We are to be at peace with one another, forgive one another, have mercy on one another.
Just a few references.
1 Thessalonians 4:9
Ephesians 4:32
Galatians 5:26
Galatians 6:2
Matthew 7:12
1 John 4:7
However, we don't lie or deceive one another for the sake of peace. The truth hurts sometimes but it promotes spiritual growth providing that the Christ spirit is in the person.
BELEIVERS SHUNNING OTHER BELEIVERS.
To shun is to deliberately avoid something or someone. In the Bible, the word shun is applied to evil. Job 1:8, Job 28:28, Proverbs 3:7-8Proverbs 14:16. So, shunning evil is good.
There is scripture that promotes excommunication. Matthew 18:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 3:14. but do we do it for harm or Good? What's the intent?
In any case, it would seem that extreme forms of shunning, such as considering someone "dead," utterly ignoring him, or refusing to acknowledge his existence, go beyond what Scripture commands.
After all, Jesus said that, when someone is put out of the church, he should be treated as "a pagan or a tax collector" Matthew 18:17. In other words, treat an intractable offender as an unsaved person.
How are we to treat the unsaved? With love and grace.
The "pagans and tax collectors" need to be evangelized. We are to love even our enemies ( Matthew 5:44).
The goal of excommunication and any form of shunning is restoration ( Galatians 6:1).
The purpose of any type of discipline is to prompt repentance and, ultimately, to reunite our fallen brother or sister with the church body. Being officially ostracized from the church, the sinner might be brought to repentance.
When the man in the Corinthian church later realized that he had sinned against God, he repented and came back to the church for forgiveness and reinstatement. Fellowship with the Corinthian believers was restored ( 2 Corinthians 2:6-11).
Isn't it hateful to ignore or shun other believers?
Man is incapable of knowing how Holy and Just God is and we're also incapable of knowing how evil man is apart from the restrainer.
We see a picture of the evil of man in Revelation when the nations take up war against the Lord.
Also look at the evil condition of their heart here in Revelation 16:9-11 while being tormented.
Also see Psalms 2:1-12.
Romans 11:33 states. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
God gives life and he can take it!
The trouble with atheist is that they don't believe God gave life!
They have no understanding of deity.
See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.
If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. Deuteronomy 32:39.
In today's society an often soft fabric of emotionally immature individuals CAN be some advantage over the proud generations of parents and especially the grandparents from two generations ago. We see many young people brought up in church and perhaps having some childhood faith going strong into the world; but if they survive long enough they come back to their senses. The problem is of course that many are drawn into a church that appeals to their emotions or worse tickles their ears.
Of course we have the enemy taking advantage of both sides as he always does; being loyal to no one but himself but gladly pitting his subjects against each other; and if we aren't paying attention; his enemies as well.
On a personal note; I lost a friend about 13 years ago to suicide. She was bipolar; and seemed to have a viable testimony of faith. She was joyful to be around on her emotional high but I saw her once in an extreme low. Sadly she decided to stop taking medication and she was found dead a few months later. I won't detail it since where I lived someone may be familiar with it in regard to where she was found. What I will say is that in her case her emotions dictated what she felt was her necessity to stop taking meds (perhaps rationalized in her mind). I feel it is necessary to state this here because some will give advice to give everything to the Lord and quit taking medicine. I would just go to scripture and say that we should go to the physician (at that time the priests) to verify healing. This also shows that some need to have supervision; especially anything involving substance abuse or mental illness. I am certain some have in fact been able to get off medicines; but the best way we can help others at times is to make sure we are doing the best to take care of ourselves with God's guidance.
That being said; there is no doubt the enemy is behind the insane number of suicides in our nation today.
Yesterday perhaps the enemy (although I suspect it is my pinkie left finger touching the esc key) caused the first part of what will probably be a lengthy dissertation on Satan's methods to be wiped out. It gave me an opportunity to think about some more stuff today. I thought an outline at present would help; perhaps finding some interest out there to detail a particular area.
Here's a brief summary of what I was starting yesterday.
1. Self-We are our own worst enemies.
Attacks on emotions; mind and soul (will present scriptures to follow).
I wanted to touch on "presumtion" along with other thought patterns within fallen man that can trip us up as well.
2. Others-Peer pressure; manipulation; flattery and any wrong done by others. This of course is rarely not associated with our own actions; particularly ruminating and fretting rather than taking things to God in prayer
3. Spiritual warfare: Again; not isolated but oppression for a believer; possession possible for non believers; and all things in the world system. This would include false religions.
4. Deception. This may be the most concerning and potent weapon the enemy has. The "Trojan horse" approach allows the enemy in the gate whether it is in our hearts or in a particular local church in general.
General thoughts before we begin the main study.
When we look at the Antichrist (Satan's main exhibit) we see characteristics of a SUBSTITUTE for as well as blatent blasphemy AGAINST the true Christ. The enemy will always work in two ways; either giving us what we want (in reality being void of real substance); OR he will directly cause persecution (usually through people and often in seemingly ordinary events) but at times goes full force. This outward persecution shows that he has failed in deception and therefore we understand why Paul said he thanked God he was worthy to suffer persecution for His Name's sake. God ultimately allows all Satan does
Re.6:2-And I saw,and behold a white horse:and he that sat on him had a BOW;and a CROWN was given unto him(He is a Prince of GOD):and he went forth conquering,and to conquer.
Thine ARROWS are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies (enemies of JESUS,anti-JESUS,Antichrist;whereby the people fall under thee- Psalm 45:5.
Isaiah 7:22-24
22...he shall eat butter:for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land(the remnant-144K) Question:The rebel Israel was banned from their land and was spread around the whole world from year 70 AD until 1948,but from now on?being ruled by a false God,a false messiah?- Revelation 13:11-18).
23 And it shall come to pass in that day(the current seventh and last Day,seventh and last millennium)that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings,it shall even be for briers and thorns.(because are good for nothing)
24 With ARROWS and with BOWS shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.
Isaiah 45:2
2Thou art fairer than the children of men:grace is poured into thy lips:therefore GOD hath blessed thee for ever.
3Gird thy Sword upon thy thigh,O most MIGHTY, with thy glory and thy majesty.(He's a Prince of GOD)
4And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness;and thy right hand shall TEACH thee terrible things.
6Thy throne,O God(GOD the Father, GOD Son and(God of the earth- Revelation 11:4),is for ever and ever:the sceptre of thy kingdom is a RIGHT sceptre.
7Thou lovest righteousness,and hatest wickedness:therefore God(God the Father/God the Son),thy God,has ANNOINTED thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Zech.4:11-14
What are these two olive trees upon the right and left side of the candlestick?
What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
Knowest thou not what these be?
These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth
How to read scripture: Part 2 on how NOT to read the Bible
In a bullet point presentation I would list things something like this in regard to this subject.
1. Do not regard scripture as just good literature; or as one of many sources of truth. As C.S. Lewis pointed out Christ Himself can only be taken as a liar; a madman or telling the truth. (from Mere Christianity: actually stated as Christ being the Devil Himself rather than a liar because of His claims to be Divine). What this does not mean is that you can't find certain elements of truth in other writings and/or religions. The SOURCE of all truth is in the Bible; but it doesn't mean that elements common to human understanding can't be replicated elsewhere. It also doesn't mean that corroborating facts can't be found elsewhere (such as in Macabees) that explain missing time periods or further explains things such as further details in genealogies; or the history of kings and empires. But the unique claims of truth in scripture are clear enough; there is no wiggle room for other religions which are called out as false with no uncertain terms.
2. Don't think you can figure out how to understand God's ways or Christ's salvation on your own understanding. Proverbs 14:12 warns about what seems right to a man leading to death. Someone can presume to follow the basic concepts in the Sermon on the Mount such as the "Golden rule" about doing unto others. In reality; however no one can love their enemies in their own strength or selflessly serve as our Lord did. To see God clearly we must realize that there is enmity between God an us (see Isaiah 59:1-2 and many other passages on this). If there was any other way; God would not have to send His Son to die on the cross to save His creation (man) from eternal damnation.
3. We can't explain away miracles due to natural circumstances from the Bible. There were some things unique to Christ such as forgiveness of sin; and control over nature.
The Gospel of St Mark is especial for the reason that the life of Jesus is set as the validation of the Messianic prophecies, for instance the divine Will,"Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies,"(Ps.110:1-3). Accordingly God has prepared everything to augur success in his ministry which is to be accomplished both in his humanity but also in heaven. Consequently his entry into Jerusalem is designated as a triumphal entry. At the heart of his ministry is the eternal word. So the evangelist piles up several instances underpinning the assertion of Jesus," Before Abraham was, I am." . We shall study this chapter from this angle.
"And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him." Jesus sent two disciples to Bethphage and the colt was to be found 'in a place where two ways met,' This resonates in his affirmation "I am the way". The colt has never been tried on and it has been reserved for the master's service. The mention of the door evokes the saying of the Good Shepherd. "I am the door."( John 10:7,9)
St Mark informs us in.v.11 that he went to the temple first time and saw for himself and second visit was to cleanse the temple itself. (vv.15-17) This runs parallel with his own advent and he shall slay the wicked when he appears second time. ("and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked."-Is.11:3-4;Re.19:15) Only Mark gives two visits to the temple foreshadowing two Advents where the second is as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
In vv.13-14 we have Jesus cursing the fig tree. Only Mark gives this,"and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet." Is it out of sync with rest of the narrative?
God made his Son in charge "And every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." (Ge.1:28)
1 John 4:20 is a stern admonition to those who would claim to love God that hates His brother. Other verses in 1 John show as with the Gospel of John the necessary commands for a believer to love one another. We need to look as well at verses in James which discuss the taming of the tongue. ( James 3:5-6) Gossip and slander are things that can destroy a person; hence the admonition about the fires of hell. You can bet that there will be plenty of cursing in hell for the state of misery against God and probably against others as well. Hating a brother without cause ( Matt. 5:22) is in degrees; but unforgiveness results in holding on to our own sins and is not beneficial for us even in this life. Holding onto grudges; for example is another example of a lifestyle of sin; there are people who may have already passed away who we still have bitterness about in our souls resulting in caustic behavior toward others including unforgiveness. Man cannot have unconditional love for their enemies apart from His grace. This of course doesn't validate the "political correctness" today coddling criminal behavior. Acts 2:23 is only one of several passages in the book clearly stating that the Jews killed Christ; and or complicit in His murder. Jesus didn't mince words either with this subject ( Matthew 5:21-22).
We cannot ignore the act of murder which includes abortions in this study either. Again; we dare not cede to the culture of today which doesn't want to follow Biblical precedent for a death penalty for such an act to vindicate an innocent party and to have some cohesiveness in society. We can complain all we want about dictatorships in the world; but many of them see much lower crime rates because no government can survive in anarchy. We also are foolish in trying to support ideologies that are antithetical toward the value of life because of some misguided notion that everyone wants a "democracy".
Romans 2:9 states: There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile..
(NIV); but says tribulation and anguish in the KJV. There is another verse stating that judgment begins at the house of God. ( 1 Peter 4:17).
Just as not all Israel is Israel ( Romans 9:6); not all the "professing" church is the possessing church; that is possessing the Holy Spirit and true salvation. Jesus made that perfectly clear to those who thought because they were the physical descendants of Abraham that gave them some sort of benefit were sadly mistaken ( John 8:39-44). Those who had seen Christ; knew the prophecies about the Messiah and yet rejected Him would in fact be worse off than Sodom and Gomorrah in their punishment. ( Matt. 11:21-24). We see similar warnings for those who have knowledge of the truth and become reprobate; in that it would be better not to have known it in the first place ( 2 Peter 2:21).
Testing ourselves to see if we are in the faith is sadly lacking today among professing believers; or we would see a reality check in the fruits of many lives. ( 2 Corinthians 13:5). We can glibly see this example as a carnal bunch of people and think that being steeped in our own religious training or theology that we are automatically exempt from this test. I have said before that there are dangers in any extreme that is lacking the balancing attribute; such as with loving people and warning them of judgment to come ( John 16:8). We see in the Ephesian church everything being done properly but their first love somehow becoming distant in their hearts. Look at 1 Corinthians 13:6; love rejoices in the truth. The basic fact that man's heart is desperately wicked ( Jeremiah 17:9) and that our sin makes us enemies of God ( James 4:4) means that there is a wall between opposing parties and yes God is angry with the wicked (i.e. us) every day. ( Psalm 7:11). Having our heads in the sand doesn't help anyone.
Well, I understand love a bit different than you do. I believe that man's love and God's love are not different things. The difference is in the "quantity" of love. Man's love is finite. Depending on the person it can be "as much" as to "love themselves" ("philautia" is extreme love for oneself that leads to selfishness and lack of concern for other people), then love for their own, like their children, then love for their friends or relatives and as love increases a man can love more and more people. So love expands from loving myself (or not even myself) to love everybody else, even my enemies, people that make my life tough. So it is a matter of quantity (or quality). If we try to make a scale of love from zero to infinity, the far end is God's love, it is infinite, God is actually love. Somewhere inbetween, depending on the person, man's love can be placed. Even loving my enemy can be variable. Just think. Can I love one who swears at me? If yes, then can I love somebody who hurts me? If yes, can I love someone who hurts my child? If yes then can I love someone who killed my child? On a cross? And going even further can I love all people and give my son to death to save them? This is what God did for us. So you see there is a scale of love.
Since love originates from God and it is an aspect of His character, the only way one can increase their love for others is through God. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is, among others, love. So when one is filled with God's Spirit then their love increases. So it is something that is given by God's Spirit. There is no other way that we can love our enemies. A man who is not born again can never love their enemies, the most they could do is forget what they had done to them, but definitely not love them.
Inside the church firstly we learn how to love our brothers and sisters. When we realize that we lack in love we just have to go and ask God to provide love to us. We can not manage anything on our own.
"When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple."
Joseph interring Jesus in his tomb earmarked for his own reminds us of Isaiah who foretold his burial. "And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death."(Is.53:9). There were two other malefactors on the cross. So the first part of the verse refers to them as well as to the rich man who let his own tomb at his disposal. So much so for the carcass and after spirit has left it is an empty shell. The rich and the poor meet in death fulfilling the natural law. Piety of Joseph stands in stark contrast with those chief priests and the Pharisees who also required to get a hearing from the Governor.
The Spirit gives us the spiritual depth of the rock pointing out to the Alpha aspect of the Son. He was the cornerstone while for his enemies, the rock of offense. Wisdom principle determined the house with seven pillars (Pr.9:1) "The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old./ I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was."(Pr.8:22-23) Everlasting covenant is between God the Father and the Son which requires no other covenant. Wisdom and Power define God. Their covenant when simply put means the Power and glory that we refer every time we say the Lord's Prayer, refers to God the glory of the Son, ("Who being the brightness of his glory"-He.1:3,)
"And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory." In the case of Moses who wanted to see it God replied, "And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by."(Ex.33:18-23). The Spirit was pointing to this rock from where he would be lifter by His power. So Isaiah warns us, "look unto the rock whence ye are hewn,"(Is.51:1) Did not God see Joseph before the worlds began?
This book is describing the transatlantic slave trade. And they would be sent into Egypt Again, which means this particular nation of people have had a history of being enslaved prior.
Me Personally have been going to church my entire life and not once have I ever heard the Priests, Pastor's preach this book in complete.
Which Is why most don't understand even though it's clear who the people are the book speaks of and who claim to be but are not.
The most high Yahweh leadath Israel into captivity in Egypt for disobeying his laws and sent Moses to being them out but they hardheaded Israelites continued there disobedience of his laws so the most high sent them into Egypt again this time on ships with yolks of iron upon thy necks sold to thy enemies separated from there children never to see them again given names and nationalities of the gentiles so they would no more be known as Israel and would work on pagan gods of the heathen so they will be broken.
In our time and place we endure temptation and are ridiculed and treated as fool but nevertheless we are enduring these for righteousness sake. It is thus Jesus Christ who of God has become righteousness connects us into his Alpha Omega aspect.
"then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory"
When we received Jesus Christ as our savior we heard the knock on the door. Supping with him signaled heavenly places (Re.3:20) and abiding life would mean that at one level Alpha mode of the Son, we were assured of life everlasting. God telling the Son " rule thou in the midst of thine enemies" was included as well. (Ps.110:1-2). When the enemies came down like a flood the Spirit raised the standard or the emblem. The bow in heaven signified it.(Is.59:19-20)
As with other emblems mentioned earlier we have the bow in heaven associated with the throne of the Lamb. " And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones."(Re.21:18) These 12 stones are to be seen from the new earth. This serves as rainbow. Science would it as a bow owing to gravitation lensing. The main point that New Jerusalem is hung up aloft in midair serving as sign for the everlasting covenant.
"And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it:."(Re. 21:24)
What do we make of nations? Alpha aspect of the Son separated light from darkness. (Ge.1:4) The White Throne Judgment casts out the children of disobedience (goats) from children of light (sheep).
"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."(v.34)
"Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers." Here we can understand the world of the body is a closed system where law of sin run through the whole lump of flesh and blood, so being 'woke and cancel culture' are merely BandAid that nation applies to a sepulcher of the past. Statues erected to commemorate men of yesteryears fall in disrepute but fighting the past is only to clear the way for those who shall be thrown down in future. Thus man fights the phantoms of the past. The real culprit is the law of sin.
The Don Quixotes who tilt at the windmills are themselves "whited sepulchers,"and as such Jesus observes,"Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity"(vv.27-28).
St Paul writes of being born again. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new./And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ."(2 Co.5:17-18). What is this new creation but brought out of the world of the flesh to the everlasting life. Father of mercies accepted us in his Son. "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:/Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son."(Col.1:12-13).
Despite of this liberty if man would prefer darkness what shall we call them. They are enemies to Christ. Jesus denounced the Pharisees and scribes and it applies in our times as well. Their culture wars shall continue since they have by rejecting the prince of life has rejected the wisdom that Jesus Christ of God signifies to us. (1 Co.1:30)
v.33 "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption(2 Pe.1: 4)
After the post WWII the Allies wanted to punish the Nazi regime in such an exemplary manner so a Tribunal was set up to punish the criminal regime at Nuremburg the place where the torchlight parades took place making it as the spiritual birthplace for the regime. Halfway through the US realized that the Russians were their actual enemies than a regime that was dead already. The US found out the USSR was racing ahead with V-2 missile program so the scientists like Werner von Braun ans some 20 scientists from Nazi Germany were spirited away secretly, without even the western allies knowing it, to set up the US space program. Naturally Nuremburg did not complete what it set out to do. This how plans of men and mice go awry.
Yesterday enemy is today's ally and man keeps changing his tune. It is sin that makes the grandiose vision of nations very ludicrous. Does God simply lets them play drucks and drakes with his holiness?
There was Tulsa Massacre in 1921, and the Black Wall street was torched with impunity. Did it lead to the Wall Street crash of '29? It is thus man plays with God's laws as he pleases. God shall call to account every injustice without exception. What advances of Science man may crow about he cannot let them sink in to advantage of all? It is like Reagan's trickle down economy. Did fattening the super rich help the poor? About $42 trillion in new wealth was created in the first two years of the pandemic. Two-thirds of that has gone to the richest 1% of the world's people. The poor became poorer.
"And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?"
Jesus cites from Psalm 8 the glory set above the heaven and it refers to the throne of God. When Jesus said on an earlier occasion,"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven" he referred to the glory which had ordained strength (19:14) in them 'because of thine enemies' and it was demonstrated along the march. "And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest./And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved."(vv.9-10) We shall refer the Lucan gospel, "And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples./ And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."( Luke 19:39-40).
God gives each body its character " But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him" (1 Co.15:38). These bodies do differ but in terms of glory it points to God whether inanimate or not. It is why Jesus referred to the stones. If the enemies of God were to deny the Son the glory due the stones shall nevertheless take it up for perfecting the praise due to Him. The point is that glory of God when understood correctly is an indication that the body is one with God. This shall also explain why the fig tree withered away. (vv.18-20). Jesus hungered and went to the tree. It failed to see the God of glory. In failing to perfect praise the tree straightaway withered away.
Compare the saying of John the Baptist," And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."(3:9)
"But to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father."
Psalmist David speaking of the Father Son relationship gives as a reading of the glory and honor of the Lord God."The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." (Ps.110:1). God has appointed his Son, "whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds." The risen Christ is seated 'on the right hand of the Majesty on high.' (He.1:2-3). The Spirit gives his Son a specific position as His express image and the brightness of glory a hallowed place no man shall intrude. When God warns Moses, he says, "Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." (Ex.3:5) Access to God is by invitation only.
The mother of Zebedees children wanted a special favor and it was a private, and by asking Jesus did damage already. It was a oneupmanship and like winning the jackpot all she had to do was to pick the number which was none other than the Son of God.
Naturally it created dissension among the twelve. "And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren." They were moved with indignation and it is also a reflection all the apostles were slow learners as to what their master represented to them. "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.:(vv.25-28)
The disciples did not earn peace with God by their own merits which by earthly standards almost to nil. They were blessed in his Son before the worlds began. So self advertisement or testimonials from the local worthies did not mean a thing. "For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, Nor from the south. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another."(Ps.75:6-7)
Romans 8:16 says: "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:"
Hebrews 12:6 states: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Matthew 5:44-46 says
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
These verses bring a clear understanding of those who are His children and possess His Spirit from those who don't. We can't love our enemies in our own strength in the same way we can in Him; but perhaps the other side of the argument should be examined; we cannot hate our sin; our former "good deeds" and appreciate the verse in Jeremiah 17:9 about our hearts being "deceitfully wicked" apart from a revelation from God through His Spirit. This truth results in a response of repentance whose origin comes from God; and results in actions coming from a new heart or nature; rather than just outer actions in some attempt to be righteous in our own strength. Atheists can often be more "moral" than we are in charitable giving; for example but they cannot without self righteousness. Thus; no amount of penance; fasting; etc. can save us. Jesus begins the work and to those He has called and chosen He insures that they are sanctified and glorified after being saved as we see from Romans 8:30.
Other Gospel verses show that His sheep hear His voice. We have true love for other believers if we are saved as well as a true love for Christ and we trust Him as well and have Him not just as Savior but Lord and Master as well.
The enemy will often convince us otherwise but believers have overcome the world.
"The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them."
First point to note is that the beast is a composite figure as the two witnesses represent the saints to whom Jesus Christ gave power according to the promise of God, and are called and blessed in his Son.. "The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies."(Ps.110:2) These enemies on the earth are caused by 'the war in heaven.'(Re.12:7). And the consequence of it we read in v.12. "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."
This short time is clearly set by the Spirit even as the earthly ministry of Jesus and of the two witnesses. 42 is a number designated by God so the time of the Gentiles or heathen is likewise determined. John was sent as a messenger who was killed by the sword. Herod Antipas, it must be stressed was a vassal king to Caligula as another Herod, Herod Agrippa would have James killed. One killed because of his oath and the other killed James because he wanted to please the crowd. in whichever case the beast is associated with qualities totally antithetical to Jesus. The beast rising out of the sea (Re.13:1) is from below the earth as Jesus is from heaven. He is the king," The Lord sitteth upon the flood."(Ps.29:10) What is the characteristic of the sea? The beast represent the wicked," But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt."(Is.57:20). While we have the likes of Herod whose power is derived from some one else as enemies to Christ, the two witnesses represent an angel a man so the golden reed is their measurement and signify the everlasting gospel entrusted to them. Herod also gave rise to a political movement in the days of Jesus. (Matt.22:15-16)
The '1260 days' is a tag supplied the Spirit to indicate the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. By the same token the Gentiles are allowed to operate for 42 months. The 42 months' similarly is a tag. In an earlier post we saw 'the hour" during which the power of darkness prevailing over the children of disobedience. ( Luke 22:53). The beast as well as the enemies to Jesus who took him in the night belonged to the son of perdition. Judas Iscariot belonged to this group. This conflict reveals two laws, of the Spirit and of the sin.
Let us look at the characteristics of the two witnesses. They are representatives of several prophets coming under the earthly ministry of Jesus who is the fulfillment of the law. They were "clothed in sackcloth'. It echoes the mourning of Daniel for three weeks,"(Dan.10:2-3)
"And have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will." This recalls to us the seven plagues of Egypt" and of Elijah, "These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy." In short these two witnesses present a composite picture of heroes of faith(He.11:33-38)
On the flip side the number 42 months gives the beast who is a composite figure. John the Baptist was beheaded under a Herod and we have the beast in the Acts of the Apostles, "Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church./And he killed James the brother of John with the sword./And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also."(Ac.12:1-3)
Finally " Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein." This temple is not anything extant but what was founded on Zion. (1s.28:16) We see its culmination in Re.21.22-23
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it./... for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."
"And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of theLord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth." (Is.2:19)
We saw an earlier instance where the verse 11, from Isaiah Ch.2 being repeated in v.16. These are not left in the narrative by any accident but the Spirit warns us to heed the Law from Zion is indeed from God the Father as the word going forth from Jerusalem is from the Son. So Jerusalem and Zion as alienated to the nation of Israel for pride and violence is a lie perpetuated by the Synagogue of Satan. How often Bible scholar by approaching the passage literally weaken the force of the Spirit's thrust? God's Will is clear and his Holiness shall not be treated glibly with doctrine's of man. Ministry of reconciliation of the Son having completed on earth must leave the sinner of Zion to their own devices till the terror of the Lord strike them and they turn to Him. In that day a fountain shall be opened for their cleansing. Let the sinner beware is the focus here.
God gave them a glory of 'his back parts' so setting Moses in the cleft (Ex.33:21-23)was one such hint. In Re.6 :12-17 we have the wrath of the Lamb is mentioned here specifically.
"Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him./As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God./But let the righteous be g"lad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. ( Ps. 68:1-3)
"The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"(Is.33:14) Jesus warns the church, "and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan."(Re.2:9)
The Spirit by repeating the verse 11 is setting the authority of his Son. The Lamb slain as an emblem was a sign of the everlasting covenant in the divine Will of God. The Throne of god and of the Lamb now inaugurated is a proof that the ministry of reconciliation fulfilled the terms of the covenant so the Law has a body and God is all in all. This is only one part.
"And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low." This haughtiness of men caused the law of sin abound. This law along with Satan the father of lies has to be done with as the Son conquered death. This was epitomized by the prayers of saints."And golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints." This was in safekeeping of the Father. This explains why we have in this chapter the same verse repeated in v.17 from two stand points of the Father-Son relationship.
Opening of seven seals presents us the four riders of which the first rider ("and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer,"-Re.6:2) we meet again in Ch.19. The armies that followed the Word of god fulfills what the Lord God promised the Son."The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool./The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies."(Ps.110:1-2).Wars pandemics, famines are all perpetuated by the haughtiness of men, so the the son of perdition, the beast shall appear again and again. At these are marked by one characteristic:"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." (Re.13:5-6).Even so the beast and the false prophet are consigned to the lake of fire. (Re.19:20). Thereafter hell and death which only tells that law of sin has been done with.
"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us."(2:14)
Up Down
This ministry of reconciliation is across while what we considered under 'the other sheep' ( John 10:16). The worlds of the Spirit and the body were reconciled up and down. "The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies". Then the question arises what is 'the rod of thy strength'? "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations." The Word of God prevails over his enemies. These events are given in Re.19:13-18; Ps.110:2
Here we have even unto the world which is length and breadth of the earth. "and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." All power given unto the risen Christ covers both heaven and the earth. That explains the great army of saints following the Word of white arrayed in white.(Matt.28:18-20)
Across
St Paul refers to the Gospel of peace between the Jews and the Gentiles, "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;/And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross" (vv.15-16) The cross is the focus while the sword is the focus in up and down.
Time of the Gentiles
This occurs on the earth since the time tag of 42 months establish the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. "for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months." Jewish diaspora in waves under Assyria, Babylon and Rome are referred as the time of the Gentiles.(Re.11:2). What occurs in Palestine in our times falls under this heading.
The 144,000 who are sealed in place of 12 tribes are neither Jews nor the Gentiles but martyrs.(Re.7) "is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" (Ze. 3:3)
1 John 1:8 states "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
Such a passage should be enough to convince someone of the fact that there will always be the potential to sin. The first thing we should point out here is that even without any outer manifestations of sin man has a sin nature. I believe it is scriptural to say that at the point of salvation we are as Galatians 2:20 states "crucified with Christ". If we are truly saved we can theoretically continue after the time of our salvation to live without sinning but the pattern of living in sin is still deep in our minds. That nature therefore must meet resistance and a believer is therefore sensing that he is "grieving the Spirit" ( Eph. 4:30-31). These verses show one is sealed indeed until redemption (by death or rapture); but that we can still do things displeasing to God.
Another thing is the use of the word perfect. Matthew 5:48 shows how Christ commanded on the Sermon of the Mount to be perfect. This was in reference to agape love; that is loving your enemies as well as your friends; in other words the opposite of hypocrisy of the Pharisees in particular. I would agree that we are called to live out our lives in total submission to the Spirit which we all fail on but we are starting to be progressively sanctified as believers. We must be cautious also not to assume our legalism is attaining any righteousness; however. Loving our brother is stated in 1 John as an imperative as well; if we show disdain because of any sin in their lives in the flesh we are sinning ourselves.
Furthermore; we have the verse in Genesis where it states that Noah was "perfect in his generations." ( Gen. 6:9). This does refer to he being the only true worshipper of God (and probably his family) as opposed to those who missed the boat; but in context it likely is not biologically corrupted as the offspring of the Nephilim which was likely everyone else who missed the ark.
"Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones"(v.7.b). This prophecy concerns Jesus Christ who declared,"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."( John 10:11)
Having fixed it we shall call for the peripherals, and the chapter is referring to a day, "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David" (13:1)
This day refers to the day decreed for the Son. "I will declare the decree: theLordhath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee."(Ps.2:7) In that day is similar to the expression, unto this day' which refers to the earthly ministry. And this verse tells us that having finished his work he is seated on the right hand of the Most High, ("TheLordsaid unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool./TheLordshall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies "-Ps.110:1-2) that day refers to the latter days and a fountain shall be opened for Israel. In the vision of the Woman Clothed with the Sun indicates Jesus Christ has been taken to the throne so God sends the rod of his strength out of Zion. In short it is part of the unfinished ministry of his Son.
This day decreed for the Son is further subdivided so when Jesus tells his captors "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) we can safely infer that Prophet Zechariah was referring to this moment. God the Father did not spare his own Son for our sakes. Consequently scattering the sheep was very much part of divine Will.
"I will turn my hand upon the little one" in primary sense refers to the nation of Israel. Jesus had foretold, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate./For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth,"(Matt.23:38-39)
"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."
Here is a quote from St Peter, "which things the angels desire to look into."(1 Pe.1:12) There angels out there some of them ar bad actors and we are a spectacle unto them as we cross from one door of our heart to the other door mentioned in Re.4:1. So preparing a table in the presence of mine enemies includes the ungodly of our world without as well as from the world of the Spirit.(Re.3:20). Daily in our intimacy with our Savior Lord we are replenished and fortified to go about our lives.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."(v.6)
The first part is the one hope of our calling that is right out there, for example, the building of God in case our earthly tabernacle is dissolved, and wonderful manner we are able to pass each day despite of irksome pricks that we endure, without falling in despair.
We are spiritually living in the house of God so we have passed from death to life everlasting. So wishing to be there is not a pipe dream." For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness."(Ps.84:10) 'Forever' is a tag placed to indicate the Son and abiding in Christ means just that.
Paul and James are not talking of different things. Since you are quoting another let me explain; faith is one (Ep.4:5-6) Either you are with Christ or you are on the enemy camp. Faith with works to be seen of man is what enemies to Christ do. Simplicity that is in Christ does wonders to whosoever comes to him trusting. In thee is the fountain of light. In thy light we see the light.(Ps.36:9) So the believer who is dead to the world and to sin abides in him in faith and abound in fruits, has fulfilled the word of the Son. "Without me you can do nothing. " So Vernon is talking what he does not have a clue. I have not heard him but I suppose he is a radio personality.
In another place he speaks of God calling Abraham out. He is not simply calling any one in void but in his Son. Abraham is no exception.
"For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die."
The next verse describes how we were yet sinners; or what Colossians 1:21 states in even harsher terms as "enemies of God."
Next time you hear someone talking about how loving we all should be ask them if they would be willing to die for their enemies who hate them. We hear a lot of talk these days about the love of God; usually reduced to some mushy sentimentality and hardly differentiated from human passions. First off; it is only a half truth to go around talking about God's love only when it happens to coincide with pleasant or pleasurable circumstances for people on earth. Yes God loved us when we were yet sinners but provided provision through the Son as His ONLY method to reconcile the enmity between us and Him due to indwelling sin. God cannot look upon sinful man and love Him in the state he is in but DESPITE the fact that he is in a lost state with a heart that is; according to Jeremiah 17:9 "desperately wicked". God's METHOD is by having the Son; for we either have the Son and therefore know God or we know neither (see 1 John 23:24). This involves the Father and Son coming to "dwell within us" ( John 14:23 which also implies the Holy Spirit sealing us until the day of redemption ( Eph. 4:30).
Those who would view Jesus as someone that is primarily promoting some sort of sentimental affection either is Biblically illiterate or willfully deceived. He talked about being a sword to divide families ( Matthew 10:34-36); rebuked the Pharisees harshly a number of times; destroyed the Temple moneychanger market at least twice; and challenged those who would feign to be His disciples but whose heart wasn't in it. He even rebuked His own disciples. This is demonstrating that true love in His own life was obeying God; and we are called to do the same for Christ ( John 14:23).
Vs 14-18. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh, as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD; for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son; That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Was Abraham justified by works? Yes.
Scripture says that he was justified by works. ( James 2:21-24)
Do we have here a contradiction to the apostle Paul? Did not Paul say that Abraham was justified by faith - not by works? Paul makes a very specific statement in Romans:
"For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath something of which to glory, but not before God. ( Romans 4:2)
Then over in Galatians 3:6 we read, "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
Is Paul and James writings in conflict on this point? NO!
Here is an article by J Vernon Mcgee explaining this Paradox.
Paul vs. James in the Use of Words.
May I hasten to state that Paul and James do not conflict at all. They are in entire agreement. As someone has said, "Paul and James do not stand face to face, fighting against each other, but they stand back to back fighting opposite foes." The whole problem lies in the fact that they use the same words, but with a different meaning altogether. They are discussing the same subject from different viewpoints. This you will find upon examining the context.
See Part 4.
J Vernon Mcgee. (Paul vs. James in the Use of Words)
Force of the everlasting covenant is the Law of the Spirit so everlasting gospel to destroy the works of the devil who sins from the beginning. Everlasting gospel is to be understood as part of the works Jesus is entrusted to finish. In John 4:34-38 we have two groups one who soweth and the other reapeth. "I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours." (4:38) Who is the Sower? In the Parable of the Tares we have the answer.
"He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;/The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;/The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels."(Matt.13:37-39) We cannot handle the word of God arbitrarily but give equal weight to them as essential for Christian Living. We are in the presence of enemies, from both worlds.
We can equally speak of our witnesses in the World of the Spirit to which Jesus referred, "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?"(Matt.26:53) They mirror in tandem with events on earth. Jacob at Mahanaim is a clear example. Angels met him before God would bless him."And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day." (Ge.32:24) As the heir of promise came to a fateful encounter with his estranged brother it was God's way of bucking him. "And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host."Similarly God reveals his power and glory to the heirs of promise. It is same what we read in Re.3:20. " Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."
Part 3.
How should Christian treat one another?
We are to be at peace with one another, forgive one another, have mercy on one another.
Just a few references.
1 Thessalonians 4:9
Ephesians 4:32
Galatians 5:26
Galatians 6:2
Matthew 7:12
1 John 4:7
However, we don't lie or deceive one another for the sake of peace. The truth hurts sometimes but it promotes spiritual growth providing that the Christ spirit is in the person.
BELEIVERS SHUNNING OTHER BELEIVERS.
To shun is to deliberately avoid something or someone. In the Bible, the word shun is applied to evil. Job 1:8, Job 28:28, Proverbs 3:7-8 Proverbs 14:16. So, shunning evil is good.
There is scripture that promotes excommunication. Matthew 18:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 3:14. but do we do it for harm or Good? What's the intent?
In any case, it would seem that extreme forms of shunning, such as considering someone "dead," utterly ignoring him, or refusing to acknowledge his existence, go beyond what Scripture commands.
After all, Jesus said that, when someone is put out of the church, he should be treated as "a pagan or a tax collector" Matthew 18:17. In other words, treat an intractable offender as an unsaved person.
How are we to treat the unsaved? With love and grace.
The "pagans and tax collectors" need to be evangelized. We are to love even our enemies ( Matthew 5:44).
The goal of excommunication and any form of shunning is restoration ( Galatians 6:1).
The purpose of any type of discipline is to prompt repentance and, ultimately, to reunite our fallen brother or sister with the church body. Being officially ostracized from the church, the sinner might be brought to repentance.
When the man in the Corinthian church later realized that he had sinned against God, he repented and came back to the church for forgiveness and reinstatement. Fellowship with the Corinthian believers was restored ( 2 Corinthians 2:6-11).
Isn't it hateful to ignore or shun other believers?
See part 4.
Man is incapable of knowing how Holy and Just God is and we're also incapable of knowing how evil man is apart from the restrainer.
We see a picture of the evil of man in Revelation when the nations take up war against the Lord.
Also look at the evil condition of their heart here in Revelation 16:9-11 while being tormented.
Also see Psalms 2:1-12.
Romans 11:33 states. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
God gives life and he can take it!
The trouble with atheist is that they don't believe God gave life!
They have no understanding of deity.
See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.
If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. Deuteronomy 32:39.
God gives and he takes away.
God bless.
In today's society an often soft fabric of emotionally immature individuals CAN be some advantage over the proud generations of parents and especially the grandparents from two generations ago. We see many young people brought up in church and perhaps having some childhood faith going strong into the world; but if they survive long enough they come back to their senses. The problem is of course that many are drawn into a church that appeals to their emotions or worse tickles their ears.
Of course we have the enemy taking advantage of both sides as he always does; being loyal to no one but himself but gladly pitting his subjects against each other; and if we aren't paying attention; his enemies as well.
On a personal note; I lost a friend about 13 years ago to suicide. She was bipolar; and seemed to have a viable testimony of faith. She was joyful to be around on her emotional high but I saw her once in an extreme low. Sadly she decided to stop taking medication and she was found dead a few months later. I won't detail it since where I lived someone may be familiar with it in regard to where she was found. What I will say is that in her case her emotions dictated what she felt was her necessity to stop taking meds (perhaps rationalized in her mind). I feel it is necessary to state this here because some will give advice to give everything to the Lord and quit taking medicine. I would just go to scripture and say that we should go to the physician (at that time the priests) to verify healing. This also shows that some need to have supervision; especially anything involving substance abuse or mental illness. I am certain some have in fact been able to get off medicines; but the best way we can help others at times is to make sure we are doing the best to take care of ourselves with God's guidance.
That being said; there is no doubt the enemy is behind the insane number of suicides in our nation today.
Yesterday perhaps the enemy (although I suspect it is my pinkie left finger touching the esc key) caused the first part of what will probably be a lengthy dissertation on Satan's methods to be wiped out. It gave me an opportunity to think about some more stuff today. I thought an outline at present would help; perhaps finding some interest out there to detail a particular area.
Here's a brief summary of what I was starting yesterday.
1. Self-We are our own worst enemies.
Attacks on emotions; mind and soul (will present scriptures to follow).
I wanted to touch on "presumtion" along with other thought patterns within fallen man that can trip us up as well.
2. Others-Peer pressure; manipulation; flattery and any wrong done by others. This of course is rarely not associated with our own actions; particularly ruminating and fretting rather than taking things to God in prayer
3. Spiritual warfare: Again; not isolated but oppression for a believer; possession possible for non believers; and all things in the world system. This would include false religions.
4. Deception. This may be the most concerning and potent weapon the enemy has. The "Trojan horse" approach allows the enemy in the gate whether it is in our hearts or in a particular local church in general.
General thoughts before we begin the main study.
When we look at the Antichrist (Satan's main exhibit) we see characteristics of a SUBSTITUTE for as well as blatent blasphemy AGAINST the true Christ. The enemy will always work in two ways; either giving us what we want (in reality being void of real substance); OR he will directly cause persecution (usually through people and often in seemingly ordinary events) but at times goes full force. This outward persecution shows that he has failed in deception and therefore we understand why Paul said he thanked God he was worthy to suffer persecution for His Name's sake. God ultimately allows all Satan does
Thine ARROWS are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies (enemies of JESUS,anti-JESUS,Antichrist;whereby the people fall under thee- Psalm 45:5.
Isaiah 7:22-24
22...he shall eat butter:for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land(the remnant-144K) Question:The rebel Israel was banned from their land and was spread around the whole world from year 70 AD until 1948,but from now on?being ruled by a false God,a false messiah?- Revelation 13:11-18).
23 And it shall come to pass in that day(the current seventh and last Day,seventh and last millennium)that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings,it shall even be for briers and thorns.(because are good for nothing)
24 With ARROWS and with BOWS shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.
Isaiah 45:2
2Thou art fairer than the children of men:grace is poured into thy lips:therefore GOD hath blessed thee for ever.
3Gird thy Sword upon thy thigh,O most MIGHTY, with thy glory and thy majesty.(He's a Prince of GOD)
4And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness;and thy right hand shall TEACH thee terrible things.
6Thy throne,O God(GOD the Father, GOD Son and(God of the earth- Revelation 11:4),is for ever and ever:the sceptre of thy kingdom is a RIGHT sceptre.
7Thou lovest righteousness,and hatest wickedness:therefore God(God the Father/God the Son),thy God,has ANNOINTED thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Zech.4:11-14
What are these two olive trees upon the right and left side of the candlestick?
What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
Knowest thou not what these be?
These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth
In a bullet point presentation I would list things something like this in regard to this subject.
1. Do not regard scripture as just good literature; or as one of many sources of truth. As C.S. Lewis pointed out Christ Himself can only be taken as a liar; a madman or telling the truth. (from Mere Christianity: actually stated as Christ being the Devil Himself rather than a liar because of His claims to be Divine). What this does not mean is that you can't find certain elements of truth in other writings and/or religions. The SOURCE of all truth is in the Bible; but it doesn't mean that elements common to human understanding can't be replicated elsewhere. It also doesn't mean that corroborating facts can't be found elsewhere (such as in Macabees) that explain missing time periods or further explains things such as further details in genealogies; or the history of kings and empires. But the unique claims of truth in scripture are clear enough; there is no wiggle room for other religions which are called out as false with no uncertain terms.
2. Don't think you can figure out how to understand God's ways or Christ's salvation on your own understanding. Proverbs 14:12 warns about what seems right to a man leading to death. Someone can presume to follow the basic concepts in the Sermon on the Mount such as the "Golden rule" about doing unto others. In reality; however no one can love their enemies in their own strength or selflessly serve as our Lord did. To see God clearly we must realize that there is enmity between God an us (see Isaiah 59:1-2 and many other passages on this). If there was any other way; God would not have to send His Son to die on the cross to save His creation (man) from eternal damnation.
3. We can't explain away miracles due to natural circumstances from the Bible. There were some things unique to Christ such as forgiveness of sin; and control over nature.
The Gospel of St Mark is especial for the reason that the life of Jesus is set as the validation of the Messianic prophecies, for instance the divine Will,"Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies,"(Ps.110:1-3). Accordingly God has prepared everything to augur success in his ministry which is to be accomplished both in his humanity but also in heaven. Consequently his entry into Jerusalem is designated as a triumphal entry. At the heart of his ministry is the eternal word. So the evangelist piles up several instances underpinning the assertion of Jesus," Before Abraham was, I am." . We shall study this chapter from this angle.
"And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him." Jesus sent two disciples to Bethphage and the colt was to be found 'in a place where two ways met,' This resonates in his affirmation "I am the way". The colt has never been tried on and it has been reserved for the master's service. The mention of the door evokes the saying of the Good Shepherd. "I am the door."( John 10:7,9)
St Mark informs us in.v.11 that he went to the temple first time and saw for himself and second visit was to cleanse the temple itself. (vv.15-17) This runs parallel with his own advent and he shall slay the wicked when he appears second time. ("and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked."-Is.11:3-4;Re.19:15) Only Mark gives two visits to the temple foreshadowing two Advents where the second is as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
In vv.13-14 we have Jesus cursing the fig tree. Only Mark gives this,"and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet." Is it out of sync with rest of the narrative?
God made his Son in charge "And every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." (Ge.1:28)
1 John 4:20 is a stern admonition to those who would claim to love God that hates His brother. Other verses in 1 John show as with the Gospel of John the necessary commands for a believer to love one another. We need to look as well at verses in James which discuss the taming of the tongue. ( James 3:5-6) Gossip and slander are things that can destroy a person; hence the admonition about the fires of hell. You can bet that there will be plenty of cursing in hell for the state of misery against God and probably against others as well. Hating a brother without cause ( Matt. 5:22) is in degrees; but unforgiveness results in holding on to our own sins and is not beneficial for us even in this life. Holding onto grudges; for example is another example of a lifestyle of sin; there are people who may have already passed away who we still have bitterness about in our souls resulting in caustic behavior toward others including unforgiveness. Man cannot have unconditional love for their enemies apart from His grace. This of course doesn't validate the "political correctness" today coddling criminal behavior. Acts 2:23 is only one of several passages in the book clearly stating that the Jews killed Christ; and or complicit in His murder. Jesus didn't mince words either with this subject ( Matthew 5:21-22).
We cannot ignore the act of murder which includes abortions in this study either. Again; we dare not cede to the culture of today which doesn't want to follow Biblical precedent for a death penalty for such an act to vindicate an innocent party and to have some cohesiveness in society. We can complain all we want about dictatorships in the world; but many of them see much lower crime rates because no government can survive in anarchy. We also are foolish in trying to support ideologies that are antithetical toward the value of life because of some misguided notion that everyone wants a "democracy".
(NIV); but says tribulation and anguish in the KJV. There is another verse stating that judgment begins at the house of God. ( 1 Peter 4:17).
Just as not all Israel is Israel ( Romans 9:6); not all the "professing" church is the possessing church; that is possessing the Holy Spirit and true salvation. Jesus made that perfectly clear to those who thought because they were the physical descendants of Abraham that gave them some sort of benefit were sadly mistaken ( John 8:39-44). Those who had seen Christ; knew the prophecies about the Messiah and yet rejected Him would in fact be worse off than Sodom and Gomorrah in their punishment. ( Matt. 11:21-24). We see similar warnings for those who have knowledge of the truth and become reprobate; in that it would be better not to have known it in the first place ( 2 Peter 2:21).
Testing ourselves to see if we are in the faith is sadly lacking today among professing believers; or we would see a reality check in the fruits of many lives. ( 2 Corinthians 13:5). We can glibly see this example as a carnal bunch of people and think that being steeped in our own religious training or theology that we are automatically exempt from this test. I have said before that there are dangers in any extreme that is lacking the balancing attribute; such as with loving people and warning them of judgment to come ( John 16:8). We see in the Ephesian church everything being done properly but their first love somehow becoming distant in their hearts. Look at 1 Corinthians 13:6; love rejoices in the truth. The basic fact that man's heart is desperately wicked ( Jeremiah 17:9) and that our sin makes us enemies of God ( James 4:4) means that there is a wall between opposing parties and yes God is angry with the wicked (i.e. us) every day. ( Psalm 7:11). Having our heads in the sand doesn't help anyone.
Well, I understand love a bit different than you do. I believe that man's love and God's love are not different things. The difference is in the "quantity" of love. Man's love is finite. Depending on the person it can be "as much" as to "love themselves" ("philautia" is extreme love for oneself that leads to selfishness and lack of concern for other people), then love for their own, like their children, then love for their friends or relatives and as love increases a man can love more and more people. So love expands from loving myself (or not even myself) to love everybody else, even my enemies, people that make my life tough. So it is a matter of quantity (or quality). If we try to make a scale of love from zero to infinity, the far end is God's love, it is infinite, God is actually love. Somewhere inbetween, depending on the person, man's love can be placed. Even loving my enemy can be variable. Just think. Can I love one who swears at me? If yes, then can I love somebody who hurts me? If yes, can I love someone who hurts my child? If yes then can I love someone who killed my child? On a cross? And going even further can I love all people and give my son to death to save them? This is what God did for us. So you see there is a scale of love.
Since love originates from God and it is an aspect of His character, the only way one can increase their love for others is through God. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is, among others, love. So when one is filled with God's Spirit then their love increases. So it is something that is given by God's Spirit. There is no other way that we can love our enemies. A man who is not born again can never love their enemies, the most they could do is forget what they had done to them, but definitely not love them.
Inside the church firstly we learn how to love our brothers and sisters. When we realize that we lack in love we just have to go and ask God to provide love to us. We can not manage anything on our own.
"When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple."
Joseph interring Jesus in his tomb earmarked for his own reminds us of Isaiah who foretold his burial. "And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death."(Is.53:9). There were two other malefactors on the cross. So the first part of the verse refers to them as well as to the rich man who let his own tomb at his disposal. So much so for the carcass and after spirit has left it is an empty shell. The rich and the poor meet in death fulfilling the natural law. Piety of Joseph stands in stark contrast with those chief priests and the Pharisees who also required to get a hearing from the Governor.
The Spirit gives us the spiritual depth of the rock pointing out to the Alpha aspect of the Son. He was the cornerstone while for his enemies, the rock of offense. Wisdom principle determined the house with seven pillars (Pr.9:1) "The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old./ I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was."(Pr.8:22-23) Everlasting covenant is between God the Father and the Son which requires no other covenant. Wisdom and Power define God. Their covenant when simply put means the Power and glory that we refer every time we say the Lord's Prayer, refers to God the glory of the Son, ("Who being the brightness of his glory"-He.1:3,)
"And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory." In the case of Moses who wanted to see it God replied, "And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by."(Ex.33:18-23). The Spirit was pointing to this rock from where he would be lifter by His power. So Isaiah warns us, "look unto the rock whence ye are hewn,"(Is.51:1) Did not God see Joseph before the worlds began?
Me Personally have been going to church my entire life and not once have I ever heard the Priests, Pastor's preach this book in complete.
Which Is why most don't understand even though it's clear who the people are the book speaks of and who claim to be but are not.
The most high Yahweh leadath Israel into captivity in Egypt for disobeying his laws and sent Moses to being them out but they hardheaded Israelites continued there disobedience of his laws so the most high sent them into Egypt again this time on ships with yolks of iron upon thy necks sold to thy enemies separated from there children never to see them again given names and nationalities of the gentiles so they would no more be known as Israel and would work on pagan gods of the heathen so they will be broken.
In our time and place we endure temptation and are ridiculed and treated as fool but nevertheless we are enduring these for righteousness sake. It is thus Jesus Christ who of God has become righteousness connects us into his Alpha Omega aspect.
"then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory"
When we received Jesus Christ as our savior we heard the knock on the door. Supping with him signaled heavenly places (Re.3:20) and abiding life would mean that at one level Alpha mode of the Son, we were assured of life everlasting. God telling the Son " rule thou in the midst of thine enemies" was included as well. (Ps.110:1-2). When the enemies came down like a flood the Spirit raised the standard or the emblem. The bow in heaven signified it.(Is.59:19-20)
As with other emblems mentioned earlier we have the bow in heaven associated with the throne of the Lamb. " And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones."(Re.21:18) These 12 stones are to be seen from the new earth. This serves as rainbow. Science would it as a bow owing to gravitation lensing. The main point that New Jerusalem is hung up aloft in midair serving as sign for the everlasting covenant.
"And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it:."(Re. 21:24)
What do we make of nations? Alpha aspect of the Son separated light from darkness. (Ge.1:4) The White Throne Judgment casts out the children of disobedience (goats) from children of light (sheep).
"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."(v.34)
"Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers." Here we can understand the world of the body is a closed system where law of sin run through the whole lump of flesh and blood, so being 'woke and cancel culture' are merely BandAid that nation applies to a sepulcher of the past. Statues erected to commemorate men of yesteryears fall in disrepute but fighting the past is only to clear the way for those who shall be thrown down in future. Thus man fights the phantoms of the past. The real culprit is the law of sin.
The Don Quixotes who tilt at the windmills are themselves "whited sepulchers,"and as such Jesus observes,"Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity"(vv.27-28).
St Paul writes of being born again. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new./And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ."(2 Co.5:17-18). What is this new creation but brought out of the world of the flesh to the everlasting life. Father of mercies accepted us in his Son. "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:/Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son."(Col.1:12-13).
Despite of this liberty if man would prefer darkness what shall we call them. They are enemies to Christ. Jesus denounced the Pharisees and scribes and it applies in our times as well. Their culture wars shall continue since they have by rejecting the prince of life has rejected the wisdom that Jesus Christ of God signifies to us. (1 Co.1:30)
v.33 "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption(2 Pe.1: 4)
After the post WWII the Allies wanted to punish the Nazi regime in such an exemplary manner so a Tribunal was set up to punish the criminal regime at Nuremburg the place where the torchlight parades took place making it as the spiritual birthplace for the regime. Halfway through the US realized that the Russians were their actual enemies than a regime that was dead already. The US found out the USSR was racing ahead with V-2 missile program so the scientists like Werner von Braun ans some 20 scientists from Nazi Germany were spirited away secretly, without even the western allies knowing it, to set up the US space program. Naturally Nuremburg did not complete what it set out to do. This how plans of men and mice go awry.
Yesterday enemy is today's ally and man keeps changing his tune. It is sin that makes the grandiose vision of nations very ludicrous. Does God simply lets them play drucks and drakes with his holiness?
There was Tulsa Massacre in 1921, and the Black Wall street was torched with impunity. Did it lead to the Wall Street crash of '29? It is thus man plays with God's laws as he pleases. God shall call to account every injustice without exception. What advances of Science man may crow about he cannot let them sink in to advantage of all? It is like Reagan's trickle down economy. Did fattening the super rich help the poor? About $42 trillion in new wealth was created in the first two years of the pandemic. Two-thirds of that has gone to the richest 1% of the world's people. The poor became poorer.
"And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?"
Jesus cites from Psalm 8 the glory set above the heaven and it refers to the throne of God. When Jesus said on an earlier occasion,"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven" he referred to the glory which had ordained strength (19:14) in them 'because of thine enemies' and it was demonstrated along the march. "And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest./And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved."(vv.9-10) We shall refer the Lucan gospel, "And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples./ And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."( Luke 19:39-40).
God gives each body its character " But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him" (1 Co.15:38). These bodies do differ but in terms of glory it points to God whether inanimate or not. It is why Jesus referred to the stones. If the enemies of God were to deny the Son the glory due the stones shall nevertheless take it up for perfecting the praise due to Him. The point is that glory of God when understood correctly is an indication that the body is one with God. This shall also explain why the fig tree withered away. (vv.18-20). Jesus hungered and went to the tree. It failed to see the God of glory. In failing to perfect praise the tree straightaway withered away.
Compare the saying of John the Baptist," And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."(3:9)
"But to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father."
Psalmist David speaking of the Father Son relationship gives as a reading of the glory and honor of the Lord God."The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." (Ps.110:1). God has appointed his Son, "whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds." The risen Christ is seated 'on the right hand of the Majesty on high.' (He.1:2-3). The Spirit gives his Son a specific position as His express image and the brightness of glory a hallowed place no man shall intrude. When God warns Moses, he says, "Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." (Ex.3:5) Access to God is by invitation only.
The mother of Zebedees children wanted a special favor and it was a private, and by asking Jesus did damage already. It was a oneupmanship and like winning the jackpot all she had to do was to pick the number which was none other than the Son of God.
Naturally it created dissension among the twelve. "And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren." They were moved with indignation and it is also a reflection all the apostles were slow learners as to what their master represented to them. "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.:(vv.25-28)
The disciples did not earn peace with God by their own merits which by earthly standards almost to nil. They were blessed in his Son before the worlds began. So self advertisement or testimonials from the local worthies did not mean a thing. "For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, Nor from the south. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another."(Ps.75:6-7)
Hebrews 12:6 states: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Matthew 5:44-46 says
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
These verses bring a clear understanding of those who are His children and possess His Spirit from those who don't. We can't love our enemies in our own strength in the same way we can in Him; but perhaps the other side of the argument should be examined; we cannot hate our sin; our former "good deeds" and appreciate the verse in Jeremiah 17:9 about our hearts being "deceitfully wicked" apart from a revelation from God through His Spirit. This truth results in a response of repentance whose origin comes from God; and results in actions coming from a new heart or nature; rather than just outer actions in some attempt to be righteous in our own strength. Atheists can often be more "moral" than we are in charitable giving; for example but they cannot without self righteousness. Thus; no amount of penance; fasting; etc. can save us. Jesus begins the work and to those He has called and chosen He insures that they are sanctified and glorified after being saved as we see from Romans 8:30.
Other Gospel verses show that His sheep hear His voice. We have true love for other believers if we are saved as well as a true love for Christ and we trust Him as well and have Him not just as Savior but Lord and Master as well.
The enemy will often convince us otherwise but believers have overcome the world.
"The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them."
First point to note is that the beast is a composite figure as the two witnesses represent the saints to whom Jesus Christ gave power according to the promise of God, and are called and blessed in his Son.. "The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies."(Ps.110:2) These enemies on the earth are caused by 'the war in heaven.'(Re.12:7). And the consequence of it we read in v.12. "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."
This short time is clearly set by the Spirit even as the earthly ministry of Jesus and of the two witnesses. 42 is a number designated by God so the time of the Gentiles or heathen is likewise determined. John was sent as a messenger who was killed by the sword. Herod Antipas, it must be stressed was a vassal king to Caligula as another Herod, Herod Agrippa would have James killed. One killed because of his oath and the other killed James because he wanted to please the crowd. in whichever case the beast is associated with qualities totally antithetical to Jesus. The beast rising out of the sea (Re.13:1) is from below the earth as Jesus is from heaven. He is the king," The Lord sitteth upon the flood."(Ps.29:10) What is the characteristic of the sea? The beast represent the wicked," But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt."(Is.57:20). While we have the likes of Herod whose power is derived from some one else as enemies to Christ, the two witnesses represent an angel a man so the golden reed is their measurement and signify the everlasting gospel entrusted to them. Herod also gave rise to a political movement in the days of Jesus. (Matt.22:15-16)
The '1260 days' is a tag supplied the Spirit to indicate the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. By the same token the Gentiles are allowed to operate for 42 months. The 42 months' similarly is a tag. In an earlier post we saw 'the hour" during which the power of darkness prevailing over the children of disobedience. ( Luke 22:53). The beast as well as the enemies to Jesus who took him in the night belonged to the son of perdition. Judas Iscariot belonged to this group. This conflict reveals two laws, of the Spirit and of the sin.
Let us look at the characteristics of the two witnesses. They are representatives of several prophets coming under the earthly ministry of Jesus who is the fulfillment of the law. They were "clothed in sackcloth'. It echoes the mourning of Daniel for three weeks,"(Dan.10:2-3)
"And have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will." This recalls to us the seven plagues of Egypt" and of Elijah, "These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy." In short these two witnesses present a composite picture of heroes of faith(He.11:33-38)
On the flip side the number 42 months gives the beast who is a composite figure. John the Baptist was beheaded under a Herod and we have the beast in the Acts of the Apostles, "Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church./And he killed James the brother of John with the sword./And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also."(Ac.12:1-3)
Finally " Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein." This temple is not anything extant but what was founded on Zion. (1s.28:16) We see its culmination in Re.21.22-23
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it./... for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."
"And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of theLord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth." (Is.2:19)
We saw an earlier instance where the verse 11, from Isaiah Ch.2 being repeated in v.16. These are not left in the narrative by any accident but the Spirit warns us to heed the Law from Zion is indeed from God the Father as the word going forth from Jerusalem is from the Son. So Jerusalem and Zion as alienated to the nation of Israel for pride and violence is a lie perpetuated by the Synagogue of Satan. How often Bible scholar by approaching the passage literally weaken the force of the Spirit's thrust? God's Will is clear and his Holiness shall not be treated glibly with doctrine's of man. Ministry of reconciliation of the Son having completed on earth must leave the sinner of Zion to their own devices till the terror of the Lord strike them and they turn to Him. In that day a fountain shall be opened for their cleansing. Let the sinner beware is the focus here.
God gave them a glory of 'his back parts' so setting Moses in the cleft (Ex.33:21-23)was one such hint. In Re.6 :12-17 we have the wrath of the Lamb is mentioned here specifically.
"Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him./As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God./But let the righteous be g"lad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. ( Ps. 68:1-3)
"The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"(Is.33:14) Jesus warns the church, "and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan."(Re.2:9)
The Spirit by repeating the verse 11 is setting the authority of his Son. The Lamb slain as an emblem was a sign of the everlasting covenant in the divine Will of God. The Throne of god and of the Lamb now inaugurated is a proof that the ministry of reconciliation fulfilled the terms of the covenant so the Law has a body and God is all in all. This is only one part.
"And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low." This haughtiness of men caused the law of sin abound. This law along with Satan the father of lies has to be done with as the Son conquered death. This was epitomized by the prayers of saints."And golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints." This was in safekeeping of the Father. This explains why we have in this chapter the same verse repeated in v.17 from two stand points of the Father-Son relationship.
Opening of seven seals presents us the four riders of which the first rider ("and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer,"-Re.6:2) we meet again in Ch.19. The armies that followed the Word of god fulfills what the Lord God promised the Son."The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool./The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies."(Ps.110:1-2).Wars pandemics, famines are all perpetuated by the haughtiness of men, so the the son of perdition, the beast shall appear again and again. At these are marked by one characteristic:"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." (Re.13:5-6).Even so the beast and the false prophet are consigned to the lake of fire. (Re.19:20). Thereafter hell and death which only tells that law of sin has been done with.
"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us."(2:14)
Up Down
This ministry of reconciliation is across while what we considered under 'the other sheep' ( John 10:16). The worlds of the Spirit and the body were reconciled up and down. "The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies". Then the question arises what is 'the rod of thy strength'? "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations." The Word of God prevails over his enemies. These events are given in Re.19:13-18; Ps.110:2
Here we have even unto the world which is length and breadth of the earth. "and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." All power given unto the risen Christ covers both heaven and the earth. That explains the great army of saints following the Word of white arrayed in white.(Matt.28:18-20)
Across
St Paul refers to the Gospel of peace between the Jews and the Gentiles, "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;/And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross" (vv.15-16) The cross is the focus while the sword is the focus in up and down.
Time of the Gentiles
This occurs on the earth since the time tag of 42 months establish the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. "for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months." Jewish diaspora in waves under Assyria, Babylon and Rome are referred as the time of the Gentiles.(Re.11:2). What occurs in Palestine in our times falls under this heading.
The 144,000 who are sealed in place of 12 tribes are neither Jews nor the Gentiles but martyrs.(Re.7) "is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" (Ze. 3:3)
Such a passage should be enough to convince someone of the fact that there will always be the potential to sin. The first thing we should point out here is that even without any outer manifestations of sin man has a sin nature. I believe it is scriptural to say that at the point of salvation we are as Galatians 2:20 states "crucified with Christ". If we are truly saved we can theoretically continue after the time of our salvation to live without sinning but the pattern of living in sin is still deep in our minds. That nature therefore must meet resistance and a believer is therefore sensing that he is "grieving the Spirit" ( Eph. 4:30-31). These verses show one is sealed indeed until redemption (by death or rapture); but that we can still do things displeasing to God.
Another thing is the use of the word perfect. Matthew 5:48 shows how Christ commanded on the Sermon of the Mount to be perfect. This was in reference to agape love; that is loving your enemies as well as your friends; in other words the opposite of hypocrisy of the Pharisees in particular. I would agree that we are called to live out our lives in total submission to the Spirit which we all fail on but we are starting to be progressively sanctified as believers. We must be cautious also not to assume our legalism is attaining any righteousness; however. Loving our brother is stated in 1 John as an imperative as well; if we show disdain because of any sin in their lives in the flesh we are sinning ourselves.
Furthermore; we have the verse in Genesis where it states that Noah was "perfect in his generations." ( Gen. 6:9). This does refer to he being the only true worshipper of God (and probably his family) as opposed to those who missed the boat; but in context it likely is not biologically corrupted as the offspring of the Nephilim which was likely everyone else who missed the ark.
"Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones"(v.7.b). This prophecy concerns Jesus Christ who declared,"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."( John 10:11)
Having fixed it we shall call for the peripherals, and the chapter is referring to a day, "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David" (13:1)
This day refers to the day decreed for the Son. "I will declare the decree: theLordhath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee."(Ps.2:7) In that day is similar to the expression, unto this day' which refers to the earthly ministry. And this verse tells us that having finished his work he is seated on the right hand of the Most High, ("TheLordsaid unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool./TheLordshall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies "-Ps.110:1-2) that day refers to the latter days and a fountain shall be opened for Israel. In the vision of the Woman Clothed with the Sun indicates Jesus Christ has been taken to the throne so God sends the rod of his strength out of Zion. In short it is part of the unfinished ministry of his Son.
This day decreed for the Son is further subdivided so when Jesus tells his captors "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) we can safely infer that Prophet Zechariah was referring to this moment. God the Father did not spare his own Son for our sakes. Consequently scattering the sheep was very much part of divine Will.
"I will turn my hand upon the little one" in primary sense refers to the nation of Israel. Jesus had foretold, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate./For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth,"(Matt.23:38-39)
"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."
Here is a quote from St Peter, "which things the angels desire to look into."(1 Pe.1:12) There angels out there some of them ar bad actors and we are a spectacle unto them as we cross from one door of our heart to the other door mentioned in Re.4:1. So preparing a table in the presence of mine enemies includes the ungodly of our world without as well as from the world of the Spirit.(Re.3:20). Daily in our intimacy with our Savior Lord we are replenished and fortified to go about our lives.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."(v.6)
The first part is the one hope of our calling that is right out there, for example, the building of God in case our earthly tabernacle is dissolved, and wonderful manner we are able to pass each day despite of irksome pricks that we endure, without falling in despair.
We are spiritually living in the house of God so we have passed from death to life everlasting. So wishing to be there is not a pipe dream." For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness."(Ps.84:10) 'Forever' is a tag placed to indicate the Son and abiding in Christ means just that.
Paul and James are not talking of different things. Since you are quoting another let me explain; faith is one (Ep.4:5-6) Either you are with Christ or you are on the enemy camp. Faith with works to be seen of man is what enemies to Christ do. Simplicity that is in Christ does wonders to whosoever comes to him trusting. In thee is the fountain of light. In thy light we see the light.(Ps.36:9) So the believer who is dead to the world and to sin abides in him in faith and abound in fruits, has fulfilled the word of the Son. "Without me you can do nothing. " So Vernon is talking what he does not have a clue. I have not heard him but I suppose he is a radio personality.
In another place he speaks of God calling Abraham out. He is not simply calling any one in void but in his Son. Abraham is no exception.
Romans 8:7 states:
"For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die."
The next verse describes how we were yet sinners; or what Colossians 1:21 states in even harsher terms as "enemies of God."
Next time you hear someone talking about how loving we all should be ask them if they would be willing to die for their enemies who hate them. We hear a lot of talk these days about the love of God; usually reduced to some mushy sentimentality and hardly differentiated from human passions. First off; it is only a half truth to go around talking about God's love only when it happens to coincide with pleasant or pleasurable circumstances for people on earth. Yes God loved us when we were yet sinners but provided provision through the Son as His ONLY method to reconcile the enmity between us and Him due to indwelling sin. God cannot look upon sinful man and love Him in the state he is in but DESPITE the fact that he is in a lost state with a heart that is; according to Jeremiah 17:9 "desperately wicked". God's METHOD is by having the Son; for we either have the Son and therefore know God or we know neither (see 1 John 23:24). This involves the Father and Son coming to "dwell within us" ( John 14:23 which also implies the Holy Spirit sealing us until the day of redemption ( Eph. 4:30).
Those who would view Jesus as someone that is primarily promoting some sort of sentimental affection either is Biblically illiterate or willfully deceived. He talked about being a sword to divide families ( Matthew 10:34-36); rebuked the Pharisees harshly a number of times; destroyed the Temple moneychanger market at least twice; and challenged those who would feign to be His disciples but whose heart wasn't in it. He even rebuked His own disciples. This is demonstrating that true love in His own life was obeying God; and we are called to do the same for Christ ( John 14:23).
Part 3
ABRAHAM.
Genesis 22:1-18.
Vs 14-18. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh, as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD; for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son; That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Was Abraham justified by works? Yes.
Scripture says that he was justified by works. ( James 2:21-24)
Do we have here a contradiction to the apostle Paul? Did not Paul say that Abraham was justified by faith - not by works? Paul makes a very specific statement in Romans:
"For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath something of which to glory, but not before God. ( Romans 4:2)
Then over in Galatians 3:6 we read, "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
Is Paul and James writings in conflict on this point? NO!
Here is an article by J Vernon Mcgee explaining this Paradox.
Paul vs. James in the Use of Words.
May I hasten to state that Paul and James do not conflict at all. They are in entire agreement. As someone has said, "Paul and James do not stand face to face, fighting against each other, but they stand back to back fighting opposite foes." The whole problem lies in the fact that they use the same words, but with a different meaning altogether. They are discussing the same subject from different viewpoints. This you will find upon examining the context.
See Part 4.
J Vernon Mcgee. (Paul vs. James in the Use of Words)
Force of the everlasting covenant is the Law of the Spirit so everlasting gospel to destroy the works of the devil who sins from the beginning. Everlasting gospel is to be understood as part of the works Jesus is entrusted to finish. In John 4:34-38 we have two groups one who soweth and the other reapeth. "I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours." (4:38) Who is the Sower? In the Parable of the Tares we have the answer.
"He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;/The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;/The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels."(Matt.13:37-39) We cannot handle the word of God arbitrarily but give equal weight to them as essential for Christian Living. We are in the presence of enemies, from both worlds.
We can equally speak of our witnesses in the World of the Spirit to which Jesus referred, "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?"(Matt.26:53) They mirror in tandem with events on earth. Jacob at Mahanaim is a clear example. Angels met him before God would bless him."And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day." (Ge.32:24) As the heir of promise came to a fateful encounter with his estranged brother it was God's way of bucking him. "And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host."Similarly God reveals his power and glory to the heirs of promise. It is same what we read in Re.3:20. " Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."
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