Page 40 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

ASHTOROTH - ASTROLOGER

ASHTOROTH. [See Idolatry.] separate themselves from Romanism. Thus when AG
ASHUR (blackness). 1 Ch. 2:24; 4:5-7. minister David du Plessis began to develop close
ASIA. In the Bible, Asia refers to one of the chief communications with the Catholic hierarchy, he was
provinces of the Roman Empire. Today this region is forced to submit his resignation in 1962. Du Plessis did
called Asia Minor. In New Testament times, the capital not change. He grew so friendly with Rome that he
of Asia was Ephesus, and it included the regions of attended the Vatican II Council meetings in the
Bithynia, Galatia, Pisidia, Lycia, and Macedonia (Ac. mid-1960s. He was received in audience by three
19:10-26; 20:4-18; 1 Co. 16:19; 2 Ti. 1:15; Re. 1-3). Roman Catholic popes—John XXIII, Paul VI, and John
ASIEL (God has made). 1 Ch. 4:35. Paul II. He helped develop the Roman Catholic-
Pentecostal dialogues. Rome awarded Du Plessis with
ASP. A poisonous snake (De. 32:33; Job 20:14, 16; the Pax Christi award in 1976 and the Benemerenti
Ps. 58:4; 91:13; Is. 11:8). [See Dragon, Serpent.] award in 1983. Du Plessis did not change, but the AG
ASRIEL (vow of God). Nu. 26:31; Jos. 17:2. did. By 1980 the attitude within the AG had changed so
ASS. An animal of burden belonging to the horse radically that du Plessis was welcomed back as a
family, only smaller than a normal horse (Ze. 9:9; Mt. credentialed minister. Today it is common for Catholic
21:2). priests to speak in AG churches and for AG leaders to
ASSAY. To try; prove; examine; test (1 Sa. 17:39; participate with Catholics in ecumenical meetings. [See
Job 4:2; Ac. 16:7). Charismatic, Doctrine, Healing, Holy Spirit, Tongues,
ASSEMBLIES OF GOD. A Pentecostal denomination Women.]
which was formed in 1914, eight years after the Azusa ASSHUR (successful). A son of Shem (Ge. 10:22; 1
Street meetings in Los Angeles, California, from which Ch. 1:17). His descendants inhabited the land of Assyria
Pentecostalism traces its roots in this century. As of 1990 around Nineveh.
the Assemblies of God (AG) had 2,160,000 members, ASSIR (captive). Ex. 6:24.
11,000 churches, 1,530 foreign missionaries, 18 colleges ASSUR. [See Asshur.]
and Bible schools in the United States, and 299 Bible ASSURANCE. [For assurance of salvation see Eternal
schools abroad (Handbook). Security, Gospel, Grace, Justification, Hope,
The AG are evangelical and dispensational and are Propitiation.]
sound concerning Jesus Christ, the Scriptures, death, ASSURED, ASSUREDLY. (1) Appointed; established;
resurrection, judgment, heaven, and hell. Their major guaranteed (Le. 27:19; Je. 14:13). (2) Worthy of trust;
denominational distinctives denote their errors, which dependable; certain; doubtless (2 Ti. 3:14).
are these: (1) The baptism of the Holy Spirit is an ASSWAGE. To subside; to keep back; withhold (Ge.
experience to be sought subsequent to the new birth. 8:1; Job 16:5).
(2) The baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit are
evidenced by tongues’ speaking. (3) A Christian can lose ASSYRIA. A nation in the O.T. times located to the
his salvation. (4) Physical healing is promised to the north and northeast of Israel by the Tigris river (2 Ki.
Christian because of Christ’s atonement. All of these 15-19; Is. 7:17-20; 10:5; Is. 36-38). The capital of
teachings are contrary to the Word of God. [See Eternal Assyria was Nineveh, which was founded by Asshur, an
Security, Healing, Holy Spirit, Salvation, Tongues.] associate of Nimrod who was later deified and
Ecumenism: The AG has become increasingly worshiped as a god (Ge. 10:11-12). Assyria destroyed
the northern kingdom of Israel and its capital of
ecumenical during the past fifty years. In 1943, the AG Samaria (2 Ki. 18:9-12). Prophecies against Assyria are
joined the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). found in Nahum, Ze. 2, and Eze. 31. [See Nineveh.]
Thomas Zimmerman, formerly the general
superintendent of the AG, served two terms as president ASTAROTH. [See Ashtoreth.]
of the NAE. In 1948 the Assemblies helped form the ASTONIED. Astonished (Ezr. 9:3).
Pentecostal Fellowship of North America. They have ASTOROTH. [See Idolatry.]
held low-key dialogue with the National Council of ASTROLOGER. The Hebrew word speaks of one who
Churches and the World Council of Churches. views the heavens. An astrologer is one who believes the
Sadly, the AG have also opened their arms to heavenly bodies influence men’s lives and events on
Romanism. The change in attitude toward Roman earth (Da. 1:20; 2:2). Astrology is condemned in the
Catholicism is witnessed in the Assemblies’ relationship Bible (Is. 47:13). Called an “observer of times” in
with the late David du Plessis. In its first 60 years the noting, ‘the astrologers, so called because they divided
AG had taught that the pope is of the antichrist, that the heavens into houses with a view to their
Roman Catholicism is heresy, that Catholics need to hear prognostications” (Treasury). [See Witchcraft.]
the Gospel, and those who are converted need to

40 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity