Here's below is what JESUS said to John in Patmos through His angel (in fact an Archangel- Revelation 1:12-13)
Revelation 21:3-8
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven(heaven? Ephesians 1:3-8 and Philippians 3:20-21) saying, Behold, the TABERNACLE of GOD is with MEN( Revelation 11:15-18), and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and GOD Himself shall be with them, and be their GOD.
4 And GOD shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. --> Come up hither,
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his GOD, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
The enemy of our souls has a problem (actually as sick as he is a lot of issues) but I am focusing on one in particular. He can't stand humans; in reality even those who do his bidding but is out of necessity offering many temporary pleasures to turn men away from God and in reality; of course put people into bondage. Since he can't stand God; Christ or His holiness as well as human beings the last thing he wants is to see someone be drawn to Christ's mercy and salvation through God's love. No doubt that sickens him. Some say his primary motive is to have us in hell with him. Since he hates us already having our company there isn't going to make him feel better; and of course he will be too busy suffering himself to care anyway. It may give him pleasure for now; since he misses out on such suffering until the confinement period of the Millennium is over and the final conflagration occurs; to think of men in constant agony. What he really wants as from the beginning is worship. His motive is simply overthrow of God and heaven which his demented mind still thinks can be attained; but at the same time he probably knows better since his time is short. Daniel 8:10 even seems to suggest he tramples on some of his own demonic horde when cast out of heaven in the Tribulation; likely enraged that they couldn't fight hard enough to keep his position up there any longer.
The whole Satanic mantra (Such as Aleister Crowley's "do as thou wilt") in a nutshell explains all of the enemy's tactics.
The devil only wants to serve himself. He will use his best tool music (read Isaiah 14 or Ezekiel 28) to delude the masses.
He doesn't rule over hell; at least after the cross as souls now go straight to heaven and not remain in the paradise under the earth. His contracts with people can't hold water with the shed blood on the cross of His atonement. 1 Corinthians 15:56; Romans 6:23). Christ conquered sin at Calvary.
The first man was made a living soul; the last man was made a quickening spirit.
MAN MADE ONLY AS A LIVING SOUL
The Word,GOD Himself,Who is from everlasting to everlasting, self-executing,He has in He Himself the project written since Eternity how to make man in His image,but GOD is Spirit,how could man see the image of His Spirit?It's impossible unless the Spirit be made physically.
The Word-the Word is GOD-GOD is Spirit and a Person,He knew it would be impossible He be known and seen in Spirit,even being a Person in He Himself as Word,so when the time arrived in to make man in His image and likeness,through His invisible Spirit and own Person as manifested Word,two distincts Persons,then He said:Let US make man in OUR image,after our likeness.
The Person of GOD as Word still was in His bosom.The Word had not still been made flesh,then was only a man made of the dust. With the revelation of the Word was given life to the man,through the Word was breathed into the nostrils of man the breath of life; and man became a living soul from the beginning until JESUS.
A MAN MADE AS LIVING SPIRIT-THIS ONLY AFTER JESUS
GOD had planned to make man in His image,but how?once He was Spirit and only One,as whether was alone?First He needed to make an image from He Himself and that's what GOD did with the birth of JESUS.JESUS was born in the turn of the fourth to the fifth Day,in the turn of fourth to the fifth millennium.JESUS was no longer in the bosom of the Father,the Word- Hebrews 1:1-4.
With the birth of JESUS,GOD could fulfill His wonderful promise to make man in His image,a quickning spirit,as planned.From JESUS until now passed more 2000 years,so we are at the turn of the sixth to the seventh and last Day, the Lord's Day,or seventh and last millennium,the millennium of GOD's Kingdom- Revelation 11:15-18,so in fulfillment of what says the Word,the dead shall be raised incorruptible-1 Cor.15:52-, and we that are alive shall be changed- Philippians 3:20-21.
Who comes first, Michael or JESUS? It's very important, for in this current time, yes, even now, after around 2000 years or after two GOD's Days- Hebrews 1:1to4- so it is
as the lightning that cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall the coming of the Son of man be. Get ready- Matthew 25:10-, knowing that only lamp- Psalm 119:105-is not suffice to enter in the kingdom of GOD - Matthew 7:21-27 and Malachi 4:11-14.
Michael the archangel is one like unto the Son of man, the difference is that Michael is a warrior, JESUS the Savior, He is the stone which is become the head of the corner. There is no salvation in any other(except in JESUS Christ):for there is none other NAME under heaven given among men, whereby we MUST be saved.
JESUS/JOSHUA warned: ... no man cometh unto the Father, but by me, so Adonai, Jehovah, YHWH, Yahweh, HaShem, Yehovah, Elohim, Yahusha , YEHshia, YEHvah, ten supposed and fictitious names, better, NICKNAMES of GOD, added in the Jewish Bible, and inadvertently copied into the Gentile Bible by the translators, they all are good for nothing.
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. But who comes first that will cause to happen Great Tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. My Lord JESUS made it very clear, saying: Except those days (this current time) should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
A false messiah is at door, he will manifest himself soon- Revelation 13:11-14 combined with John 5:43-47-AN IMPOSTOR- , he was born decadas ago, understand? It is he the God of the Jews- 2Thessalonians 2:3-4.
My Lord JESUS warned: If any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; BELEIVE IT NOT.
Daniel 12:1->1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time(because the archangel Michael stands up): and at that time(the current time-the seventh and last millennium or the seventh and last GOD's Day), thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book (according Re.7:1-14.Take a look). JESUS prophesied, saying: Matt.24:15 & 21:
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
21...then shall be great Tribulation(Dan.12:1& Acts 14:22),such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time(to this current time, time of the last GOD's Day),no, nor ever shall be.
By the way, it's very important to know who comes first: Michael or JESUS?
Michael the archangel is one like unto the Son of man, the difference is that Michael is a warrior, JESUS the Savior, He is the stone which is become the head of the corner. There is no salvation in any other(except in JESUS Christ):for there is none other NAME under heaven given among men, whereby we MUST be saved.
It is very important to know who comes first: Michael or JESUS?
Daniel 12:2
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Paul prophesied: 1Tess.4:15-17
15 We say unto you by the Word of the Lord,that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven(from the 3rd heaven,we the believers are still in the 2nd heaven-Eph.1:3-8 combined with Phil.3:20-21)with a shout,with the voice of the archangel,and with the trump of GOD:and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds( Isaiah 60:8, and 1Corinthians 15:51 combined with Phi.3:20-21 and Re.5:8-14), to meet the Lord in the air(in the 3rd heavenly environment-3rd heaven-far above the second heaven- Luke 20:35-36 combined with Mat.25:6): and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (Where?-Re.11:15-18 and 5:10, and Mat.5:5).
Daniel 12:3
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (The stars were made by our GOD since the beginning- Genesis 1:16-made with own light given by GOD for them to shine in heaven(Eph.1:3-8), but the Greater Light is JESUS, and the Lesser Light is the person of the Holy Spirit- John 15:26 and 16:12-15. Take a look).
I probably have mentioned before the elemental aspect of a covenant in regard to Adam and Eve which also holds for all mankind.
Because of Melchizedek apparently there was a historical prescident for true worship among some outside of Israel in ancient days as well. that brings up the idea that with Adam's progeny (from Seth on forward); it is likely that the descendants that became the first patriarchs when man spread to different areas of the earth meant that at the formation of each country there was some elemental truth from scripture; we find this in the symbolism in the Chinese language; as well as other cultures that believe there is a god greater than everytehing even if they don't know who it is. A similar tale of course is a common thread with the flood stories throughout the world; which proves the validity of the flood (Gilgamesh epic and Chinese language symbols once again).
Since God created all men; then of course they have a conscience albeit sometimes seared beyond redemption. God did promise no destruction by a flood for the earth but this earth will be destroyed by fire. What is the driving force behind sin is man's sin NATURE as well as the demons that control the world system in regard to the world; flesh and the Devil or lust of the eyes; pride of life; etc. That's why I say there is more hope for someone who actually desires to worship the Devil than someone who claims to be a "spiritual person" by any other means besides the true Christian faith. People say they aren't really that bad; and so called "white" magic isn't really that bad; or all the humanistic vibes of the New Age. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and therefore by default the fear of hell brings men to consider their ways and often repent.
This brings more responsibility for those who have heard the truth and rejected it; whether it be the cities Christ said were to be punished worse than Sodom or those who have violated their vows to follow Christ.
"And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered."
I shall not detail what I have mentioned of this quote from Prophet Zechariah (13:7) while I coverd Matthew. The point is simple. Jesus as the Word become flesh obeyed his God completely so much so he knew the evil hour closing in on him, down to the exact minute. Jesus says further down in this chapter, "I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled."(14:49). Luke present us one curious aspect of time. "When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness."( Luke 22:53). The power of darkness also has been at work equally as the word that God commanded, "Let there be light." Why did Jesus Christ manifest? "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."( 1 John 3:8). So both good seed and tares growing in the field is nothing to marvel at. While Moses was with God down below the golden calf being set up was no coincidence. The evil work had succeeded throwing off some from the fellowship of God with Man. Moses as a double for the Son went up even as Jesus' Ascension gives it as a kangaroo event. So what we find of the Church of Rome setting up their golden calf is no brainer. The ten spies who brought evil report and brought God to intervene (Nu..14) we have even now as Evangelical Right, lining up behind a captain as bizarre as the Pied Piper of Hamelin. "And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt."(14:4). New Canaan is impossible for the reprobate minds. The point we need see here is the word of God is given to us to profit withal. (1 Co.12:7)
26I beheld,and the fruitful place was a wilderness(place where JESUS preached the Gospel,it was fruitful until 70AD),and all the cities thereof were broken down(even the Temple in LITERAL fulfillment of GOD's Word),at the presence of the Lord(yes)by His fierce anger.
27The Lord said,The whole land(Israel)shall be desolate;yet will I not make a full end(there shall be great tribulation,such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time,no,nor ever shall be).
28For this shall the earth(Israel)mourn,and the heavens above be black(the 1st & 2nd heavens-Eph.1:3-8-,i.e.the OT and NT will no longer be valid,
for that which decayes and waxes old is ready to vanish,so the 3rd will still be established from now on),for I have spoken it,I have purposed it,and will not repent,neither will I turn back from it.(the heavens(the first two heavens)and the earth(current Israel),which are now,by the same Word are kept in store,reserved unto fire against this Day of Judgment(the Judgment Seat of Christ)and perdition of ungodly men.
Is.65:17-I create NEW heavens(the 3rd)and a NEW earth(ISRAEL)and the former shall not be remembered,nor come into mind.
Je.4:23-25
23I beheld the earth(Israel)...without form,and void;and the heavens(Eph.1:3-8)they had no light
24I beheld the mountains...they trembled,the hills moved lightly
25I ...there was no man,and all the birds of the heavens were fled
Re.6:12-17
12When he opened the sixth seal,lo,there was a great earthquake;sun became black...the moon as blood;
13The stars of heaven(angels)fell unto the earth shaken of a mighty wind(Re.12:4).
14And heaven departed...;every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15Kings of earth,and great men,rich men,chief captains,the mighty men hid themselves in the dens and rocks;
16Saying to the mountains and rocks,Fall on us,hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne,and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17The great Day of His WRATH is come;who shall be able to stand?
I have often kidded around about having someone memorize the first 6 or 7 chapters of 1 Chronicles. Genealogies aren't to be obsessed over ( 1 Tim. 1:4); however they are vital in seeing the lineage of God's people. The beginning of Matthew; for instance gives us the lineage from Abraham to Joseph; and Luke from Mary's lineage all the way back to Adam. This of course goes back to Genesis 3:15 and the "seed of the woman" prophecy. These two lineages probably are enough to know in themselves from the whole Bible in regard to that subject. If we go deeper into meanings of names particularly in the first generations it appears there is a prophetic indication of Christ to come if we list the names and their meanings in order in Hebrew. There are no doubt patterns of equidistant letters that are unique in scripture pointing to certain events. Again; like genealogies; they are best not obsessed over; for we already know Christ is the living Word so we don't need hidden clues as to who He is. We can look to past events; and I have stated that Michael Drosnin's prediction of Rabin's assassination in 1996 may have been something the Lord allowed so others wouldn't meet the same fate. Since we are now still in the Church Age; we are not in the time of Revelation when prophets once again are on the earth in that role and there is a known 7 year template for all the judgments to occur. God has ultimate truths that must come to pass; but some things are conditional which only He knows that prayer and action now can possibly delay judgment; as we see with the example of Nineveh.
We can look to history and scientific facts as authenticated from the Bible; with more coming all the time. For the skeptic who God chooses to enlighten it may be a good witnessing tool; but we shouldn't make such methods are only talking points for apologetics. First we must see if someone is serious about wanting to hear the truths of the Word
I have touched on several good devotional sources in posts last year; namely Oswald Chambers "utmost for the Highest" and Daily Bread. This site also is helpful when highlighting a daily Bible verse for the surrounding text to consider.
If I have the terminology correct Expository preaching is systematic reading of a book chapter by chapter. There is another term for topical studies that I am sure someone here knows. For a new believer it is hard to argue with the standard approach of beginning in the Gospels (usually John is picked) and then transitioning to Paul's Epistles. Scripture memory is helpful for two reasons particularly for new believers; one for edification and second to have verses to explain the hope within us in Christ when witnessing. Taking the example of John 3:16 for instance we have the assurance of eternal life but if we read the surrounding text we see in verse 18 that he who does NOT believe in Him is condemned already. This is one danger of "cherry picking" an isolated verse that gives us "positive vibes" and not comprehending God's Word as to repetitive themes; in this case blessings for obedience and faith and cursings for not believing. This contrast between good and bad is throughout scriptures; whether we look at warnings in Deuteronomy as to conditions affecting the entire nation because of disobedience vs obedience; Psalms and Proverbs related to characteristics of righteous and wicked and books of Chronicles and Kings as to righteous and unrighteous kings.
We are to be cautious; therefore with any devotionals that always have "encouraging" verses or if the author is skewed in that direction. The opposite could be said of the Oswald Chambers as some have accused it of being works oriented too much; they certainly are challenging unlike anything I've read. In terms of scripture memory; it is useful but internalizing the Living Word through meditation and application also.
"Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away."(v.31) Jesus Christ as the same yesterday today and forever, warns the four disciples what must happen hereafter. "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things."(v.23)
The second Temple of Herod shall not stand."Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."(v.2) Parallel to this he also warns of his death. "Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up./Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?/But he spake of the temple of his body./When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said."( John 2:19-22)
In order to be certain that we are not taken with the perishing Jesus introduced the sign of the end times. His body was broken up so shall everything in heaven and the earth. "Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven./Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain."(He.12:26-27). The Word of God has set the warning from the beginning. What occurred at Mount Sinai was one such warning, and when the end shall come is not for us to know.
"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father./Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.:(vv.32-33)
Jesus was Prophet; Priest and King. He fulfilled roles which no other individual was allowed to do in scripture. David acted as Priest when needed when he was a king; but only due to his own sin. Solomon had to complete building the Temple because David was disallowed according to scripture because of certain acts of violence (I am guessing partly due to having Uriah killed off to get Bathsheeba). Even though Solomon commissioned men to do the work on the Temple we see no direct priestly action by him; only a dedication of the nation of Israel and prayers lifted up and the beginning of the operations there. Generally kings were not allowed to offer sacrifices; a Levite was needed first off. This disqualified Saul's attempt when he presumptuously went ahead with it rather than waiting for the right person to do the job and that resulted in being dethroned and his life started to fall apart. Prophets also kept away from sacrifices; but in the case of Christ He fulfilled the prophecies Himself by BEING our sacrifice and hence exalted by the Father to rule and reign as King on the earth in the Millennium.
The Bible describes many kings along with exhaustive lists of their actions which sadly were predominantly evil. The length of their reign as well as the fate of the nation at large was tied into blessings and cursings. Transgressions would cause a downfall; and in the case of the few righteous kings it exalted the nation ( Proverbs 14:34). After Solomon compromised he forfeited his own length of life as well as the nation being able to rule permanently without being under the thumb of other nations. In Ecclesiastes his conclusion after discussing all his own vanity and of life in general was to "fear God and keep his commandments" at the end of chapter 12. Through Christ alone can we fulfill the law because we are grafted in to the true vine inheriting His righeousness because of His victory.
"But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female." (v.6) God is love is a facet of holiness of God. When God breathed into the nostrils of man there was no need for spelling out holiness as such. In his breath all that were needful for his life and godliness was impressed as a candle is lit by another. Quality of light sets both giver and the given on the same stand,- Holiness made it so natural so love of man so learned did not carry any other feeling than was impressed. By the same token in loving the world God made love Person specific. ( John 3:16)
Male and female he created them is with reference to the holiness so love has a body as a candle has and it is quality also speaks about love of two bodies maintain a common purpose. The Spirit presents the House with seven pillars as a body built by Wisdom, which is a feminine principle.(Pr.9:1)God a Spirit is Power dovetailing into Wisdom is how the Spirit presents the divine Holiness. By the same token his Son has a body which is the Word become God loved the world therefore it must be seen and the heat thereof must be felt throughout. In due time God sent Jesus Christ as the true light. While he presented the doctrine of his Father it had to be out in the open fulfilling the saying, "Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?"(4:21).
"Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away./And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept."(vv.4-5) Compare with what John says," In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."( John 1:1) Because of the hardness of heart Moses allowed man put away, which is like the candle put under the bed. Jesus refers to it as adultery of one against the other.
"And in the house" Jesus explained it in terms of the Law of the Spirit. (Matt.19:9-11)
Here we have two aspects of life where sin controls circumstances of man's world. We shall come to the other man's riches reigning uppermost whereas God covered him with glory and honor in the beginning; so much so Adam and Eve were naked and yet they felt no shame at all. Wealth of a sinful man's inventive mind, in terms of a sentient life did not exist at all.
The man who came running to Jesus must not have come on the spur of the moment. A good life for a fine mind can hold a deadening effect when one sees at every turn the squalor and misery of lives floating about. It is like a healthy man chained to a almost a decaying corpse. Does it not spoil his sleep though he has a comfortable bed to sleep on? He may have kept a good table with rich viands and possessed thoroughbreds in his stables and lived in the midst of objet d'art, and he may have even tried not to succumb to its lure. He would only know how his soul has been left bound so he hastened to Jesus in a moral dilemma. Only when the moment of truth demanded him to declare where he stood in terms of eternal life, "And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions".(v.22)
The Spirit repeats thrice in vv.23-25 Jesus makes a general observation; secondly with regards to those who would want an abiding life as branches to the true Vine. " Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!"(v.24)
"Who then can be saved?/And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."(vv.26-27) Grace is required to negotiate between true riches and other man's riches.
On the other hand true riches of man has been established between God and Man and the blessings are allowed to whosoever trusted the Son unreservedly. Besides God sanctified the day Seven and would send him to the world in fullness of time.
Matthew gives the passage in a slight altered form. It is the Mother of the sons of Zebedee approaches Jesus for a special favor."Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshippinghim, and desiring a certain thing of him."(Matt.20:20). The Word or the Law is interpreted differently according to the world of the Spirit and by the flesh and spirit respectively. In one the glory of God is the foremost so Elias or Moses serve as a double for the Son. In the case of the Mother of Zebedee's sons, her desire was the glory of her sons. She serves as a stand in for her Son. Of this St Paul gives us two contrary laws. "So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."(Ro.7:25)
Law of the Spirit presupposes a Lawgiver is it not. It is thus God has left all judgment to his Son who also is the Word become flesh. On the other hand Satan the Lawless one has become by default of Adam a law given so the law of sin characterizes works of flesh and blood. Whosoever rejects the commandment as King Saul did is subject to an unclean spirits. "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."( 1 John 3:8)
vv.38-39 "And with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized." Jesus refers to the anointing he received (Ps.45:5-6) and in their case of the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, and adds,"But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared." Jesus scrupulous chose to obey the word and as was reminded by Moses at the mount. of his death and glory would fulfill what was written of him in the scripture. the same choice was left to the sons of Zebedee and it was their free will.
The other ten disciples were naturally upset over their behind the back maneuvering for power.
Transfiguration of Jesus at the mount throws up light beyond the glorious body, a building of God eternal in heavens. The disciples going to Emmaus would not have recognized the risen Jesus but they did and it had to do with the word. " Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?"( Luke 24:31-32). When Jesus opened their eyes they did know it was he indeed.
Then we have the mount itself to consider. "And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them."(v.2). As with the Sermon on the mount we have the high mountain which is the testimony of God and Jesus as the rock cut not with hands, signifying we are looking at the Word become flesh.
Mark mentions Moses and Elias " and they were talking with Jesus."(v.24). When Jesus explained the word of God to Cleopas and his companion, "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." ( Luke 24:27) Luke elsewhere gives an additional insight to the transfiguration."And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:/Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem." Moses and Elias and Jesus are the three in glory in that specific moment of transfiguration while the three disciples, Peter James and John were in their physical bodies. In short, the Transfiguration is clear illustration of two worlds of the Spirit and of the flesh and blood operating simultaneously. The word concerning him sets prophets serving outside the timescale as we know the term. For this reason Jesus speaks of Elias,"But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him." (v.13) The ministry of Elias and Moses were as a double Jesus Christ
Mark states the principle of Association which is in an altered from than what is presented by St Matthew. "And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them," Jesus sets a child representing the twelve and St Matthew presents the principle accordingly, before he sent them to preach, "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." (Matt.10:40). Jesus taking the child in his arms is how we are set in his hands so both Gospels are referring the selfsame idea. In terms of the quality God set his name every other name because he was a child in his obedience. Putting on the mind of Christ is therefore proving your parentage. At the mount of Transfiguration he received the testimony of his Father, "And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him."(v.7). The earth and the fulness thereof belong to God which makes all things in heaven and on earth by him consist. "And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." therefore is not to be measured by earthly time but as set forth in the divine Will. As the Word which was from the beginning ( John 1:1) it pleased God that in him should all Fullness dwell.
"And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus."(v.4) Demonstrative of this we have Moses and Elias meeting Jesus at the mount. Before the Advent of Jesus they were sent as stand in for him and while at the mount their roles are reversed! It is how the two worlds of the Spirit and of the flesh and blood revolve about a stationary point of the Son and of the Son of man. Now we shall understand why Jesus said, in vv.38-39. His disciples did not have this 360 degree view while Jesus understood his name before which all knees should bow (Ph.2:5-9) rose above their partisan spirit. They still had a long way to go .
Our Lord JESUS emphatically said:All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth-Mat.28:18.
The world of Devil as a whole,with all kind of structures they all have, yeah,all the nations and peculiar system of life of each one,are sufferring and will suffer catastrofic and insufferable punishments in this seventh and last millennium,or seventh and last Day,the LORD's Day.Get ready.
See,the precedent period of Tribulation,period of sorrows listed by JESUS-Mat.24:3-8-is the first signal of the beginning of the ETERNAL chastisement ahead.In fact,the ETERNAL punishment of all nations it had a written deadline to start,understand?And it has already really started.
Now,within this environment of punishments and pains and entire collapse of the Devil's world,the false messiah of the Jews will manifest himself as JESUS prophesied,saying to the Jews an IMPOSTOR they will receive as their messiah- John 5:43-47, combined with 2 Thes.2:3-12,and Re.13 :11.
Thus, in the midst of severe chastisement and great suffering in all nations due the wrath of the Lamb,-Re.6:14-17, we will soon see two Beasts reigning on Earth:
1-the old Gentile Beast of the Sea; and
2-the Beast of the earth(Israel)who will still manifest himself, from then on will begin the period of the last week(of years), the 70th week Daniel 9:27,and each Beast will reign for 3.5 years-42 months-or 1260 days-and who will first rule the 5th and last satanic kingdom - Daniel 2:41-44- is the old Gentile Beast of the sea-Re.13:1.
Then Re.11:2 and Re.13:5 will begin LITERALLY to be fulfilled as first period of the last week.The worst of all punishments will happen in the beginning of the 2nd half of the last week,with the establishment of the Abomination of Desolation for 1290 days-Dan.12:v.11.
12Blessed is he that waiteth,and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.(Oh yes,blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the Ineffable,Wonderful,Indescribable,Unspeakable day,the day 1.335.Hallelujaaah!!!
"And how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought." (v.12)
This key verse shall explain this saying of Jesus. It also tells how vital was for the multitude that he called them as well as his disciples, so it goes to the very core of the kingdom of God. "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it./For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"(8:34-36). For my sake and for the gospel's sake is distinct from the Son for whom 'this day' is decreed. (Ps.2:7) So the gospel and the Word become flesh, the Son of man fulfills the provision of 'the seven days' in the everlasting covenant.
What God has sanctified covers the body of Christ and the duration of which is 'this day'. God was from the beginning and the Word was with him. Because of Adam and his disobedience sin entered into the world so with obedience what Jesus proved was the excellence of the soul which is the earnest of divine sovereignty of soul. Life of the vile body cannot let go "I will" So when the pomp and circumstance of the king of Tyre wants to impose his will he proves to whom he holds affinity. His will worship sets him as the son of perdition. "Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire./Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." (Ez.28:14-16; "I will be like the most High./Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell."-Is.14:14-15)
God made man a living soul, and the life is what the Word become flesh made manifest. Humility of Jesus set at nought his own body after the likeness of men. So redemption of one's soul has only single way into the kingdom of God. "I am the Way" Ph.2:5-9)
There is no need to apologize you have not stirred up anything, I agree with you on 2 Peter 1:20-21 Scripture, the word of God is not the author's or prophet's interpretation or understanding of what God relayed to them through the Holy Spirit. Every word in Scripture is from God, not man, and can be cherished and trusted.
My understanding of a discussion is two or more people in respect and love share their understanding of a subject. If someone asks a question, they are asking for the understanding of the subject of someone else to reach a decision or to exchange understandings asked of the person.
Truth is only given to us through the Spirit of Truth that Jesus sends to us from the Father, which proceedeth from the Father, John 15:26. You may see the earth was destroyed by the sin of Satan between Gen. 1:1 and 1:2, my understanding that produces two beginnings of the earth and the universe as Scripture tells us in Genesis 1. God has no beginning, the angels had a beginning, and the angels saw and shouted for joy at the beginning of this earth and universe Job 38. We may not agree on some points but that is ok.
As I mentioned. No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation. Gods eternal purpose was to bring himself Glory, and it included first and foremost destroying the works of the devil= darkness. Thanks for your input. I apologize for misunderstanding you. I don't study gap theories. I study scriptures. Precept upon precept, here a little there a little. I apologize if I stirred up anything concerning the flesh. As I mentioned. To expound revelation can't be done in one sitting. He committeth sin is of the devil,for the devil SINNETH FROM the BEGINNING for This PURPOSE The son of God was manifest ( Light) that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8 -- and LET THERE BE LIGHT - IF ITS TOO DIFFICULT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD WE MUST NOT BE STUDYING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. FOR THE SPIRIT SEARCHES ALL THINGS, YEA THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD. AND DARKNESS WAS WHERE? UPON THE FACE OF THE DEEP Spirit searching it out. So do I. Thank you brother Ronald. God bless you
Hello brother. Thanks for reply. Firstly let us not be too hasty to give up and say we don't have enough scripture. Let's dig in and get enough I do not desire to get in a hurry with this. For it is God's eternal purpose we are discussing. So I'll let us get into study of prophecy. For no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation ( Paraphrase) best way i have come to interpret scripture by the Holy Spirit is allow scripture to interpret itself with More scripture. Firstly let us look at Genesis 1;1- in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. ( There's the beginning. Now let us turn to 1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil, for the devil SINNETH FROM THE BEGINNING ( there it is)- for this purpose ( purpose) the son of God ( Light) was manifest that he might destroy the works of the devil. Let's meditate upon those. Something happened between Genesis 1: 1 and 1:2 = Satan's works of darkness. Let's meditate,muse,ponder and dwell upon God's word. Not our opinions. For my opinion could very well mislead us All
Greetings my brother beloved. I will not rush in trying to answer all these questions in one sitting. For no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation ( Paraphrase) but scripture is always interpreted by the Holy Spirit through more scriptures. So Genesis 1:1 in the beginning God created The heaven and the earth. -- now thus far what scripture has revealed to me is something went wrong. Because scripture says 1 John 3:8- He that committeth sin is of the devil,FOR THE DEVIL SINNETH (FROM THE BEGINNING) for this purpose The son of God was manifest ( LIGHT) that he might destroy the works of the devil. ( There is our eternal purpose of God) Just think upon that and meditate. We'll rejoice in scripture together brother
As S Spencer said, this is an interesting question, just some last thoughts and whether or not we have enough Scripture to know the complete answer. Scripture is relatively silent about the eternal past, even in the New Testament, where the clearest and fullest light of God's revelation shines. Very few passages reach backward in their scope further than the foundation of the world at the beginning of the ages of our time. God's plan was before the foundation of this earth was laid.
God is light and there is no darkness in Him at all, 1 John 1:5, and we know from Job 38 that the angels and the principalities and powers in heaven were created before Genesis 1. A thought, God created darkness as a place to put the earth outside of the third heaven, the earth was without form and void, this would be empty of all life and covered in surging water of chaos enclosed in total darkness that God's Spirit moved upon and God said let there be light, God called light out of darkness His light moved into the space of darkness.
God called out of this darkness everything there is below the third heaven and the time we live in. My understanding is different on Lucifer in Isaiah 14, and something happened between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 but that may be for other discussions.
Thank you for these questions, they inspire study.
That's a very interesting question! "What came first? Light or darkness?"
I believe when God created the heavens and the earth he also created "Time" and from our point of view that started with darkness. (And the evening and the morning were the first day.)
However, there is more to it when considering what they represent spiritually.
We can gather references out of John 1.
I haven't gave much thought or study on this but I believe "spiritually or otherwise" one cannot exist without the other.
Genesis 1:2-4 it reads, "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Here I don't believe darkness and light "being created" is not in these verses but their existence is present. (God spoke and "brought in the Light." and darkness as well already existed. "Again, this is from our point of view and the beginning of time.
However Spiritually, Psalms 139:10-12 may give us a glimpse of what it's like from God's point of view and spiritually.
"Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
Also. Genesis 1:2 can read "And the earth (Became) without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
Greetings brother "One eighty" thank you for taking time to reply to my question and thought. I may be misunderstanding you,if so I apologize. But according to what has been revealed to me personally by revelation is that Jesus is the thoughts of Gods heart. Psalm33:11 And the beginning of the Gospel of John. The logos where we get our word logic or reason. Thus God before Time began purposed all things in his heart before beginning the creation by the word= thoughts. Jesus was in the beginning with God,and when God logos creation began,. I have a question for you to ponder. Which came first light or darkness. Just something to ponder. I seek godly counsel to always make sure God's word doesn't get twisted in my finite mind. For thinkers are what God created us to be. And to always think upon Him And meditate upon his word and he promises that we can understand All things. His word says so. Proverbs 28:5
Brother Ronald may you abound more and more in the Grace and knowledge of God. I agree that God is unsearchable and past finding out. But from my understanding of Scripture Jesus Christ is the thoughts of God. After all he is the creator,sustainer,plan,counsel and eternal purpose in action. Psalm 33:11- the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Thus Jesus is the thoughts of God. The logos,the very plan in action. In simpler terms God thought it all out before the beginning,then those thoughts were spoken. Thus he did declare the end from the beginning. I can not separate God And his thoughts,for his thoughts,logos as in action is God,was with God in the beginning. I may not be clarifying myself. I apologize if not. I've not used Scripture references for I am persuaded you have the word of God deep in your heart. Thank you for your time
Jesus the Messiah/Christ God's only begotten Son is the purpose, I do not know if I am reading your question correctly, may you and others have more or different understandings.
1 Corinthians 2:16 tells us we have the mind of Christ, but no one can know the mind of God. 2 Peter 3:18 tells us to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus. All began with Jesus; Jesus is the beginning of God's plan. Isaiah 45:18Isaiah 46:8-10 God and there is none like Him, He declared the end from the beginning His counsel (His purpose and plan by His will) shall stand and God will do all His pleasure, Psalms 33:11.
God is not in our time the end of His plan is as the beginning God's plan was completed when He made it, we have the Bible, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit His plan is made known to us as our time comes to be, as in Ephesians 1:10-12 to be the praise and glory to God.
God declared from the very beginnings of history, Acts 17:24-26 there is but one human race, we all are of the same blood, and in Jesus Christ we become brothers and sisters. In God's plan, it is finished, nothing will change. In God, it is finished already to Him who is from everlasting to everlasting, Psalms 90:2 and how He can "calleth those things which be not as though they were." Romans 4:17-18.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
In John 12:1-16 this is 6 days before Passover and Jesus rides into Jerusalem the next day which would be the 10th, the day the lambs are taken up five days before Passover day which is called today Palm Sunday.
Each day is recorded in Matthew 21 through Matthew 27:56Mark 11:1 through Mark 15:41Luke 19:28 through Luke 23:49John 12:1 through John 19:37.
On the 1st day of the week, we call Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem and returned to Bethany in the evening to lodge.
The second day shows Jesus going to Jerusalem and returning to Bethany.
The third day is two days before Passover Matthew 26:2Mark 14:1.
On the fourth day, Judas makes the deal to betray Jesus and toward the end of the day, the disciples ask him where he wants them to prepare to eat the Passover. God commanded it to be eaten inside the city walls but they did not eat the Passover, Luke 22:15-16.
When the sun went down the fourth day what we call Wednesday is the beginning of Passover day the 14th of Nisan the day the Passover lambs are killed, Mark 14:12Luke 22:7. What confuses things is then and now Passover day and the Feast of Unleavened Bread is referred to as an eight-day feast. Passover day is a preparation day for the seven-day feast of Unleavened Bread not part of the seven-day feast.
The lambs were killed on the 14th in the evening, the time when the sun starts to go down, any time after noon and before the sun sets. The Passover is eaten the night of the 15th the first day of the seven-day feast which is a holy convocation/Sabbath Exodus 12:8 the same night they went out of Egypt not on Passover day.
The Lord's Supper and the crucifixion were on Passover day the fifth day from when Jesus rode into Jerusalem which would make that the 5th day of the week we call Thursday.
Greetings in Christ JESUS our Lord and Saviour
Here's below is what JESUS said to John in Patmos through His angel (in fact an Archangel- Revelation 1:12-13)
Revelation 21:3-8
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven(heaven? Ephesians 1:3-8 and Philippians 3:20-21) saying, Behold, the TABERNACLE of GOD is with MEN( Revelation 11:15-18), and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and GOD Himself shall be with them, and be their GOD.
4 And GOD shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. --> Come up hither,
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his GOD, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
The enemy of our souls has a problem (actually as sick as he is a lot of issues) but I am focusing on one in particular. He can't stand humans; in reality even those who do his bidding but is out of necessity offering many temporary pleasures to turn men away from God and in reality; of course put people into bondage. Since he can't stand God; Christ or His holiness as well as human beings the last thing he wants is to see someone be drawn to Christ's mercy and salvation through God's love. No doubt that sickens him. Some say his primary motive is to have us in hell with him. Since he hates us already having our company there isn't going to make him feel better; and of course he will be too busy suffering himself to care anyway. It may give him pleasure for now; since he misses out on such suffering until the confinement period of the Millennium is over and the final conflagration occurs; to think of men in constant agony. What he really wants as from the beginning is worship. His motive is simply overthrow of God and heaven which his demented mind still thinks can be attained; but at the same time he probably knows better since his time is short. Daniel 8:10 even seems to suggest he tramples on some of his own demonic horde when cast out of heaven in the Tribulation; likely enraged that they couldn't fight hard enough to keep his position up there any longer.
The whole Satanic mantra (Such as Aleister Crowley's "do as thou wilt") in a nutshell explains all of the enemy's tactics.
The devil only wants to serve himself. He will use his best tool music (read Isaiah 14 or Ezekiel 28) to delude the masses.
He doesn't rule over hell; at least after the cross as souls now go straight to heaven and not remain in the paradise under the earth. His contracts with people can't hold water with the shed blood on the cross of His atonement. 1 Corinthians 15:56; Romans 6:23). Christ conquered sin at Calvary.
MAN MADE ONLY AS A LIVING SOUL
The Word,GOD Himself,Who is from everlasting to everlasting, self-executing,He has in He Himself the project written since Eternity how to make man in His image,but GOD is Spirit,how could man see the image of His Spirit?It's impossible unless the Spirit be made physically.
The Word-the Word is GOD-GOD is Spirit and a Person,He knew it would be impossible He be known and seen in Spirit,even being a Person in He Himself as Word,so when the time arrived in to make man in His image and likeness,through His invisible Spirit and own Person as manifested Word,two distincts Persons,then He said:Let US make man in OUR image,after our likeness.
The Person of GOD as Word still was in His bosom.The Word had not still been made flesh,then was only a man made of the dust. With the revelation of the Word was given life to the man,through the Word was breathed into the nostrils of man the breath of life; and man became a living soul from the beginning until JESUS.
A MAN MADE AS LIVING SPIRIT-THIS ONLY AFTER JESUS
GOD had planned to make man in His image,but how?once He was Spirit and only One,as whether was alone?First He needed to make an image from He Himself and that's what GOD did with the birth of JESUS.JESUS was born in the turn of the fourth to the fifth Day,in the turn of fourth to the fifth millennium.JESUS was no longer in the bosom of the Father,the Word- Hebrews 1:1-4.
With the birth of JESUS,GOD could fulfill His wonderful promise to make man in His image,a quickning spirit,as planned.From JESUS until now passed more 2000 years,so we are at the turn of the sixth to the seventh and last Day, the Lord's Day,or seventh and last millennium,the millennium of GOD's Kingdom- Revelation 11:15-18,so in fulfillment of what says the Word,the dead shall be raised incorruptible-1 Cor.15:52-, and we that are alive shall be changed- Philippians 3:20-21.
as the lightning that cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall the coming of the Son of man be. Get ready- Matthew 25:10-, knowing that only lamp- Psalm 119:105-is not suffice to enter in the kingdom of GOD - Matthew 7:21-27 and Malachi 4:11-14.
Michael the archangel is one like unto the Son of man, the difference is that Michael is a warrior, JESUS the Savior, He is the stone which is become the head of the corner. There is no salvation in any other(except in JESUS Christ):for there is none other NAME under heaven given among men, whereby we MUST be saved.
JESUS/JOSHUA warned: ... no man cometh unto the Father, but by me, so Adonai, Jehovah, YHWH, Yahweh, HaShem, Yehovah, Elohim, Yahusha , YEHshia, YEHvah, ten supposed and fictitious names, better, NICKNAMES of GOD, added in the Jewish Bible, and inadvertently copied into the Gentile Bible by the translators, they all are good for nothing.
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. But who comes first that will cause to happen Great Tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. My Lord JESUS made it very clear, saying: Except those days (this current time) should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
A false messiah is at door, he will manifest himself soon- Revelation 13:11-14 combined with John 5:43-47-AN IMPOSTOR- , he was born decadas ago, understand? It is he the God of the Jews- 2Thessalonians 2:3-4.
My Lord JESUS warned: If any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; BELEIVE IT NOT.
Be careful and get ready
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
21...then shall be great Tribulation(Dan.12:1& Acts 14:22),such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time(to this current time, time of the last GOD's Day),no, nor ever shall be.
By the way, it's very important to know who comes first: Michael or JESUS?
Michael the archangel is one like unto the Son of man, the difference is that Michael is a warrior, JESUS the Savior, He is the stone which is become the head of the corner. There is no salvation in any other(except in JESUS Christ):for there is none other NAME under heaven given among men, whereby we MUST be saved.
Get ready
Daniel 12:2
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Paul prophesied: 1Tess.4:15-17
15 We say unto you by the Word of the Lord,that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven(from the 3rd heaven,we the believers are still in the 2nd heaven-Eph.1:3-8 combined with Phil.3:20-21)with a shout,with the voice of the archangel,and with the trump of GOD:and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds( Isaiah 60:8, and 1Corinthians 15:51 combined with Phi.3:20-21 and Re.5:8-14), to meet the Lord in the air(in the 3rd heavenly environment-3rd heaven-far above the second heaven- Luke 20:35-36 combined with Mat.25:6): and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (Where?-Re.11:15-18 and 5:10, and Mat.5:5).
Daniel 12:3
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (The stars were made by our GOD since the beginning- Genesis 1:16-made with own light given by GOD for them to shine in heaven(Eph.1:3-8), but the Greater Light is JESUS, and the Lesser Light is the person of the Holy Spirit- John 15:26 and 16:12-15. Take a look).
Because of Melchizedek apparently there was a historical prescident for true worship among some outside of Israel in ancient days as well. that brings up the idea that with Adam's progeny (from Seth on forward); it is likely that the descendants that became the first patriarchs when man spread to different areas of the earth meant that at the formation of each country there was some elemental truth from scripture; we find this in the symbolism in the Chinese language; as well as other cultures that believe there is a god greater than everytehing even if they don't know who it is. A similar tale of course is a common thread with the flood stories throughout the world; which proves the validity of the flood (Gilgamesh epic and Chinese language symbols once again).
Since God created all men; then of course they have a conscience albeit sometimes seared beyond redemption. God did promise no destruction by a flood for the earth but this earth will be destroyed by fire. What is the driving force behind sin is man's sin NATURE as well as the demons that control the world system in regard to the world; flesh and the Devil or lust of the eyes; pride of life; etc. That's why I say there is more hope for someone who actually desires to worship the Devil than someone who claims to be a "spiritual person" by any other means besides the true Christian faith. People say they aren't really that bad; and so called "white" magic isn't really that bad; or all the humanistic vibes of the New Age. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and therefore by default the fear of hell brings men to consider their ways and often repent.
This brings more responsibility for those who have heard the truth and rejected it; whether it be the cities Christ said were to be punished worse than Sodom or those who have violated their vows to follow Christ.
"And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered."
I shall not detail what I have mentioned of this quote from Prophet Zechariah (13:7) while I coverd Matthew. The point is simple. Jesus as the Word become flesh obeyed his God completely so much so he knew the evil hour closing in on him, down to the exact minute. Jesus says further down in this chapter, "I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled."(14:49). Luke present us one curious aspect of time. "When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness."( Luke 22:53). The power of darkness also has been at work equally as the word that God commanded, "Let there be light." Why did Jesus Christ manifest? "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."( 1 John 3:8). So both good seed and tares growing in the field is nothing to marvel at. While Moses was with God down below the golden calf being set up was no coincidence. The evil work had succeeded throwing off some from the fellowship of God with Man. Moses as a double for the Son went up even as Jesus' Ascension gives it as a kangaroo event. So what we find of the Church of Rome setting up their golden calf is no brainer. The ten spies who brought evil report and brought God to intervene (Nu..14) we have even now as Evangelical Right, lining up behind a captain as bizarre as the Pied Piper of Hamelin. "And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt."(14:4). New Canaan is impossible for the reprobate minds. The point we need see here is the word of God is given to us to profit withal. (1 Co.12:7)
26I beheld,and the fruitful place was a wilderness(place where JESUS preached the Gospel,it was fruitful until 70AD),and all the cities thereof were broken down(even the Temple in LITERAL fulfillment of GOD's Word),at the presence of the Lord(yes)by His fierce anger.
27The Lord said,The whole land(Israel)shall be desolate;yet will I not make a full end(there shall be great tribulation,such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time,no,nor ever shall be).
28For this shall the earth(Israel)mourn,and the heavens above be black(the 1st & 2nd heavens-Eph.1:3-8-,i.e.the OT and NT will no longer be valid,
for that which decayes and waxes old is ready to vanish,so the 3rd will still be established from now on),for I have spoken it,I have purposed it,and will not repent,neither will I turn back from it.(the heavens(the first two heavens)and the earth(current Israel),which are now,by the same Word are kept in store,reserved unto fire against this Day of Judgment(the Judgment Seat of Christ)and perdition of ungodly men.
Is.65:17-I create NEW heavens(the 3rd)and a NEW earth(ISRAEL)and the former shall not be remembered,nor come into mind.
Je.4:23-25
23I beheld the earth(Israel)...without form,and void;and the heavens(Eph.1:3-8)they had no light
24I beheld the mountains...they trembled,the hills moved lightly
25I ...there was no man,and all the birds of the heavens were fled
Re.6:12-17
12When he opened the sixth seal,lo,there was a great earthquake;sun became black...the moon as blood;
13The stars of heaven(angels)fell unto the earth shaken of a mighty wind(Re.12:4).
14And heaven departed...;every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15Kings of earth,and great men,rich men,chief captains,the mighty men hid themselves in the dens and rocks;
16Saying to the mountains and rocks,Fall on us,hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne,and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17The great Day of His WRATH is come;who shall be able to stand?
I have often kidded around about having someone memorize the first 6 or 7 chapters of 1 Chronicles. Genealogies aren't to be obsessed over ( 1 Tim. 1:4); however they are vital in seeing the lineage of God's people. The beginning of Matthew; for instance gives us the lineage from Abraham to Joseph; and Luke from Mary's lineage all the way back to Adam. This of course goes back to Genesis 3:15 and the "seed of the woman" prophecy. These two lineages probably are enough to know in themselves from the whole Bible in regard to that subject. If we go deeper into meanings of names particularly in the first generations it appears there is a prophetic indication of Christ to come if we list the names and their meanings in order in Hebrew. There are no doubt patterns of equidistant letters that are unique in scripture pointing to certain events. Again; like genealogies; they are best not obsessed over; for we already know Christ is the living Word so we don't need hidden clues as to who He is. We can look to past events; and I have stated that Michael Drosnin's prediction of Rabin's assassination in 1996 may have been something the Lord allowed so others wouldn't meet the same fate. Since we are now still in the Church Age; we are not in the time of Revelation when prophets once again are on the earth in that role and there is a known 7 year template for all the judgments to occur. God has ultimate truths that must come to pass; but some things are conditional which only He knows that prayer and action now can possibly delay judgment; as we see with the example of Nineveh.
We can look to history and scientific facts as authenticated from the Bible; with more coming all the time. For the skeptic who God chooses to enlighten it may be a good witnessing tool; but we shouldn't make such methods are only talking points for apologetics. First we must see if someone is serious about wanting to hear the truths of the Word
I have touched on several good devotional sources in posts last year; namely Oswald Chambers "utmost for the Highest" and Daily Bread. This site also is helpful when highlighting a daily Bible verse for the surrounding text to consider.
If I have the terminology correct Expository preaching is systematic reading of a book chapter by chapter. There is another term for topical studies that I am sure someone here knows. For a new believer it is hard to argue with the standard approach of beginning in the Gospels (usually John is picked) and then transitioning to Paul's Epistles. Scripture memory is helpful for two reasons particularly for new believers; one for edification and second to have verses to explain the hope within us in Christ when witnessing. Taking the example of John 3:16 for instance we have the assurance of eternal life but if we read the surrounding text we see in verse 18 that he who does NOT believe in Him is condemned already. This is one danger of "cherry picking" an isolated verse that gives us "positive vibes" and not comprehending God's Word as to repetitive themes; in this case blessings for obedience and faith and cursings for not believing. This contrast between good and bad is throughout scriptures; whether we look at warnings in Deuteronomy as to conditions affecting the entire nation because of disobedience vs obedience; Psalms and Proverbs related to characteristics of righteous and wicked and books of Chronicles and Kings as to righteous and unrighteous kings.
We are to be cautious; therefore with any devotionals that always have "encouraging" verses or if the author is skewed in that direction. The opposite could be said of the Oswald Chambers as some have accused it of being works oriented too much; they certainly are challenging unlike anything I've read. In terms of scripture memory; it is useful but internalizing the Living Word through meditation and application also.
"Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away."(v.31) Jesus Christ as the same yesterday today and forever, warns the four disciples what must happen hereafter. "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things."(v.23)
The second Temple of Herod shall not stand."Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."(v.2) Parallel to this he also warns of his death. "Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up./Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?/But he spake of the temple of his body./When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said."( John 2:19-22)
In order to be certain that we are not taken with the perishing Jesus introduced the sign of the end times. His body was broken up so shall everything in heaven and the earth. "Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven./Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain."(He.12:26-27). The Word of God has set the warning from the beginning. What occurred at Mount Sinai was one such warning, and when the end shall come is not for us to know.
"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father./Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.:(vv.32-33)
Jesus was Prophet; Priest and King. He fulfilled roles which no other individual was allowed to do in scripture. David acted as Priest when needed when he was a king; but only due to his own sin. Solomon had to complete building the Temple because David was disallowed according to scripture because of certain acts of violence (I am guessing partly due to having Uriah killed off to get Bathsheeba). Even though Solomon commissioned men to do the work on the Temple we see no direct priestly action by him; only a dedication of the nation of Israel and prayers lifted up and the beginning of the operations there. Generally kings were not allowed to offer sacrifices; a Levite was needed first off. This disqualified Saul's attempt when he presumptuously went ahead with it rather than waiting for the right person to do the job and that resulted in being dethroned and his life started to fall apart. Prophets also kept away from sacrifices; but in the case of Christ He fulfilled the prophecies Himself by BEING our sacrifice and hence exalted by the Father to rule and reign as King on the earth in the Millennium.
The Bible describes many kings along with exhaustive lists of their actions which sadly were predominantly evil. The length of their reign as well as the fate of the nation at large was tied into blessings and cursings. Transgressions would cause a downfall; and in the case of the few righteous kings it exalted the nation ( Proverbs 14:34). After Solomon compromised he forfeited his own length of life as well as the nation being able to rule permanently without being under the thumb of other nations. In Ecclesiastes his conclusion after discussing all his own vanity and of life in general was to "fear God and keep his commandments" at the end of chapter 12. Through Christ alone can we fulfill the law because we are grafted in to the true vine inheriting His righeousness because of His victory.
"But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female." (v.6) God is love is a facet of holiness of God. When God breathed into the nostrils of man there was no need for spelling out holiness as such. In his breath all that were needful for his life and godliness was impressed as a candle is lit by another. Quality of light sets both giver and the given on the same stand,- Holiness made it so natural so love of man so learned did not carry any other feeling than was impressed. By the same token in loving the world God made love Person specific. ( John 3:16)
Male and female he created them is with reference to the holiness so love has a body as a candle has and it is quality also speaks about love of two bodies maintain a common purpose. The Spirit presents the House with seven pillars as a body built by Wisdom, which is a feminine principle.(Pr.9:1)God a Spirit is Power dovetailing into Wisdom is how the Spirit presents the divine Holiness. By the same token his Son has a body which is the Word become God loved the world therefore it must be seen and the heat thereof must be felt throughout. In due time God sent Jesus Christ as the true light. While he presented the doctrine of his Father it had to be out in the open fulfilling the saying, "Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?"(4:21).
"Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away./And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept."(vv.4-5) Compare with what John says," In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."( John 1:1) Because of the hardness of heart Moses allowed man put away, which is like the candle put under the bed. Jesus refers to it as adultery of one against the other.
"And in the house" Jesus explained it in terms of the Law of the Spirit. (Matt.19:9-11)
Here we have two aspects of life where sin controls circumstances of man's world. We shall come to the other man's riches reigning uppermost whereas God covered him with glory and honor in the beginning; so much so Adam and Eve were naked and yet they felt no shame at all. Wealth of a sinful man's inventive mind, in terms of a sentient life did not exist at all.
The man who came running to Jesus must not have come on the spur of the moment. A good life for a fine mind can hold a deadening effect when one sees at every turn the squalor and misery of lives floating about. It is like a healthy man chained to a almost a decaying corpse. Does it not spoil his sleep though he has a comfortable bed to sleep on? He may have kept a good table with rich viands and possessed thoroughbreds in his stables and lived in the midst of objet d'art, and he may have even tried not to succumb to its lure. He would only know how his soul has been left bound so he hastened to Jesus in a moral dilemma. Only when the moment of truth demanded him to declare where he stood in terms of eternal life, "And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions".(v.22)
The Spirit repeats thrice in vv.23-25 Jesus makes a general observation; secondly with regards to those who would want an abiding life as branches to the true Vine. " Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!"(v.24)
"Who then can be saved?/And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."(vv.26-27) Grace is required to negotiate between true riches and other man's riches.
On the other hand true riches of man has been established between God and Man and the blessings are allowed to whosoever trusted the Son unreservedly. Besides God sanctified the day Seven and would send him to the world in fullness of time.
Matthew gives the passage in a slight altered form. It is the Mother of the sons of Zebedee approaches Jesus for a special favor."Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshippinghim, and desiring a certain thing of him."(Matt.20:20). The Word or the Law is interpreted differently according to the world of the Spirit and by the flesh and spirit respectively. In one the glory of God is the foremost so Elias or Moses serve as a double for the Son. In the case of the Mother of Zebedee's sons, her desire was the glory of her sons. She serves as a stand in for her Son. Of this St Paul gives us two contrary laws. "So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."(Ro.7:25)
Law of the Spirit presupposes a Lawgiver is it not. It is thus God has left all judgment to his Son who also is the Word become flesh. On the other hand Satan the Lawless one has become by default of Adam a law given so the law of sin characterizes works of flesh and blood. Whosoever rejects the commandment as King Saul did is subject to an unclean spirits. "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."( 1 John 3:8)
vv.38-39 "And with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized." Jesus refers to the anointing he received (Ps.45:5-6) and in their case of the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, and adds,"But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared." Jesus scrupulous chose to obey the word and as was reminded by Moses at the mount. of his death and glory would fulfill what was written of him in the scripture. the same choice was left to the sons of Zebedee and it was their free will.
The other ten disciples were naturally upset over their behind the back maneuvering for power.
Transfiguration of Jesus at the mount throws up light beyond the glorious body, a building of God eternal in heavens. The disciples going to Emmaus would not have recognized the risen Jesus but they did and it had to do with the word. " Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?"( Luke 24:31-32). When Jesus opened their eyes they did know it was he indeed.
Then we have the mount itself to consider. "And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them."(v.2). As with the Sermon on the mount we have the high mountain which is the testimony of God and Jesus as the rock cut not with hands, signifying we are looking at the Word become flesh.
Mark mentions Moses and Elias " and they were talking with Jesus."(v.24). When Jesus explained the word of God to Cleopas and his companion, "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." ( Luke 24:27) Luke elsewhere gives an additional insight to the transfiguration."And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:/Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem." Moses and Elias and Jesus are the three in glory in that specific moment of transfiguration while the three disciples, Peter James and John were in their physical bodies. In short, the Transfiguration is clear illustration of two worlds of the Spirit and of the flesh and blood operating simultaneously. The word concerning him sets prophets serving outside the timescale as we know the term. For this reason Jesus speaks of Elias,"But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him." (v.13) The ministry of Elias and Moses were as a double Jesus Christ
Mark states the principle of Association which is in an altered from than what is presented by St Matthew. "And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them," Jesus sets a child representing the twelve and St Matthew presents the principle accordingly, before he sent them to preach, "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." (Matt.10:40). Jesus taking the child in his arms is how we are set in his hands so both Gospels are referring the selfsame idea. In terms of the quality God set his name every other name because he was a child in his obedience. Putting on the mind of Christ is therefore proving your parentage. At the mount of Transfiguration he received the testimony of his Father, "And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him."(v.7). The earth and the fulness thereof belong to God which makes all things in heaven and on earth by him consist. "And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." therefore is not to be measured by earthly time but as set forth in the divine Will. As the Word which was from the beginning ( John 1:1) it pleased God that in him should all Fullness dwell.
"And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus."(v.4) Demonstrative of this we have Moses and Elias meeting Jesus at the mount. Before the Advent of Jesus they were sent as stand in for him and while at the mount their roles are reversed! It is how the two worlds of the Spirit and of the flesh and blood revolve about a stationary point of the Son and of the Son of man. Now we shall understand why Jesus said, in vv.38-39. His disciples did not have this 360 degree view while Jesus understood his name before which all knees should bow (Ph.2:5-9) rose above their partisan spirit. They still had a long way to go .
The world of Devil as a whole,with all kind of structures they all have, yeah,all the nations and peculiar system of life of each one,are sufferring and will suffer catastrofic and insufferable punishments in this seventh and last millennium,or seventh and last Day,the LORD's Day.Get ready.
See,the precedent period of Tribulation,period of sorrows listed by JESUS-Mat.24:3-8-is the first signal of the beginning of the ETERNAL chastisement ahead.In fact,the ETERNAL punishment of all nations it had a written deadline to start,understand?And it has already really started.
Now,within this environment of punishments and pains and entire collapse of the Devil's world,the false messiah of the Jews will manifest himself as JESUS prophesied,saying to the Jews an IMPOSTOR they will receive as their messiah- John 5:43-47, combined with 2 Thes.2:3-12,and Re.13 :11.
Thus, in the midst of severe chastisement and great suffering in all nations due the wrath of the Lamb,-Re.6:14-17, we will soon see two Beasts reigning on Earth:
1-the old Gentile Beast of the Sea; and
2-the Beast of the earth(Israel)who will still manifest himself, from then on will begin the period of the last week(of years), the 70th week Daniel 9:27,and each Beast will reign for 3.5 years-42 months-or 1260 days-and who will first rule the 5th and last satanic kingdom - Daniel 2:41-44- is the old Gentile Beast of the sea-Re.13:1.
Then Re.11:2 and Re.13:5 will begin LITERALLY to be fulfilled as first period of the last week.The worst of all punishments will happen in the beginning of the 2nd half of the last week,with the establishment of the Abomination of Desolation for 1290 days-Dan.12:v.11.
12Blessed is he that waiteth,and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.(Oh yes,blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the Ineffable,Wonderful,Indescribable,Unspeakable day,the day 1.335.Hallelujaaah!!!
"And how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought." (v.12)
This key verse shall explain this saying of Jesus. It also tells how vital was for the multitude that he called them as well as his disciples, so it goes to the very core of the kingdom of God. "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it./For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"(8:34-36). For my sake and for the gospel's sake is distinct from the Son for whom 'this day' is decreed. (Ps.2:7) So the gospel and the Word become flesh, the Son of man fulfills the provision of 'the seven days' in the everlasting covenant.
What God has sanctified covers the body of Christ and the duration of which is 'this day'. God was from the beginning and the Word was with him. Because of Adam and his disobedience sin entered into the world so with obedience what Jesus proved was the excellence of the soul which is the earnest of divine sovereignty of soul. Life of the vile body cannot let go "I will" So when the pomp and circumstance of the king of Tyre wants to impose his will he proves to whom he holds affinity. His will worship sets him as the son of perdition. "Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire./Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." (Ez.28:14-16; "I will be like the most High./Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell."-Is.14:14-15)
God made man a living soul, and the life is what the Word become flesh made manifest. Humility of Jesus set at nought his own body after the likeness of men. So redemption of one's soul has only single way into the kingdom of God. "I am the Way" Ph.2:5-9)
There is no need to apologize you have not stirred up anything, I agree with you on 2 Peter 1:20-21 Scripture, the word of God is not the author's or prophet's interpretation or understanding of what God relayed to them through the Holy Spirit. Every word in Scripture is from God, not man, and can be cherished and trusted.
My understanding of a discussion is two or more people in respect and love share their understanding of a subject. If someone asks a question, they are asking for the understanding of the subject of someone else to reach a decision or to exchange understandings asked of the person.
Truth is only given to us through the Spirit of Truth that Jesus sends to us from the Father, which proceedeth from the Father, John 15:26. You may see the earth was destroyed by the sin of Satan between Gen. 1:1 and 1:2, my understanding that produces two beginnings of the earth and the universe as Scripture tells us in Genesis 1. God has no beginning, the angels had a beginning, and the angels saw and shouted for joy at the beginning of this earth and universe Job 38. We may not agree on some points but that is ok.
God bless you, brother, be well.
RLW
As S Spencer said, this is an interesting question, just some last thoughts and whether or not we have enough Scripture to know the complete answer. Scripture is relatively silent about the eternal past, even in the New Testament, where the clearest and fullest light of God's revelation shines. Very few passages reach backward in their scope further than the foundation of the world at the beginning of the ages of our time. God's plan was before the foundation of this earth was laid.
God is light and there is no darkness in Him at all, 1 John 1:5, and we know from Job 38 that the angels and the principalities and powers in heaven were created before Genesis 1. A thought, God created darkness as a place to put the earth outside of the third heaven, the earth was without form and void, this would be empty of all life and covered in surging water of chaos enclosed in total darkness that God's Spirit moved upon and God said let there be light, God called light out of darkness His light moved into the space of darkness.
God called out of this darkness everything there is below the third heaven and the time we live in. My understanding is different on Lucifer in Isaiah 14, and something happened between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 but that may be for other discussions.
Thank you for these questions, they inspire study.
God bless,
RLW
That's a very interesting question! "What came first? Light or darkness?"
I believe when God created the heavens and the earth he also created "Time" and from our point of view that started with darkness. (And the evening and the morning were the first day.)
However, there is more to it when considering what they represent spiritually.
We can gather references out of John 1.
I haven't gave much thought or study on this but I believe "spiritually or otherwise" one cannot exist without the other.
Genesis 1:2-4 it reads, "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Here I don't believe darkness and light "being created" is not in these verses but their existence is present. (God spoke and "brought in the Light." and darkness as well already existed. "Again, this is from our point of view and the beginning of time.
However Spiritually, Psalms 139:10-12 may give us a glimpse of what it's like from God's point of view and spiritually.
"Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
Also. Genesis 1:2 can read "And the earth (Became) without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
I'm interested in your full take.
Thanks and God bless.
God's eternal purpose
Jesus the Messiah/Christ God's only begotten Son is the purpose, I do not know if I am reading your question correctly, may you and others have more or different understandings.
1 Corinthians 2:16 tells us we have the mind of Christ, but no one can know the mind of God. 2 Peter 3:18 tells us to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus. All began with Jesus; Jesus is the beginning of God's plan. Isaiah 45:18 Isaiah 46:8-10 God and there is none like Him, He declared the end from the beginning His counsel (His purpose and plan by His will) shall stand and God will do all His pleasure, Psalms 33:11.
God is not in our time the end of His plan is as the beginning God's plan was completed when He made it, we have the Bible, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit His plan is made known to us as our time comes to be, as in Ephesians 1:10-12 to be the praise and glory to God.
God declared from the very beginnings of history, Acts 17:24-26 there is but one human race, we all are of the same blood, and in Jesus Christ we become brothers and sisters. In God's plan, it is finished, nothing will change. In God, it is finished already to Him who is from everlasting to everlasting, Psalms 90:2 and how He can "calleth those things which be not as though they were." Romans 4:17-18.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
God bless,
RLW
In John 12:1-16 this is 6 days before Passover and Jesus rides into Jerusalem the next day which would be the 10th, the day the lambs are taken up five days before Passover day which is called today Palm Sunday.
Each day is recorded in Matthew 21 through Matthew 27:56 Mark 11:1 through Mark 15:41 Luke 19:28 through Luke 23:49 John 12:1 through John 19:37.
On the 1st day of the week, we call Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem and returned to Bethany in the evening to lodge.
The second day shows Jesus going to Jerusalem and returning to Bethany.
The third day is two days before Passover Matthew 26:2 Mark 14:1.
On the fourth day, Judas makes the deal to betray Jesus and toward the end of the day, the disciples ask him where he wants them to prepare to eat the Passover. God commanded it to be eaten inside the city walls but they did not eat the Passover, Luke 22:15-16.
When the sun went down the fourth day what we call Wednesday is the beginning of Passover day the 14th of Nisan the day the Passover lambs are killed, Mark 14:12 Luke 22:7. What confuses things is then and now Passover day and the Feast of Unleavened Bread is referred to as an eight-day feast. Passover day is a preparation day for the seven-day feast of Unleavened Bread not part of the seven-day feast.
The lambs were killed on the 14th in the evening, the time when the sun starts to go down, any time after noon and before the sun sets. The Passover is eaten the night of the 15th the first day of the seven-day feast which is a holy convocation/Sabbath Exodus 12:8 the same night they went out of Egypt not on Passover day.
The Lord's Supper and the crucifixion were on Passover day the fifth day from when Jesus rode into Jerusalem which would make that the 5th day of the week we call Thursday.
God bless,
RLW
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