Bible Questions & Discussion PAGE 276

Good morning John ray

First of all, you have not applied the four 'W'. Go back to the beginning of the chapter and do it. Please let me say, 'we cannot save anyone'. We plant the seeds and God does the saving. We cannot make a seed grow! Only God can make it grow.

This chapter is written to us how we should 'decern' not judge others live'. It is written to us about how we know and treat the scribes and hypocrites, the scripter lawyers and etc: One verse, verse six I love so much what it says, is 'neither cast ye your pearls before swine.' Why? Because all they will do is tromp them in the mud!

Thank you for responding all I have left is the Lord Jesus Christ just before the pandemic happen I knew a lot of people but just before it started now there is nobody all I got is Jesus Christ it's a roller coaster though being a Christian was Jesus Christ being so powerful and I know as Christians we have a free will I'm just trying to find out why things so bad when we have a powerful God he brings amazing people in my life from time to time so I tried to figure out why I've run into so many different kinds of Christians not judging it just gets overwhelming sometimes everybody has their own way of living for Christ so Jesus Christ has bought a lot of people in my life I know to help me I'm just not smart kind of slow forgive me for all the text thank you for responding

S Spencer Gbu for posting these scriptures they are so timely and precious ....But lemme give ya my thoughts on this 2 nd Samuel 7:12....That a special child wd come out of Davids loins....Its prophetic that a special child wd come out of Christ Loins....Rev.12:10 fulfils this Promise, the manchild that is gonna rule all nations is the result of the seed of Christ...His words etc...The bible just uses David as symbolic of Christ as Peter says in Acts 2 :34....Its not David that is gonna be caught up to God and to his throne but Christ...That special Child that is gonna rule and reign for ever is the H.G. the Child of Promise...that comes out of Christ loins ( his breathe was his words (his loins)...Jesus was propagating very God the H.G. When he breathe on them...She brought forth a manchild that is gonna rule all nations and her Child was caught up to God and to his throne....This scripture Rev.12 :10 fulfills Nathans prophecy to David that a special child was gonna come out of his loins that was gonna rule and reign for ever..ty Jesus..But it was just prophetic that special Child is gonna come out of Christ LOINS...His living words are his loins which are spirit and life...Thats y he is saying whosoever receiveth one such child in my name receiveth me....That Child is the H.G. the Child of Promise...Thats y the sower wants to sow his precious seed in our hearts...That it might result in a birth of Christ in us....The H.G. the Promise Child....Thats y God wanted a new COVENANT...One that cd address and arrest mans adamic nature making it impossible to sin...The manchild which is the H.G.is born of God in us via the seed of Jesus and cannot sin thus the law is fulfilled...cus he cannot sin...Thats what sin is the transgression of the law....But if we cannot sin then the law is fulfilled in a perfect sense..Outta of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou has perfected Praise...Thus the Child of Promise..Remember the great Promise i will multiply thy seed as th stars.

Hi John. This whole section (from Matthew chapter 5 to chapter 7) were instructional words spoken by Jesus to his disciples (not just those 12 closest to Him, but to all those who were following Him at that time).

The passage you're enquiring, begins & includes Matthew 7:15-20. When you read it as a specific section, you will see who Jesus was referring to. It was to the false prophets. He said that you will easily recognize them by their fruits (the words they spoke & the lives they lived, all the while looking like docile humble sheep). Then Jesus explains this further by considering the fruit-producing tree. The tree that is corrupt (whether it has some disease in it, or malnourished) is bound to produce ugly unhealthy fruit, if at all. But the tree that is well-formed, well-fertilized, & well-cared for, can only produce good fruit. Likewise, these false prophets/teachers were corrupt trees producing inedible disgusting fruit, ready only for burning. So, the disciples were warned to carefully observe such men who come proclaiming God's Word - their words & life will reveal that they were imposters & to be shunned.

And the same could be said about people who claim to belong to Christ (Christians) but produce bad fruit in their lives. The Lord knows who belong to Him, but we need to also be wise to discern (from understanding God's Word), who are false prophets/teachers. All such the Lord has no knowledge of - they will suffer just as those who reject God's Love in Christ His Son. But John, I know from what you write, that you really love the Lord & trusting Him each day for your needs. So from your life, however difficult it may be, you will produce fruit & I'm sure it would be the 'good fruit' - fruit that expresses real love & faith, care & concern for someone else in difficulties, even getting beside another lonely person & sharing something of God's concern & love for them. These are all good fruit, which a corrupt tree cannot produce. Blessings.

EXAMINING THE COVENANTS.

Part 2.

Obviously the "EVERLASTING" conditons described in scripture concerning the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants.

Scriptures such as Isaiah 51:11 and many others don't exist of yet.

They are certainly back in the land but the wailing wall in Jerusalem reminds me of Matthew 27:25.

Also Matthew 23:38-39 seems to parallel with Hosea 5:15.

Does Israel disobedience void the UNCONDITIONAL COVENANT AND PROMISES?

According to Psalms 89:27-36. NO!



"My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;

If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;

Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, NOR SUFFER MY FAITHFULNESS TO FAIL.

( This is a marvelous saying! It's God's faithfulness that is on display!!)

MY COVENANT WILL I NOT BREAK, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.

His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me."

Daniel has much to say about this in Daniel 9:24

"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy."

See Examining the covenants

Part 2.

God bless.

Sounds like you are on the right track. Read John and Romans also. May God bless you and help you stay on the narrow road.

John P I mean no disrespect here but did you even read the post? Please read it John, If does speak for itself. The soul and spirit are separated according to ( Heb. 4:12) and the only time that could be possible is at the death of our bodies. Verses were provided showing the soul goes to the grave with the body, (This is how the dead in Christ who shall rise first can come forth out of the grave in ( John. 5:28-29) and in ( 1 Thess. 4:16) and the spirit goes to God who gave it. The spirit is what comes back with Christ in ( 1 Thess. 4:14) I have found over many years of study to believe what the Word of God tells me to be the truth not what a man tells me. Again I think we have both studied with the same pastor in the past, you may still be watching him even after his death. He teaches chapter by chapter, and verse by verse. He was a great teacher but he didnt get everything right. This is just one more thing that he got wrong John. We must put our trust in the Word of God being the Truth, not what we are taught by a man. Thank you for your comments. Blessings to you John.

Hiya littlechild ..Maybe...depends on what you wd like to discuss....Try me..GBU

I have a question Matthew 7:19 the fruit part is that saving souls or doing what Jesus says to me it sounds like he's saying you're going to hell so does that mean before you become a born again Christian or after you become a born again Christian don't mean to be difficult just learning thank you

While the one saved with goofy Renaissance KJV words is important, what about the multitudes of ones that listen to the koine-like common language of today better?

EXAMINING THE COVENANTS.

Part 1.

2 Samuel 7:8-10.

Today we see Israel in their land but there's no throne and there's definitely no peace.

HERE'S HOW JEREMIAH DESCRIBES THAT DAY.

Jeremiah 23:5-8.

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;

But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.

HERE'S ZECHARIAH.

Zechariah 8

Zachariah 8:8 Says "And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in "TRUTH AND IN RIGHTEOUSNESS."

That's not what they can claim today.

HERE'S ZECHARIAH.

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you. Zechariah 8:23.

In "that day" the nation of Israel will be a vine that bares fruit.

a starch contrast to Ezekiel 36:20 and where they stand today.

Today as a nation Israel currently rejects there King.

However in Genesis 49:1 Jacob bless his sons and give them a prophetic msg for the last days.

I find Genesis 49:8-12 provocative.

This seems to mirror Revelation and a far future Kingdom with Christ on the throne.

Considering the description of the Covenants this earthly Kingdom hasn't happened yet.

God bless.

...cont. Pt. 3

After some discussion and expressing that they would like to return home to Midian, Hobab decides to go with the Israelites after all. How good this is-to go with YHWH and not turn back to the old ways, the old "home", according to your own reasoning and desires. Go with God! He is the way, the truth, and the life! And Jesus has gone before us to prepare a place for us!

The last part of this chapter is the departure from Mt. Sinai after spending a year there and traveled three days. Whenever they begin to go, Moses proclaims this prayer: "Rise up, LORD; let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate they flee before thee.

And when they rested, Moses proclaimed this prayer: "Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel." Moses prayed the same pray each time they would go on and each time the came to rest.

I think it is important for us to begin and end our days with prayer to God in similar fashion as Moses did. We can have our own words to ask God to scatter enemies before us as we start the day and for God to stay with us through the night as well as the day.

After three days of travel, they came to the wilderness of Paran. I don't know how far this was, but I can't imagine that this large group could travel more than 20-30 miles in one day, needing to stop necessary things, such as meals, and sleep at night.

If anyone has info on the distance, I would appreciate that.

The Israelites were finally on the move nearer to the Promised land after spending a year at Sinai to receive and agree to the covenant YHWH set before them. They needed time to learn the Law and to adjust their life to the routine of the tabernacle services of Aaron and the priests. They needed Moses' instructions. They needed to instruct their children. This all took time and a year is hardly a long time to do all of this, it seems. But God determined it was time to move on and live the life He has set forth for them.

We, too, need to move on to maturity.

NUMBERS CHAPTER 10-PUTTING GOD FIRST AND LETTING HIM GO BEFORE US TO LEAD US

This order of procession was necessary for several million people to proceed in an orderly, safe, and most important, obedient way. No one was to run ahead or take a side route or go off exploring. But it was essential to let the LORD be the only guide, submitting to His authority and wisdom without objection, half-hearted obedience, grumbling, or doubting His will.

We, too, should be careful to submit ourselves to the lead of God in us and in the truth of His word, and in the godly counsel He send to us to give us guidance and help. Being surrendered to God whole-heartedly is tough to do, if I may be honest. But as we grow in faith and love of Him we can live surrendered to Him more and more of our time and in more and more circumstances.

Israel's safety and the successful arrival at the promised land was completely dependent on YHWH. It was wise of them to remember this.

We have a Promised Land to come to also, the New Heavenly Jerusalem that Abraham looked forward to arriving at (He. 11:13-16) This chapter in Hebrews speaks about the faith that God is desiring for us to have in Him. In this chapter we can know what type of faith we need to have to please God (vs.4-6); the type of faith that will lead us into obedience to God (vs. 7-12); this same faith that gives us the sureness of heaven as our inheritance according to God's promises (vs. 13-16); faith that causes is to believe God's promises (vs. 17-30); and tenacious faith to overcome trials, troubles, and hardships as the saints did (vs. 31-40).

Before setting out from Mt. Sinai (after camping there for a year), Moses entreats His brother -in-law, Hobab to accompany them into the promised land, saying that they will be blessed by YHWH along with the Israelites there. At first Hobab, son of Jethro, (also called, Reuel, and here called Reguel),...

At the end of this chapter, the Israelites arrived at the wilderness of Pran

NUMBERS CHAPTER 10-PUTTING GOD FIRST AND LETTING HIM GO BEFORE US TO LEAD US

This order of procession was necessary for several million people to proceed in an orderly, safe, and most important, obedient way. No one was to run ahead or take a side route or go off exploring. But it was essential to let the LORD be the only guide, submitting to His authority and wisdom without objection, half-hearted obedience, grumbling, or doubting His will.

We, too, should be careful to submit ourselves to the lead of God in us and in the truth of His word, and in the godly counsel He send to us to give us guidance and help. Being surrendered to God whole-heartedly is tough to do, if I may be honest. But as we grow in faith and love of Him we can live surrendered to Him more and more of our time and in more and more circumstances.

Israel's safety and the successful arrival at the promised land was completely dependent on YHWH. It was wise of them to remember this.

We have a Promised Land to come to also, the New Heavenly Jerusalem that Abraham looked forward to arriving at (He. 11:13-16) This chapter in Hebrews speaks about the faith that God is desiring for us to have in Him. In this chapter we can know what type of faith we need to have to please God (vs.4-6); the type of faith that will lead us into obedience to God (vs. 7-12); this same faith that gives us the sureness of heaven as our inheritance according to God's promises (vs. 13-16); faith that causes is to believe God's promises (vs. 17-30); and tenacious faith to overcome trials, troubles, and hardships as the saints did (vs. 31-40).

Before setting out from Mt. Sinai (after camping there for a year), Moses entreats His brother -in-law, Hobab to accompany them into the promised land, saying that they will be blessed by YHWH along with the Israelites there. At first Hobab, son of Jethro, (also called, Reuel, and here called Reguel),...

At the end of this chapter, the Israelites arrived at the wilderness of Pran

NUMBERS CHAPTER 10

In this chapter, YHWH gives Moses instructions for how to use the two trumpets He tells Moses to have crafted.

They are used to:

-Call the whole congregation to appear before YHWH before the tabernacle entrance

-Call the chiefs/prince of each tribe to meet with Moses before the tabernacle entrance

-Sound the alarm in times of danger or war

-Announce the morning and evening sacrifices, and other religious feasts, new moons, and rites

-Announce it is time to pack up and move with YHWH in the cloud/pillar going before them

-Announce when it is time to stop and make camp and rest

The priests are to be the ones to blow the trumpets. It is their duty alone. The blowing of the trumpets was to be an important aspect of their religious life as well as corporate life as a nation.

I love how Matthew Henry relates the blowing of the trumpets with the speaking forth of the Gospel, that people may hear and believe; that believers will be gathered together by the Gospel to worship and fellowship.

The Chapter then speaks about how the camp is to break up and follow YHWH in the pillar/cloud. There is a specified order for the tribes to align behind the presence of God to set out towards the promised land. The ark of the covenant goes first carried by the designated Levites for that task. Then, four tribes, with Judah heading up the ranks. Following these comes the group of Levites assigned to carrying all the curtains and boards, and such for the tabernacle. Next, four more tribes come behind the tabernacle. Then comes the Holy of Holies and all of its furnishings carried by the High Priest and designated Levites. Then the rear is taken up by four more tribes. This order was to used every time they broke camp and began to go forward at the command of Moses.

Moses knew that it was time to move one because the glory of the Lord would rise up above from the tent of meeting and then take the first place in the procession in the pillar of fire and cloud.

Mark of Cain vs Mark of the Beast

According to Genesis 4:15; a mark set upon Cain was to cause vengeance to anyone who would attempt to take his life. Compare this to the Mark of the Beast in Revelation 13 and we find some interesting parallels.

First; Satan was a "murderer from the beginning." ( John 8:44). It is no surprise that the first child of Adam was to be attacked after Adam and Eve fell. Having failed the test of God he let temptation rule over him and slayed Abel his brother. Satan is also said to steal and destroy ( John 10:10) along with his lying. We see the progeny of Adam and Eve being destroyed; along with stealing from the parents being able to give an inheritance and Abel receiving it.

Later on in Genesis 4:24 Lamech tries to gain vengeance by his declaration of seventy times seventy for himself for his own violent actions. Kind of like the opposite of forgiveness for the same in Matthew 18:21-22.

The apparent resurrection of Antichrist from a deadly wound as well as being able to kill the two prophets that tormented men will inspire him to declare indestructibility as well as being able to effectively fight against God. He will likely convince men that he can live forever by merging with AI; and likely the DNA of the Nephilim or something to that affect will be part of that plan; as it was in Genesis 6 when all the descendants of men were destroyed for that reason (see Genesis 6:8-9 on Noah being perfect in his generations). Hence at that time we saw no repentance except for Noah; his wife; his 3 sons and their wives.

Whatever the case men will be unredeemable once they take the mark ( Revelation 14:9 and other passages). That will be the fulfillment of 2 Thessalonians 2:11 where people willingly reject the truth and believe The Lie.

The verse on those who dwell on the earth ( Revelation 11:10; also see Revelation 6:10 and other passages) indicates the sea of lost humanity. Revelation 13:8 concludes this for all unsaved.

Jim,

The 'soul' is yourself. the 'spirit' is the Intelect of your soul. You cannot separate the soul from the spirit. Yourself is not out there somewhere in a hole in the ground. Ecclesiastes chapter 12.

Hi Jimbob,

The dead in Christ are God's children. Those that have died here and here on earth and gone back to be with God in paradise.

Those that will take part in the first resurrection. Those that we cannot 'prevent' because they are already in heaven. {paradise}.

Hiya.... S.Spencer....But i disagree that these Promises are literal.... Gen. 15:1...When God told Abraham i am thy great and exceeding reward that puts in the spiritual realm as God is Spirit...And my words are spirit and life Jesus said.....As Jesus said abide in me and i in you...Its not about a literal land...As Jesus said you must be bornagain of an incorruptible seed....And its not about a literal David....As David was a corruptible being....Thats y Peter is saying in Acts 2:27 Davids tomb is with us to this day...The bible just uses King David as a prophetic of King Christ Jesus...We do not wanna be bornagain by the seed of David...But by the seed of Christ Jesus....And there is no more Jew or Gentile in Christ Jesus....God so loved the world....that he gave his only begotten son...We are looking at a heavenly Jerusalem NOW not the old Jerusalem...As Paul said you are come unto mt Zion the city of the living God...That Heavenly Jerusalem... Hebrews 12 :22...But its located with in us....In our hearts and minds are beautiful for situation the joy of the whole world... Rev. 11:15...And i heard a mighty angel saying the KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD HAVE BECOME THE KINGDOMS OF OUR LORD AND HIS CHRIST...When David said thou will not leave my soul in hell nor suffer thy holy one to see corruption, It was just prophetic that Christ was not left in hell nor wd God suffer his Holy One to see corruption....It was not about a literal DAVID....But Christ was not left in hell nor did his soul see corruption...Had it been literal King David wd have neva died....Read Acts 2 :27...Peter explains its....But here is the real revelation of all this...Who is the Son that comes out of Christ Loins that is gonna rule and reign for ever ....Its the H.G. That Child of Promise as that which is born of the SPIRIT IS SPIRIT...The H.G.is that child that comes out of Christ loins...When he breathe on them they received the H.G....His breath was his words his seeds...She brought forth a manchild.

John ray,

I am so sorry. I was in such a hurry to try and answer your questions, that I forgot to ask you the most important question. That is--do you understand the beginning? If you do not understand the first chapter of Geneses and so forth, you cannot understand Revelations or really anything in between.

John ray it is good to have you with us in the family of God.

First, take it slow and ask few questions at a time. It is good to stay on the same subject and learn it well before moving on.

First, being 'born again' means you must be born from above through the bag of water innounce of what happened in the first heaven, earth age. Nicodemus was at odd about this, but Christ explained it in John 3:13.

Satan is the 'prince of the air not the God of the world.' Meaning God has allowed his spirit to be on earth at this time until he is kicked out heaven for a five month period. Mark 13:20 tells us that Christ shorten the days for the elect sake. Revelation chapter 9 tells us that it is five months.

Amen Gigi!

I believe you're right!

The smoking firepot and flaming torch represents Gods presence in the same way the burning bush revealed God's presence to Moses in Exodus. The pillar cloud and pillar of fire revealed God's presence to the children of Israel in the Exodus experience and in the cloud on the summit of Mt. Sinai. That was a manifestation of the Glory.

God bless.

Good Evening S. Spencer

Thanks for beginning this series. My one comment on this post is that the text in Genesis 15 says that both a smoking oven (fire pot) and a burning torch passed through the carcasses.

I think that these two things represent the Father (consuming fire) and the Son (light of the world) together making the covenant and agreeing together concerning what is promised and prophesied. In Heb. 6:13 it is said that God swore by Himself in this covenant for Abraham.

"God swore by Himself" meaning that both the Father and the Son are divine Persons who can enter such an agreement, but also the One True Godhead.

Fulfillment of Abrahamic Covenant and Davidic Covenant.

Have these Covenants been fulfilled?

Some say these were fulfilled during Jesus ministry, some say they're future.

Here's where we examine the scripture in pointing out the details described Covenants and promises.

For example, let's take one. Zechariah 8:1-23.

Fill free to examine them all and there's more.

Ask yourself have these been fulfilled, how and when?

More perhaps tomorrow.

God bless.

The Davidic Covenant.

The Davidic Covenant centers on several key promises that are made to David. First, God reaffirms the promise of the land that He made in the first two covenants with Israel (the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants). This promise is seen in 2 Samuel 7:10, "I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore." God then promises that David's son will succeed him as king of Israel and that this son (Solomon) would build the temple. This promise is seen in 2 Samuel 7:12-13, " I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name."

But then the promise continues and expands: "I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever" (verse 13), and "Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever" (verse 16). What began as a promise that David's son Solomon would be blessed and build the temple turns into something different-the promise of an everlasting kingdom. Another Son of David would rule forever and build a lasting House. This is a reference to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, called the Son of David in Matthew 21:9.

The promise that David's "house," "kingdom," and "throne" will be established forever is significant because it shows that the Messiah will come from the lineage of David and that He will establish a kingdom from which He will reign. The covenant is summarized by the words "house," promising a dynasty in the lineage of David; "kingdom," referring to a people who are governed by a king; "throne," emphasizing the authority of the king's rule; and "forever," emphasizing the eternal and unconditional nature of this promise to David and Israel.

Davidic Covenant; Jeremiah 23:5; 30:9; Isaiah 9:7; 11:1; Luke 1:32, 69; Acts 13:34; and Revelation 3:7.

Next.

See Fulfillments.

Revelation: First and second half (continued).

Assuming the church is gone; as far as the operation of the Holy Spirit as the restrainer now stands or as salt and light we see the familiar war; famine and pestilence pattern of judgments gallop forth with the seal judgments. This time of "Jacob's trouble" ( Jeremiah 30:7) also contains a promise that eventually they will be delivered out of it.

Verses on war; famine and pestilence

Jeremiah 24:10 is one of many passages in the Old Testament prophetic books warning of the sword; famine and pestilence. At least two out of 3 of these judgments are proclaimed in numerous other passages such as Lamentations 4:9; Ezekiel 5:12; and many other places in these same books. The Gospels also warn of such events in the birth pangs warnings in Matthew 24:8.

There is a basic change that I have noted between the attitude in Revelation 6 and that in Revelation 19. Men who feared God and hid from him will now openly fight against Christ; and the blasphemy of Antichrist (no doubt taking credit for killing the 2 prophets as well as ending the misery they caused and apparently having been healed from a deadly wound) will have much to do with that. The description in Zechariah 11:17 gives detail of this. (see also Psalm 2).

Judgment does two things; it brings forth fruit to maturity for those who are of God's children and hardens hearts further of the unregenerate. Psalm 40 indicates that "many will see and fear" (verse 3). I postulate that may be a hidden or veiled reference to the Rapture. But certainly those who do wake up will see the signs and wonders that the 2 prophets have and will believe.

Abrahamic Covenant.

Part 4.

The Abrahamic Covenant also included a promise of blessing and redemption ( Genesis 12:3). All the earth would be blessed through Abraham. This promise finds its fulfillment in the New Covenant ( Jeremiah 31:31-34; cf. Luke 22:20), which was ratified by Jesus Christ, the son of Abraham and Redeemer who will one day "restore everything" ( Acts 3:21).

Five times in Genesis 12, as God is giving the Abrahamic Covenant, He says, "I will." Clearly, God takes the onus of keeping the covenant upon Himself. The covenant is unconditional. One day, Israel will repent, be forgiven, and be restored to God's favor ( Zechariah 12:10-14; Romans 11:25-27). One day, the nation of Israel will possess the entire territory promised to them. One day, the Messiah will return to set up His throne, and through His righteous rule the whole world will be blessed with an abundance of peace, pleasure, and prosperity.

There will have an article highlighting the Abrahamic Covenant.

THAT BRINGS US TO THE DAVIDIC COVENANT.

The Davidic Covenant refers to God's promises to David through Nathan the prophet and is found in 2 Samuel 7 and later summarized in 1 Chronicles 17:11-14 and 2 Chronicles 6:16. This is an unconditional covenant made between God and David through which God promises David and Israel that the Messiah (Jesus Christ) would come from the lineage of David and the tribe of Judah and would establish a kingdom that would endure forever. The Davidic Covenant is unconditional because God does not place any conditions of obedience upon its fulfillment. The surety of the promises made rests solely on God's faithfulness and does not depend at all on David or Israel's obedience.

NEXT.

See the Davidic Covenant.

Basic structure of Revelation

In this and (let's be honest further sequels) I am setting forth through numerous scripture references the pattern in Revelation. In short we have the first and second halves. In my last posting; I discussed what appears to be the event after the 5th Trumpet and the five months demons torment men. That allows Apollyon to be released; and Revelation 11:14 mentiones the second woe or the sixth trumpet as occuring immediately before the events in Revelation 12 and 13.

The timing is tricky; but it is interesting to see how if we put a period of months to each series of 7 plagues we end up with 84 months which just happens to be exactly 7 years of 12 months each.

Going back to my original thought; there is a period where the 144,000 preach and there is a great harvest following them (likely about the time when the 2 witnesses are resurrected they also are raptured: see Revelation 7:9. We see parallels between the time of ministry of 3.5 years and that of Christ's ministry as well as parallels to Elijah when it didn't rain for 3 years. It appears obvious that Elijah is one of the two witnesses.

What is also interesting is at this darkest moment (at the end of Revelation 11) we see discussion of Christ starting to reign.

The focus would be on all those in heaven; or the completion of the "firstfruits" and all the saints beginning to rule and reign with Christ. After that statement we see Antichrist given his reign of 3.5 years to mock in a large part what the prophets did when on earth (see Rev. 13:13 and compare with Revelation 11:5).

Romans 11:25 makes it evident the blindness to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. That could refer to the Rapture (see Psalm 40) or as some say when the rule of the Gentiles comes to a close. In any event; many do wake up; and the third that make it going through the fire are those who of national Israel end up worshipping the true Messiah ( Zech 13:9).

Abrahamic Covenant.

Part 3.

Centuries after Abraham died, the children of Israel took possession of the land under Joshua's leadership ( Joshua 21:43). At no point in history, though, has Israel controlled all of the land God had specified. There remains, therefore, a final fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant that will see Israel occupying their God-given homeland to the fullest extent. The fulfillment will be more than a matter of geography; it will also be a time of holiness and restoration (see Ezekiel 20:40-44 and 36:1-37:28).

The Abrahamic Covenant also promised many descendants ( Genesis 12:2). God promised that the number of Abraham's children would rival that of "the dust of the earth" ( Genesis 15:16). Nations and kings would proceed from him ( Genesis 17:6). It is significant that the promise was given to an aged, childless couple. But Abraham "did not waver through unbelief" ( Romans 4:20), and his wife Sarah "considered him faithful who had made the promise" ( Hebrews 11:11). Abraham was justified by his faith ( Genesis 15:6), and he and his wife welcomed Isaac, the son of promise, into their home when they were 100 and 90 years old, respectively ( Genesis 21:5).

God reiterates the Abrahamic Covenant to Isaac and to his son Jacob, whose name God changes to Israel. The great nation is eventually established in the land where Abraham had dwelled. King David, one of Abraham's many descendants, is given the Davidic Covenant ( 2 Samuel 7:12-16), promising a "son of David" who would one day rule over the Jewish nation-and all nations-from Jerusalem. Many other Old Testament prophecies point to the blessed, future fulfillment of that promise (e.g., Isaiah 11; Micah 4; Zechariah 8).

See Part 4.

Abrahamic Covenant.

Part 2.

In Genesis 15, God alone moves between the halves of the animals. Abraham was in a deep sleep. God's solitary action indicates that the covenant is principally His promise. God binds Himself to the covenant.

Later, God gave Abraham the rite of circumcision as the specific sign of the Abrahamic Covenant ( Genesis 17:9-14). All males in Abraham's line were to be circumcised and thus carry with them a lifelong mark in their flesh that they were part of God's physical blessing in the world. Any descendant of Abraham who refused circumcision was declaring himself to be outside of God's covenant; this explains why God was angry with Moses when Moses failed to circumcise his son ( Exodus 4:24-26).

God determined to call out a special people for Himself, and through that special people He would bless the whole world. The Lord tells Abram,

"I will make you into a great nation,

and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,

and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth

will be blessed through you" ( Genesis 12:2-3).

Based on this promise, God later changed Abram's name from Abram ("high father") to Abraham ("father of a multitude") in Genesis 17:5. As we've seen, the Abrahamic Covenant is unconditional. It should also be taken literally. There is no need to spiritualize the promise to Abraham. God's promises to Abraham's descendants will be fulfilled literally.

The Abrahamic Covenant included the promise of land ( Genesis 12:1). It was a specific land, an actual property, with dimensions specified in Genesis 15:18-21. In Genesis 13:15, God gives Abraham all the land that he can see, and the gift is declared to be "forever." God was not going to renege on His promise. The territory given as part of the Abrahamic Covenant is expanded in Deuteronomy 30:1-10, often called the Palestinian Covenant.

See Part 3.