in the shape of the “Eternal Serpent.”   Image of the serpent biting its tail to form the circle of the ring is an ancient Satanic symbol.  It is still displayed today on the church of Satan website and in their churches.

 

In an interesting observation, in astrology, the thumb is correlated with Venus, the index finger is associated with Jupiter, the middle finger is linked to Saturn, the ring finger is interconnected with the sun, and the small finger is affiliated with Mercury.  Thus, the wearing of the wedding ring used to be thought of as one who worships the sun.  Also, the ring finger used to also be called the “Heart Finger,” because it was believed that it was directly connected to the heart by a special vein or nerve; the heart being on ones left side.

 

When the German King Maximilian I (1459-1519) married Mary of Burgundy, in 1477 A.D., he presented her with a precious stone.  And thus began the tradition of the diamond engagement ring.  In a side note:  Queen Victoria of England (1819-1901) inspired the tradition of the bride wearing the “white” wedding gown.

 

This is no longer the case.  But the early Methodists followed the teaching of John Wesley that wedding rings were of pagan origins and should not be worn.  Mennonites likewise rejected the wedding ring as pagan.  All early Baptists in America rejected the use of the pagan wedding ring.  The original Seventh-Day Adventists abstained from the use of the wedding ring because of its pagan origin.  All the holiness movements, including the more devout Apostolic Pentecostals rejected the wedding ring as pagan.  And of course, the Nazarene church rejected any ring as magnifying oneself; especially the wedding ring because of its pagan origins.

 

From “Essay on the Development of the Christian Doctrine,” by John H. Newman states:  “The use of temples, and these dedicated to particular saints, and ornamented on occasions with branches of trees; incense, lamps. . . the ring in marriage, turning to the East [worship of the sun], images at a later date. . . are all of pagan origin, and sanctified by their adoption into the church.”

 

That “diamond” in the wedding ring represents the “light bearer,” which is the meaning of “Lucifer.”  While the “gold” represents the worship of the sun-god.  And the circle represents Satan living eternally and in one’s life as long as they wear it.  If still not convinced, read on.

 

 

B) DOES GOD SANCTION THE WEARING OF JEWELRY

 

 

To be sure, God sanctions Jewelry when we discover Isaiah 61:10; Jeremiah 2:32; Ezekiel 16:11-14.  And if we also see Genesis 24:30, we find it must have been accepted in Abraham’s house.  We can know this because even Lucifer was adorned with jewels in Heaven (Eze. 28:13).  Satan was literally a walking jewelry store.  However, as we know, he became lifted up because of his beauty (Eze. 28:15 & 17); not necessarily speaking of his jewels.  How much more us?  Should we not be putting on the righteousness of Christ instead and be more concerned about that aspect of our lives?

 

What most people miss is the fact, that once Israel had learned to be humble before our Lord, and understanding that the wearing of fine things was to glorify God and not oneself, they can discover Exodus 33:4 & 6:  “[4] and no man did put on him his ornaments. [6] So from the time they left Mount Sinai, the Israelites wore no more jewelry or fine clothes.”  Did they latter stray from that humility?  Of course.  But don’t miss the point.  We should exude the glory of Christ and not our possessions.

 

In another side note:  Ezekiel 23:40 mentions painting the eyes and decking one’s self with ornaments!  Honestly, I think the slippery slope started when a prominent preacher by the name of James Dobson said makeup was “OK,” and another well-known preacher said something to this affect, “If the barn needs painting, paint it.”  Since those days, many have become excessive in their usage of both cosmetics and jewelry, causing another prominent preacher named Doug Batchelor to exclaim:  “enough gold in the Church to make a golden calf.”  Lastly, Dr. Dino has been quoted as stating, “If you are not in the business [of prostitution], don’t advertise.”

 

By contrast, we will be wearing “crowns” in Heaven.  But we must understand that when God puts any type of jewelry upon us, it has a specific purpose and is functional and not worship-able.

 

 

C) CONSIDER THESE QUESTIONS

 

 

When you sanctify your Church building, do you then put graffiti on the inside of, or especially on the outside of the Church building for all to see?

 

Consider these questions when you think of wearing jewelry for yourself:

 

1) Why do people wear jewelry (men and women)?  Is it to look more beautiful?  What does the Bible say about beauty?

Here is First Peter 3:3-4:  “(3) Whose adorning let it not be [DON’T DO IT] that outward adorning of plaiting [interweaving; intertwining; G1708, “elaborate decorations”] the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel [fancy or expensive clothes; all this to say, “Look at me”]; (4) But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”

 

The Aramaic Bible puts verse 3 this way:  “Do not be adorned with outward ornaments of your hair braids or of gold jewelry or fine clothing.”

2) When you buy jewelry, what are you desiring those who see you wearing it to be thinking about you?  Does it attract them more to our Lord?  Does it point them more to Jesus?  Here is First Timothy 2:9-10:  “(9) In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness [“decency” “NIV”] and sobriety [moderation]; not with broided hair [fancy hairdos; referring to gaudy show in which strands of gold and silver and jewels would glisten in the sunlight]], or gold, or pearls, or costly array; (10) But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”

 

3) Is there a place in the Bible where it really says not to wear jewelry?  Here is First Timothy 2:9 again:  “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with [DON’T DO IT] broided [braided] hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.”

 

4) What does God think of those who adorn themselves with jewelry when not serving Him?  Here is Hosea 2:13:  “And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat Me, saith the Lord.”

 

5) Other strong common-sense verses are found in Genesis 35:2 & 4:  “[2] Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: [4] And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.”

 

Most people understand Jacob “hid[ding]” the “strange gods,” but miss the “earrings;” either on purpose or poor reading habits.  They also discount that Biblical FACT that jewelry is often associated with “strange” or “false” “gods.”

 

6) Another is Isaiah 3:16-23:  “[16] Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: [17] Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts. [18] In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls {the large fatty omentum covering the intestines (as of a cow, sheep, or pig)}, and their round tires like the moon, [19] The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, [20] The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, [21] The rings, and nose jewels, [22] The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, [23] The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.”  Again, “haughty[ness]” in the Bible is sometimes associated with the wearing of jewelry.

 

7) Consider what normally happens with Jewelry in Judges 8:24-27:  “[24] And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey.  (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites). {NOTE:  It was a distinction; meaning the Israelites at this time did not]. [25] And they answered, We will willingly give them.  And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. [26] And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks. [27] And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah:  and all Israel went thither a whoring after it:  which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.”

 

 

D) WHERE REAL BEAUTY IS FOUND

 

 

Real beauty is found in the Lord.  Here is Psalms 90:17:  “And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us.”  If wearing jewelry is raising a question for you in your mind, then God must be telling you that He wants your “treasure” to be laid up in Heaven.  May God bless you as you make your decision for Him.
 

Here is an interesting thought from Ezekiel 7:19, in that the wearing of their gold could not deliver them from the wrath of the Lord, because they were not clothed with the additional clothing of Christ’s righteousness:  “They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed:  their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord:  they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels:  because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.”  Did you notice that these things were/are a “stumblingblock” to them/us?

 

The point is, where do we want our treasure to be, here on earth, or in Heaven?  If jewelry is an obsession, then one must reevaluate one’s lifestyle.  Modesty in jewelry God winks at.  Let Him put your jewels on.  We can spend lots of money on ourselves, or we can spend our energy, time, and money on helping to tell others about Jesus so that He can come back to take us to the mansions He has made for those who are obedient to Him and His righteous ways.  When we do His work, we are storing up our treasures in Heaven, instead of a jewelry box on our dressers.

 

E) TO THE BIBLE

 

 

Consider Genesis 35:1-4:

 

1.  And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there:  and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

2.  Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

3.  And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.

4.  And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.

 

Notice the “change your garments” of verse two and the giving of “all their earrings” of verse four.  These are one and the same.  In other words, Jacob wanted his family to be clear of these outward adornments when going into the place where the Lord was present; as we should do if we want to have our Lord be present at all times with us.

 

Also, if you will take notice of Exodus 33:1-6:

 

1.  And the Lord said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it:

2.  And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:

3.  Unto a land flowing with milk and honey:  for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people:  lest I consume thee in the way.

4.  And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned:  and no man did put on him his ornaments.

5.  For the Lord had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people:  I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee:  therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.

6.  And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb.

 

Notice verse 4 again, pointing out that “when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned:  and no man did put on him his ornaments.”  In other words, when the people felt convicted by our Lord they dispensed with their own adornment, seeking rather to have our Lord’s presence stay with them.  Notice also that it was our Lord Himself that requested that they dispense with the wearing of their jewelry (verse 5).

 

Also, looking at Isaiah 3:16-24, we can again see that jewelry only leads people in general, and even God’s chosen, to worldly aspirations, which leads to the anger of our Lord:

 

16.  Moreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:

17.  Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts.

18.  In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,

19.  The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,

20.  The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,

21.  The rings, and nose jewels,

22.  The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,

23.  The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.

24.  And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.

 

Did you notice that the “daughters,” when they had become “haughty,” or were already “haughty,” they began wearing “tinkling,” or jewelry around “their feet,” verse 4?  And that “The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, The rings, and nose jewels, The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails,” only leads to worldly ambitions and objectives, instead of Godly values.

And here is Jeremiah 4:30:  “And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do?  Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.”  Here again we find jewelry as an instrument and indication of the corrupt hearts of the wearers.

 

Ezekiel 23:40 is another verse that teaches us that our Lord associates jewelry with harlotry:  “And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger was sent; and, lo, they came:  for whom thou didst wash thyself, paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments.”  Indeed, “for whom” did you do this, for God and His values or for your own conception of what other people may think as being beautiful?

 

Hosea 2:13 teaches us that jewelry is an instrument for being forgetful of our Lord and His blessings:  “And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat Me, saith the LORD.”

 

And in Revelation 17:1-5, which is “the judgment of the great whore,” this Book uses Old Testament language to proclaim the Old Testament thought process, in that jewelry is associated with “abominations and filthiness of her fornication.”  Here is part of verse 5:  “the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand [all these being accredited to her as being] full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication [which is prostitution and adultery].”  She could have used these properly, but because she is who she is, she decked herself with “pride” because of her jewels, instead of learning God’s Will.

 

Therefore, in light of these texts from Genesis to Revelation, it is reasonable to believe that the Bible is telling us that jewelry can be, and usually is, associated with rebellion and apostasy.  Consequently, it is reasonable to believe that today’s followers of God should take heed to these warnings on how they dress and adorn themselves.  From all of these verses and the position that comes forth from Scripture, this is why Paul writes to Timothy, describing the proper dress of women in the Church.  Men need to also take heed, because they can be extravagant also in their adornment or gifts to their ladies.

 

Most businesses have a dress code these days.  Why would Christians think that God is any less concerned about how we dress than these secular businesses that make it a matter of contention?

 

 

F) BACK TO THE TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE

 

Our question should be, “What best pleases our Lord” and not “What best pleases me to fit in worldly?”  Let us go back to the teachings of First Peter 3:3-5:  “[3] Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; [4] but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible.  Even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. [5] For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands.”  God looks at the “meek and quiet spirit” and whether or not these jewels are detracting from that form of “adorn[ment].”

 

Also First Timothy 2:9-10:  “[9] In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; [10] But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”  Again, God is looking at our “good works” and whether or not these articles of “adorn[ment]” are detracting from that.

 

If we look at Isaiah 3:16-23 again, we find that “In that day,” the day of the Lord, His Second Coming.  In other words, start NOW to get rid of such things as listed there, because, He “will take away” those things.

 

If we look at Isaiah 61:10 closely, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He [WHO] hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels,” we can see that the main point is that God wants to clothe the individual with “salvation” and “with the robe of righteousness,” as compared to man’s attempt at outward beauty.  By contrast, here appears to be one place of a few were adornment is acceptable, i.e., the wedding ceremony.  However, our Lord is speaking of the heathen who deck themselves thusly, while He wishes to dress them with righteousness; and dress the righteous in righteousness.

 

If we examine another verse, Jeremiah 2:32, we can determine if:  “Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.”  Here we can again see that the outward adorning of the people played no part in the inward adorning of the soul; yet rather, the jewelry helped in the forming of a worldly people able to “have forgotten” their God.

 

Consider Jeremiah 4:30 again:  “And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do?  Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.”  Notice that God says that “when thou art spoiled,” THEN comes the putting of jewelry on.  Also, notice the application of makeup in that verse.

 

Let’s take a look at Ezekiel 16:11-14:

11. I [The Lord did this] decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.

12. And I [The Lord did this] put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.

13. Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil:  and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.

14. And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty:  for it was perfect through [Whose?] My comeliness, which I [The Lord did this] had put upon thee, saith the Lord God.

 

According to verse 14, God did the dressing in verses 11-14.  Here we can also notice that jewelry is not wrong in and of itself, when placed upon us by God Himself.  By contrast, even when God gives us money, power, and influence, which leads to worldly “renown,” as we learn later in verse 15, “But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by,” even though we could have a broader scope in teaching the world about our loving Father, the jewelry usually only makes us look at our “own beauty,” instead of leading us to the fact that the robe of Christ’s righteousness (see Isaiah 61:10 again) is what we must wear at all times.

 

Let us consider Ezekiel 16:15 again, as all too often happens when we are given or gain riches, we tend towards what happened to Lucifer even in Heaven:  “But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and played the harlot.”  How much better to guard the heart and stay away from these worldly attractions?

 

 

G) A GEM FOR EACH DAY OF THE WEEK

 

 

In order to please the planetary gods, a gem was assigned for each day of the week.

 

The Sun was determined to be a diamond or sapphire set in a ring of gold.

The Moon was determined to be a crystal in a silver ring.

For Tuesday, Mercury was determined to be a magnet set in quicksilver.

Wednesday was given Venus and was determined to be an amethyst in a copper ring.

Thursday was given Mars and was determined to be an emerald in an iron ring.

Friday was given Jupiter and was determined to be a cornelian set in tin.

Saturn was determined to be a turquoise set in lead.

 

This belief came from the concept that the planet-god controlled each day of the week.  Which led to the development of finger rings set with a favored stone by the planet-god; who controlled that day.

 

 

H) TO YOUR OBJECTIONS

 

 

In Exodus, Chapter 28, the “breastplate” was adorned with 12 jewels.  God sees His people as Jewels that He bears upon His heart is that picture demonstration.  See Malachi 3:17.  And what about the articles in the Sanctuary were elaborate Gold, Silver, Brass, etcetera?  All of them were to show and represent the majesty of our God.  Not for the edification of men, except for who they were representing.

 

What about Isaiah 61:10?  If you read it carefully, you will see that God is using this as a contrast to what the world does, as opposed to what our God will eventually do for us.  Thus, this is not an endorsement text as you may assume.

 

But what about Ezekiel 16:11-14?  Don’t fail to read on down to verse 15 to understand what these earthly things drove them to do.  Plus, the context begins in verse 2:  “Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations.”  Verses 11-14 are part of those “abominations.”  God is using language that they might understand as beauty.  Verse 17 shows the error of their wanting these things:  “Thou hast taken thy fair jewels of My gold and of My silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them.”  God will give us what we want when we don’t want Him.

 

In Luke 15:22, the “father,” “put[s] a ring on his hand.”  Rings in those days represented authority.  The “father” was transferring his authority over to this son.  This is the real reason the older, more supposedly by his standards son, was so upset.