Most adults seem to think that anything that moves they can stuff it into their mouth and it is good for food. Mankind is more careful of what he puts into his automobile gas tank than what he puts into his stomach.

Some will say, "Well, if swine’s flesh isn’t supposed to be eaten as food, what did God create swine for?" You might as well ask, what did God create weeds and poison vines for? Everything may have been created for a purpose, but not everything for the purpose of eating.

Let’s begin with a very important point: The eating of wrong food is not a transgression of God’s spiritual law, and is not a sin in this sense. To violate the physical laws of health brings the penalty of disease, disability, pain, sickness, and sometimes the first death. It is not necessarily spiritual sin.

But let’s realize something: eating a hunk of hog lard may not defile us spiritually, but it can clog our arteries nonetheless.

Let’s believe our Bibles as we look into the scriptures regarding the topic of Clean and Unclean Meats.

1. What are the characteristics of the clean animals that God says we can eat? (Leviticus 11:2-3.) Are cows, sheep, goats and deer examples of clean meats? (Deuteronomy 14:4-5.) Does God list the camel, hare (rabbits) and swine (pigs and hogs) as examples of unclean animals that we are not to eat? (Leviticus 11:4-8.) What are the characteristics of the clean fish that God says we can eat? (Verse 9.) Does God say that eating unclean meat is an abomination? (Verses 10-13.) Does God list the eagle, buzzard and owl as examples of unclean birds that we are not to eat? (Deuteronomy 14:11:20.)

2. Does God command His people to "be holy?" Leviticus 11:44-45, Deuteronomy 14:2-3, 21, 1 Peter 1:15-16.) Are God’s holy people to eat unclean meats? (Same verses.) Should God’s people touch what is unclean? (2 Corinthians 6:17-18.)

Note: God says that to "be holy" you must avoid the unclean. Holy means to be "set apart" by God. Since we belong to God and He purchased us with Christ’s blood, He does not want us to contaminate ourselves through any kind of physical or spiritual defilement (1 Corinthians 6:15-20.)

3. Did God tell Noah to take unclean and clean animals aboard the ark? (Genesis 6:19-7:2.) How many of each kind of unclean animal did God tell Noah to take on the ark? (Same verses.) How many of the clean animals? (Same verses.)

Note: It’s important to understand that Noah, before the flood, knew about the laws of clean and unclean meats. This was about eight hundred years before Moses, and before God made a covenant with ancient Israel. God told Noah to take into the ark unclean animals by twos (only enough to preserve their lives) and the clean animals by sevens (to be eaten as food) (Genesis 6:19-7:2.) The seven clean animals were to encourage a greater numerical proliferation of the clean animals after the flood for food to be eaten.

4. Did Noah offer sacrifices of clean animals and birds after the flood? (Genesis 8:20.) What kind of animals were offered at the Temple as sacrifices in the sacrificial system of ancient Israel? (Leviticus 1:5, 10, 14, 3:7, 4:3, 15, 28, 32, 5:6-7.) Did God specifically tell the people that if they even touched an unclean beast that they would be unclean? (Leviticus 5:1-3.)

Note: All of the sacrifices that were offered as part of the sacrificial system by the Levitical priesthood in the Temple were clean animals.

Around 198 B.C. Antiochus Epiphanes went into the Temple of God in Jerusalem and went into the Holy of Holies and he made an altar to Zeus and he offered pigs on the altar. This polluted the Temple and led to the Maccabean Revolt. Daniel the prophet refers to this as the abomination of desolation (Daniel 11:31.)

5. Did the apostle John late in his life have an apocalyptic vision in which he saw an angel coming down from heaven crying with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird?" (Revelation 18:1-2.)

Note: This vision was an end time prophecy for the last days. Notice that there is still such a thing as an unclean bird.

Did the prophet Isaiah prophesy of end time events when the Lord will return with fire to render His anger with fury? (Isaiah 66:15.) Will He be judging all flesh? (Verse 16.) Will He have those who eat swine's flesh and the abomination and the mouse consumed? (Verse 17.)

Note: We see that in the end time when Christ returns that He will not tolerate those who eat unclean meats. This should be a warning for us today to strive to obey God in eating the meats that He has approved to be eaten.

6. Did Peter have a vision where he saw something like a sheet come down from heaven with all kinds of unclean animals and birds in it? (Acts 10:9-16.) Did God tell Peter to kill and eat? (Verse 13.) Did Peter eat of the unclean animals? (Verse 14.) Did Peter ever eat unclean animals? (Save Verse.) Did Peter understand what this vision meant? (Acts 10:17-19.) Who came to meet with Peter? (Acts 10:19-27.) Did Peter finally understand what the vision meant? (Verse 28.)

Note: This account has nothing to do with food. It is concerned about people. The unclean animals that Peter saw represented the Gentiles. The Jews of that time, including Peter, did not like the Gentiles, they called them dogs, and they felt it was wrong to keep company with the Gentiles. Peter would not have gone with the three Gentiles if God hadn’t told him to go (Verses 19-20.) Peter finally understood that the vision meant that he should not call any man, including the Gentiles,

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common or unclean. The word "common" is applied to things considered polluted, defiled or ceremonially unclean. The meaning of the vision was that God was extending salvation to the Gentiles. Cornelius was an Italian soldier, a Gentile. He was the first Gentile convert who was granted salvation.

7. Does the Bible reveal that every moving thing that lives shall be food for you? (Genesis 9:3.) Does this verse also say "I have given you all things, even as the green herbs?"

Note: We have to realize that we can’t eat every plant (or herb) that grows out of the ground because some plants are poisonous and not intended for food. From the same point of view some animals are not intended for food. Those that have been approved by God are listed in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.

8. Some people will quote the following verse in defense of wanting to eat unclean meat: "commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth." (1 Timothy 4:1-5.) Did Paul tell Timothy that some of the brethren would depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons? (Verse 1.) Does this passage also say that one of the doctrines of demons was "forbidding to marry?" (Verse 3.) Now we all know that there is nothing wrong with marriage, but there are some churches who forbid their priesthood to marry. Notice the phrase "know the truth" in Verse 3. What is truth? God’s word is truth (John 17:17.) Does Verse 5 mention the word "sanctified?" The word sanctified means "to make holy, or set apart for right use and purpose." It is from God’s word (Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14) that we find the "truth" and which meats are "sanctified" and that God created (Verse 3) are good for food.

Note: It is clear that some of the brethren were listening to a false teaching of avoiding certain meats (becoming vegetarians) which are acceptable in Gods’ eyes for man to eat. Paul calls this false teaching demonic (1 Timothy 4:1.)

9. Does Paul’s statement in Romans 14:14 "I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean" mean the early Church made no distinction between clean and unclean meats? The word "unclean" is used three times in this verse and is the Greek word "koinos." which means "common" and is applied to things considered polluted, defiled or ceremonially unclean. Paul was not referring to clean and unclean meats in his statement in Verse 14.

Is Paul writing to those who are "weak in the faith?" (Romans 14:1-2.) Do these "weak in the faith" only eat vegetables (or herbs)? (Verse 2.) The real issue that Paul was dealing with was over the vegetarian belief held by some that NO MEATS whatsoever should be eaten! Did Paul point out to these vegetarians that it would be wrong for them to eat meat if they had doubts about it, thereby defiling their weak consciences? (Romans 14:22-34.) Does Paul recommend not eating any meat at all in the presence of a vegetarian brother if he is offended? (Verses 21-22.)

10. At the Jerusalem Council in 49 A.D. did the apostles pass on to the Gentiles that they were to "abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood?" (Acts 15:20.)

Note: The only circumstance in which clean meats are ever common or polluted is when the clean animals have died of themselves or when the blood has not been properly drained. That is why the apostles and elders who gathered at Jerusalem forbade the use of meat from strangled animals and meat with the blood in it (Acts 15:20). This is New Testament teaching for today!

Animal flesh was called "common" because it could be given to strangers or aliens in Old Testament times if those people wanted to eat it. They were the common and polluted people - the Gentiles - not the chosen and clean people, Israel (Deuteronomy 14:21).

In New Testament times, clean meat offered to idols was prohibited if it had been polluted by strangulation or if the blood were remaining in it. Otherwise the meat was permitted to be eaten if it did not offend anyone.

11. Is the subject under discussion eating with unwashed hands in Mark 7:1-3? What kind of defilement was Jesus talking about in Mark 7:14-23?

Note: The subject under discussion was eating with unwashed hands NOT clean and unclean meats. Jesus was speaking of spiritual defilement, not physical health. Not that which enters into a man’s mouth, but the evil that comes OUT OF HIS HEART, defiles the man SPIRITUALLY. What defiles the MAN is the transgression of the Ten Commandments - evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, blasphemy (verses 21-22). These things have to do with the SPIRITUAL Law, and not with the physical laws of health. Specifically, He was referring to a possible particle of dirt which might get on the food from dirty and unwashed hands. Notice Verse 19 - Jesus said that if we eat food with a particle of dirt on it, it has no power to spiritually defile us since the food enters the stomach, not the heart, and is eliminated. But that does not change the fact that the food could be physically defiling and possibly make us sick.

12. Did the apostle Paul discuss eating of things offered to idols to the Corinthian Church? (1 Corinthians 8:1-13, 10:23-33.)

Note: Paul devoted the 8th. and 10th. chapters of 1 Corinthians to instructions on not raising the question of meats offered to idols. If clean meats offered to idols were not polluted, you could eat of them unless it offended someone. Under those circumstances the meat became common, not to you, but to the other person who raised the question about idols. Notice 1 Corinthians 10:28-29.

In Conclusion: There are no New Testament passages that describe Christians eating meats that had been considered unclean. Violating God’s laws regarding clean and unclean meats would have been unthinkable to them just as it was to the apostle Peter (Acts 10.) It may not be spiritual sin to eat unclean meats. Yet, if one deliberately does it out of lust of appetite, that breaks the tenth commandment and becomes sin. But in all events, wrong food injures the body which is the temple of God’s Holy Spirit. It defiles the BODY, if not the man, and if we defile our bodies, God will destroy us (I Corinthians 3: 17).

God’s dietary laws were given to His people for their physical health and well-being. Healthy bodies are better able to serve and glorify our Creator God. The dietary laws are a testimony to the love and wisdom of our Creator who wants us to have an abundant life (John 10:10) and to be in good health (3 John 2.)

Scripture Reading:   (Leviticus 11 NKJV) Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, {2} "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth: {3} 'Among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud; that you may eat. {4} 'Nevertheless these you shall not eat among those that chew the cud or those that have cloven hooves: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; {5} 'the rock hyrax, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; {6} 'the hare, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; {7} 'and the swine, though it divides the hoof, having cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. {8} 'Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch. They are unclean to you. {9} 'These you may eat of all that are in the water: whatever in the water has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers; that you may eat. {10} 'But all in the seas or in the rivers that do not have fins and scales, all that move in the water or any living thing which is in the water, they are an abomination to you. {11} 'They shall be an abomination to you; you shall not eat their flesh, but you shall regard their carcasses as an abomination. {12} 'Whatever in the water does not have fins or scales; that shall be an abomination to you. {13} 'And these you shall regard as an abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard, {14} 'the kite, and the falcon after its kind; {15} 'every raven after its kind, {16} 'the ostrich, the short-eared owl, the sea gull, and the hawk after its kind; {17} 'the little owl, the fisher owl, and the screech owl; {18} 'the white owl, the jackdaw, and the carrion vulture; {19} 'the stork, the heron after its kind, the hoopoe, and the bat. {20} 'All flying insects that creep on all fours shall be an abomination to you. {21} 'Yet these you may eat of every flying insect that creeps on all fours: those which have jointed legs above their feet with which to leap on the earth. {22} 'These you may eat: the locust after its kind, the destroying locust after its kind, the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind. {23} 'But all other flying insects which have four feet shall be an abomination to you. {24} 'By these you shall become unclean; whoever touches the carcass of any of them shall be unclean until evening; {25} 'whoever carries part of the carcass of any of them shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening: {26} 'The carcass of any animal which divides the foot, but is not cloven-hoofed or does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. Everyone who touches it shall be unclean. {27} 'And whatever goes on its paws, among all kinds of animals that go on all fours, those are unclean to you. Whoever touches any such carcass shall be unclean until evening. {28} 'Whoever carries any such carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. It is unclean to you. {29} 'These also shall be unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the earth: the mole, the mouse, and the large lizard after its kind; {30} 'the gecko, the monitor lizard, the sand reptile, the sand lizard, and the chameleon. {31} 'These are unclean to you among all that creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until evening. {32} 'Anything on which any of them falls, when they are dead shall be unclean, whether it is any item of wood or clothing or skin or sack, whatever item it is, in which any work is done, it must be put in water. And it shall be unclean until evening; then it shall be clean. {33} 'Any earthen vessel into which any of them falls you shall break; and whatever is in it shall be unclean: {34} 'in such a vessel, any edible food upon which water falls becomes unclean, and any drink that may be drunk from it becomes unclean. {35} 'And everything on which a part of any such carcass falls shall be unclean; whether it is an oven or cooking stove, it shall be broken down; for they are unclean, and shall be unclean to you. {36} 'Nevertheless a spring or a cistern, in which there is plenty of water, shall be clean, but whatever touches any such carcass becomes unclean. {37} 'And if a part of any such carcass falls on any planting seed which is to be sown, it remains clean. {38} 'But if water is put on the seed, and if a part of any such carcass falls on it, it becomes unclean to you. {39} 'And if any animal which you may eat dies, he who touches its carcass shall be unclean until evening. {40} 'He who eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. He also who carries its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. {41} 'And every creeping thing that creeps on the earth shall be an abomination. It shall not be eaten. {42} 'Whatever crawls on its belly, whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet among all creeping things that creep on the earth; these you shall not eat, for they are an abomination. {43} 'You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps; nor shall you make yourselves unclean with them, lest you be defiled by them. {44} 'For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. {45} 'For I am the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. {46} 'This is the law of the animals and the birds and every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth, {47} 'to distinguish between the unclean and the clean, and between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be eaten.'"

(Deuteronomy 14 NKJV) "You are the children of the LORD your God; you shall not cut yourselves nor shave the front of your head for the dead. {2} "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. {3} "You shall not eat any detestable thing. {4} "These are the animals which you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, {5} "the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the mountain goat, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. {6} "And you may eat every animal with cloven hooves, having the hoof split into two parts, and that chews the cud, among the animals. {7} "Nevertheless, of those that chew the cud or have cloven hooves, you shall not eat, such as these: the camel, the hare, and the rock hyrax; for they chew the cud but do not have cloven hooves; they are unclean for you. {8} "Also the swine is unclean for you, because it has cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud; you shall not eat their flesh or touch their dead carcasses. {9} "These you may eat of all that are in the waters: you may eat all that have fins and scales. {10} "And whatever does not have fins and scales you shall not eat; it is unclean for you. {11} "All clean birds you may eat. {12} "But these you shall not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard, {13} "the red kite, the falcon, and the kite after their kinds; {14} "every raven after its kind; {15} "the ostrich, the short-eared owl, the seagull, and the hawk after their kinds; {16} "the little owl, the screech owl, the white owl, {17} "the jackdaw, the carrion vulture, the fisher owl, {18} "the stork, the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe and the bat. {19} "Also every creeping thing that flies is unclean for you; they shall not be eaten. {20} "You may eat all clean birds. {21} "You shall not eat anything that dies of itself; you may give it to the alien who is within your gates, that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner; for you are a holy people to the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk. {22} "You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. {23} "And you shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. {24} "But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the LORD your God has blessed you, {25} "then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses. {26} "And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. {27} "You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you. {28} "At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates. {29} "And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

2.) (Leviticus 11:44-45 NKJV) 'For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. {45} 'For I am the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

(Deuteronomy 14:2-3 NKJV) "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. {3} "You shall not eat any detestable thing.

(Deuteronomy 14:21 NKJV) "You shall not eat anything that dies of itself; you may give it to the alien who is within your gates, that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner; for you are a holy people to the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.

(1 Peter 1:15-16 NKJV) but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, {16} because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

(1 Corinthians 6:15-20 NKJV) Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! {16} Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh." {17} But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. {18} Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. {19} Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? {20} For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

(2 Corinthians 6:17-18 NKJV) Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." {18} "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."

(1 Corinthians 6:15-20 NKJV) Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! {16} Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh." {17} But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. {18} Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. {19} Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? {20} For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

3.) (Genesis 6:19-22 NKJV) "And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. {20} "Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. {21} "And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them." {22} Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.

(Genesis 7:1-2 NKJV) Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation. {2} "You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female;

4.) (Genesis 8:20 NKJV) Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

(Leviticus 1:5 NKJV) 'He shall kill the bull before the LORD; and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

(Leviticus 1:10 NKJV) 'If his offering is of the flocks; of the sheep or of the goats; as a burnt sacrifice, he shall bring a male without blemish.

(Leviticus 1:14 NKJV) 'And if the burnt sacrifice of his offering to the LORD is of birds, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves or young pigeons.

(Leviticus 3:7 NKJV) 'If he offers a lamb as his offering, then he shall offer it before the LORD.

(Leviticus 4:3 NKJV) 'if the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer to the LORD for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without blemish as a sin offering.

(Leviticus 4:15 NKJV) 'And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the LORD. Then the bull shall be killed before the LORD.

(Leviticus 4:28 NKJV) 'or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, then he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed.

(Leviticus 4:32 NKJV) 'If he brings a lamb as his sin offering, he shall bring a female without blemish.

(Leviticus 5:6-7 NKJV) 'and he shall bring his trespass offering to the LORD for his sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin. {7} 'If he is not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring to the LORD, for his trespass which he has committed, two turtledoves or two young pigeons: one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering.

(Leviticus 5:1-3 NKJV) 'If a person sins in hearing the utterance of an oath, and is a witness, whether he has seen or known of the matter; if he does not tell it, he bears guilt. {2} 'Or if a person touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and he is unaware of it, he also shall be unclean and guilty. {3} 'Or if he touches human uncleanness; whatever uncleanness with which a man may be defiled, and he is unaware of it; when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty.

(Daniel 11:31 NKJV) "And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.

5.) (Revelation 18:1-2 NKJV) After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. {2} And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!

(Isaiah 66:15-17 NKJV) For behold, the LORD will come with fire And with His chariots, like a whirlwind, To render His anger with fury, And His rebuke with flames of fire. {16} For by fire and by His sword The LORD will judge all flesh; And the slain of the LORD shall be many. {17} "Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, To go to the gardens After an idol in the midst, Eating swine's flesh and the abomination and the mouse, Shall be consumed together," says the LORD.

6.) (Acts 10:9-16 NKJV) The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. {10} Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance {11} and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. {12} In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. {13} And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." {14} But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean." {15} And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you must not call common." {16} This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

(Acts 10:17-19 NKJV) Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate. {18} And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there. {19} While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are seeking you.

(Acts 10:20-28 NKJV) "Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them." {21} Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, "Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?" {22} And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you." {23} Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him. {24} And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. {25} As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. {26} But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself am also a man." {27} And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. {28} Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

(Acts 10:28 NKJV) Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

7.) (Genesis 9:3 NKJV) "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.

8.) (1 Timothy 4:1-5 NKJV) Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, {2} speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, {3} forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. {4} For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; {5} for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

(John 17:17 NKJV) "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

9.) (Romans 14 NKJV) Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. {2} For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. {3} Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. {4} Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. {5} One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. {6} He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. {7} For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. {8} For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. {9} For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. {10} But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. {11} For it is written: "As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." {12} So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. {13} Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way. {14} I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. {15} Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. {16} Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; {17} for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. {18} For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. {19} Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. {20} Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. {21} It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. {22} Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. {23} But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

10.)

(Acts 15:20 NKJV) "but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.

11.) (Mark 7:1-13 NKJV) Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. {2} Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. {3} For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. {4} When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. {5} Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?" {6} He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. {7} And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' {8} "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men; the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." {9} He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. {10} "For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' {11} "But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban"; ' (that is, a gift to God), {12} "then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, {13} "making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."

(Mark 7:14-23 NKJV) When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand: {15} "There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. {16} "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!" {17} When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. {18} So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, {19} "because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?" {20} And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. {21} "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, {22} "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. {23} "All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

12.) (1 Corinthians 8 NKJV) Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. {2} And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. {3} But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. {4} Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. {5} For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), {6} yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. {7} However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. {8} But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. {9} But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. {10} For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? {11} And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? {12} But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. {13} Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

(1 Corinthians 10:23-33 NKJV) All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. {24} Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being. {25} Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake; {26} for "the earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness." {27} If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake. {28} But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for "the earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness." {29} "Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience? {30} But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks? {31} Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. {32} Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, {33} just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

(1 Corinthians 3:17 NKJV) If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

(John 10:10 NKJV) "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

(3 John 1:2 NKJV) Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.