All Discussion PAGE 290

Oseas,

Wow, I say that God is MORE than just a book, that the holy bible points to God, it doesn't define God (if you can't understand this Revelation then I worry for you). Then, I say that God ISN'T limited by a translation or book. Finally, I say that God The Holy Spirit puts His law in our heart NOT a book so that we are doers of the law NOT merely hearers of the law.

And then you say that my perspective is worldly?!! Just, WOW.

Oseas, you can quote to me everything in the holy bible but the Fact that you don't understand what I'm saying is evidence that the enemy has deceived you! I'm a very BLESSED man who Sees The Sunrise, and you are a blind man rebuking me for describing what I See, then you go on describing a sunrise that was described to you but have Never seen. So, when I tell you that what you are describing barely scratches the surface of THE TRUTH, you rebuke me for my sight, as I struggle (and fail) to NOT rebuke you for your blindness. Here's the thing about blindness;I would be remiss if I rebuked a blind man for his blindness, yet it's my Duty as a man of God to Rebuke a person who is blind because they refuse to open their eyes.

Ok, I would like to begin a conversation, I'm a Universalist; that is, I Believe that God will Save Everyone including demons. It all began when I understood Romans 14:11 KJV. If anyone has any questions I would love to explain.

Bennymkje

In the first sentence of your post you emphasized GOD putting His Word in the mouths of his servants,the prophets,and you highlighted Je. and Ez: Isa. came also to my memory-Is.6:1-13.

And Hebrews 1:1-2 say:1 GOD,who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these LAST DAYS(last two days or two millennia)spoken unto us by His Son...

But I would highlight also Isaiah 51:14-The captive exiled hasteneth that he may be loosed,and that he should NOT DIE in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.

15 I am the Lord thy GOD,that divided the sea(nations),whose waves roared:The Lord of hosts is his name.

16 And I have put my words in thy MOUTH, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand,that I may PLANT THE HEAVENS,and lay the foundations of the earth,and say unto Zion,Thou art my people.

The 1st heaven was planted by the Words GOD has put in the MOUTH of Moses,and His holy prophets-the Old Testament-and lasted around 1.500 years,from Moses until JESUS;

The 2nd heaven was planted by the Words GOD has put in the MOUTH of JESUS,and His Apostles-the New Testament-,and it has lasted around 2000 years;

The 3rd heaven will last 1.000 years,it will be planted by the Words GOD has left written to be announced by the captive exiled, actually a rod of iron,and a sharp Sword- Hebrews 4:12-13 combined with Rev.11:15-18,and Ps.2:1-12,and 1Thess.4:16, Daniel 12:1-3,Rev.19:11-21 and 6:2,among other biblical references.

The heaven of the heavens-the Eternity-will be established when the 3rd heaven be ended- Rev. 20:7-10;

Luke 20:35-35

35 They which shall be accounted WORTHY to obtain that world(next world-the millennial GOD's Kingdom-,and the resurrection from the dead,neither marry,nor are given in marriage:

36 Neither can they die any more:for they are equal unto the angels;and are the children of GOD,being the children of the resurrection.

May our Lord GOD bless and keep us,and give us His protection

Amen

Daruled

Who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth- John 3:31. Your earthly and devilish verbiage and chatter is good for nothing, what matters and prevails is the Word of GOD, the Word is GOD, self-executing, understand? By the way, be sure that your satanic spiritual guide( 2Corinthians 11:12-15) will be cast down into the bottomless pit from now on, day by day, understand?- Revelation 20:3.

Furthermore, the LAST and main partner of your spiritual guide according Genesis 3:1-, he will be elected soon, that is the LAST Beast to be elected- Revelation 13:1- called Vicarivs Filii Dei, a filii of Devil; he will be cast into the lake of fire - Revelation 19:19-20 - burning with brimstone by the Power of the Word of GOD, the Word is GOD-self-executable- , understand? including their followers, those which he deceived(have been deceived) and received (have received) the mark of the Beast, and they worshipp the Beast making a signal of CROSS- CROSS is CURSE - with right HAND completing the satanic sign on FOREHEAD-AS WAS PROPHESIED- Revelation 13:16- combined with Isaiah 44:20.

These will be cast alive into the hell's fire from now on- 2 Peter 3:7 combined withn Revelation 19:19-20, even in this LORD's Day, in this seventh and last Day, that is the seventh and last millennium, the current millennium, THE MILLENNIUM OF CHRIST, according the righteous Judgment of GOD, the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Get ready, for Revelation 21:8 will LITERALLY be fulfilled: "the fearful(the COWARDS), and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all LIARS, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Get ready

In the Bible, it was Gideon who tested God with a fleece made from a sheep's skin. This story is found in the Book of Judges, specifically in Judges 6:36-40. Gideon wanted to be sure that God was truly calling him to lead the Israelites against their enemies, the Midianites. He asked God for a sign, requesting that the fleece be wet with dew while the ground around it remained dry on one occasion and then dry while the ground around it was wet on another occasion. God granted both signs to Gideon to confirm His will.

Gideon.. twice with a sheepskin

OSAS and rewards (continued)

My last posting ended with a brief discussion of spiritual rewards. If we never consider these things; we are in danger of just wanting "fire insurance" when coming to Christ from fear of hell. That lack of love for God will blind us to the need for sanctification; and we will never want to go beyond what we consider the bare minimum to ensure our place in heaven. The basic point here is that sanctification goes on from the point of salvation until death (or the Rapture) which finally brings glorification; or final salvation of the body from sin and decay. So we need here to discuss what sanctification means.

Sanctification. 2 Timothy 2:12 says that if we suffer with Him we will reign with Him. Jesus spoke to the Disciples about the cost involved in following Him; and James speaks of pure joy in suffering in James 1:2-4. The Apostles need no further case as to the cost of following Him as all but one were martyred (and apparently they may have tried to kill John before Patmos as well). We see how Peter failed Christ when he said he would die for him yet denied Christ at his trial. Whenever that verse comes up in James I comment that I am still working on that; I feel like a hypocrite otherwise.

Too often we look at dying to self as a martyrdom issue rather than looking at a progressive lifestyle of dying to self day by day; which also was the example of Christ. Once we practice loving others above ourselves for a long time it is much easier to handle our fate no matter how bleak (or at least less hard). Again; this is where the rubber meets the road. With today's "easy believism" we see little exhortation of others ( Hebrews 3:13); we see Christ being perhaps the "center" of our lives in many of today's churches rather than BEING our life and our old life dead and buried with Him.

So far we are discussing things that accompany salvation. Now I will begin to quote verses to examine warnings against falling away

OSAS or "Eternal security" under closer scrutiny.

Once again; the verse "the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom" is a necessary verse to quote and is found in Proverbs as well as at least a couple places in Psalms. Assuming that there is a genuine conversion needs to be in word and deed. Confessing with our mouth must be accompanied by believing in our heart ( Romans 10:9-10). Believing in our heart must involve; of course a heart change as Ezekiel 36:26 indicates. Evidence of that is an understanding that as sinners we are coming from being ENEMIES of God (i.e. the enmity is in both directions) as Romans 5:10 indicates. True faith understands the painful sacrifice of Christ to pay the redemption through the atonement which only His blood could do in our behalf. Obedience accompanies true love for God as John 14:15 indicates. RECOGNITION that we are crucified with Christ ( Galatians 2:20) means that our new nature is now having new affections and the old one is something which we no longer find our "default" mode. We are beyond wanting to avoid sin because of the consequences but because we recognize that we are offending a Holy God who dwells in us ( 2 Cor. 5:1; and apparently the meaning implicit in John 1:14 where He dwells in us. True salvation never brings contentment with sin; we may fall away but as Proverbs says in chapter 24; verse 16 he rises again; but it is not so for the wicked. We are saved by grace but always have potential to sin and a true believer will be as Paul was cognizant and wary of anything that will get in the way until the end of this earthly existance ( Philippians 3:12-14). This is like 1 Corinthians 9:24 in striving to gain the prize.

Another related situation is that a true believer recognizes that rewards can be attained or lost according to Revelation 3:11. Realizing that we can enter heaven but as through the fire suffering loss ( 1 Cor. 3:15) shows salvation is the beginning of the journey of a truly saved person

Thank you Pnovello,

She had adjusted so very well from the limitations of her stroke 25 years ago, but in the past 5 years her body is just giving out from overcompensating for muscles that don't work right. She wears a foot brace that has been a source of a lot of pain to wear and try to walk in these last 5 years, too, so she avoids getting up and bearing weight and trying to walk. I have asked her many times this last year if I could stop by to visit her, but she has declined, mostly because she sleeps all day and doesn't want to change that habit. We used to see each other often and she helped in my classroom weekly for many years, but since Covid, there was a big change. Since her husband retired, the two of them were hold up together at home and rarely went out.

When he was diagnosed first with leukemia and then with lung cancer and COPD he needed to be inpatient up at the University of Washington hospital since last fall. Such a sad situation all around.

Kim and I used to share so much time in Bible study and enjoying the Lord's fellowship together. But her isolation and being around her husband once he retired has affected her daily walk of faith. He was very antagonistic about the things of God. She fought the fight of faith for herself, her husband and her children for several decades, but now she needs to regain that trust and confidence in the Lord, that He knows all that she has suffered, all that is in each of our hearts, all that He will do and has done already whether we are aware of it of not.

Thank you for praying for my dear friend.

Hello Bob,

the person was Gideon in Judges chapter 6

I would like to share a real-life event as to how God worked in a person's life. There is a female who is I'd say middle-aged who works in another division which I usually go there about once a month. She works the night shift and when I arrive at 7 a.m. it is the end of her shift. I usually show up early so I showed up 30 minutes early. I had been doing A LOT of bible study and just felt moved to ask her if she was a "Christian." Her response and "body language" gave away immediately that she was not. First, she stated in a Studder Well I "grew up in a Christian home." My first mental response was that meant nothing. I felt moved to press a little more and I asked what "translation" you read? At this point, she is squirming in her seat as if I am a police investigator questioning her under a spotlight. Her response was "one of the newer ones." Which one I responded? She replied I am not sure but the King James is hard to read. I ended the questioning as I could feel in my Spirit that she was NOT saved!

Now the Lord later that day laid on my heart to purchase a book called "The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warran" It is a famous book that is basically kindergarten theology. So I went on online and ordered a used one in great condition only cost me $8.00. I kept the book in my car so I wouldn't forget to give it to her since I only see her once a month.

Now, a few days before I see this woman again I run into a Christian at Walmart... I was moved to speak with him and he shared something with me. When witnessing don't give too much.. Like a doctor don't overwhelm the patient with medical jargon keep it simple.

Okay so now today was the next month and I saw her. I pulled the book out and told her I have a book you might enjoy and you can have it. It is meant to be read one chapter per day for forty days. She thanked me and said my mother told me about this book The Purpose Driven Life. Even her mom knew she wasn't really saved. Amazing how God works isn't it?

who tested God 3 times with a sheeps skin

Gigi, I will pray for your friend Kim. Also for her children. I pray that the demon of depression be cast out of her and that the Holy Spirit take over. I pray that she realize that the only way to survive is to give it to God. Yes, it is easy to say, but sometimes hard to do. I will pray for her to be delivered. God bless her and God bless you. Amen

End of introduction to OSAS

Once saved always saved is kind of like the word "Rapture"; the verses about being sealed with the Spirit until the Day of Redemption ( Eph. 4:30) basically indicate that once HIS work is completed we cannot "undo" it. We have passed from "death to life" ( John 5:24) if we truly believe; and 1 John 3:14 shows the same author indicating EVIDENCE through loving one another (specifically the brethren) that we are saved; as well as showing that if WE DON'T we are liars and the truth is not in us ( 1 John 4:20).

My first point is that there is always evidence of the Hope that is within us if it truly exists ( 1 Peter 3:15). The second point goes with it that we preach the truth; any other Gospel is "anathema" ( Gal. 1:8-9). Interestingly; 1 Corinthians 16:22 2 verses before the end of the book state that if any man does NOT love the Lord Jesus Christ let him be "anathema". These two verses domenstate we need truth and love; one doesn't work independently of the other.

I will make a general statement for my third point. The more knowledge we have; the more responsibility we have. Hence; there is greater punishment for those who walk away from the truth and go back to the world than those who never knew it in the first place ( 1 Peter 2:20-21). We only need to look at Lucifer himself to see how pride brought his judgment without mercy; since he was a Cheribum that led worship of music in heaven itself for an unknown time; created perfect in all his ways before that time ( Ezekiel 28:15).

The fourth point is related to the third; that much head knowledge apart from the inner man being renewed daily ( 2 Cor. 4:16) is at best a fruitless venture; at worst again leads to greater damnation without accompanying faith. Such a man often obsesses on one doctrine and ignores the integrity of all scripture; or worse can justify a sin by not being a Berean and "rightly dividing the Word" ( 2 Tim. 2:15) despite what all their church friends may say.

The OSAS dilemma

The discussion I am about to embark on is of a matter of grave importance and it is with much conviction and sorrow that I pursue it. I am ever mindful of the fear of the Lord and the trepidation of getting it wrong that I begin this series.

I have somewhere in my stash of Bibles a Dake's Bible that the Lord providentially had someone leave on top of a cardboard compactor in the back of a store I worked with (it had a very common name on it and after a brief search I didn't pursue it; no one in the store knew who left it some 25 years ago). My point is that there are HUNDREDS of scriptures which the author uses to prove that one indeed CAN lose their salvation. Ultimately, I do NOT believe you can lose something which God provides and seals with His Spirit ( Eph. 1:13-14).

Having said that we cannot ignore the plethora of scriptures in both Testaments that show men of God who the Spirit was at work with at times that appeared in the end to be lost spiritually. A chief example is Saul in the Old Testament. I have tackled this subject before but wish to dive into more scripture at this time for several reasons. I have mentioned that it is the fruit of the Spirit that must be an evidence of the new life within; behaviors that only show bad fruit are at best someone who remains carnal in many ways and at worst someone who remains lost and has some other motivation other than desiring to worship a Holy God and live a life of holiness to love and obey. 2 Corinthians 13:5 demonstrates to that church who were immature in many ways something we all need to do. A "reality check" is something which others even in the world can challenge us with if we live contradictory to what we profess; and of course ultimately there has to be a battle between the flesh and Spirit with a true child of God. True believers sense when they are "grieving the Spirit" ( Eph. 4:30-31); which can only happen if the Spirit is in us to begin with.

The Westcott and Hort Greek New Testament, also known as the "Critical Text," was a significant edition of the Greek New Testament published in the late 19th century. It represented a departure from the Textus Receptus, which had been the basis for many earlier English translations, such as the King James Version (KJV).

Satan used Westcott & Hort very well... Hort's son later released his father's personal letters some of the correspondence was between Westcott who was his accomplice. Here is revealed Horts' TRUE thoughts about certain things and there he was tinkering with a Greek New Testament... We see here how he hated the Textus Receptus. He believed in evolution, doubted the creation story, called the Textus Recpetus, and hence the King James Version bible VILE! These two were children of the wicked one.. They were religious unbelievers! They also spoke with the dead!

Many new bible versions are based on Westcott and Hort's Greek "critical text" is used in new bible versions. These men were total heretics!

Evolution

"But the book which has most engaged me is Darwin. Whatever may be thought of it, it is a book that one is proud to be contemporary with...My feeling is strong that the theory is unanswerable. If so, it opens up a new period."

The Greek Text of the King James Bible

"I had no idea till the last few weeks of the importance of texts, having read so little Greek Testament, and dragged on with that villainous Textus Receptus...Think of that vile Textus Receptus leaning entirely on late MSS [manuscripts]; it is a blessing there are such early ones.

Creation

"No one now, I suppose, holds that the first three chapters of Genesis, for example, give a literal history---I could never understand how anyone reading them with open eyes could think they did---yet they disclose to us a Gospel. So it is probably elsewhere."

Thank you Giannis,

Well said, I know that the Holy Spirit is at work in the lives of those who have heard the gospel, as this man, Chris, had from his wife. We just do not know the thoughts and will of those in there last moments of consciousness or even how the Spirit still can work in the heart of someone who is unconscious or diminished mental faculties. God is gracious and merciful. And He is just and the one who justifies. So we can leave the eternal state of our loved ones when they pass in God's hands. He will always save ALL who He has elected to salvation. I do not think that our witness is wasted on unbelievers nor our prayers. God is at work in ways we cannot see or know. So, as you said, we can believe that God has done all that is needed to bring someone to salvation. No one will be missed by Him.

Thank you!

Exactly... whenever I hear arguments such as the one Daruled bring up it reminds me of a theology teacher who once said to his student who was now doubting sections of the bible or the bible altogether... The theology teacher asked "My brother, what sin are you entertaining?, the student hung his head low and walked away."

Hello GiGi

One never knows whether someone was saved or not, only God knows what goes through people's minds and hearts. I have heard real stoties about people who were rejecting Jesus until the very end, but just hours before passing away repented and asked for forgiveness. So lets not come to conclusions that may not be true.

My dad died of lung cancer 30 years ago, suffering for 6 years. An atheist as a communist, a hardened man who fought the Nazis in WW2 as a guerilla on the mountains as a 15 year old kid, who never seeked God in his life even during his illness (or at least he didn't show externally such a thing) as said never showed any sign that he believed until he passed away. At that time I wasn't born again either. After I was saved I started worrying a lot about where his soul went. To my surprise after a long time of torturing myself with those thoughts, God revealed to me that he was saved. He spoke to me through the mouth of my 5 year old nephew who never heard anything about his grandfather, also never met him, he was born months after my dad died. So we will be surprised in Heaven meeting people who we would never thought that they will be there. So your friend Kim may be in peace that God has done what was needed to save her husband.

About the rest she is going through it is true that we don't have answers for everything, but one thing is a solid ground, God loves us and He will bless us. I will pray for her.

GBU

Oh gosh ! A few typos in my original reply to you ! Sorry :).

Dear Daruled , please forgive me because it seems I have been a bit aggressive . That's not my intention , be assured that I am not angry with you and I certainly do not hate you ! Not for one second ! I think that we are perhaps talking at crossed purposes . I don't disagree with you when you say that God is able to communicate with any of us in any way that He chooses , however I am convinced that the Bible is God's primary way of communicating with us and His By Spirit , the Spirit of Truth , guides our understanding . In these last days , the Bible is so important as it will strengthen our understanding of and faith in , Ourselves Heavenly Father . We are going to need faith as we see the Kingdom approaching . I trust the Bible implicitly , if a human told me that the Holy Spirit had told them something in direct opposition to what the Bible says , I would stick with the Bible . That's just how I feel . It's my touchstone , it's my comfort , it's my strength . It's the Word of God , I trust the Word of God . Please don't think that I have any bad feelings toward you , I promise you that I don't :) .

Daruled. Part 2.

And a warning which all of us have to take seriously.

The belief that many christians have that it is only them who were revealed the truth by God among many other millions of christians woldwide and through all centuaries since Christ is very dangerous. It is not only us that God loves and we are not only us who love God so much and seek for the Truth passionately and sincerely. One who walks such a path will loose his mind and soul at the end. We all have to listen to others and learn from them comparing what they say to the Bible. Sometimes it takes time to accept a different opinion or to understand something but if we are true seekers we will be eventually led to the truth by God. Our brothers and sisters today but also since the ancient times have a lot to teach us, things that were revealed to them centuaries before we were born.

GBU

Hello Daruled .Partt 1

If I may intervene in your discussion with Jema.

In a sense you are both right.

You are right that the Bible is not God. It is a written book about God. The only true book that talks about God.

Jema is right that we need the Bible that reveals us what God wants us to know about Him. Is the Bible necessary to us? Definitely yes. Think about Paul and Timothy. In 2 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul asks Timothy, "1Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."

The teachings about Christ and salvation were at that time progressing from mouth to mouth. But eventually they were written down in what we call The New Testament. Nowadays we don't have Paul (neither the other wittnesses and apostles) with us to teach us what Christ said to people or what Christ revealed specifically to them BUT we have what the wisdom of God has preserved for us to know (gospels and epistles) which are adequate for our salvation. We don't know everything, but neither Paul did. That is why he said that we know in part, the perfect and complete knowledge about God will be aquired by us when we go to Heaven and speak to God face to face. But what we have now is adequate.

In what you are right is that we need the Spirit of God to give us a deeper knowledge and revelations about the written word of God. But again God will never reveal to somebody something which is in contrast with His written Word. If that may be the case one has to reject such revelations, they are not from God, God doesn't contradict/cancel Himself. A deeper knowledge can be also aquired when we live the Word of God. Example, one may know that God baptizes believers in His Spirit, but the real sense and knowledge about what just a baptizm is, will only be felt by one when they are going through such a baptizm. I hope you get what I want to say.

Growing up in a Christian family where the word of God held the pride of place, my love for the word was very natural. At the age of four I had an idea what God was like and my explanation amazed my Sunday school teacher to recount it to my father some forty years later. Seventy years of living with books of all shades and topics what remained with me constant was the Bible. After writing some two dozens of books I turned my back on secular literature in 2014. In the late eighties I wanted to run a tabloid Herald of Peace in order to showcase the Bible stories including the Book of Revelation in graphic novel format, which I stopped since my marriage was floundering and I was not in control of situation at home. As a Christian I must live honorable life before God and man, which was not possible. So I had to move on. And God preserved as he did with Jacob,- from the house of Laban it was to rely solely on God who uprooted from one continent to another and set me up at my present place. I began a Bible blog and embarked on compiling Bible dictionary in three volumes, and in five months it was done because the Holy Spirit had taken over my life and looking back I see that my life was shaped even before I am born. So eighty years do not tell anything. Am I touting my book seriously? Not really. I present what I have received and may God open the hearts from vain things as he did with my life. Like five loaves in the hands of my Savior it shall feed many in his time. He taught me patience even while so much was going for me as an artist, hymn writer and one by one he shut me from them. Near blind He has opened wondrous things before me so I do not complain. He taught me contentment while I practised as an architect for twenty-five years and after closing my private practice I devote time for writing. Traditional publishers may not want to review the dictionary but I have written for His glory and I rest on his promises, Amen

Jema,

Thank you. I'm sorry that you feel that I berate. I get why you might think that I berate, but Truly it's done in LOVE. What I'm Professing is The Truth, you see, everyone is missing The Message! I'm NOT speaking against the holy bible, I'm rebuking Any declarations that a book is God! God is SO MUCH MORE! A book doesn't "bring" anyone closer to God, and you wonder HOW God reveals Himself to people, Romans 2:13-16. And here is The Prophecy from which it came Jeremiah 31:31-34. You think I call the holy bible frivolous? I call the holy bible holy, just, and good. But, I will never call the holy bible God. Everyone is so incensed that their anger is causing them to sin.

Jema, you ask for a Revelation to "prove" that God has sent me with His Message. Well, Christ was asked the same, Luke 11:29-30; so, what is The Sign of Jonah? Jonah hated the Ninevites, so the Ninevites had No reason to listen to Jonah because Jonah made his distaste obvious. The sign of Jonah is God sending a man who is disliked and even hated to people, who dislike and hate him, to declare their destruction. Why? For if the people "Listen" to their hatred then they will not hear God in the message, but if the people "put away" their hatred they may avoid Destruction.

Jema, you ask me to imagine how quarrelsome we would be without the Bible, very quarrelsome indeed; but, I ask you to imagine how MUCH Faith we would have as a consequence. You see, if everyone yells for you to go left, but God's Holy Spirit directs you right, And you obey God, my God, The Wonders we would witness!

Jema, you ask why the people killed Christ. I tell you, it wasn't because they didn't know He was the Messiah! John 3:1-3 the Pharisees killed Christ because He came to take away their power as priests of God; they were necessary to the people because if a person wanted to seek God, they had to go to them. God "did away with this by making All people a holy nation and priests! Put away anger and Listen!

Heavenly Father, in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, we claim healing for Joleen's mother. No more pinched nerve no more back pain. I pray that Bella realize that she needs You and that by reading the Bible You will talk to her. Father God bless Joleen in her walk with You. In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Mode-3

Mode of Signs up/down or mid-air (2of 2)

Judgment on Babylon (Is.13:1-3,12) present God shaking a hand, " Shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles (Is.13:2)".

An abstract idea of anger of the Lord God is translated into a physical act. So raising a banner is synonymous with the battle cry. It is always done before the opposing army so the standard of the army is to be seen by all; especially for the cohorts for whom colours are invested with a feeling, consequently a morale booster.

Up, down or mid-air

The Spirit has arranged the narrative on the basis to glorify the Son. This is what St Paul speaks of his fullness: "For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.(Col.1:16-17; John 1:3

So the body that God has prepared before the worlds began (He.10:5) naturally creates a frame of reference wherever such diverse things for example, rock, water bread are mentioned.

As mediator he is positioned in mid-air in death ('And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself- John 12:32-NIV). From the narrative of the Father the Spirit sets down the pole with brazen serpent to counterbalance so the cross serves as symbol for his intercessory role upholding both heaven and the earth. (See under A- Ark of Noah)

Jesus died and preached the gospel to the captives. "What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?(Ep.4:8-10-NIV)"

His appearance second time shall be in mid-air.

Mode-3

Mode of Signs or gestures. (1 of 2)

Power principle of God is complemented by Wisdom principle, which can be explained in the Father Son relationship in many ways. In terms of the Word and expression, its glory in expression gives a sign language, which is expressed by the Spirit as a narrative mode. For example God gives charge to young Jeremiah which is a token, "Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, 'I have put my words in your mouth' "(Je.1:9). Similarly He gives Ezekiel a roll that empowers him for the purpose. "And he said to me, "Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.(Ez.3:1)" Jeremiah was young but it was His Power and His wisdom doing the tasks, "Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them".(Je.1:17)

When Jesus would cure the deaf and mute he looks up thereby fixing his faith which came from his Father, "And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened..(Mark.7:34)

Gestures like looking up or breathing on the disciples present ( John 20:22) for the above reason are not mere gestures but the Son expressing appropriate emotional significance as True and Faithful witness. He witnessed Truth before men and angels.

Spirit of humility marked his gestures. Apart from heaven being above he lifted his eyes up acknowledging by such a single gesture his lowliness. Blessings come from the greater on the lesser applied equally to him. When people would want to make him their king he slipped away from their hold.

He conducted himself as a witness before the Word though was the Word become flesh. In all these neither his gesture nor conduct would lift him in a spirit of pride. He could boldly say, the prince of this world comes and he has no hold over me. ( John 14:30)

Hello, I am asking for prayer for my friend Kim. Her husband passed away on Friday from a long battle with cancer. She is also disabled, having had a severe stroke 25 years ago. She has been active for many years, but now, due to pain all over, she is pretty much in bed most of the time. Her husband was in the hospital since last fall, so they have not been together because she could not travel the hour and a half to the hospital. They have two adult children who have helped out, but now these kiddos will need to help her out even more, perhaps moving back home with her. They have lost their dad. So there is much going on in this family.

Kim says that it is hard to have faith and believe that God loves her when her life has been so difficult all of these years. Her husband had not come to the Lord despite her testimony over the years. She doesn't understand why God did not bring him to salvation. She has been depressed for a long time and has been a home body since Covid, thus isolating herself from being around friends and other believers. She stays up all night and sleeps all day, so it is hard to communicate with her person to person.

Please remember her and her kids in prayer during this difficult time of loss and hardship.