Let us come to caffeine in a bit, if necessary, but for the moment, let us consider this
intoxicant "alcohol" from the Scripture.
Those which think 'moderation' for a substance which by its very nature is 'toxic', yes even poisonous, in any amount, great or small, are
"deceived" by it, and are therefore
"not wise", even as described Scripturally.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1
Take special notice that this text is clear, in that it does not mention anything about "quantity" here, but rather its inherent "nature".
It merely states the very nature of the thing, that this alcoholic "wine" is,
Wine = mocker
Strong Drink = Raging
Classic Hebrew Definition, even Chiastic in structure and parallelism.
And it mentions those who are "deceived" by them, thinking they are the masters over them ["Wine" [alcholic] and "Strong Drink"], are simply, and without equivocation,
"not wise".
Therefore, as it is written:
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7
...continuing looking at the very
"nature" of this alcoholic
"wine", we can see further still, the clear and dire warnings given to us from God to stay well clear of the alcoholic content.
The Bible over and over warns against any alcoholic content, to stay away from it, for it is connected with sin, and the devil.
Of alcoholic
"wine" it is stated that ... it
"stingeth like an adder" [Proverbs 23:32],
"biteth like a serpent" [Proverbs 23:32],
"poison of dragons" [Deuteronomy 32:33],
"cruel venom of asps" [Deuteronomy 32:33],
"mocker" [Proverbs 20:1],
"raging" [Proverbs 20:1],
"wounds without cause" [Proverbs 23:29], etc... also causing the forgetting of the Law and His Ten Commandments, and causing wrong judgment...and the Bible says
"woe unto them".
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20
Woe unto [them that are] mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Isaiah 5:22
Again, notice the very "nature" described, even without any mention of "amount". Is there a "blessing" or a "Woe" pronounced?
...and so I now ask a few more questions, based upon what we have gathered and in so looking at the terminology above, with whom are the terms associated with, Christ or Satan?
Who is the
"adder"?
Who is the
"serpent"?
Who is the
"asp"?
Who is the
"Dragon"?
Who is the one who is like a
"raging" beast and lion?
Who is the one which
"mock"?
Who is the one which has given "wounds without cause"?
Who is the one who is "cruel"?
Notice the word associated with it is "poisons" and "venom", the very word linked to "intoxicating".
Notice the word "deceived" is associated with it, and who is the "deceiver", the root of all "deception"?
Does "life" "sting" or does rather "death" "sting"?
Dear brothers/sisters, think of the very Person whom we love, Christ Jesus, and how He was wounded without cause [pierced to the heart, pierced in hands and feet and side and head, wounded for our transgressions], for He is innocent, Lamb without spot, and who was the one which did that to Him?
Who mocked Him upon the Cross, "Come down..."?
Who Bit His Heel like a Serpent, and spat venom like the Asp and Adder?
Who wars and rages against Christ as the Dragon?
Who rages even now? And goes to make war with the remnant?
What had the devil even then tried to get Jesus to do? He tried to get Jesus to drink of the poison, and venom [Matthew 27:34; Mark 15:23], and He tried to get Jesus to sin on the Cross!
Christ Jesus poured out His life, the pure sweet blood [the prefect anti-type/reality of the pure juice of the grape] of His humanity, and the enemy sought to give him corrupted and sour/bitter wine..., but even then Jesus refused, even unto the end. Holy, Harmless, Undefiled.]
Do you not realize that Jesus tasted [Matthew 27:34] death for every man [Hebrews 2:9]?
All of these terms are associated with alcoholic "wine" and even far more, and so can True Christians partake of it?
No, brothers and sisters, we cannot, must not, lest we be destroyed of it, lest we desire to mock Christ, desire to infect others with the cruel venom of the serpent...
"Is there a dual use for the word "wine" in common langauge and is there such a use in the scriptures?", that the answer is "Yes."
Well, in demonstrating the accuracy in saying "Yes" to the first half of the question:And for additional purposes...
See that word, "intoxicate"? What does the word "intoxicate" mean?
Word Definition:Let us also ask a very basic question pertaining to these, "Can a person who is intoxicated [poisons] by any amount of such 'kind' of wine which is alcoholic bring glory to God in their drinking?"
What does the alcohol do to a persons health?
It impairs brain activity, slows down reactionary time, attacks kidneys, liver, bloodstream, causing cancer, disease, dizziness, loose morality, causing one to forget, relaxes and/or reduces self-control [thus giving up of the will], etc and is one of the major leading causes of death, abuse and misery in the world. Even the smallest amount begins to break down the immune system of the human body [multiple medical research reports can be cited for these facts if needed, though it should be plainly obvious [but for a brief, http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/yourlif....s_N.htm ], also ask those of SADD and MADD].
However, let us also consider further history of the word "wine":
Aristotle ["...(384 BC 322 BC)[1] was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great." [Wikipedia -
Aristotle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ]]said,"...Sweet wine does give off fumes, for it contains fat and behaves like oil. It does not solidify under the influence of cold and it is apt to burn. Really it is not wine at all in spite of its name: for it does not taste like wine and consequently does not inebriate as ordinary wine does. ...
...(Wine is a liquid which raises a difficulty: for it is both liable to evaporation and it also thickens; for instance new wine does.
The reason is that the word 'wine' is ambiguous and different 'wines' behave in different ways." - Meteorlogica Book IV [English] -
The Internet Classics Archive | Meteorology by Aristotle
Merriam-Websters 1828 Dictionary:"MUST, n. [L. mustum; Heb. to ferment.];
New wine; wine pressed from the grape but not fermented." -
http://machaut.uchicago.edu/?resour....1828=on
And for many more, consider reading [or checking the references page of]
[The Bible Wine Question. The Answer To The 'Unanswerable': Or An Exposure Of The Fallacies Of Three Irish Advocates (Professors Watts, Wallace And Murphy) And Eleven Syrian Witnesses; By Frederick Richard Lees] -
http://books.google.com/books?i....f=false
The same dual use, appears in Scripture. Easily Demonstrated. Isaiah 65:8; Nehemiah 13:12; Proverbs 3:10, for just three [of many] references for the unfermented/unalcoholic "wine", the pure juice of the Grape.
We should seriously ask ourselves, "Does the alcohol bring life or death?" From the very post itself, "dying" was a word connected with it.
Biblical "temperance" in alcoholic wine is to abstain from it. It is also not only directly connect with transgression/sin, it is also directed to the AntiChrist's thinking to change times and laws of the most High God [Daniel 7:25]. Do not think so? Read Daniel/Revelation. Corrupt wine is always associated with the enforcement of corrupt religious law...
"... We are living in the time of the end. Thrones and churches have united to oppose Gods purposes. The association of man with man, which God designed should be a means of strengthening goodness and happiness, has been a means of strengthening evil and of developing tendencies to rebellion. Men have assumed despotic power, and human laws have been put in the place of the law of God.
It is the reign of anti-Christ. Gods law is set aside. The Scriptures are exchanged for the traditions of men. Satan has become the ruler of the world, and in his hands temptation has become a science. He rules over a vast, well-organized empire.
Sin has stimulated his followers into fearful activity. Men have combined
to perpetuate evil.
The sale of intoxicating liquor, destructive alike to soul and body, is legalized by Christian governments. And
those who authorize the sale of that which makes men demons,
make Sunday laws,
which they give to the world under the solemn name of religion.
Gods people are to show their loyalty to Him by keeping holy the day of His rest. They are to work earnestly to set in operation influences that will counterwork the efforts that Satan is making. The light of truth is to be shed abroad in the earth. Gods law is to be proclaimed. An intense interest in the message of present truth is to be awakened.
The establishment of sanitariums is one means by which this is done. Thus men and women are to learn of the character of the work of Seventh-day Adventists. ..." - Manuscript Releases Volume Eighteen [Nos. 1301-1359], MR No. 1330The Need of Earnest Effort; Work the Cities; Heed the Message to Laodicea; Page 185 -
Source
There is not a single reference to "wine" in the Scripture which refutes these things.