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I understand your zeal which is good and not so popular in this wannabe culture. I pray God that God opens your study to understand His will concerning you. Only then you shall understand the wonderful treasure which we have in the Bible. The more you dip into the more it has to give you. I did not find any discrepancy in the passages written by so many hands in so many varying circumstance but the same Holy Ghost the third office in Trinity. He will not speak of himself but he gives glory to God.
Study these verses prayerfully. It is God's promise to you. "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you." Treat is as God requiring you to attend so you may be an effective witness for you.
In Jesus' precious name,
Thank you for your reply
For the third time I am trying to deliver to you a Genealogical chronology from Shem to Terah, father of Abram, as follow, I hope it's right this time:
Regarding the doubts exposed in your and Momsage's posts, what I concluded from the Word of GOD, in my particular study, about the 2nd biblical period-> II period - From the Flood to Abraham
In response to you request, my Bible is written in Portuguese, translated by Joo Ferreira de Almeida, printed by Imprensa Bblica Brasileira, created in 1940, adding a system of biblical references, and a concise or compact biblical dictionary translated from English by Dr. S.L. Watson and wife, Mrs Ana, former missionaries in Brazil.
I'm from Brazil, I live in the south of Brazil, close to Argentina, now it's 1.05 AM here.
As for the Jewish calendar, I agree with you, saying, "Being a Jew does not make his calendar correct", and That's exactly what I tried to demonstrate in my post yesterday, asking the following question: How to explain the difference of exactly 240 years in the Jewish calendar? In my understanding, I find this difference in the calendar of a genuinely biblical people created and developed by GOD very strange.
So I suggested three specifics events at facts that are a stain on the nation's history of Israel , actually shameful events in the history of Israel as probable causes of the difference between the Jewish calendar and the Biblical Chronology. The three events are:
1-The Jewish Calendar begins in Seth, not in Adam, so we have less 130 years here;
2-Jews do not consider their 40 years of wandering in the desert, from Egypt to the promised land;
3-They do not consider also their shameful 70 years of captivity in Babylon.
What other explanation could there be that would justify this difference of exactly 240 years?
NOTE:Not only their calendar is a nonsense,biblicaly uncorrect,as we all can see,but also a devilish colection of fictitious GOD's NAMES that they added in the Jewish Bible by their esoteric, and kabbalistic and spiritist spirit, even calling GOD's name through four capital letters YHWH or YHVH among other nine pseudo names,which are not named by the Holy Spirit,but by the spirit of the Evil,the Wicked- John 8:44.The true and only NAME of GOD is revealed, for example, in Acts 4:11-13 and Hebrews 1:8.
GOD bless
St Mark cites Jesus referring the quote from the Psalm (118:22-23) which is identical in the gospel of St Matthew. The parable of rock is with direct reference to the judgment which we have it executed by an angel from above causing the fall of Babylon.(Re.18:21) Israel's failure is symptomatic of the wicked nations that have no interest in giving glory to the sovereign Lord of heaven and the earth. So they shall be judged with all other nations for their failure to produce fruits thereof. When they least expect God shall take the vineyard from the miserable husbandmen and give to others, Thus the parable centers about the Son who also is the Rock of Ages. In his rejection Israel committed a fatal error and it is to which the above mentioned quote from the Psalm alludes.
"Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?/Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." (Matt.21:42-43)
Mark gives us the answer of Jesus, "What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others"(v.9). St Matthew sets him as a symbol, as the rock of offense and as the stone of stumbling. "And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." (21:44)
"And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way." (v.12) The chief priests scribes and the Pharisees would try to destroy Jesus somehow.
Regarding the doubts exposed in your and Momsage's posts, only for information what I concluded from the Word of GOD, in my particular study, about the 2nd biblical period -> II period - From the Flood to Abraham
"Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine." Genesis 20:7 KJV
(even in the midst of Abraham's deceit God intervened and protected both him and his wife Sarah)
"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." Isaiah 54:17 KJV
(my learning from this is to trust God, as in the scriptures:)
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5 KJV
"Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah." Psalms 62:8 KJV
"He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." Proverbs 28:26 KJV
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9 KJV
to hear His audible voice
for God, to answer a question I asked Him about yesterday night
to walk with God ever moment of my life, talk to Him all the time, for Him to fill me up that i overflow
For Him to use me with anything He wants
for Him to provide( financially, in class to give me knowledge, wisdom, and understanding)
Having set forth a few warnings on how NOT to read scripture I will continue with some further analysis but thought I would begin discussion on how we should read it.
1. First and foremost; we need to be DEAD serious as to the eternal ramifications of our spiritual condition which is a result of our sinful inheritance through Adam as well as the acting out of our sins through commission of acts or omission of things the Lord has made clear result in judgment. One can quibble as to details of the description of hell; but it's reality and eternal finality are not options to disregard. To put it in simple terms those that believe in the Biblical heaven never seem to debate as to whether it lasts forever; and rarely that it is a literal place. Given the same descriptions of the finality of hell we have no reason from the text alone to debate the fact that there is a place of eternal torment for the wicked. The only caveat is that the current "holding cell" status of hell ends at the Great White Throne judgment; where all wicked are cast into their eternal existance in the lake of fire to continue their suffering in an eternal physical body that cannot be extinguished. There is hardly anything we can read or ponder on that has anything remotely resembling the urgency of the Bible. Our temporal earthly existence and our faith or lack thereof determines our eternal destiny; as well as degrees of reward or punishment based on actions on earth. Our life therefore is either in ourselves on the throne or God. Either Satan or God is our master and as the usurper of all earthly riches it is no wonder that the Babylon the Great economic system makes the love of money the root of all evil. ( 1 Tim. 6:10). What we see with human eyes at best is a dim reflection in Creation of God's glory. What is unseen is what we must believe; as every knee shall bow before Him someday ( John 20:29; Phillipians 2:10-11; Isaiah 45:23).
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.
In previous postings I have discussed many different applications to the scripture. In reality an atheist can gain much from an academic exercise in a literary study as anyone else to deduce historical narratives that correspond with archaeology or an English professor can find beauty in the acrostic patterns of poetry in the Psalms and other hidden places in scripture.
Luke 12:48-50 indicates that more is required to those given much (my paraphrasing). If we are searching for truth it is one thing; but if we claim we are Christians and want to play games cherry picking to avoid tough verses related to our conduct; or just seeking "pleasant" scripture snippets then we are doing what one well known media advertises (I'll leave that to the audience to figure that out). I am convinced one of the most dangerous trends are those who are knowingly living in rebellion and yet claiming "authority" to "name and claim; blab and grab; etc". Promises in scripture are conditional; and even those that are UNCONDITIONAL related to promises in the New Covenant are based on HIS accepting us in the beloved ( Ephesians 1:6). However you slice it on terminology related to Predestination or "free will" it is clear that God chooses to reveal His Son to the elect ( Matthew 11:27). Just WHO the elect is; and whether God determines that ahead of time to those who will respond is beyond the scope of this study. The same idea is related to the PLAN of salvation; all those saved come to Christ the same way whether we consider the plan in general or the individual conforming to it. In short we only come to Christ one way through the Son; and as Romans 10:9 states that involves a verbal affirmation and a heart change which truly loves and embraces the Lord. Godly sorrow is associated with repentance; worldly sorrow leads to death ( 2 Cor. 7:10).
I do not take you as being contrary and please forgive me, I am not the best at explaining some things, Scripture is the word of God given to us through the Holy Spirit by the prophets but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son and there are no contradictions, he that doubteth is damned. Man is who makes the contradictions. God called out Abraham when he was 75 years old, Genesis 12:4 and Genesis 12:1 this is after Terah died and Genesis 11:32 says he was 205 years old when he died. Acts 7:4 also says when his father was dead God removed Abraham into this land.
We make the contradiction when we take Genesis 11:27 as saying Terah was 70 years old when Abraham was born. But it says Terah was 70 years old when he begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran, This is saying all three sons were born when Terah was 70 years old and we know that is impossible. Scripture is clear Haran was older because Lot was his son, Nahor married one of Haran's daughters and Haran died before his father Terah.
We have two verses in Scripture that say God called out Abraham after Terah died Genesis 12:1 and Acts 7:4 and Genesis 11:32 says Terah was 205 years old when he died and Genesis 12:4 Abraham was 75 years old, this tells us Terah was 130 years old when Abraham was born, 205 minus 75 = 130 no contradiction.
Studying the timelines is interesting, as knowing how many years from Adam to Abraham to Moses and on. But if we try to use these timelines for any purpose other than our enjoyment, we must know there are different texts and they all do not agree. We can only reach approximately the years from then and now. None of these charts will predict the second coming of Jesus.
Hope this helps if not let me know.
God bless,
RLW
The Bible as a whole; as is no surprise to anyone who examines it even briefly goes from earthly bliss to the rapid fall and judgment of the "Antidiluvian" age; to a few chosen individuals whose descendants are given covenant promises and eventually through hundreds of years are freed from bondage and enter into the Promised Land. After a short lived dominance in the world Israel spent long intervals of time in exile due to God's often direct judgments upon their sins; in particular of idolatry and specifically related to direct disobedience intermarrying and subsequently adopting people of pagan cultures and religions.
After Malachi was penned as the last Old Testament book several hundred years passed; without any prophets in the land then suddenly as that book stated Messiah appeared. Jesus came; ministered and was largely rejected by His own people; crucified; buried and risen from the grave; went back to heaven and after the "church age" will return to rule and reign for 1000 years until heaven comes down on earth and the final judgment occurs. At that time eternity comes for the wicked and righeous; forever sealed with the fate of their state; so to speak.
There are those who are staunch evolutionists who often don't consider that for any mahem in the animal kingdom there is nothing CLOSE to the killings of the fellow "species" like man does. Those who consider man basically good clearly have deliberately blinded themselves to the countless wars where HUNDREDS of millions have died and all the other wickedness on earth. The only logical explanation is Jeremiah 17:9 on the wickedness of the human heart; and the fact that Satan himself is the god of this world shouldn't be all too surprising as to who inspires and drives men to think they are going to find themselves following the lusts in their heart that never brings satisfaction. I will discuss next how NOT to read the Bible.
Jesus was Prophet; Priest and King. He fulfilled roles which no other individual was allowed to do in scripture. David acted as Priest when needed when he was a king; but only due to his own sin. Solomon had to complete building the Temple because David was disallowed according to scripture because of certain acts of violence (I am guessing partly due to having Uriah killed off to get Bathsheeba). Even though Solomon commissioned men to do the work on the Temple we see no direct priestly action by him; only a dedication of the nation of Israel and prayers lifted up and the beginning of the operations there. Generally kings were not allowed to offer sacrifices; a Levite was needed first off. This disqualified Saul's attempt when he presumptuously went ahead with it rather than waiting for the right person to do the job and that resulted in being dethroned and his life started to fall apart. Prophets also kept away from sacrifices; but in the case of Christ He fulfilled the prophecies Himself by BEING our sacrifice and hence exalted by the Father to rule and reign as King on the earth in the Millennium.
The Bible describes many kings along with exhaustive lists of their actions which sadly were predominantly evil. The length of their reign as well as the fate of the nation at large was tied into blessings and cursings. Transgressions would cause a downfall; and in the case of the few righteous kings it exalted the nation ( Proverbs 14:34). After Solomon compromised he forfeited his own length of life as well as the nation being able to rule permanently without being under the thumb of other nations. In Ecclesiastes his conclusion after discussing all his own vanity and of life in general was to "fear God and keep his commandments" at the end of chapter 12. Through Christ alone can we fulfill the law because we are grafted in to the true vine inheriting His righeousness because of His victory.
As mentioned in my earlier post from Wednesday, there is prophecy in most books starting with the one related to the serpent and his fate along with God's provision to send His Son ultimately to take care of the sin problem that our ancestor Adam infamously started that contaminated the entire human race. As Jesus stated He is the "Alpha and Omega" (Rev.1:8) and scriptures were about Him in many prophecies foretelling the Messiah. HUNDREDS of prophecies from Psalms and Isaiah in particular but others scattered throughout the Old Testament described His birthplace (Micah); His ministry on earth ( Isaiah 53); His method of death ( Psalm 22); and His return to earth in the consummation of the ages (Daniel; Zechariah). We see intersecting along with divergent paths in particular "dispensations" or as some would care to say in the Old vs. New Covenant eras. Covenants and promises were made to Abraham in particular that eventually would involve NATIONAL Israel; and later on promises were made to the church in the New Covenant. In the future Millennial reign of Christ there are unique events that occur; primarily necessary from my viewpoint because when Christ actually physically rules and reigns on earth then less latitude is given for sin; judgment for rebellion is clear; and swiftly executed as no one will have an excuse that they didn't know better.
We also have some personal prophectic implications most noticeably seen with Isaiah and his family; Hosea and His unfaithful wife and finally King David. All three of these examples either have double fulfillment (near and far related to the individual and to the coming Messiah). This is also true of Christ who clearly divided Isaiah 61 between the first and second verses signifying His first and second arrival on earth even though no one at the time fully understood. We do well to learn from all examples jn scripture of progressive revelation.
Before we go into the parables Jesus employed them in order to illustrate realities of heaven from that of the earth. In Matt21:.45-46 we read that "And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them./But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet". It was not for want of intelligence that they rejected Jesus but out of envy. The multitude took Jesus as a prophet so when he spoke truth it resonated within and accepted as truth. Besides God had given such power for the Son of man healed the sick and cast out the demons from among them. Faith is the only that can reconcile both the worlds.
12:1 " A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country." God is who planted the vineyard, the world. He made man his steward. By far country the heaven is implied. The world is hedged about refers the blessings God had promised in the everlasting covenant. The tower and the wine fat signifies the spirit of God and soul of man of which he has to give account. "The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me," (Le.25:23)explains the significance of letting out to husbandmen.
v.2 "And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant," In next three verses we are considering Moses and the Law which as Israel set to work became for breaking the tradition of their fathers. The stoning of Stephen (Ac.7:59-60)
vv6-8 Jesus foretells of what the Jews intended to do. "And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard."
in v.9 "What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do?" The Gentile nations come in. The chief priests and Pharisees understood but without faith it was lost on them.
There are discussions or debates on the chronology of the age of Terah when Abraham was born. In Genesis 11:26 Terah was 70 years old and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran, in Genesis 11:32 Terah lived to be 205 years old. In Genesis 12:1-4 it looks like God did not call Abraham out until after Terah died, and in verse 4 it says Abraham was at that time 75 years old. If Terah lived to 205 years old and Abraham was 75 when God called him out after Terah died that would make Terah 130 years old when Abraham was born.
The other verse used is in Acts when Stephen was giving his defense, basically a step-by-step of Israel's troubles from Abraham to then. Speaking of Abraham in Acts 7:4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
If Terah was 205 when he died, and God did not call out Abraham until then and Abraham was 75 years old that would make Terah 130 years old when Abraham was born. If that is so it looks like a contradiction but if we look at Genesis 11:27-32 it is clear Haran was the oldest son of Terah and Lot, the son of Heran was a man of some age maybe not much younger than Abraham when God called out Abraham.
If Terah was 70 when he began to have sons, all three were not born at the same time so Terah could very well have been 130 when Abraham was born. So, should it be 70 or 130? It does not change anything meaningful but discussions over chronological charts about 60 years.
I hope this makes some kind of sense.
God bless,
RLW
You mentioned Bible Dictionary. Can you give more details as to the publisher and whether from any specific denomination or sects? Your Jewish calendar, and I quote "Through Jewish calendar the Jewish people use it for counting time and commemorating birthdays, festivities, weddings, deaths, religious celebrations and other solemnities. According to the Hebrews, the years are counted from what they believe to be the creation of Adam" is not how the Spirit uses the genealogies in OT and Nt. " Jesus said "Before Abraham was, I am". St Paul inspired by the same Holy Spirit gives Jesus Christ as the benchmark. By him all things consist and it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell. (Col1:15-19). Being a Jew does not make his calendar correct.
Matthew also gives us this colloquy where he dilates upon their controversy with parables. At the end he says,"And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them./But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.(Matt.21:28-46). There was the fear of men that governed the chief priests and Pharisees while Jesus as the Word become flesh would only serve what he represented in his humanity. "Thy word is truth." Unless he had let the word sanctify him how could he sanctify any man?"For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one. "I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee," was a Messianic prophecy which fulfilled in him.(Ps.22:22)
On the other hand the chief priests scribes and Pharisees made doctrine of God to none effect. "Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye."(7:13) .
St Paul explains it thus, "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." Jesus came from God while his detractors angled for the praise of men.
Mark gives us several instances of the word of God being fulfilled in Jesus so it was not past or future of now that weighed uppermost but the eternal word. In cursing the fig tree he did not have to prove his claim that he was the rightful heir but his faith established the truth. Both power and glory operating in heaven and earth is encapsulated in faith.(vv.23-24). "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and castitinto the sea"(Re.18:21) is a fulfillment of the word: of the rock cut out without hands"(Dan.2:34-35)
"And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots." Jesus explained simply, "Have faith in God."