HI GiGi: What a wonderful testimony of your life with Christ and your continual love for Him. Your dedication to reading and studying His word shows your great love for Him and how, because your heart was always seeking, He kept you on through the years. I love your testimony it is such a blessing to me. God Bless :)
Christ as the brightness of glory witnessed in his body. The logos aspect of the Son is the Witness so he explains, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."( John 5:19). So we shall see what this cloud consists of. Jesus in his prayer made clear of those whom his Father had entrusted before the worlds began. "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me."( John 17:16)
Jude in his epistle refers to them, "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,/To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed." They are witnesses as the Son is appointed to judge the ungodly. (Jude vv.14-15) In short this cloud of witness are created from the Father Son relationship. The eternal Law serves the proof of their disobedience and as God is just their witness shall stand outside what Satan may bring up against. Also refer De.33:2.
We see them in the Book of Daniel, as witnesses, "And they brought him near before him./ And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." (Dan.7:13-14)
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us"(He. 12:1-2)
My most wonderful friend is Jesus. He's always there to listen, encourage, comfort and show His great love for me. I love Him beyond words and He loves me beyond imagination! Oh to be blessed by Him and know Him as Savior. To be able to live in this world without being a part of this world. God is a good, good, good God!
God sent forth his word before the worlds began so St Paul refers to it that the sounds of it has been heard. "Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world."(Ro.10:18). So we have clouds as accompaniment to the Son where he is a sign as well as heard as the Word become flesh. "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."(Matt.24:30) What we read in Re.1:7 is the same and from the standpoint of St John.
It is thus the Spirit gives the word its density where space and time holds no meaning. So judging the verse literally leads the interpreter to dead ends. Either we read with the Spirit or lose the thread of the divine Will altogether. No more egregious error we need to cite than the manner Israel and elements of the Law of Moses have taken hold great many Christians despite of their new birth and the fact that they are new creation. They are riding a dead horse.
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."(Re.2:7) The Spirit is referring to the ear of faith. This spiritual underpinning on the scaffold of eternal word is what we need here. Those who made excuses in the Parable of the Marriage for the King's Son heard the call but did not hear well. Their ear of faith was intended. It is thus foolish teachers have taught them and their literal interpretation certainly fell short. The message to seven churches is universal and seven place names are but a handle for local churches coming together for common worship.
The Spirit refers to God as He "who maketh clouds his chariot". (Is.19:1; Ps 104:3) Singularity of the Spirit renders the clouds as visible form of the invisible aspect of God. This also serve as witnesses an in the vision of Daniel, " I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him."( Dan 7:13)
(See entry under B: Behold)
We have another instance where the clouds serve as witness. "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him."(Re.1:7).
Whenever a voice from heaven testified Jesus as 'my beloved Son' symbolic presence of God was in a bright cloud. "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.(Matt.17:5) ( Mark 9:7). When the rider on the white horse finally appears in Re.19 the cloud is conspicuous by absence. "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war."(Re.19:11). Instead we have an army of saints in white.
2.
Cloud is the glory of God when manifested. His strength is in the clouds (Ps.68:34). Stephen "looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,"(Ac.7:55-56) This Father Son relationship is transcribed into tokens explain the spiritual significance of the clouds. Clouds a natural phenomena doubles as a sign.
Glory of the word that stretched the skies was present at the dedication of the Temple.(Is.40:22) In order to instruct us the Spirit sets the cloud as a sign there. God set His approval when King Solomon dedicated it to him.", that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,/ So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud."(1 Ki.8:10-12)
Hi Oseas and thank you for your reply to me , I enjoyed it and I do see your point about natural Israel . There does seem to be a lot of evidence in scripture to back up your opinion , such as : the cursed fig tree that will never bear any fruit , the winepress that will be given to others etc , so I can see why you believe that . Paul does talk about us being grafted on to the natural branches , he doesn't say that the natural branches are to be destroyed and also the father ( God ) of the prodigal son ( who represents the new covenant of forgiveness in Christ ) still loves his firstborn son ( the first covenant of circumcision natural Israel ) , so there is evidence on both sides and plenty for us to argue about if we choose to do so :) . I always think of Zechariah and the Jews at the return of Christ : looking upon him whom they pierced and mourning as if for a firstborn son . I respect and understanding your belief on this matter . We shall know all things when Christ returns , I think that we both agree that it seems like it's going to be soon , the sooner the better ! Let us all be found to be serving our God as best as we can and not averting our eyes to our duties as Christians . May God continue to bless you . Thy Kingdom Come .
This word carries much more depths than it sounds. "Behold he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him" is fulfilment of divine Will. (Re.1:7). Consequently seeing not simply a matter of optics but the sovereign aspect of the Word. It was sent forth by God and it shall not return to him in void. So what was according to the divine Will shall certainly come to pass. It was Isaiah who predicted, "Behold a virgin shall give birth" and it came to pass, (Is.7:14).It marked the fullness of time. St John similarly sets what is foreknown in the mind of God, and it marks the latter days. So space and time are pendent to the word. The same density makes the usage of clouds carry significance.
(See entry under C-clouds)
To draw an analogy from Physics the word 'behold' expresses the singularity of the Spirit and we have several examples scattered throughout the Bible.
What a great read. Thank you so much for sharing this. You bring up a great point about the man being stoned to death for picking up sticks on the Sabbath. And yes, the Sabbath was given to the children of Israel as a sign between them and God. Have you ever noticed that out of all the 10 Commandments given in the Old Testament (Exodus Chapter 20), only 9 of them are given emphasis in the New Testament ( Matthew 19:18, Romans 13:9).
The commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy seems to be left out of the New Testament. I see no such commandment given to the church. There is no such commandment given to the church to keep the Sabbath day the way the Jews were to keep it. The Sabbath was part of the Old Covenant Law between God and Israel. The church was not in existence when this command was given. As Christians, are we under the Old Covenant law, or are we under God's grace? This is just a general question, no need to provide an answer as I'm sure I know your answer to this one.
To us today, it would seem quite extreme to see someone put to death for something as simple as picking up sticks on the Sabbath. Some say that we must keep the Sabbath day holy, but also say that it's okay to do certain things (even more than just picking up sticks), and that's justified if it's something they need. I wonder how many of today's Sabbath Keepers would be stoned to death today for the things they do on the Sabbath day, if they were to do those same things if they lived during the time the command was given?
We as believers have freedom in Jesus Christ. We are not to judge others regarding their view on keeping the Sabbath, regardless of which view one takes ( Colossians 2:16). And yes, our rest is in Christ Jesus, Amen!
Again, thank you for sharing this. I have been following along in this topic for the past week or so but chose to stay out as it seems to be a very sensitive subject with some. I'll just leave it at that.
The concept of "rest" is important in Scripture, and it has a deep spiritual meaning for Christians. As Christians, we understand that our rest is in Christ, who is our Sabbath. When we rest spiritually in Christ, we present ourselves as the people of God before his presence in continuous sacred assembly. We are always the church, in his presence every day of the week, not just one.
In conclusion, for most Israelites, the Sabbath was a day to rest at home, not a day to travel long distances and attend a worship service. The annual harvest festivals were the time for Israelites to enjoy communal worship and fellowship. Here is what the Expositor's Bible Commentary (volume 2, page 623) says about Leviticus 23:3:
[There is an emphasis here that the Israelite rested at home. There were special offerings given in the tabernacle (e.g., a double burnt offering), but the ordinary Israelite and his whole family rested. Presumably here was an opportunity for family worship and instruction in the law of God, but this is not specifically enjoined. What a boon a weekly rest must have been to the ancient laborer and farmer in his weary round of toil! ]
As did the Jews in their synagogue system, Christians find that regular fellowship and communal instruction is an important foundation of their religious life. As Christians, we are free to meet together at any time of the day, any day of the week, and any season of the year. We are not limited to meeting on just one day, since no day has been specifically set aside by God for Christian fellowship and worship. We are always in the presence of God and worship him continually because he and Christ reside in us through the indwelling Holy Spirit. At the same time, we can gather weekly and seasonally in small groups or in larger communal situations to praise God, to recall Christ's work of salvation and to fellowship in the Spirit.
Is worshipping God on any given day breaking the Sabbath?
Part 6.
LEVITICUS 23:3
Let us look at Leviticus 23:3 directly: "There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the Lord." The verse emphasizes rest.
Since the passage is about resting and not working, it seems that the expression "day of sacred assembly" is a parallel to "Sabbath to the Lord" and refers not so much to official communal worship on the Sabbath but to the day itself as being a "sacred assembly."
The phrase "day of sacred assembly" can be understood as a "sacred day of celebration" or a "sacred occasion," as well as a "sacred assembly" or convocation. The weekly Sabbath, as well as the annual festivals, were occasions to worship and praise God for the abundance of his physical blessings and for saving Israel from bondage in Egypt. But this worship and praise could be given to God in the Israelites' participation in rest itself (thus experiencing the blessings of Yahweh through rest), as well as in contemplation and conversation at home.
By resting from their labor and self-interests on the weekly Sabbath, the Israelites were presenting themselves before God through rest. Resting was a way of being in the presence of God and fulfilling his sacred purpose. The only people who were commanded to come to the Temple for worship were the Levites and priests. On behalf of the entire nation, they performed
the prescribed ceremonies. There was no command for people to watch them, or for them to teach the people. It was simply not possible for very many people to be there.
Is worshipping God on any given day breaking the Sabbath?
Part 5.
The synagogue system allowed Jews to meet together in local towns and villages for prayer, the reading of the Holy Scriptures and for fellowship. The synagogue became a miniature sanctuary to replace the loss of the Jerusalem Temple. We do not know when the synagogue system originated. Neither the Old or New Testaments provide any information about this development. It is generally believed that the synagogue system developed when worship at the Temple in Jerusalem became impossible and when Jews were dispersed into other nations.
Jews added the synagogue worship system, not based on biblical command, but on a sociological need, due to the loss of the Temple and the scattering of the people far away from the Promised Land. Nowhere in the Old Testament will you find a command to have local worship sites.
There wasn't anything necessarily wrong with the Jews setting up synagogues. They became an important center of fellowship and instruction in the Jewish faith. The New Testament does not condemn the practice; it is taken for granted. It is nowhere commanded.
Regarding the day on which Jews had their worship service, it's natural that it should occur on the Sabbath. The people worked the other six days and the Sabbath was a good time for them to meet. But there is no biblical command to set up local worship sites and to make the weekly Sabbath "holy convocations." The Old Testament does not indicate that the Sabbath is kept holy through a meeting. Rather, it was kept as holy through rest.
Is worshipping God on any given day breaking the Sabbath?
Part 4.
It would be strange, then, to have one phrase in Leviticus 23:3 refer to a weekly worship service commanded for all Israel, and then claim that this was just as important as resting as a way to keep the Sabbath. It would be a mistake to assume such a teaching from a single and vague phrase in one verse when the entire witness of the Old Testament does not mention worship service attendance in conjunction with the Sabbath.
There is no indication in Scripture of Israelites going to worship services of one kind or another in their local towns and villages. They could travel to worship services at the Tabernacle only for the annual festivals.
SYNAGOGUE SYSTEM.
One might point to the New Testament and say, "But Jesus and Paul attended the synagogue on the Sabbath. Doesn't this indicate that worship services were an essential part of God's command to keep the Sabbath holy?"
So far as we know from Scripture or Jewish history, there was no national system of Sabbath-day worship sites or places of communal instruction throughout Israel's history in the Promised Land up to the captivity of Judah in the 530s B.C. and the return of a remnant to Judea a few decades years later. There were no synagogues before the exile; there were no local meeting places in Israel before the exile, because there was no command for weekly meetings.
Is worshipping God on any given day breaking the Sabbath?
Part 3.
WHAT MADE SABBATH "HOLY "
The essence of Sabbath-keeping was physical rest. In Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:12-15, the Sabbath command specifies rest from labor as the way to keep the day "holy." There is no mention of going to a worship service each Sabbath. Other passages in the Old Testament also define the Sabbath by rest, not by attendance at worship services. See Exodus 31:12-17, Numbers 15:32, Nehemiah 13:15-22 and Jeremiah 17:19-27. The latter two passages, though they refer to Jerusalem, do not mention anything about failure to attend worship services or "sacred assemblies," but only work on the Sabbath as a desecration of this day.
An interesting study is to look up the word "Sabbath" in a concordance, find all the Old Testament references and then read those passages to see how this day was kept "holy." The conclusion will be that rest from labor is what made the Sabbath sacred time, not attendance at a worship service. Most Israelites lived too far from the tabernacle to attend a worship service every Sabbath - and there is no evidence in the Old Testament that they did. And the law did not allow them to assemble anywhere else for worship. Nor do we find commands even for people near the Tabernacle that they had to gather for worship. The Sabbath was kept at home, by resting.
There is no mention in Old Testament passages that attending a worship service on the Sabbath is a way of keeping this day holy. The way the Sabbath was sanctified, made holy or set apart as sacred was through physical rest from labor. All the Old Testament references to Sabbath observance in Israel speak to this point. There is no Old Testament theology of weekly Sabbath holiness that centers around attendance at "holy convocations."
Is worshipping God on any given day breaking the Sabbath?
Part 2.
Let us look at whether Christians must attend "holy convocations" on the Sabbath. If we are to understand what Leviticus 23:3 might mean in its context, we have to know something about the manner of communal worship in Israel under the old covenant. The national corporate worship had to occur in the place that God designated as a central worship site. Originally, this was at the Tabernacle, and after Solomon's time, at the Temple in Jerusalem.
We can see an explicit instruction about the place to worship in Deuteronomy: "You are to seek the place the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go" (12:4). See also verses 11, 14, 17-18, and 26. This command to worship only at a designated location is also seen in Deuteronomy 16, which lists the annual festivals. See verses 5, 7, 11, and 16, among others.
The reasons for this were numerous. One consideration was that Israel should not alter the worship format and purpose that God had given the nation; otherwise they would easily lapse into worship that was directed to pagan deities. We can see how this happened in the wilderness when Moses left the people to receive the stone tablets ( Exodus 32), and when Israel broke politically from Judah and set up its own religious system, including new worship formats, places and times ( 1 Kings 12:25-33).
Is worshipping God on any given day breaking the Sabbath?
If performing the Sabbath rest is to be done on a Saturday, How is worshipping God on a Sunday be breaking the Sabbath?
God gave the command for the Sabbath in Exodus 20:8-11 to those "WITHIN THE GATES OF ISRAEL"
Not to the rest of the world.
In Numbers 15:32-36. there was a man stoned to death for picking up sticks!
I have never read anything like that happening or any punishment given to the rest of the world whether weekly Sabbath, yearly Sabbath or a Sabbath for the land.
THE COMMAND TO REST ON THE SABBATH WAS GIVEN TO ISRAEL AND THE WORSHIP BY ISRAEL HAD TO BE DONE IN A CERTAIN PLACE.
Here's an Interesting article by Paul Kroll.
Part 1.
Old Testament Laws:
Is Leviticus 23:3 a Command to Have Worship Services on the Weekly Sabbath?
We read the following command from Jesus in Luke 5:14, when he healed someone: "Show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." If one assumed that Jesus' teaching applied to all people at all times, it could be claimed that this passage is "proof" telling Christians they must offer the proper Mosaic sacrifice and appear before a Jewish priest.
However, we know that Luke 5:14 is not a command for us to offer sacrifices. How do we know this? It is because the total witness of the New Testament makes it clear that such sacrifices applied only to Israelites and Jews under the Mosaic old covenant. This illustrates the folly of isolating a verse from its context. We need to examine both the verse in question and the larger context of the Bible. We must not start with advance assumptions.
Hi Jema: I know I'm a bit late replying to this but I just now read the whole thread of what happened and I am so glad you and GiGi and Giannis are good to go with each other and I'm sorry my reaction was so strong and I caused trouble. I'm trying not to do that again. I am back to discussing the Sabbath with Giannis again, unless he doesn't want to then I won't. The only reason I continue to discuss the Sabbath is because (I'm not insulting Giannis, only stating my perception of these discussions and why I'm hanging on like a Pitbull LOL.) I don't feel like he has responded to my questions about why he believes that the breaking of bread can only mean the weekly service of the Early Church - that there can be no other possible interpretation. All his beliefs in the Early Church abandoning the Sabbath for Sunday worship are based on the breaking of bread premise that it had to only mean that it refers to the weekly meeting of the Early Church. Some scriptures do state that the Church met on the first day of the week, Sunday but that could just simply mean the church met on Sunday at different times other then on the Sabbath just as churches meet on different days today. For example, John 20:19 (the Church gathered together on the first day of the week because they were afraid of the Jews, not because it was time for church.) Giannis also used historical writings to back up his belief that the Early Church stopped worshipping on the Sabbath and I couldn't agree to that. (Giannis if you read this post, please don't think I am talking behind your back. I would never do that I am just trying to explain why I haven't given up on the Sabbath.) He asked me to provide scripture that validated they didn't give up on the Sabbath and I gave him a lot but he just wouldn't accept them with no real response why. All you have to do read these few and you can see that the Early church was keeping the Sabbath holy.. Acts 17:2, Acts 13:14, Acts 15:21, Acts 18:4. God Bless :)
How do you know when Paul started to preach that day? Even if it says that in other writings you can't add meaning to a scripture because someone in the first century says so. I think, Giannis, that because you have decided to believe that "breaking bread" could only be done on the first day of the week as a weekly church gathering Acts 20:7 can only be interpreted that way. If the premise I presented to you in my reply, before this one, cannot be true, tell me why without the assumption that the breaking of bread could only be done on Sunday at a regular church service. Maybe the church, in that verse, met to break bread on another day other then the Sabbath, maybe Sunday. I don't understand what you are saying about 1Cor. 11: 20-23. Paul was rebuking the church for eating their evening meal together, considering it to be the Lord's Supper, and not sharing with those who didn't have to eat. Maybe they were doing this on the Sabbath. If history tells us anything not told us in these verses we can't claim it to be a backup for the truth. History is necessary but it is still just the thoughts and words of men. When I used the quotes I did I was only telling of a man, who was quoting something from history not stating it as a biblical truth.
I apologize that I am continuing this Sabbath discussion if you'd rather go on to something else, but before we finish would you please show, with KJB scripture only, why "the breaking of bread" and the gathering of the church can only be done on Sunday or if it is done on Sunday why it can't possibly be an extra day of the week the church is getting together? Why Acts 20:7 and
1 Cor. 16:2 has to be interpreted the way you see it. God Bless :)
Hi Giannis: I'd like to discuss the Sabbath some more unless you'd rather not. Just let me know. I've done some additional research on the first century Church Fathers and I have learned more. I do agree with you that some of these authors were indeed Christians and probably did know some of the Apostles, however, what they wrote can't be presented as scripture but should only be presented as historical writings. I guess since I misunderstood that the Barnabas 15:9 was presented as a scripture, I overreacted (Who me? LOL) and let it chase me away for awhile. I apologize if I offended you or GiGi in anyway when I did that. But, while these men recorded a history of their experiences with the Early Church it can't be taken as scripturally true and can't be presented that way. The OT is our foundation and the NT builds on that foundation, to me this means that as children of God we need to accept the only true bible canonized by the Holy Spirit, as I'm sure you will agree. I know that we all love the Lord and each other and want only the truth. These discussions give us the opportunity to do that. I also apologize if my feelings toward the Catholic DOCTRINE has offended you or GiGi in any way. I was raised a Catholic and I have had a personal experience in how it destroyed a precious soul that I knew.// Why is it not possible that 1 Cor. 16:2 says they were asked to put aside a donation at the beginning of each week after the offering done on the Sabbath for something else when Paul came and he didn't want it to be done while he was there, maybe out of humility, maybe it was for him. They didn't have to gather together to do this. Also, Acts 20:7 The church met on the Sabbath for it's regular service but this time they also met on Sunday because Paul was going to be there and he would be leaving again the next day. No reason it was a weekly church service just because it says 'they broke bread together." God Bless :)
Yes, we need to be spiritually awaked, as you said, for the bridegroom is coming and we need to go out to meet Him- Matthew 25:1-6, with lighted lamps and oil because it is midnight, that is, we are living at the turn of the sixth to the seventh and final Day - the Day of the Lord, or seventh and final millennium, the darkness of midnight is a very dangerous blackness, despite the woman being clothed with the Sun, clothed with the Greater Light- John 8:12-, having the Lesser Light under her feet- John 15:26 combined with Revelation 12:1, and crowned (by Jesus) with 12 stars(12 Apostles-, so as is written in Colossians 3:1-4 -take a look: -> 1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of GOD. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
5th point
Yes, let's get our hearts fix on the Kingdom to Come- Revelation 11:15-18, you said Christ is coming and we will all stand (or fall) before Him.
Yes, as everyone know, JESUS is the stone: Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
6th point:
About your comment on a sad incident that caused you be desperate, I should say to you what my Lord JESUS said: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect-Mat.5:48.
Thank you for your reply of yesterday.I highlighted six points of your post to comment them,as follow:
1st point:
What will happen from now on in the middle east and around the world as a whole, it is written and prophesied by the Word of GOD.Remember: 1The.5:2-3:->2 For yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them,as travail upon a woman with child ( Revelation 12:1-5 will LITERALLY be fulfilled);and they(Israel-the Jews) shall not escape.(EXCEPT the sealed 144k-12K of each tribe- Revelation 7:1-8 and 14:1-5). And also the LITERAL fulfillment of 2The.2:1-13, mainly verses 11-12:-->11 And for this cause GOD shall send them STRONG DELUSION,that they should believe a lie:(These are lost).12 That they all might be damned who believed not the Truth,but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2nd point:
Yes,Israel will loose support, remember that GOD is in control of History,nothing random happens.In the first moment Israel have received all backing of their allies,but they will loose a lot of support,as you said.And when this becomes apparent ARE NOT the enemies of Israel that will try to take them over, as you think, no, it is not,when Israel loose the support,then will manifest their false messiah as was prophesied by my Lord JESUS( John 5:43-47),and then begins the LITERAL fullfilment of 2Thessalonians 2:8-12 combined with Revelation 13:11-18, and 13:2 combined with Luke 21:24 and Revelation 11:2,and Daniel 2:40-45 and 12:8-12. GET READY
3rd point:
GOD will not intervene to save the physical nation of Israel, quite the opposite, GOD will work according His Word described in the 2nd point above, among many other prophecies against the rebel Israel.
Only the 144K sealed of Israel will be saved.The others are lost, for ever. Revelation 14:18-20 combined with Isaiah 5:1-7.Take a look.
The Spirit lays down in the Scriptures certain statements as undeniable as axiomatic as the holiness of God and is the glory of the Word. He is the Word. The Spirit calls these affirmations as 'pure words' because it is tried seven times. "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times."(Ps.12:6) So Jesus sets it as the doctrine of God. Because these words are minted in heaven it shall be thus on earth. According to the principle of Similitude it is also a parable comparing the foundation of Zion is already laid in heaven to which kingdom building of God shall be according to the body God has already prepared. (Ps.40:8;12:6)
"Ye are the light of the world" Matt.5:14. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." Here Jesus was presenting the Gospel of God and he was there to prove by example. This kingdom building therefore puts both heaven and earth as one and there are no works other than faith. It is his abiding life.
New birth that was enjoined upon man and how he ran the gauntlet of the disbelieving world in the world of the flesh has its own parallel as saints redeemed from the earth are rendering the House of Wisdom with seven pillars as glorious as the city on a hill. This city is called New Jerusalem. "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,/ Having the glory of God.(Re.21:10-11).
The angel led him to a great and high mountain and it represents what Daniel referred in interpreting the king's dream.( Dan 2:44-45). The city on this hill is the stone cut of it but not with hands. Glory of God as the Father of lights is a mountain against which the body of Christ is the city and it cannot be hid.
The Law is our school master so the law be it the Law of Moses must be proved. Thus one lives by the word having declared it unto salvation. Ro.10:6) When God has placed the word in your heart Moses would warn the nation " I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live."(De.30:19).
Thus every believer lives withing two worlds simultaneously: word of the Spirit (heaven) and world of the flesh (earth) The earth is my footstool. So we in the holiest of holies the mercy seat with two witnesses. Correspondingly our bodies carry two witnesses and caul and kidneys are a sign. So God touches the young Jeremiah to indicate their presence. Prophet Ezekiel similarly eats the scroll and what do they signify? Our bodies serve as a living temple.
Reasonable service of every Christian is to present his body a living sacrifice so the flesh and its concomitant lusts no longer stand in the way. 'Sin lies at the door' God counseled Cain. Caul and kidneys (two witnesses of the world of flesh) are to be burnt for a sin offering "But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the Lord commanded Moses.(Le.9:10)
Circumcision, or concision was a sign on the flesh given by God to Abraham (Ge.17:10-11) and its authority was backed by law written on the tables of stone. This is called the Law of Moses. This was a list drawn from the Law (Ps.119:89) and for Israel and was meant to make the nation tough under the bootcamp of the wilderness. Forty years (4x10) required thorough grounding in the word of God.
Circumcision consequently was intended as a temporary provision that marked by two cherubs with outstretched wings above the mercy seat. These were two witnesses from heaven, testifying of the coming of the Word that was become flesh. Presence of God and cherubim establishes the rite of circumcision was only valid in the world of the flesh. It would be removed when law was written on fleshy hearts signalling a new covenant of the blood was enforced.(' But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away'-1 Co.13:10). The reality is however found in Christ (Col.2:17)
Israel circumcised outward badge of becoming people of the law. However two witnesses in their flesh represented by caul and kidneys proved their righteousness was only imputed to them.("Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin "-Ro.3:20) (See entry:caul and kidneys)
May we honor our LORD and SAVIOR by understanding our relationship with HIM. If you are saved, then search the scriptures to find out what it means to be saved. Continue to read and study to know what the mind of CHRIST is with regards to our Christian world view pertaining to different issues confronting and plaguing our society.
Memorize HIS word and walk in HIS Spirit that we not fall to the lust of the flesh.
GOD to shine HIS face on the brethren and gloriously bless us as we worship and praise HIS name.
May we be strong and faithful to be praying for the peace in Jerusalem; and for those in leadership positions.
The Spirit of God translates Fellowship of God with Man in a language man may easily follow. 'Let us create man in our image and after our likeness' which in fulfillment is set down in the narrative as 'male and female created he them." (Ge.1:26-27) Adam thus represents both aspects. This representational reality of the everlasting covenant owes to the eternal word ,-the Law, so we define the church has a body closed up as God did with the rib taken from Adam. "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh." Creation of Adam is after the similitude for man to understand the fellowship of God with Man. "And they shall be one flesh" is what we signify by marriage and is sanctified according to the principle of Similitude.(See entry under Rule of Three)
The Church has a body to which every believer, 'brethren' so collectively called and Christ is the head. Christ has of God become wisdom to us. (1 Co.1:30) The Spirit renders the fellowship of God and Man as that of Wisdom with Power of God. Before the worlds began Wisdom has built the House with seven pillars (Pr.9:1) so the symbolism of the House of God cannot be lost to anyone. "For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God (He.3:4). "know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?(1 Co.6:19)" What is pertinent here is the name. It has a spiritual meaning.
We have two verses with regards to His name.. "Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh (Je.7:14)". Against this let us consider what God promised King Solomon when he visited second time. (1 Ki.9:2-5) In the lexicon of the Spirit the tag 'forever' refers to the Son. The Church is short has a name Zion, as foretold by Prophet Isaiah.(Is.28:16)
Your post reminds me of the same zeal that Judaizers showed in the Church of Galatea w.r.t circumscision. What has the 4th commandment to do with us when the Lord of Sabbath has opened a new and living way? What God gave Moses on stone tables served the time and a context. Moses was a servant and we are called to be coo-heirs with Christ who is the fulfillment of the Law. Decalogue was a digest of the Law which is the Word forever settled in heaven. Seeing that Israel failed to fulfill these shows how superficial it was worn as meaningless as their frontlets and phylacteries. We are called to bear the word on our fleshy tables. We have in the Son the fountain of life. In his light we see the light. So walking therein is entering in God's rest. Sabbath for us everyday service. Not I but Christ who lives in me. When Christ who is our life appear we shall also appear with him in glory. That is our hope.
Christianlady7 Please follow these links and you will find my postings for you. On the website choose discussions, more, discussion by topic and view all. They will be there in order. I look forward to your reply. God Bless :)
Christ as the brightness of glory witnessed in his body. The logos aspect of the Son is the Witness so he explains, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."( John 5:19). So we shall see what this cloud consists of. Jesus in his prayer made clear of those whom his Father had entrusted before the worlds began. "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me."( John 17:16)
Jude in his epistle refers to them, "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,/To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed." They are witnesses as the Son is appointed to judge the ungodly. (Jude vv.14-15) In short this cloud of witness are created from the Father Son relationship. The eternal Law serves the proof of their disobedience and as God is just their witness shall stand outside what Satan may bring up against. Also refer De.33:2.
We see them in the Book of Daniel, as witnesses, "And they brought him near before him./ And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." (Dan.7:13-14)
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us"(He. 12:1-2)
God sent forth his word before the worlds began so St Paul refers to it that the sounds of it has been heard. "Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world."(Ro.10:18). So we have clouds as accompaniment to the Son where he is a sign as well as heard as the Word become flesh. "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."(Matt.24:30) What we read in Re.1:7 is the same and from the standpoint of St John.
It is thus the Spirit gives the word its density where space and time holds no meaning. So judging the verse literally leads the interpreter to dead ends. Either we read with the Spirit or lose the thread of the divine Will altogether. No more egregious error we need to cite than the manner Israel and elements of the Law of Moses have taken hold great many Christians despite of their new birth and the fact that they are new creation. They are riding a dead horse.
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."(Re.2:7) The Spirit is referring to the ear of faith. This spiritual underpinning on the scaffold of eternal word is what we need here. Those who made excuses in the Parable of the Marriage for the King's Son heard the call but did not hear well. Their ear of faith was intended. It is thus foolish teachers have taught them and their literal interpretation certainly fell short. The message to seven churches is universal and seven place names are but a handle for local churches coming together for common worship.
The Spirit refers to God as He "who maketh clouds his chariot". (Is.19:1; Ps 104:3) Singularity of the Spirit renders the clouds as visible form of the invisible aspect of God. This also serve as witnesses an in the vision of Daniel, " I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him."( Dan 7:13)
(See entry under B: Behold)
We have another instance where the clouds serve as witness. "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him."(Re.1:7).
Whenever a voice from heaven testified Jesus as 'my beloved Son' symbolic presence of God was in a bright cloud. "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.(Matt.17:5) ( Mark 9:7). When the rider on the white horse finally appears in Re.19 the cloud is conspicuous by absence. "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war."(Re.19:11). Instead we have an army of saints in white.
2.
Cloud is the glory of God when manifested. His strength is in the clouds (Ps.68:34). Stephen "looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,"(Ac.7:55-56) This Father Son relationship is transcribed into tokens explain the spiritual significance of the clouds. Clouds a natural phenomena doubles as a sign.
Glory of the word that stretched the skies was present at the dedication of the Temple.(Is.40:22) In order to instruct us the Spirit sets the cloud as a sign there. God set His approval when King Solomon dedicated it to him.", that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,/ So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud."(1 Ki.8:10-12)
This word carries much more depths than it sounds. "Behold he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him" is fulfilment of divine Will. (Re.1:7). Consequently seeing not simply a matter of optics but the sovereign aspect of the Word. It was sent forth by God and it shall not return to him in void. So what was according to the divine Will shall certainly come to pass. It was Isaiah who predicted, "Behold a virgin shall give birth" and it came to pass, (Is.7:14).It marked the fullness of time. St John similarly sets what is foreknown in the mind of God, and it marks the latter days. So space and time are pendent to the word. The same density makes the usage of clouds carry significance.
(See entry under C-clouds)
To draw an analogy from Physics the word 'behold' expresses the singularity of the Spirit and we have several examples scattered throughout the Bible.
No I am not offended, so don't worry. I will reply as soon as I have some free time, maybe today. Have a blessed day.
What a great read. Thank you so much for sharing this. You bring up a great point about the man being stoned to death for picking up sticks on the Sabbath. And yes, the Sabbath was given to the children of Israel as a sign between them and God. Have you ever noticed that out of all the 10 Commandments given in the Old Testament (Exodus Chapter 20), only 9 of them are given emphasis in the New Testament ( Matthew 19:18, Romans 13:9).
The commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy seems to be left out of the New Testament. I see no such commandment given to the church. There is no such commandment given to the church to keep the Sabbath day the way the Jews were to keep it. The Sabbath was part of the Old Covenant Law between God and Israel. The church was not in existence when this command was given. As Christians, are we under the Old Covenant law, or are we under God's grace? This is just a general question, no need to provide an answer as I'm sure I know your answer to this one.
To us today, it would seem quite extreme to see someone put to death for something as simple as picking up sticks on the Sabbath. Some say that we must keep the Sabbath day holy, but also say that it's okay to do certain things (even more than just picking up sticks), and that's justified if it's something they need. I wonder how many of today's Sabbath Keepers would be stoned to death today for the things they do on the Sabbath day, if they were to do those same things if they lived during the time the command was given?
We as believers have freedom in Jesus Christ. We are not to judge others regarding their view on keeping the Sabbath, regardless of which view one takes ( Colossians 2:16). And yes, our rest is in Christ Jesus, Amen!
Again, thank you for sharing this. I have been following along in this topic for the past week or so but chose to stay out as it seems to be a very sensitive subject with some. I'll just leave it at that.
Blessings!!!
The concept of "rest" is important in Scripture, and it has a deep spiritual meaning for Christians. As Christians, we understand that our rest is in Christ, who is our Sabbath. When we rest spiritually in Christ, we present ourselves as the people of God before his presence in continuous sacred assembly. We are always the church, in his presence every day of the week, not just one.
In conclusion, for most Israelites, the Sabbath was a day to rest at home, not a day to travel long distances and attend a worship service. The annual harvest festivals were the time for Israelites to enjoy communal worship and fellowship. Here is what the Expositor's Bible Commentary (volume 2, page 623) says about Leviticus 23:3:
[There is an emphasis here that the Israelite rested at home. There were special offerings given in the tabernacle (e.g., a double burnt offering), but the ordinary Israelite and his whole family rested. Presumably here was an opportunity for family worship and instruction in the law of God, but this is not specifically enjoined. What a boon a weekly rest must have been to the ancient laborer and farmer in his weary round of toil! ]
As did the Jews in their synagogue system, Christians find that regular fellowship and communal instruction is an important foundation of their religious life. As Christians, we are free to meet together at any time of the day, any day of the week, and any season of the year. We are not limited to meeting on just one day, since no day has been specifically set aside by God for Christian fellowship and worship. We are always in the presence of God and worship him continually because he and Christ reside in us through the indwelling Holy Spirit. At the same time, we can gather weekly and seasonally in small groups or in larger communal situations to praise God, to recall Christ's work of salvation and to fellowship in the Spirit.
End.
God bless.
Part 6.
LEVITICUS 23:3
Let us look at Leviticus 23:3 directly: "There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the Lord." The verse emphasizes rest.
Since the passage is about resting and not working, it seems that the expression "day of sacred assembly" is a parallel to "Sabbath to the Lord" and refers not so much to official communal worship on the Sabbath but to the day itself as being a "sacred assembly."
The phrase "day of sacred assembly" can be understood as a "sacred day of celebration" or a "sacred occasion," as well as a "sacred assembly" or convocation. The weekly Sabbath, as well as the annual festivals, were occasions to worship and praise God for the abundance of his physical blessings and for saving Israel from bondage in Egypt. But this worship and praise could be given to God in the Israelites' participation in rest itself (thus experiencing the blessings of Yahweh through rest), as well as in contemplation and conversation at home.
By resting from their labor and self-interests on the weekly Sabbath, the Israelites were presenting themselves before God through rest. Resting was a way of being in the presence of God and fulfilling his sacred purpose. The only people who were commanded to come to the Temple for worship were the Levites and priests. On behalf of the entire nation, they performed
the prescribed ceremonies. There was no command for people to watch them, or for them to teach the people. It was simply not possible for very many people to be there.
See Part 7.
Part 5.
The synagogue system allowed Jews to meet together in local towns and villages for prayer, the reading of the Holy Scriptures and for fellowship. The synagogue became a miniature sanctuary to replace the loss of the Jerusalem Temple. We do not know when the synagogue system originated. Neither the Old or New Testaments provide any information about this development. It is generally believed that the synagogue system developed when worship at the Temple in Jerusalem became impossible and when Jews were dispersed into other nations.
Jews added the synagogue worship system, not based on biblical command, but on a sociological need, due to the loss of the Temple and the scattering of the people far away from the Promised Land. Nowhere in the Old Testament will you find a command to have local worship sites.
There wasn't anything necessarily wrong with the Jews setting up synagogues. They became an important center of fellowship and instruction in the Jewish faith. The New Testament does not condemn the practice; it is taken for granted. It is nowhere commanded.
Regarding the day on which Jews had their worship service, it's natural that it should occur on the Sabbath. The people worked the other six days and the Sabbath was a good time for them to meet. But there is no biblical command to set up local worship sites and to make the weekly Sabbath "holy convocations." The Old Testament does not indicate that the Sabbath is kept holy through a meeting. Rather, it was kept as holy through rest.
See Part 6.
Part 4.
It would be strange, then, to have one phrase in Leviticus 23:3 refer to a weekly worship service commanded for all Israel, and then claim that this was just as important as resting as a way to keep the Sabbath. It would be a mistake to assume such a teaching from a single and vague phrase in one verse when the entire witness of the Old Testament does not mention worship service attendance in conjunction with the Sabbath.
There is no indication in Scripture of Israelites going to worship services of one kind or another in their local towns and villages. They could travel to worship services at the Tabernacle only for the annual festivals.
SYNAGOGUE SYSTEM.
One might point to the New Testament and say, "But Jesus and Paul attended the synagogue on the Sabbath. Doesn't this indicate that worship services were an essential part of God's command to keep the Sabbath holy?"
So far as we know from Scripture or Jewish history, there was no national system of Sabbath-day worship sites or places of communal instruction throughout Israel's history in the Promised Land up to the captivity of Judah in the 530s B.C. and the return of a remnant to Judea a few decades years later. There were no synagogues before the exile; there were no local meeting places in Israel before the exile, because there was no command for weekly meetings.
See Part 5.
Part 3.
WHAT MADE SABBATH "HOLY "
The essence of Sabbath-keeping was physical rest. In Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:12-15, the Sabbath command specifies rest from labor as the way to keep the day "holy." There is no mention of going to a worship service each Sabbath. Other passages in the Old Testament also define the Sabbath by rest, not by attendance at worship services. See Exodus 31:12-17, Numbers 15:32, Nehemiah 13:15-22 and Jeremiah 17:19-27. The latter two passages, though they refer to Jerusalem, do not mention anything about failure to attend worship services or "sacred assemblies," but only work on the Sabbath as a desecration of this day.
An interesting study is to look up the word "Sabbath" in a concordance, find all the Old Testament references and then read those passages to see how this day was kept "holy." The conclusion will be that rest from labor is what made the Sabbath sacred time, not attendance at a worship service. Most Israelites lived too far from the tabernacle to attend a worship service every Sabbath - and there is no evidence in the Old Testament that they did. And the law did not allow them to assemble anywhere else for worship. Nor do we find commands even for people near the Tabernacle that they had to gather for worship. The Sabbath was kept at home, by resting.
There is no mention in Old Testament passages that attending a worship service on the Sabbath is a way of keeping this day holy. The way the Sabbath was sanctified, made holy or set apart as sacred was through physical rest from labor. All the Old Testament references to Sabbath observance in Israel speak to this point. There is no Old Testament theology of weekly Sabbath holiness that centers around attendance at "holy convocations."
See Part 4.
Part 2.
Let us look at whether Christians must attend "holy convocations" on the Sabbath. If we are to understand what Leviticus 23:3 might mean in its context, we have to know something about the manner of communal worship in Israel under the old covenant. The national corporate worship had to occur in the place that God designated as a central worship site. Originally, this was at the Tabernacle, and after Solomon's time, at the Temple in Jerusalem.
We can see an explicit instruction about the place to worship in Deuteronomy: "You are to seek the place the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go" (12:4). See also verses 11, 14, 17-18, and 26. This command to worship only at a designated location is also seen in Deuteronomy 16, which lists the annual festivals. See verses 5, 7, 11, and 16, among others.
The reasons for this were numerous. One consideration was that Israel should not alter the worship format and purpose that God had given the nation; otherwise they would easily lapse into worship that was directed to pagan deities. We can see how this happened in the wilderness when Moses left the people to receive the stone tablets ( Exodus 32), and when Israel broke politically from Judah and set up its own religious system, including new worship formats, places and times ( 1 Kings 12:25-33).
See Part 3.
If performing the Sabbath rest is to be done on a Saturday, How is worshipping God on a Sunday be breaking the Sabbath?
God gave the command for the Sabbath in Exodus 20:8-11 to those "WITHIN THE GATES OF ISRAEL"
Not to the rest of the world.
In Numbers 15:32-36. there was a man stoned to death for picking up sticks!
I have never read anything like that happening or any punishment given to the rest of the world whether weekly Sabbath, yearly Sabbath or a Sabbath for the land.
THE COMMAND TO REST ON THE SABBATH WAS GIVEN TO ISRAEL AND THE WORSHIP BY ISRAEL HAD TO BE DONE IN A CERTAIN PLACE.
Here's an Interesting article by Paul Kroll.
Part 1.
Old Testament Laws:
Is Leviticus 23:3 a Command to Have Worship Services on the Weekly Sabbath?
We read the following command from Jesus in Luke 5:14, when he healed someone: "Show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." If one assumed that Jesus' teaching applied to all people at all times, it could be claimed that this passage is "proof" telling Christians they must offer the proper Mosaic sacrifice and appear before a Jewish priest.
However, we know that Luke 5:14 is not a command for us to offer sacrifices. How do we know this? It is because the total witness of the New Testament makes it clear that such sacrifices applied only to Israelites and Jews under the Mosaic old covenant. This illustrates the folly of isolating a verse from its context. We need to examine both the verse in question and the larger context of the Bible. We must not start with advance assumptions.
See Part 2.
I apologize that I am continuing this Sabbath discussion if you'd rather go on to something else, but before we finish would you please show, with KJB scripture only, why "the breaking of bread" and the gathering of the church can only be done on Sunday or if it is done on Sunday why it can't possibly be an extra day of the week the church is getting together? Why Acts 20:7 and
1 Cor. 16:2 has to be interpreted the way you see it. God Bless :)
4th point:
Yes, we need to be spiritually awaked, as you said, for the bridegroom is coming and we need to go out to meet Him- Matthew 25:1-6, with lighted lamps and oil because it is midnight, that is, we are living at the turn of the sixth to the seventh and final Day - the Day of the Lord, or seventh and final millennium, the darkness of midnight is a very dangerous blackness, despite the woman being clothed with the Sun, clothed with the Greater Light- John 8:12-, having the Lesser Light under her feet- John 15:26 combined with Revelation 12:1, and crowned (by Jesus) with 12 stars(12 Apostles-, so as is written in Colossians 3:1-4 -take a look: -> 1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of GOD. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
5th point
Yes, let's get our hearts fix on the Kingdom to Come- Revelation 11:15-18, you said Christ is coming and we will all stand (or fall) before Him.
Yes, as everyone know, JESUS is the stone: Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
6th point:
About your comment on a sad incident that caused you be desperate, I should say to you what my Lord JESUS said: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect-Mat.5:48.
GOD BLESS and get ready
Greetings in Christ JESUS
Thank you for your reply of yesterday.I highlighted six points of your post to comment them,as follow:
1st point:
What will happen from now on in the middle east and around the world as a whole, it is written and prophesied by the Word of GOD.Remember: 1The.5:2-3:->2 For yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them,as travail upon a woman with child ( Revelation 12:1-5 will LITERALLY be fulfilled);and they(Israel-the Jews) shall not escape.(EXCEPT the sealed 144k-12K of each tribe- Revelation 7:1-8 and 14:1-5). And also the LITERAL fulfillment of 2The.2:1-13, mainly verses 11-12:-->11 And for this cause GOD shall send them STRONG DELUSION,that they should believe a lie:(These are lost).12 That they all might be damned who believed not the Truth,but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2nd point:
Yes,Israel will loose support, remember that GOD is in control of History,nothing random happens.In the first moment Israel have received all backing of their allies,but they will loose a lot of support,as you said.And when this becomes apparent ARE NOT the enemies of Israel that will try to take them over, as you think, no, it is not,when Israel loose the support,then will manifest their false messiah as was prophesied by my Lord JESUS( John 5:43-47),and then begins the LITERAL fullfilment of 2Thessalonians 2:8-12 combined with Revelation 13:11-18, and 13:2 combined with Luke 21:24 and Revelation 11:2,and Daniel 2:40-45 and 12:8-12. GET READY
3rd point:
GOD will not intervene to save the physical nation of Israel, quite the opposite, GOD will work according His Word described in the 2nd point above, among many other prophecies against the rebel Israel.
Only the 144K sealed of Israel will be saved.The others are lost, for ever. Revelation 14:18-20 combined with Isaiah 5:1-7.Take a look.
continues in the next post
The Spirit lays down in the Scriptures certain statements as undeniable as axiomatic as the holiness of God and is the glory of the Word. He is the Word. The Spirit calls these affirmations as 'pure words' because it is tried seven times. "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times."(Ps.12:6) So Jesus sets it as the doctrine of God. Because these words are minted in heaven it shall be thus on earth. According to the principle of Similitude it is also a parable comparing the foundation of Zion is already laid in heaven to which kingdom building of God shall be according to the body God has already prepared. (Ps.40:8;12:6)
"Ye are the light of the world" Matt.5:14. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." Here Jesus was presenting the Gospel of God and he was there to prove by example. This kingdom building therefore puts both heaven and earth as one and there are no works other than faith. It is his abiding life.
New birth that was enjoined upon man and how he ran the gauntlet of the disbelieving world in the world of the flesh has its own parallel as saints redeemed from the earth are rendering the House of Wisdom with seven pillars as glorious as the city on a hill. This city is called New Jerusalem. "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,/ Having the glory of God.(Re.21:10-11).
The angel led him to a great and high mountain and it represents what Daniel referred in interpreting the king's dream.( Dan 2:44-45). The city on this hill is the stone cut of it but not with hands. Glory of God as the Father of lights is a mountain against which the body of Christ is the city and it cannot be hid.
The Law is our school master so the law be it the Law of Moses must be proved. Thus one lives by the word having declared it unto salvation. Ro.10:6) When God has placed the word in your heart Moses would warn the nation " I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live."(De.30:19).
Thus every believer lives withing two worlds simultaneously: word of the Spirit (heaven) and world of the flesh (earth) The earth is my footstool. So we in the holiest of holies the mercy seat with two witnesses. Correspondingly our bodies carry two witnesses and caul and kidneys are a sign. So God touches the young Jeremiah to indicate their presence. Prophet Ezekiel similarly eats the scroll and what do they signify? Our bodies serve as a living temple.
Reasonable service of every Christian is to present his body a living sacrifice so the flesh and its concomitant lusts no longer stand in the way. 'Sin lies at the door' God counseled Cain. Caul and kidneys (two witnesses of the world of flesh) are to be burnt for a sin offering "But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the Lord commanded Moses.(Le.9:10)
Circumcision, or concision was a sign on the flesh given by God to Abraham (Ge.17:10-11) and its authority was backed by law written on the tables of stone. This is called the Law of Moses. This was a list drawn from the Law (Ps.119:89) and for Israel and was meant to make the nation tough under the bootcamp of the wilderness. Forty years (4x10) required thorough grounding in the word of God.
Circumcision consequently was intended as a temporary provision that marked by two cherubs with outstretched wings above the mercy seat. These were two witnesses from heaven, testifying of the coming of the Word that was become flesh. Presence of God and cherubim establishes the rite of circumcision was only valid in the world of the flesh. It would be removed when law was written on fleshy hearts signalling a new covenant of the blood was enforced.(' But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away'-1 Co.13:10). The reality is however found in Christ (Col.2:17)
Israel circumcised outward badge of becoming people of the law. However two witnesses in their flesh represented by caul and kidneys proved their righteousness was only imputed to them.("Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin "-Ro.3:20) (See entry:caul and kidneys)
Memorize HIS word and walk in HIS Spirit that we not fall to the lust of the flesh.
GOD to shine HIS face on the brethren and gloriously bless us as we worship and praise HIS name.
May we be strong and faithful to be praying for the peace in Jerusalem; and for those in leadership positions.
January 8, 2024
The Spirit of God translates Fellowship of God with Man in a language man may easily follow. 'Let us create man in our image and after our likeness' which in fulfillment is set down in the narrative as 'male and female created he them." (Ge.1:26-27) Adam thus represents both aspects. This representational reality of the everlasting covenant owes to the eternal word ,-the Law, so we define the church has a body closed up as God did with the rib taken from Adam. "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh." Creation of Adam is after the similitude for man to understand the fellowship of God with Man. "And they shall be one flesh" is what we signify by marriage and is sanctified according to the principle of Similitude.(See entry under Rule of Three)
The Church has a body to which every believer, 'brethren' so collectively called and Christ is the head. Christ has of God become wisdom to us. (1 Co.1:30) The Spirit renders the fellowship of God and Man as that of Wisdom with Power of God. Before the worlds began Wisdom has built the House with seven pillars (Pr.9:1) so the symbolism of the House of God cannot be lost to anyone. "For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God (He.3:4). "know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?(1 Co.6:19)" What is pertinent here is the name. It has a spiritual meaning.
We have two verses with regards to His name.. "Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh (Je.7:14)". Against this let us consider what God promised King Solomon when he visited second time. (1 Ki.9:2-5) In the lexicon of the Spirit the tag 'forever' refers to the Son. The Church is short has a name Zion, as foretold by Prophet Isaiah.(Is.28:16)
Your post reminds me of the same zeal that Judaizers showed in the Church of Galatea w.r.t circumscision. What has the 4th commandment to do with us when the Lord of Sabbath has opened a new and living way? What God gave Moses on stone tables served the time and a context. Moses was a servant and we are called to be coo-heirs with Christ who is the fulfillment of the Law. Decalogue was a digest of the Law which is the Word forever settled in heaven. Seeing that Israel failed to fulfill these shows how superficial it was worn as meaningless as their frontlets and phylacteries. We are called to bear the word on our fleshy tables. We have in the Son the fountain of life. In his light we see the light. So walking therein is entering in God's rest. Sabbath for us everyday service. Not I but Christ who lives in me. When Christ who is our life appear we shall also appear with him in glory. That is our hope.