Bible Questions & Discussion PAGE 286

Jimbob,

(Part 1):

No offence taken. I can understand why you say some things don't seem to be adding up. I feel the same with some of the things you are saying so that makes perfect sense to me why you would say that. As for your first two questions, "Isn't it part of the pre-tribulation rapture belief that the Holy Spirit is taken away, removed from the earth when the church is raptured?" and "Wouldn't the Holy Spirit have to be here if people are being saved?"

As to the first question, I cannot speak for others that believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. But here is what I can speak for myself. I am assuming that these questions come from 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7. Those verses never say that the Holy Spirit has to be removed before the wicked one is revealed, so no, I cannot say that the Holy Spirit is taken away.

What that section of scripture tells me is that there is a restraining force that will continue to restrain until it's time for the antichrist to be revealed. I believe the restraining force is God's Spirit who will remove the hold, or restraining on the man of sin, and he will be revealed.

But does this mean that the Holy Spirit is gone from this earth just because the church has been removed? No, it does not. I believe that God in His fullness (Father/Son/Holy Spirit) is omnipresent. The Holy Spirit is not confined to just dwelling in the church but is also active in His ministry reaching out to those who are lost. So, with that being said, and to answer your question of "Wouldn't the Holy Spirit have to be here if people are being saved?", yes, I believe the Holy Spirit will still be functioning in His full capacity even after the church is removed. Why? Because God's Spirit is omnipresent.

Amen.! Galatians 1:1-12 also proves there is only one gospel to follow. NO other book of any form, belief or cult will do.! Pray this day finds you well & still w/Christ.! I've believed all my life yet didn't truly come to know Him till I stopped listening to others & read, studied & learned for myself in last 2-3 years.! God is so good.! Just sad I waisted over 50 yrs getting here. Yet, it's all in His perfect timing.

When you said that : ' maybe Adam is all of us ' , you gave a voice to the feeling I always get when reading about the life of Daniel . It might sound a bit silly , I have just responded without giving it deep thought , my feeling when I read the book of Daniel is that I / we / Christians are all Daniel and all the things that happened to him will at some point in our lives happen to us . Obviously I'm not talking about the prophecies at the end of the book , but the incidents in his life , the temptations he resisted etc . I probably should have given more thought to this post before I posted it :) I know what I mean but not sure I'm expressing it well . Next time you read the book of Daniel , please indulge me and put yourself or even the whole of Christianity , in his shoes . It just happens to me every time I read it .

The reason why we need to preach repentance is because some of the Christian are just church attendees while others are the Entertained Christian this are those that go to church for entertainment and the pastors are actors in on the stage. This is a catastrophe because the actors are pretending in their roles in order to get

So churches like this have little to no words of GOD being preched hence the congregation have sins which they have not repented while others have never repented.

In a platform large like this we cannot tell who is saved who God is workin on.

So we as the salt we need to teach and rebuke

While pointing people at the cross. While reminding them of any an confessed sins to turn and seek THE LIVING GOD.

1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Praise the LORD for HIS grace and mercies. GOD to shine HIS face on all who believe and trust in HIS name, and bless all on this forum. 2 Chronicles 7: 14, 15;

1 Timothy 2:1-3; 2 Peter 3:9.

April 14, 2023

Hi GiGi,

I apologise for the late response. I absolutely agree with all the comment you have made and the fact that you have pointed out that GOD Is so grateful and merciful to came down and seek man who is a rebel and love's darkness rather than lights to appoint where GOD IS STANDING next to man. The man does not see him rejects Him and send HIM to the cross to die so he can continue with his man made traditional. Referenced from Matthew the last chapters.

Amen.

GiGi Thank you I do agree with most of your response, but as far as ( Isa. 49:1-7) the (servant) spoken of here I don't think these verses are speaking of Jesus Christ. (The word (servant) is #5650; it means bondage, bondman, to work, by implying to serve till, enslave. ( Isa. 42:1) Tells us "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. (I see this as being prophecy for the Lastdays) This verse also calls God's elect His servant and says he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. In ( Acts. 13:46-47) Paul and Barnabas are commanded by the Lord in verse 47 "I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that ((thou shouldest be for salvation)) unto the ends of the earth". Paul and Barnabas are set to be a light of the Gentiles and shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth in this verse. This verse also has almost the exact wording as ( Isa. 49:6) Then if we look at ( Rev. 7:3-8) The servants of God are sealed in their foreheads, and these servants are "all the tribes of the children of Israel". It seems to me the servant spoken of in ( Isa. 49:1-7) is Israel, the elect of God. ( Isa. 49:3) I may have misunderstood your comment GiGi If I did, please forgive me. We are in agreement on many things. God Bless you GiGi.

Thanks brother Jesse. After reading your comment, 1 John 2:18,19 came to mind. In these verses is an apt account of what you've shared: there were those who fellowshipped with others in the assembly, who participated in all the works of the Church, even using the right words or even sharing from the Word, but it was when the moment of Truth emerged that showed where their real faith & love lay.

John calls them 'anti-Christs', not only because they "went out" from their midst, but the core anti-Christ belief emerged from them, that Jesus wasn't the Christ, that the relationship of Father & Son was false (vv22,23). How could they have continued in the Church for so long & not be detected as false brethren? How could Judas also have escaped the other disciples' notice? Only when Judas was identified, got up, left their midst, & pursued his dastardly act against the Lord, was his true identity & motives revealed to them. Jesus knew all along who His betrayer was, even as He knows those who are the imposters in His Church. And so we will all grow together until the time of reaping & separation at the rapture.

When we fellowship with a group of believers & we detect that the Word of God is not being handled correctly, we can leave speedily & join another. I doubt that in those days of the fledgling Church, whether there was such an option of finding another group - if one left, as John points out, it meant that their departure revealed their true identity & even their motives for being in the Church. I wonder how many of the cults that we have now, have had their founders formerly in or acquainted with a Christian Church. I think that even before we determine that a believer has turned apostate & gone back into the world, we should understand as John did, 'not all who left us were of us - that it is the Holy Spirit unction in us who enables us to apprehend the Truth & to remain true to the One Who has called us out of darkness into His Light'. Every blessing.

One eighty this is same as sons of God replying. For some reason beyond me. The sure keeps locking me out. But anyway. Thank you for attempting to set things in order. For I understand how easily we get in HIS SPIRIT'S Way - I will pray for you and you do same for me. I respect your honesty and your humility in your receiving my mild rebuke. It wasn't really mine though. As you well know whose it was. Proverbs says. Rebuke a wise man and he will be yet wiser, teach a just man and he will increase in knowledge. And. As an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. No!!! I'm not calling myself wise. Or wiser than you. Or wiser in my own eyes. For what I have I received. What I received I pass on. What I pass on will be passed on further. It's all God's and his Glory. I'm Elihu today next time you find Time check out this mysterious onlooker and audience of Job and his three friends. Not many people even ever speak of HIM when they talk of the book of Job. But Elihu rebukes them all. Reveals Jobs sin and ignorance and rebellion,and his friends. Justified God and was according to Jobs wish to stand in God's stead. It starts in chapter 32-his discourse ends in chapter 37 - then the Lord himself takes off. But Elihu was not even acknowledged by anyone. Nor did anyone answer him. Nor did the Lord speak about him. But I know this he had the Holy Ghost and he has received deep deep inspiration. And he was younger than they All. God bless

Brother Chris,

Amen to that. Judas was evil from the start. Jesus chose an evil man to fulfill an evil deed. What amazes me about this whole situation is that Jesus said I chose you twelve, and one of you is going to betray me. They each asked "is it I?"

You would think that after 3 years together, right away someone would have suspected Judas. But they had no idea who it was. But Jesus knew.

I have to wonder how many Judas' we have sitting in our church fellowships today, people who are there that participate with everyone and they seem like true believers on the outside, but inside are no different than Judas.

We just don't know. Some might believe that since they are participating in fellowship that they are saved, and then one day they just leave and want nothing to do with church or the Lord, and they use that to say they lost their salvation.

Some even use Judas as an example. But we know that Judas was evil from the very beginning. Judas was never a true follower of Christ. The scripture says that he was a thief and a robber. He was in charge of the money bag and he unbeknownst to the other eleven, he was stealing money from the bag.

This I believe would be equivalent to someone in our church fellowship stealing money from the collection basket, stealing from the Lord!

Blessings to you in Christ Jesus!

Hi Justjay & thanks for your question. You asked about Mark 14:17-21 about Judas' betrayal of Jesus. In John 17:6-19 (in Jesus' prayer to His Father, just prior to this betrayal by Judas), Jesus prayed for His disciples & in particular v12: "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled". Jesus, of course was referring to Judas as the "son of perdition", but was declaring that Judas, as a disciple, would be lost because of the fulfillment of Scripture.

So yes, God is All-knowing & certainly Jesus knew about Judas' betrayal even before he was appointed amongst the twelve, but through that Divine Knowledge, the prophecy had already been made approx 1000 years earlier (in Psalm 41:9). See also Psalm 55:12-15; Psalm 69:25; and Psalm 109:6-8: these passages also allude to the one who would ultimately betray Jesus. And the Apostle Peter also refers to Psalm 69:25, in his message in Acts 1:20. So yes, this betrayal was pre-ordained, in accordance with prophecy. And there could be other reasons why God permitted/ordained this to happen. Reasons such as proof of the veracity of God's Word & Power, a powerful testimony to the disciples of true discipleship & faithfulness in spite of doubts & Satan's taunts, and even to Judas, of his harboring great sin & allowing it to be manifested to the point of killing the Messiah. Jesus had to die to pay the ransom for our sins, "but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born" ( Matthew 26:24).

Should we then feel sorry for Judas, thinking 'this poor man was ordained to pre-mature death & had not choice in the matter?' No, Judas acted because of his own wickedness (not forced upon him by God); Judas because of his sin, fulfilled the prophecy & Plan of God for him & Jesus' Sacrifice.

Pt 10... Richard

The theory of a secured salvation no matter how a christian lives is a result of what I think is called "a hyper(super) grace. It is a belief that many have who like to take all the responsibility about their life off them and place it on God. God saves, God makes us do this, that, all things, make us wanting or not wanting things. It is always God, never us. As if though one puts the auto pilot in their life and the car goes on its own. As if the Spirit of God substitutes their own spirit, as if believers stop desiring or disliking things, as if they never think and act on their own. Even as if obeying or disobeying God does noy really matter, God will always find a way to repair the situation. As if good works have no value for a man. There is where all that starts from.

But this is what I will examine tomorrow, for now let us think,

Revelation 3:5, "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."

Will not blot out his name out of the book of life? Is there such a case?

Goodnight, the Lord be with you.

Pt 9

Do all believers repent at the end before death? The answer is no, they don't.

The parable of the 10 virgins tells us that if just before Jesus comes for us (this can be also regarded as an individual departure through physical death as well as the rapture of the church as a whole) we must have light(sanctification) in ourselves. Otherwise we will not enter the marriage ( Matthew 25:1-12). Read what Jesus told them, He doesn't know them. But they were virgins(sanctified), they were expecting the Lord with the rest. Yes but they had a troubled christian life and they were not ready when Jesus came. Jesus doesn't recognize them, He only recognizes His children who look like Him in the character, it is them that He considers true children, the rest are just "bastards", Hebrews 12:7-8.

In the parable of the vine, John 15:1-8, in verse 2 says "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." in verse 6 says, "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.". I don't think a further explanation is needed

Finally in 2 Peter 1:5-11 what christians should try to succeed in their christian life. in verse 10 says, "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall"

Make our calling sure? Doing these things we will not fail? And here we come to what really all that is about.

It all begins with the relationship between grace and good works. There is where it all starts. Many christians through the ages could not understand that relationship. People like Luther even rejected Jame's epistle as fake because it didn't fit their beliefs.. For some grace has nothing to do with any human work at all. So they rejected good works, so what a man does bad or good has no consequence to their salvation.

Pt 8, cont..

In Corinth there was a man who was in a relation with his father's wife. Paul advices the church to send him out of the church,

1 Corinthians 5:4-5, "4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."

They claim that that person was saved (V 5). Yes that is true, because he repented at the end (see 2 Cor 2:6-8).

They also use the verses about those who take part in Communion having a sin, 1 Cor 11:27-32,

"27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."

They say, look they were not condemned with the (sinful) world. Yes also true but that implies that due to God's judgement they actually repented,

Also they mention the case that one is saved as through fire, 1 Cor 2:10-15.

Verses 14-15, "14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."

Here what Paul says is if a believer who lives a troubled life repends at the end he is still saved but he will earn no wage at all. It is like someone who escaped his burning house, so he saved himself but he lost all he aquired so far.

All the above cases imply a repentance at the end. It is not like Ananias and Sapphira, or Saul, or Balaam, or Korah.

Pt 7

Assurance of Salvation...cont. Richard.

Well in my previous post I mentioned Judas, a person who in the begining was one of the top disciples, chosen as a member of the 12 apostles, who had a unique ministry to serve ( Acts 1:17, "For he (Judas)was numbered with us (the 12, Peter said ), and had obtained part of this ministry"), he was predestined by God to sit on a throne and judge the 12 tribes of Israel (what an honor and a priviledge!) but during his ministry he let the devil work his heart and at the end he became a devil by becoming his Lord's traitor. What a horrible ending! The transformation from one of the top disciples to a devil was not done overnight, it was gradual as he was letting his heart love money instead of God. A perfect example (to avoid) about what can happen to a christian if they are not careful about what enters their heart and where that is going to lead them.

Ananias and Sapphira was another example to avoid ( Acts 5). Believers that tried to trick the apostles about the price they sold their field. So they actually lied to the Holly Spirit and fell dead, executed by God. I know the word execution sounds a bit horrible but this is exactly what God did to them. The same that God did to Korah and his family when the rebbelled against Moses. The same end Saul the first king had. The same end Balaam the prophet had. The former although humble in the beggining, he ended loving honor and fame more than God. A perfect example about those who fall in love with the gifts and not with the gifter. The latter also loved riches and honor more than God and exterminated later by the Israelites. How about Elisha's servant Gehasi ( 2 Kings 5) and many more stories about people of God who lost everything, even their eternal lives.

Here I have to stop and go back to Ananias and Sapphira. Some try to explain their end by saying that although God punished them with death they were still saved. Surprising explanation, to fit that specific belief.

I'm in the book of Mark. My question is Jesus was the last supper an announced that one would betray him.( Judas ) if God is all knowing what 3 years before did Jesus pick him as a deciple. I understand that that God has knowledge of all. WAS THIS PREORDAINED. OR SOMETHING MORE?

How should one think after you ave been done wrong?

We must consider first, what has been harmed. Has it been your ego, or did you experiance physical pain? Perhaps it was an unfair rumor you heard from someone about yourself.

In a world full of contradictions, lies, one must stop and think of His Lord and what He experienced, as He surely experienced what you and I do everyday!

Even so , we are like Christ if He lives in us. Why is it so difficult for us to forgive one another? Why is forgiveness not apart of who we are?

If Christ does not live in you, you are living under the curse. The same curse that has blinded the minds of the world from the very beginning of time!

Looking at others judging others is not what Christ did! Christ looked at you and me through the eyes of His Father. If you are not looking at the world through the eyes of Christ, then you are still in your sin, and under the curse. You are living in darkness and the truth is not in you! Repent and be Baptized

Jimbob, Thank you for bearing with me.

Part 5

... saying the if the first-fruit (Jesus) is holy, then the whole lump is holy. And if the root be holy, then the whole is holy, the branches (unbelieving Jews) are broken off, and believing Gentiles are ingrafted into the cultivated olive tree (the Israelite nation)

The branches broken off are outside of the redemption of God being separated from the life-giving root (Jesus, the way, the truth, and life). But if the unbelieving Jew repents and believes, he will be grafted back into the cultivated olive tree.

Paul does go on to say the all Israel shall be saved. But is he speaking of ethnic Israel in unbelief, or Jews chosen by election to believe in Jesus and be ingrafted back into the olive tree that has Jesus as its root? He says that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

So, either "All Israel refers to the remnant of elected Israelites that believe in Jesus and are in Him or refers to all Israel going back the Jacob where the nation of Israel began.

verses 32 says that God has concluded them all in unbelief, that He may have mercy upon all.

For me, I don't know which it is, because I do not think that the Bible teaches universal salvation for all of mankind.

Romans 9:27 says that the remnant shall be saved. I don't think Paul is teaching salvation without faith in Jesus here. There is only one way of salvation, faith in God and His Messiah.

Perhaps you have some insight on this. But for now I am getting sleepy. Going to head off to bed. Good night,.

Jimbob

Pt. 4

These Jews became one in Christ along with the Gentiles and together are the True Israel of God, the people of God, a holy nation, royal priesthood, peculiar people, chosen of God. This is a spiritual people, which is the highest and most perfect way for one to be joined to God as His people.

In my view, there are no more promises or prophecies to be fulfilled for ethnic Israel, because Jesus fulfilled all of them, being Yes in them. So, I do not believe it is God's will for the Jews to have an earthly kingdom in the end times, or to rebuild a temple, and begin to offer sacrifices once again. If the Jews do this, it is of their making, not God's.

God had promised to bring the remnant of Israel back to God from all parts of the world, but this is a remnant that is in Christ, not the ethnic nation of Israel. What we see as the nation of Israel was brought about by Zionists in places of power, But God allowed it desiring them to turn back to Him. But as Jesus said, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem...... how often would I have gathered your children together.....and Ye would NOT! Behold your house is left to you desolate (70 A.D.) Matt. 23:37-38. And today, they still WILL NOT.

But all Jews who are in Christ will be saved, the remnant that God elected, chosen before the creation of the world. In Romans 9 Paull quotes Hosea 2:25-27 saying that the people that were not Gods people, are now HIs people, sons of the living God. And Paul quotes Isaiah 10_20-23 and Hosea 1:10 concerning Israel, that though the number of the children of Israel be as sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved.

Romans 11:2 says that God has not cast away his people which He foreknew...And in verse 5 Paul says that that there is a remnant according to election by grace reserved for salvation. Paul says that ethnic Israel has been blinded, and have a spirit of slumber, their eyes do not see and ears do not hear.

Paul then goes on to explain the two olive trees, .....cont.

Jiombob

Pt. 3

Jesus (called Israel by God) was also a nation of One until He added to the nation of true Israel with the redeemed, those who are in Him by faith (including Abraham).

This true Israel is a physical and a spiritual people. Jesus was ethically and Jew but also God. His church is a spiritual people of God. In the NT, the people of God is no longer ethnic Israel, the kingdom was taken from them and given to believers. Ethnic Israel's purpose was completed in Christ's first advent.

Jesus was clear that they no longer were recipients of the kingdom on the Messiah. In predicting the downfall of Jerusalem and it coming to pass, utterly destroying the city, temple, and 1.1 million Jews died. Not only was the city destroyed, the temple where God once dwelled upon the mercy seat, was cast down. The OT Mosaic religious rites were ended with the destruction of the temple. The Jews that were left were scattered and taken as prisoners becoming slaves once again. The nation of Israel was technically destroyed in the siege, but also their religion was also stopped in the sense of being able to offer the daily sacrifices, follow the commands of God at Sinai, and celebrate the feasts that required Jewish males to come to Jerusalem to do the rites required of the feasts in the temple. (bring their offerings to the priest) The fulfillment of this prophecies left the whole house of Judah desolate.

Instead of repenting and turning to Jesus after this destruction, the Rabbis spoke and taught blasphemously about Jesus, and still do to this day, many of these blasphemies are recorded in the Talmud, Mishnah and other writings that emerged after the desolation of Jerusalem. Judaism became more occultic after this becoming more "mystical". The Rabbis led the Jews further and further away for God and their Messiah. They remain this way today as a whole. But there is a remnant that have been born again in Christ. They joined the True Israel of God in Christ......cont.

Hi,

it would be highly advisable for one to not expose himself to any form of magic or tricks. Why glory in satans entertainment when its clearly written he who glory let him glory in the Lord. It's also written1 Corinthians 10:31, 31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. each person who is believer in Jesus Christ need to re-evaluate is this glorying God or satan whether is trick or Magic to movies and music check by the scriptures if its glorifying God.

Love not the world

Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.

Thank YOU FATHER for the forgiveness of my sins.

v2

Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputs not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

I have confessed my sins and have not withheld my iniquities before YOU; V5 "and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah."

All who are godly shall pray unto to YOU LORD, because YOU are our hiding place, and place of preservation. I am at peace and comfort because of the songs of deliverance that surround me as well as all who walk up rightly in YOUR presence.

Thank YOU for teaching and showing me YOUR way and where I should walk. I will not go about as a person who is obligated, or coerced; but I will walk in the love of YOUR wisdom and understanding.

Many are the sorrows of the wicked: but I will have YOUR mercy and peace all around me because I have learned to trust in YOU; Isaiah 26:3.

The righteous and upright in their heart will be glad in the LORD GOD, and rejoice, and shout for joy. For the joy of the LORD is my strength. Nehemiah 8:10

GOD bless and shine HIS face on all who are on this forum in the name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

April 14, 2023

Jimbob,

Romans 9:6-8 "..For not all are not Israel, that are of Israel." Calling out the ethnic Jews as being "uncitizened" so to speak as being genetically of Israel. Paul say, NO they are not all Israel. 2 Cor. 1:20 says "....For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him..." The promises to Abraham are fulfilled in Jesus and Jesus alone fulfills all of the promises of God. God always had His Son in view when making these promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These were not promises only made to Abraham, but re-promised to Isaac, and to Jacob, and then centuries later to the nation of Israel. So if Jesus is the true and absolute Seed of In Abraham, Isaac AND Jacob (Israel).

In Isaiah 49:1-7 the servant of the Lord (Messiah) is called "Israel" in whom God will be glorified. Also in this passage this servant is called God will give His servant (Messiah) as a "light to the Gentiles" Here God plainly speaks of the Messiah as Israel. Verse 2 says that God has made His servant's mouth like a sharp sword. This passage refers to God's servant as Israel, a light to the Gentiles, having a mouth like a sharp sword, the Holy One, Redeemer, who will be despised, who the NATION aborrheth.

In Luke 2:28-32 Simeon prophesies about Jesus when His parents brought Him to the temple. In his prophesying Simeon refers to Isaiah 49:6 as Jesus being the light to the Gentiles. This citation by Luke shows that the "servant, Israel" spoken of in Isaiah 49:1-7 is referring to Jesus. (See also Jn 1:5-11; 8:12.

So, the ethnic Israelites were a type or shadow pointing to the true Israel, Jesus who fulfilled all the requirements of the Law as a jew. God said several times from heaven, that He was well pleased with Jesus, His Son.

When we speak of end times events we do need to not weave a narrative that is not stated in the NT Scriptures, as the OT Covenant was ended in Jesus' advent and the New Covenant in Jesus (as Jacob was a nation of one when called by God as Israel....cont.

Hi Jody. My opinion on this is, 'No, this type of entertainment doesn't go against the Word of God'. To qualify my belief, what we refer to as magicians performing for entertainment, are more correctly termed, 'illusionists' (i.e. they are not using any supernatural power to show that they are doing anything out of the ordinary). Their 'tricks' are done with the sleight of hand & to take the audience focus off what is being done elsewhere. So, this is all just trickery for amusement & amazement: children will think it's magic & hopefully adults will try to analyse how the trick is being done.

So, I just see this as entertainment, but like all things done outside the Bible's parameters, including reading of doubtful novels & viewing questionable films for instance, one should take care whether those things can lead one away from trusting in the Lord or even displease Him. And that is why He has given us His Spirit, so that we might correctly discern the myriad of things that demand our thoughts & attention every day.

HI Jimbob, thanks for the thoughtful response. I simply stand by my first post to you. Jesus is the promised Seed, as Paul states so clearly. And yes, Isaac was the promised seed also. Through Isaac came Esau and Jacob. Jacob was chosen, Esau not, Then of the 12 sons of Jacob (Israel) Judah was chosen by God for the Messiah King to come. Israel was scattered all over the world from captivity in Assyria. They were not the bloodline of Jesus, so God had them assimilate and intermarry among the nations. From Judah Jesus came. Judah was returned from captivity not because they were more deserving than Israel nor more repentant, but solely because the Messiah was promised to come from Judah. Then at the appointed time, God sent His Son, via Mary. So, the promise to Abraham concerning his seed had an earthly, physical fulfillment in Isaac and an earthly and spiritual fulfillment in Jesus, as Jesus was born of Mary but His Father was God and Jesus was God in the flesh. Israel was one man when God gave Jacob this name, but he had a multitude of descendants through his twelve sons and also daughter Dinah. Jesus was given the name Israel by God. He was one man, but has had million upon millions of spiritual descendants over the centuries.

The promise to Isaac was a double prophecy and I believe that Abraham knew this as Paul says that the gospel was preached to Abraham in his time. ( Eph. 3:8) He knew the Messiah would come from his lineage through Isaac.

IN Rev. 2:9 and 3:9 in speaking to the churches Jesus says that those who say they are Jews (attesting to be ethnically Jews), they truly are not the people of God, but Jesus calls them a synagogue of Satan. Thus identifying them as unfaithful, apostate, and wicked as an ethnic group. This is due to them rejecting Jesus, the Messiah they were hoping for as prophesied, but whose ears were made deaf, and eyes blind, so that they were unable to recognize their Messiah and acknowledge Him as Jesus.

cont.

GiGi to continue our conversation. I think its more about the bloodline, that would be the bloodline that Jesus would come through. The promise of Jesus was in ( Isa. 7:14) also in ( Isa. 9:6) There are probably a lot of other places in the Old Testament that show the promise of His coming. What about the promise of "in Isaac shall thy seed be called"? ( Gen. 21:12) The word (seed) is #2233; it means fruit, plant, sowing-time, ((posterity)), carnally, child, bear, conceive seed. The word (called) is #7121; it means to call out to, address by name, that are bidden, call (forth) cry (unto) guest, invite. Those who are (called) would be the church being called out by name wouldn't it GiGi? And this is the OT. Now the New Testament ( Rom. 9:7) and ( Heb. 11:18) The word (seed) in Greek is #4690; it means something sown, i.e. seed (including male "sperm") by implying ((offspring)). The word (called) in Greek is #2564; it means to "call" aloud, bid, call (forth) (whose sur-) name (was called) (That would be the church being called out by name). In ( Eph. 5:27) The word (church) is #1577; it means a calling out, to "call" aloud, bid, call (forth) This is the seed or bloodline Jesus Christ was born through and it seems to be that bloodline in the Lastdays of which those who are called out by name, that would be the church. I know people are grafted in if they believe but this would have to be those who are chosen from the foundation of the world as ( Eph. 1:4) tells us. ( Eph. 1:3-5,10-11) We see in ( 1 Thess. 4:16-17) The word (shout) is #2752; it means a cry of incitement "hail" to incite by word, i.e. order, bid, (at, give) command. Thank you Jesus!! I may have went a little off track here but what are your thoughts on this GiGi? Blessings.

GiGi Thank you for your response. We need to see where those powers, and rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places are during this time period, which is the time we are living right now. (So we have to assume they are somewhere today, Right?) Jesus would cast out devils in many places in the gospels. The word (devils) is #1140; in Greek: it means a demonic being, a demon or supernatural spirit (of a bad nature) Those devils or supernatural spirits didn't stop possessing people after Jesus left this earth, there are many of these demonic spirits on this earth right now. The Bible doesn't say anything that I have seen about them leaving the earth at any time. I think they will be manifesting themselves more and more as we get closer to the antichrist receiving power for forty two months. Thats also the time period Satan is cast out of heaven to the earth. I believe this will happen very soon. I find it hard to believe you said this generation is no more wicked than past generations GiGi. It seems to me that the evil, the violence, just cold hearted people, the deception and corruption, and just really bad things happening to people and them having troubles in their lives has greatly increased in the last 2 or 3 years. I believe we are living ( Mt. 24:4-8) right now with great tribulation just around the corner! I agree GiGi we should have hope in this life grounded in Jesus. Thats the only hope we have in this life or even after this life. Those living without Jesus Christ today are living in a world that's getting more evil everyday with no hope at all, unless they find Jesus. How sad is that to think about? God Bless you GiGi.

Is magic that's done for entertainment go against the word of God? I don't mean anything evil, hateful or hurtful, I'm just talking about magicians who perform shows.

Giannis,

I meant to say that I do NOT like to categorize my self into any "ism" camp.

Giannis, until I started studying dispensationalism these past six months, I realized that I cannot embrace it as a plausible

theology of God's overreaching purposes and actions in creation. While looking into dispensationalism, I realized that there was

another theological approach that is called covenant theology. I had never heard of the term dispensational nor covenant

theology before this recent study. I guess I lean more towards covenant theology, and definitely do not embrace dispensational

theology. I do like to categorize my theological leanings under any "ism" as I am still learning. But covenant theology seems to

fit much better with the revelation of God throughout the Bible. I'm not one to say I am 100% this way or not. I leave room for

God to teach me through the Scriptures.

I guess God kept me from either of these theological systems all my life for a reason. I have always been one to simply read

the Bible again and again to learn the way God has worked throughout history. I began using a concordance about 20 years ago

because, while I could remember many verses, I did not know the chapter and verse. The concordance helps me find the verse

that the Spirit brought to my mind and then I can read the chapter to understand the verse in context.

Giannis, I hope that you are doing well and I appreciate all of your wise and good input on this forum.