This article and teaching HAS been updated 5-10-2010

Acts 10:9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, Peter was hungry!
11And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
Peter regonized these beasts as unclean animals. see vs. 14
13And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
Peter was hungry and GOD told Peter to kill and eat these animals!
14But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
GOD corrected Peter! Basically GOD told peter that these animals were no longer unclean, rather that He HAD cleansed them!!!
16This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Many people say that Peter explained later that the dream meant that the Gentiles have been cleansed. That is true. However, Peter did not fully understand the dream. He only seen one side of the coin, so to speak. Peter was a selective hearer (Mark 8:27-38). The meaning of the dream/vision is dual. The Gentiles have been cleansed AND that the animals have been cleansed! It is true that the scriptures do not say that Peter did not understand the full meaning of the dream. That is something that i have been told by GOD. You would need to ask GOD for yourself if that is true. To Study the scriptures is Great. But some things must come by divine revelation. If we always rely on our own understanding/study, we will come to wrong conclusions.
Peter was already staying with a tanner. A tanner worked with the skins of dead animals. Those of the circumcision (those that believed they were still under the old covenant) considered the tanner as a unclean man. Thus they also considered Peter as unclean by lodging with this man. But clearly GOD was already working with Peter about both Gentiles AND animals! Peter had also witnessed Jesus having Mercy on many Gentiles even Healing many of them. Peter understood part of the meaning of the vision. He understood that Christ cleansed Gentiles when He died on the cross/stake. But Peter did not yet fully understand the full meaning of the dream. (CONFIRMED) When did Christ cleanse animals? Answer: When He became the Passover Lamb, thus removing the need for sacrificial animals as well as removing our sins and the pentaly for our sins. Zondervan KJV Study Bible has this note for Lev. 11:2; "The main reason for laws concerning clean and unclean food is the same as for other laws concerning clean and unclean. To preserve the sanctity of Israel as God's Holy People (see. v. 44)...uncleaness typified sin & defilement." Since Christ Jesus became the Passover Lamb sacificed for our sins, animals no longer represent/typify sin, because the old covenant of animal sacrifice was replaced by Christ, our High Priest, who did what no other priest could do. Therefore animals no longer need to represent the clean and unclean because physical animals are not part of the New Covenant. Acts 11:3 shows Peter ate with the Gentiles. The Gentiles did not follow the old covenant rules of food preparation.

Let's Notice the Words of Jesus:
Matt.15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

Romans 14:14 Nothing unclean (Gk: common) of itself.
"I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean". (Notice it says NOTHING is unclean of itself. It does not give exception. Then it explains the spirit of the matter, that if the person believes it is unclean, then it is truly unclean to that person. (but not to the other). Many people point out that Romans 14 begins talking about the difference between vegetarians and those that eat meat (vs.2), that it is not talking about unclean meats. That is true at the beginning. But then it goes on to talk about other things such as "days" (vs.5) and then here in verse 14 it uses the word "nothing" (G3762) which leaves NOTHING out. It is a word that truly does mean NOTHING. I try to think of things that i would consider unclean and then realize that everything that i can imagine is actually only unclean because of the way it is used.)
Romans 14:15 But if thy brother be grieved with [thy] meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
:18 For he that in these things serveth Christ [is] acceptable to God, and approved of men.
:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
:20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed [are] pure; but [it is] evil for that man who eateth with offence. (i ask "does ANY meat destroy the work of GOD? i would have to answer NO.)
:21 [It is] good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor [any thing] whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
:22 Hast thou faith? have [it] to thyself before God. Happy [is] he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith: for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.

1 Tim. 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: (the greek word for "every" here does not necessarily mean EVERY. But the greek word for "nothing" here does mean NOTHING. When both words are used in the same sentence, then the Greek word here for "every" truly does mean EVERY.)

Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Matthew 23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. (go to great lengths to avoid certain products with certain hidden ingredients)

Col. 2:20-22 Perish with the using like in Matt. 15 & Mark 7!
"20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21(Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

Notice Matthew Henry Commentary on Colossians 2:20-23:
"III. He takes occasion hence to warn them again: "Wherefore, if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances? v. 20. If as Christians you are dead to the observances of the ceremonial law, why are you subject to them? Such observances as, Touch not, taste not, handle not,’ v. 21, 22. Under the law there was a ceremonial pollution contracted by touching a dead body, or any thing offered to an idol; or by tasting any forbidden meats, etc., which all are to perish with the using, having no intrinsic worth in themselves to support them, and those who used them saw them perishing and passing away; or, which tend to corrupt the Christian faith, having no other authority than the traditions and injunctions of men.—Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship and humility. They thought themselves wiser than their neighbours, in observing the law of Moses together with the gospel of Christ, that they might be sure in the one, at least, to be in the right; but, alas! it was but a show of wisdom, a mere invention and pretence. So they seem to neglect the body, by abstaining from such and such meats, and mortifying their bodily pleasures and appetites; but there is nothing of true devotion in these things, for the gospel teaches us to worship God in spirit and truth and not by ritual observances, and through the mediation of Christ alone and not of any angels. Observe, 1. Christians are freed by Christ from the ritual observances of Moses’s law, and delivered from that yoke of bondage which God himself had laid upon them. 2. Subjection to ordinances, or human appointments in the worship of God, is highly blamable, and contrary to the freedom and liberty of the gospel. The apostle requires Christians to stand fast in the liberty with which Christ hath made them free, and not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage, Gal. 5:1. And the imposition of them is invading the authority of Christ, the head of the church, and introducing another law of commandments contained in ordinances, when Christ has abolished the old one, Eph. 2:15. 3. Such things have only a show of wisdom, but are really folly. It is true wisdom to keep close to the appointments of the gospel, and an entire subjection to Christ, the only head of the church."

However, Since i have kept the old covenant food laws for 24 years, I will not be able to just go out today and start eating pork! And i don't beleive GOD wants me to start doing that immediately. But i should allow myself to grow into that freedom. But neither should i force myself to eat something that i am offended by. I have trained my mind to hate even the smell of pork. If a person believes something is a sin, then it is a sin to that person! Don't go against your conscience! I am not telling everyone that they MUST start eating pork or other meats TODAY. BUT I am saying that if you have not yet committed yourself to being under the old meats laws, you should refrain from placing yourself under that bondage. I am now also saying that we should GROW into eating all meats and not refuse his blessings for the Great Tribulation.

IMPORTANT:
GOD has now told me and confirmed to me that the fact that He did cleanse all meats, will grant us MORE food during the Great Tribulation. Many people will be eating pork, possum, rabbit and other meats. This is a provision. It is a good provision. Every good and perfect gift comes from above. Let nothing be turned down but rather everything accepted in Thanksgiving (1 Tim. 4:3). Will you speak against the Manna?
GOD bless, Tim