Message of the Latter Rain - Kelvin M. Duncan

Chapter 9
What Is Blasphemy?
Several passages of the Bible mention "blasphemy." It is described in
terms which suggest that it is a terrible sin, a great calamity, an enormous
disaster. The first mention of the term blasphemy is found in 2 Kings. When
Sennacherib, king of Assyria, was approaching Israel and sent a message
defying the God of heaven and demanding immediate surrender, Hezekiah
described that terrible day in these words: "This day is a day of trouble, and
of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is
not strength to bring forth" (2 Kings 19:3).
Here, the king of Israel describes a great reversal of fortunes--a day of
great potential turned completely upside down, an opportunity not only
forfeited but replaced with the greatest possible loss. Can one think of a
greater calamity, before the age of modern medicine and the C-section, than
for the children to have "come to the birth" when "there is not strength to
bring forth"? Such is the nature of the sin of blasphemy against the Holy
Spirit. It involves taking that which is most sacred, most precious, and most
highly respected (such as a newborn babe) and treating it with the greatest
possible disdain, resulting in the greatest possible loss.
To blaspheme an entity means to treat it with scorn, reproach, violent
contempt, absolute disrespect. In Old Testament times, the penalty for
blaspheming the name of God was death (see Leviticus 24:16). Although
"the law was given by Moses" and "grace and truth came by Jesus Christ"
(John 1:17), Jesus did not suggest that one who is guilty of blasphemy
against the Holy Ghost should receive grace. Jesus made clear that the
penalty for blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is the most severe that could
possibly be suffered. He said, "Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not
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