Just a side matter: a point you mentioned here Gerald (in fact at least a couple of times that I can remember), you stated that the children of Israel took a little over two years to go from Egypt to Canaan. I've always been intrigued as to where you got that figure from. In my readings, I always come across forty years as the specified time. Indeed, the time would have been much shorter, but for their disobedience and unbelief. There are too many references to the forty years, but I share a few here: Deuteronomy 8:2; Deuteronomy 29:5; Joshua 5:6; Amos 2:10; Acts 7:36; and others. I would be interested in your research into this 'anomaly'.
As Chris points out. In the Septuagint, which the NT apostles quoted from, uses the word "ecclesia" which means congregation/assembly of the called out ones. The Septuagint uses the word ecclesia in reference to the Israelite nation in the wilderness ( Acts 7:38, Deut. 18:16, ; 23:1; Ps. 26:12) Just as there is the visible ecclesia now and the invisible ecclesia (which includes all true believers), there was the visible ecclesia in the wilderness and the invisible ecclesia (which included all true believers such as Moses, Caleb, Joshua, and those who entered the land of Canaan who had faith as Abraham did.
GiGi and Chris have answered well. There was a transition, but the same gospel and one body of Christ-that is, the Church. Galatians 4:4 says, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law." Jesus came first for the lost sheep of Israel and to fulfill the law and the prophets.
Jesus had to live a perfect, sinless life under the law to bring in the new everlasting covenant. As prophesied, the new covenant had to be offered to the Jews first before it was offered to the Gentiles, as seen in Romans 1:16. We see that when the time came to go to the Gentiles, as in Acts 7:54-60, they plugged their ears and killed Stephen. Philip was the first to carry the gospel to the Samaritans, as in Acts 8. Paul's conversion is detailed in Acts 9, and Peter's dream and the sending to Cornelius are in Acts 10. Salvation has always been a gift of God through faith by the grace of God. John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9,
" Then said Iesus, Father, forgiue them, for they know not what they doe: And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."
(Sorry 1611 version copied-you get the point)
Acts 7:59-60
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
There is a similar event here regarding the death of Stephen and Jesus as to their asking for God to forgive their enemies.
Could we say in some sense Jesus was not only invoking in prayer for the forgiveness of those actually present but all of those whose sin He was going to take on? Food for thought...
We are reminded in this of past times when God in His wrath would destroy nations through great signs; or destroyed the sons of Korah for another example. Elijah and the contest with the prophets of Baal is yet another incident where those who continued in pagan practices even though they acknowledged He was God were killed; this warning certainly is pertinent to those in the Revelation 6 conundrum largely of their own making who hide from God's wrath which they no doubt were largely responsible for in the death of the martyrs of the 5th Seal worldwide and continuing to attempt to find solace in the governments and system of this world.
Christ died for His enemies; and as there is not room for middle ground here we all have to decide what to do with this fact.
Unbelief dictates that we aren't broken over this act of sacrificial love beyond comprehension; but we find some substitution; some attempt to save face as it were to make ourselves acceptable to God some other way. The reason why God sometimes destroys someone for acknowledgment that He is God can be seen with Judas Iscariot; He could only see a righteous man in Christ not that He was God the Son. Not accepting God's free gift because it offends our sensibilities is a way o whitewashing our own sin.
Thanks brother Ronald for those thoughts and your understanding on this matter. Just to give a slight, yet important, correction to your quotation of my post: I wrote of the "SPIRITS of the deceased believers were already in Heaven, etc". So, my understanding (to answer your question) is that we are essentially spirit beings living in mortal bodies. Our spirits can never die ( Acts 7:59; Luke 16:20-23; Matthew 17:1-3) but our bodies certainly will die and perish into the earth ( Ecclesiastes 9:5,10; Psalm 6:5; Psalm 115:17) and awaiting resurrection. So, because of these perishing bodies, we are mortal beings, but with an immortal spirit that gives us life and one day returns to God.
Your quoting 2 Corinthians 5:6-9 is particularly clear. You have shared that these verses apply to the time of the resurrection of our dead bodies. But as I read it, Paul is essentially telling us that if we are alive ("at home in the body"), we are not in the Lord's presence ("absent from the Lord"). We can only be alive or dead; if alive, our spirit within us gives us life; if dead, our spirit departs our bodies that causes death.
So Paul is "groaning" over this matter, longing for departure from this life that he might be with his Lord. There isn't any intermediate state or any length of time in Paul's writing between death and life - it speaks of one or the other: either we are alive with our spirit or dead without the spirit. We can't be dead with our spirit in-house, and awaiting the resurrection. Or, we could even ask, 'why would Paul even want to depart this life and then remain in the grave for an indeterminate length of time?' His longing was to be with Jesus immediately upon his death, thus he looked forward to it.
To your answer to your question: "when will we be absent from this body?" this is at the resurrection; my understanding (as given above) is 'our absence from this body is at our death'. Every blessing.
How do we begin? The 7-year tribulation is taken from the 490-year prophecy in Daniel 9:25-27. The he in Daniel 9:27 is said to be the antichrist, who will make a 3.5-year peace treaty with Israel. Midway through this week, he will cause the abomination that makes desolate, leading to 3.5 years of great tribulation.
In verse 25, it states there will be 69 weeks from the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah, 483 years. This was fulfilled when Jesus was baptized and anointed with the Holy Spirit, as seen in Matthew 3:13-17. Jesus confirms His identity as the Messiah in Luke 3:16-21, and John denies being the Christ but speaks of Jesus in John 1:33-34.
Daniel 9:26 states that after sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be cut off. The 7 weeks, or 49 years, had already passed, a period during which the temple and part of the wall were rebuilt. Jesus' ministry was 3.5 years, so His crucifixion was 69 weeks plus 3.5 years, totaling 486.5 years of the 490-year prophecy, leaving only 3.5 years of the 490-year prophecy.
The people of the prince who shall come are those who will destroy the city and the sanctuary. This refers to Titus, the prince, and the Roman army, the people, who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70 for their abominations and rejection.
In verse 27, it is in the middle of the 70th week, Jesus' crucifixion causes the sacrifice and oblation to cease, Hebrews 9:12. During the remaining 3.5 years, Jesus was confirming the covenant to Israel through His apostles, as seen in Matthew 15:24, to the Jew first, Romans 1:16, which ended when the leaders of Jerusalem stopped their ears, Acts 7:54-60.
It says, "for the overspreading of abominations, he shall make it desolate." The he in verse 27 refers to Jesus, not an antichrist. The leaders of Jerusalem are the ones who spread the abominations, and Jesus made it desolate, as described in Matthew 23:37-38. Read the entire chapter of Matthew 23.
All of Jesus's life was about fulfilling the law and prophecy; it is to the Jew first and then the rest of the world, Romans 1:16, Romans 2:9-10. Jesus clearly said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and He instructed His disciples to do the same, Matthew 10:6, Matthew 15:24. Jesus spoke to them in parables so they would not understand and hear, and be healed, Matthew 13:13-15.
You are correct that, as a nation, they would have been able to receive Jesus as the Messiah if they had repented, and then the kingdom could have been established at that time. However, God knew their hearts. They were expecting Jesus to set up the kingdom at that time, including the apostles. They asked Jesus if He was going to establish it then, Acts 1:6.
Their final rejection is shown when they cried out loudly and covered their ears, Acts 7:57. Though many disagree, this also fulfills the last seven years in the prophecy of Daniel 9, which many associate with the end times and the doctrine of the Rapture of the Church. This gospel of grace is offered to Jew or Greek, and unto the whole world.
There is no difference between the Jew and any other person of any nation, Romans 10:12. It took the apostles some time to understand this, as shown by Peter's reluctance and his dream. It may not be in our Bible, but I believe they all understood God's plan. This Kingdom will be established when Jesus returns, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, Romans 11:25.
11There is a generation of those who curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers.
12There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes
and yet unwashed of their filth.
13There is a generation-how haughty are their eyes
and pretentious are their glances-
14there is a generation whose teeth are swords
and whose jaws are knives,
devouring the oppressed from the earth
and the needy from among men.
Pretty fair summation of today; I would say.
I have spent a fair amount of time recently in discussing judgment in the house of God; not so much in general of those who are unbelievers. OF couse we have to stop and think about behaviors that are uncomely to God's people. James 3:10 states:
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. The world holds the church up to the standard it professes; while the world is expected; more or less to behave badly. Such an assumption is naive at best; and can keep us from reaching very kind individuals assuming they aren't in spiritual danger and focus on opposition with this logic.
More precisely; it is the master who is the conductor of our lives and as Jesus stated we cannot serve two masters. Jesus Himself said "forgive them because they know not what they're doing" in Luke 23:34 as well as Acts 7:60 when Stephen was being stoned after his heavenly vision of Christ standing on the throne. It may well have been a reminder from Christ Himself as his spirit departed to do the same. At any rate; the world is under bondage from the enemy but a truly saved individual isn't. Despite this; of course the enemy will try to accuse and convince someone that they are useless for the Lord and indeed if there is a stronghold of sin it is sufficient for him to maintain; with glee no doubt whatever power the particular minion has over a person.
So unconditional love helps us to overcome evil with good ( Romans 12:21). Otherwise we're toast.
The Father gives to Jesus as the incarnate Word of God all dominion, power, and authority Mt. 28:18) over creation before creation as it is through the Son that all things were created. The Son is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords over all creation. Jesus gives eternal life to all whom the Father brings to Him and He is given the right to judge all of created beings, humans and angelic. ( Heb 1:8, Jn. 17:2)
The Father wills that every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord of all to the glory of God. The Father has commanded the angels to worship the Son ( Heb 1:6) and all the redeemed are to worship Jesus as well as shown in Rev. 5:6-13 acclaiming that Jesus was slain and redeemed for Himself by His shed blood His people who come from every tongue tribe and nation.
The Father has ordained that His Son will secure the victory over sin, death, hell, and the devil, destroying all the evil works and sins of Him who deceived Eve and enticed Adam to disobey God in the beginning. ( 1 john 3:8, 1 Cor. 15:55; Rev. 1:17-18; 1 Cor. 15:26; Rev. 20:1-10; 21:1-5)
The Father commands that the Son be given the same honor as the Father ( Jn. 5:23) and restores the glory to Jesus upon His resurrection ( Jn. 17:1, 4-5) that He always had before His incarnation.
The Father has the Son, Jesus, sitting on the Father's throne in heaven, at His right hand ( Acts 7:55; Jn. 12:41; Mk. 16:19) displaying that Jesus is equal in nature to the Father and worthy to receive all that the Father receives in worship.
Got to go for now. Making wings for dinner. I realized that I did not cite verses for thr other parts. Sorry, but in this section.
Daniel 9, there are 69 weeks from the commandment unto the Messiah. I understand this is when Jesus was baptized and anointed with the Holy Spirit, becoming the Messiah. In verse 26, Jesus's ministry was 3.5 years when Jesus was cut off/crucified, this would be 69.5 weeks. It is the people/army of the prince that will come and destroy, not the prince. We see a parable relating to this very thing, Matthew 22:1-7.
In verse 27, Jesus is the one who came to confirm the new covenant to the house of Israel, Jeremiah 31:31-34. His ministry was 3.5 years, which is in the middle of the 70th week when He was cut off. Jesus, through His apostles, confirmed the covenant to the house of Israel for the remaining 3.5 years until the death of Stephen, Acts 7:54-60. The confirming of the covenant to the house of Israel ended, and the gospel was then given to the Gentiles. 1 Corinthians 11:25, Hebrews 12:24, Hebrews 13:20.
It is not a beast that makes it desolate, we see in Matthew 23 Jesus was addressing the leaders of the Jewish nation, He was retorting to their rejection of His saving work on their behalf. They refused His call for repentance, because of their overspreading of abominations, Jesus said, "Behold your house is left unto you desolate".
This refers to the coming judgment on Jerusalem and the temple for their rejection of Jesus and the saving work of God. "even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured out on the desolate". What Jesus said your house is left unto you desolate, the consummation, the complete destruction poured out on the desolate in 70 AD.
5, And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
On the surface, it can be seen that Jesus is asking to be glorified by the Father with the glory He shared before creation, indicating the eternal nature of Christ, who existed before time began. Does Philippians 2:6-8 justify this request? Jesus, for His obedient earthly ministry, He rightfully deserves?
Does all of Scripture agree with this? We have these verses with similar wording. Were the things in these verses physically present before the world was? Were they all in the mind, thoughts, and the plan of God? Can we say some were and some were not? Are they confirmation of God's eternal plan and foreknowledge?
Verses that say before the world was, before the world, and before the foundation of the world. God's foreknowledge, purpose, and plan were before creation.
1 Corinthians 2:7 This wisdom is the gospel of Jesus Christ, hidden in the thoughts of God from before the world was. It was ordained from before the world that would be revealed in the fullness of time, as stated in Ephesians 1:10 and Colossians 1:26-27. There are hints of it throughout the Old Testament, but hidden from the Gentile world, it is now revealed through the preaching of the apostles who were with Jesus from the beginning of His three-and-a-half-year ministry, and Paul, after the leaders of Jerusalem said no to Jesus being the Messiah and killed Stephen, Acts 7:54-60.
2 Timothy 1:9 Our calling and salvation are given not by anything we have done or can do to earn. It is according to God's grace and for His purpose. This grace, which was given to us in Jesus, is part of God's plan before the world began, as we see in Ephesians 2:8-10 and Romans 8:28-29.
Salvation through Jesus Christ is available to everyone who accepts it, it is received by faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God alone.
The Bible consistently indicates that souls can die and cease to exist. For example, Matthew 10:28, it mentions that the soul can be destroyed, implying it is not immortal. The Greek word translated as soul is psuche, which has several meanings, including the vital breath, the breath of life, the human soul, the soul as the seat of affections and will, consciousness, a human person. Essentially, it includes who we are, and is inseparable.
This does not happen until we are resurrected, when Jesus Christ returns, it is a gift of God, Romans 2:5-7. Immortality is not given until the resurrection from the dead, only then will we be absent from this flesh and blood body and present with the Lord, Revelation 19:11-21, Revelation 20:1-6. The Bible never describes the soul of man as immortal or eternal. We die and are buried mortal, dead in corruption, and we will be raised incorruptible, 1 Corinthians 15:42-44. Every part of us is mortal, and we must put on immortality, 1 Corinthians 15:52-54.
The spirit: The spirit is the breath of life given to us by God, in Luke 25:46 Jesus said to His Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. In Acts 7:59, Stephen said Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. The spirit empowers us to experience God's profound love, it is through the spirit that we are empowered to live according to the ways of God, embracing righteousness and walking in His ways, in God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit, rather than walking in the ways of the world.
Our spirit is how we communicate with God, Job 32:8, Proverbs 20:27, John 4:24, 1 Corinthians 2:10-12. God inspires or motivates us by stirring up the spirit in a person, 1 Chronicles 5:25-26. God inspired King Cyrus to issue a decree, allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem, Ezra 1:1.
The grace age church in the Body of Christ Jesus is Heavenly.
Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings inheavenlyplacesin Christ:
Ephesians 2:6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together inheavenlyplacesin Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 3:10
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers inheavenlyplacesmight be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Amen, glory to God and the Lord Jesus Christ for the Heavenly Places
How important is the Jews ? ? The Jew had the word of God and all the blessings that came with it.
Romans 3:1-2
1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
2Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
Acts 7:38
This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the livelyoraclesto give unto us:
1 Peter 4:11
If any man speak, let him speak as theoraclesof God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
No, the Bible does not teach that the soul sleeps after death.Instead, the Bible describes death as a sleep-like state for the body, while the soul is immediately present with God.
The Bible uses the word "sleep" metaphorically to describe death, which is temporary.For example, in Acts 7:60, Luke describes Stephen's death as "falling asleep".
The Christians soul and spirit will be with Christ in Heaven and it will be awake and alive when they die.
2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to beabsentfromthebody, and to be present withtheLord.
Apostle John saw in a revelation the 144,000 saints singing. The souls are not sleeping but awake and alive.
Revelation 14:3
And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
We know that God rested on the 7th day, but did not go to sleep.
Genesis 2:2
AndontheseventhdayGod ended his work which he had made; and herestedontheseventhdayfrom all his work which he had made.
The fiscal body of this world sleeps both ways, life and death , but not soul sleeping in the spirit.
May we all sleep good tonight in the Lord Jesus Christ without having any bad dreams.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 the gospel of grace that never sleeps
I know when we hear heaven we think of where God is but there are three. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands, Psalm 19:1. The first heaven is the sky, the atmosphere the air we breathe, and where the clouds float so beautifully.
The second heaven is the galaxy where God placed the lights in heaven for signs and seasons, as we see in Genesis 1:14-19. The place of the sun moon and all the planets and stars we call space.
The third is where God and all the angelic beings are. This is the heaven we see King Uzziah saw in Isaiah 6:1, which Stephen saw when they stoned him in Acts 7:55-56, Paul spoke of in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, and we see all that John saw in Revelation.
I would like to share my understanding, but please pray and study to find the truth you seek. The breaking off of the branches was necessary to graft in the wild branches, representing the Gentiles. This mystery relates to the temporary blindness of the Israelites until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in, as mentioned in Romans 11:11 and Romans 11:25. It's important to note that this blindness is not permanent. This goes back to the promise God made to Abraham, in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, that seed is Jesus.
Just to say this was not all the house of Israel as we see the Church began with Jews, to the Jews first. It was not until the leaders of Jerusalem shut their ears to Jesus and killed Stephen was the gospel sent to the Gentiles, Acts 7:54-60, and still many Jews believed in Jesus. They were broken off because of unbelief, we must stand by faith and not be arrogant.
I don't view the Gentiles as a group being cut off; rather, it's each individual who faces such a fate. There will come a time when the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. The falling away will occur among those believers who lack strength in their faith and who are unable to endure until the end.
Dear brother, I do not believe in the rapture as taught with the taking up the Church, and the seven years. You must pray and study for your understanding without preconceived ideas relying on the Holy Spirit not man. Study where the 7 years come from, and study 1 Thessalonians 4 with prayer asking what are the people concerned about. When Jesus returns and people meet Him in the air where is the destination?
God bless your study, trust in God, He will show you the truth, not man.
Acts 7:9-11 9And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, 10And delivered him out of all his afflictions [Greek: thlipsis], and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction [Greek: thlipsis]: and our fathers found no sustenance.
Jacob's affliction stemmed from the fact that they were forced to leave the land of Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey, a land that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had dwelt in for 215 years, due to the famine. And in regards to famine, remember Amos 8:11?
Amos 8:11-12 11Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: 12And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.
Amos 8:11 is speaking about our day, which is parallel to Jacob's tribulation in that within the churches there is a famine of HEARING the words of the LORD, meaning the Holy Spirit is no longer present in the churches to give spiritual ears to hear.
God has provided a time bridge of 1,290 years between Jacob's tribulation and the tribulation of Daniel's day. The 1,290 years comes from Daniel 12:11.
Daniel 12:9-11 9And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. 11And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
God occasionally substitutes a day for a year, as in Ezekiel 4:4-6.
Matthew 24:1-3 1And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
The temple that God has in view are the churches and congregations that are scattered all over the earth. The word "buildings" in Matthew 24:1 is the same Greek root word translated "building" in 1 Corinthians 3:9 9For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's "building".
God goes on in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 to describe that there are two kinds of materials in this spiritual building: gold, silver, precious stones, typifying true believers, and wood, hay, stubble, typifying those who externally identify with the kingdom of God and yet are not born from above, and are fit to be burned and consumed by God who is a consuming fire.
The statement of Matthew 24:2, "There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down," means that there are no exceptions.
We are living in the period of great tribulation, spoken of in Matthew 24:21-22 21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
The word 'tribulation' is the Greek word thlipsis translated "affliction" twice in Acts 7:10-11.
Acts 7:51 - Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
That's not a great way to start out and win friends. Stiffnecked! All of us have actually experienced waking up some morning with a stiff neck. But that's not what it means. They called a person a "stiffneck person" when they refused to bow. And someone would come over to them and grab them by the back of the neck and try to make them bow and they would stiffen up and refuse to bow. A "stiffnecked" person is a person who refuses to bow to the lordship of Christ.
Acts 8:1 - And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
And Saul was consenting unto his death. That is a specific Jewish term making reference to vote. He was consenting. He cast his vote to have Stephen put to death. And at that time, there was a great persecution against the church, which was at, or in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
The apostles didn't travel, at least at the beginning, and they stayed behind. But Paul wasn't finished. He wasn't satisfied with just the death of Stephen. This began a city-wide persecution of rounding up believers. And so, they scattered. And that is their official name, even to this day. They are the DIASPORA. That is the Greek word for scattered. DIASPORA are the scattered ones, the Jews who had been scattered outside their homeland of Israel.
Acts 6:8 - And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
The word miracles is the word signs. They translated it miracles to emphasize the fact that whatever powerful work, whatever moving of God's Spirit, it was a physical sign to draw people to establish it being from God.
Acts 7:1 - Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
Literally, the Greek text presents a legal court question. "Do any of these accusations hold these things?" Meaning, are any true? Answer for yourself!
Acts 7:38 - This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
The word church is the word assembly. It is the first word of church, other than the Lord in Matthew Chapter 16 saying, "Upon this rock I will build my church," that there were churches mentioned.
And it literally means an assembly or called out ones! The English word church in the bible is not the same word church that we use in English. It looks the same on paper but it's not. KURIDOMA is the word that we use as church, and it means the house or dome of the Lord, meaning the building. But the biblical church is called EKKLESIA, EK meaning out, and KALEO to call.
These are people who have been called out by the Lord. The church are His people. It's not a building. It's not a system. It's God's people!
So, this is interesting. This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him on mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the living oracles to give to us. Again, he is making emphasis on that leadership that has come.
Here's what I find that may or may not be significant.
In Acts 7:56 the word for standing I believe is "histemi"
A prolonged form of a primary word stao (of the same meaning and used for it in certain tenses); to stand (transitively or intransitively) used in various applications (literally or figuratively): - abide appoint bring continue covenant establish hold up lay present set (up) stanch stand (by forth still up).
Mark 14:62 and Luke 22:69
Christ is "sitting" refers to the fact that His work of redemption is done.
Hebrews 10:12-13.
"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
In Luke 22:69 Jesus states "Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God" and then they ask him "Art thou then the Son of God? ( They understood his claim to sit on the right hand of the power of God makes him God.)
And he said unto them, (I am.)
And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
They accused him of Blasphemy!
God's right hand" refers to the Messiah, the LORD Jesus Christ, and He is of equal position, honor, power, and authority with God!
I may be wrong but I believe there is figurative emphasis on the standing and sitting.
Brother Jesse. Thanks again for this further batch of Scripture clarifications in Acts - very helpful. I understood what you wrote concerning the term "right hand" & certainly agree to it; and in many Scriptures this phrase comes up, having the meaning of 'a position of power & authority', which of course the Lord Jesus had, by virtue of His Divinity & completed work of Salvation for all.
But my thoughts turned to several Scriptures, some of which are Acts 7:55,56; Romans 8:34; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3; 1 Peter 3:22, etc., that certainly do imply Jesus' Divine Power & Authority, but I can't help but read of a positional aspect to it. When the words, 'seated or standing' are given, I think most of us would immediately see this aspect of Christ's 'physical' position as well (not to say, that Jesus doesn't move about in Heaven). How would you say that we should view such verses, especially the one where Stephen full of the Holy Spirit, was steadfastly ('atenizo': eyes affixed) on this wonder seeing the Risen Lord at God's right Hand? Even in this verse, & others, do we need to apply the 'right hand' as only to that of 'power & authority' & not of position? Thanks & blessings.
With reference to the Trinity, the title "Glory" is applied to each of the persons in the Holy Trinity: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, respectively "The Father of Glory, The Lord of Glory and "The Spirit of Glory." As God will not give his glory to another, then Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together are the one God.
This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. ( Psalms 24:6-10 KJV)
The "King of Glory," who commands the armies of heaven and will eventually defeat all His enemies in this world, is none other than Jesus Christ. He is the Lord of hosts ( Revelation 19:11- 20). He is Father in the Old Testament and Son in the New Testament, thanks to the incarnation.
I am the LORD; that is my name, and my glory I will not give to another, nor my praise to graven images. ISA 42:8.
The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, Acts 7:2.
Jesus is the Lord of Glory on earth.
None of the princes of this world knew it, for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory. 1Cor 2:8.
As well as being the Lord of Glory on earth, Jesus is: "The glory of the Gentiles."
For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream; then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. Isa_66:12.
Jesus is "the glory in the midst."
For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about and the glory in the midst of her. Zec_2:5.
The Holy Spirit is God, a divine Person, not a force or power from God.
He is eternal as God is: Heb. 9:14. He gives eternal life: John 6:63, 2 Cor. 3:6 ( Rom. 6:23 says that God gives eternal life and Jn. 10:28 Jesus says He gives eternal life) Only God can give eternal life.
He was with the Father and the Son "in the beginning" and created all things with them ( Gen. 1:3; Ps. 104:30)
He knows all things: 1 Cor. 2:20. Therefore, he is omniscient and has an intellect (mind). He is able to control a believer's mind ( Rom. 8:6).
He sent the Son into the world with the Father (Is. 48:16)
He regenerates sinners to come to faith and be saved ( Jn. 3:3,8). He baptizes believers ( 1Cor. 12:13, Acts 11:16).
He can be blasphemed ( Mt. 12:31, Mk. 3:29) Only God can be blasphemed.
He vindicated Jesus in raising Him from the dead ( 1Tim 3:16). The Scriptures teach that God raised Jesus from the dead ( Acts 2:24; 10:40; that Jesus raised Himself from the dead ( Jn. 2:19), and that the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead (2Cr. 4:14).
He is a person just as the Father and the Son are Persons. Not as we think of person in that each human is an individual being, but that He is a divine person unified in the One God.
As a person, He has emotions. He can be resisted ( Acts 7:51), can be pleased ( Gal. 6:8), quenched, grieved ( Eph. 4:30; Is 63:10), insulted ( Heb. 10:29).
As a person, He acts. He speaks ( Rev. 2:7; Acts. 13:2). He inspired Scriptures to be written ( 2Pet. 1:21). He teaches ( Jn. 14:26). He guides ( Jn. 16:13). He convicts of sin ( Jn. 16:8). He contends with man (Gen, 6:3).
In Acts 5 he is called God in the account of Ananias and Sephora, saying they lied to the Holy Spirit in vs. 3 and then reframes the statement by declaring that they have lied to God in vs. 4. Here the Holy Spirit is called God by God's inspiration to Luke.
The Holy Spirit is not a force, nor an emanation from God, not something God created-but a divine Person who united in the Being of God.
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.
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.
Well Oseas, from reading of your beliefs, I'm unable to place where you exactly are with this. You were first dealing with the Name of God in Isaiah. You've now quoted Acts 7:53-58, particularly verse 55, "But he (Stephen), being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God". In the NT, Koine Greek is the language used. If you believe that the Hebrew 'Yahweh' written of God in the OT is a devilish name, does this also apply to the Greek word for God: 'Theos'?
You asked, "what GOD's NAME was manifested by my Lord JESUS?" Yet, reading the rest of your comments, it appears to me that you hold to an "only Jesus is in Heaven" position, that when Jesus was made flesh, "GOD called Himself Jesus.." Really!!! So, as not to be mistaken, are you in that camp, that says 'that since God is in Christ that only Jesus is now in Heaven'? I'm hoping that I've misunderstood you, as we know most assuredly that when Jesus ascended into Heaven, He went back to the Father & is seated at His right Hand ( John 20:17, Acts 2:32,33, Romans 8:34, Hebrews 1:3, 1 Peter 3:22, etc.). So, NOT two Gods, but the One God, with Jesus His Son Who came forth out of God now distinct from Him through the incarnation. Thus He rightly fully claims the eternity of the Godhead (the Alpha & Omega), & also receives the worship of all. So your comments are troubling, if that is your position.
As Chris points out. In the Septuagint, which the NT apostles quoted from, uses the word "ecclesia" which means congregation/assembly of the called out ones. The Septuagint uses the word ecclesia in reference to the Israelite nation in the wilderness ( Acts 7:38, Deut. 18:16, ; 23:1; Ps. 26:12) Just as there is the visible ecclesia now and the invisible ecclesia (which includes all true believers), there was the visible ecclesia in the wilderness and the invisible ecclesia (which included all true believers such as Moses, Caleb, Joshua, and those who entered the land of Canaan who had faith as Abraham did.
GiGi and Chris have answered well. There was a transition, but the same gospel and one body of Christ-that is, the Church. Galatians 4:4 says, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law." Jesus came first for the lost sheep of Israel and to fulfill the law and the prophets.
Jesus had to live a perfect, sinless life under the law to bring in the new everlasting covenant. As prophesied, the new covenant had to be offered to the Jews first before it was offered to the Gentiles, as seen in Romans 1:16. We see that when the time came to go to the Gentiles, as in Acts 7:54-60, they plugged their ears and killed Stephen. Philip was the first to carry the gospel to the Samaritans, as in Acts 8. Paul's conversion is detailed in Acts 9, and Peter's dream and the sending to Cornelius are in Acts 10. Salvation has always been a gift of God through faith by the grace of God. John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9,
God bless.
RLW
" Then said Iesus, Father, forgiue them, for they know not what they doe: And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."
(Sorry 1611 version copied-you get the point)
Acts 7:59-60
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
There is a similar event here regarding the death of Stephen and Jesus as to their asking for God to forgive their enemies.
Could we say in some sense Jesus was not only invoking in prayer for the forgiveness of those actually present but all of those whose sin He was going to take on? Food for thought...
We are reminded in this of past times when God in His wrath would destroy nations through great signs; or destroyed the sons of Korah for another example. Elijah and the contest with the prophets of Baal is yet another incident where those who continued in pagan practices even though they acknowledged He was God were killed; this warning certainly is pertinent to those in the Revelation 6 conundrum largely of their own making who hide from God's wrath which they no doubt were largely responsible for in the death of the martyrs of the 5th Seal worldwide and continuing to attempt to find solace in the governments and system of this world.
Christ died for His enemies; and as there is not room for middle ground here we all have to decide what to do with this fact.
Unbelief dictates that we aren't broken over this act of sacrificial love beyond comprehension; but we find some substitution; some attempt to save face as it were to make ourselves acceptable to God some other way. The reason why God sometimes destroys someone for acknowledgment that He is God can be seen with Judas Iscariot; He could only see a righteous man in Christ not that He was God the Son. Not accepting God's free gift because it offends our sensibilities is a way o whitewashing our own sin.
Your quoting 2 Corinthians 5:6-9 is particularly clear. You have shared that these verses apply to the time of the resurrection of our dead bodies. But as I read it, Paul is essentially telling us that if we are alive ("at home in the body"), we are not in the Lord's presence ("absent from the Lord"). We can only be alive or dead; if alive, our spirit within us gives us life; if dead, our spirit departs our bodies that causes death.
So Paul is "groaning" over this matter, longing for departure from this life that he might be with his Lord. There isn't any intermediate state or any length of time in Paul's writing between death and life - it speaks of one or the other: either we are alive with our spirit or dead without the spirit. We can't be dead with our spirit in-house, and awaiting the resurrection. Or, we could even ask, 'why would Paul even want to depart this life and then remain in the grave for an indeterminate length of time?' His longing was to be with Jesus immediately upon his death, thus he looked forward to it.
To your answer to your question: "when will we be absent from this body?" this is at the resurrection; my understanding (as given above) is 'our absence from this body is at our death'. Every blessing.
How do we begin? The 7-year tribulation is taken from the 490-year prophecy in Daniel 9:25-27. The he in Daniel 9:27 is said to be the antichrist, who will make a 3.5-year peace treaty with Israel. Midway through this week, he will cause the abomination that makes desolate, leading to 3.5 years of great tribulation.
In verse 25, it states there will be 69 weeks from the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah, 483 years. This was fulfilled when Jesus was baptized and anointed with the Holy Spirit, as seen in Matthew 3:13-17. Jesus confirms His identity as the Messiah in Luke 3:16-21, and John denies being the Christ but speaks of Jesus in John 1:33-34.
Daniel 9:26 states that after sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be cut off. The 7 weeks, or 49 years, had already passed, a period during which the temple and part of the wall were rebuilt. Jesus' ministry was 3.5 years, so His crucifixion was 69 weeks plus 3.5 years, totaling 486.5 years of the 490-year prophecy, leaving only 3.5 years of the 490-year prophecy.
The people of the prince who shall come are those who will destroy the city and the sanctuary. This refers to Titus, the prince, and the Roman army, the people, who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70 for their abominations and rejection.
In verse 27, it is in the middle of the 70th week, Jesus' crucifixion causes the sacrifice and oblation to cease, Hebrews 9:12. During the remaining 3.5 years, Jesus was confirming the covenant to Israel through His apostles, as seen in Matthew 15:24, to the Jew first, Romans 1:16, which ended when the leaders of Jerusalem stopped their ears, Acts 7:54-60.
It says, "for the overspreading of abominations, he shall make it desolate." The he in verse 27 refers to Jesus, not an antichrist. The leaders of Jerusalem are the ones who spread the abominations, and Jesus made it desolate, as described in Matthew 23:37-38. Read the entire chapter of Matthew 23.
See part 2.
Without worrying about pre- or post- ideas, I would side with the post- VIEW.
For that is how I believe the word is meant literally.
Acts 7:55-56 - Stephen, before being stoned, saw Jesus at the right hand of God.
Romans 8:34 - Jesus is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
Colossians 3:1 - Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Hebrews 1:3 - After making purification for sins, Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Mark 16:19 -
"In fact, the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God."
Adeus, friends.
All of Jesus's life was about fulfilling the law and prophecy; it is to the Jew first and then the rest of the world, Romans 1:16, Romans 2:9-10. Jesus clearly said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and He instructed His disciples to do the same, Matthew 10:6, Matthew 15:24. Jesus spoke to them in parables so they would not understand and hear, and be healed, Matthew 13:13-15.
You are correct that, as a nation, they would have been able to receive Jesus as the Messiah if they had repented, and then the kingdom could have been established at that time. However, God knew their hearts. They were expecting Jesus to set up the kingdom at that time, including the apostles. They asked Jesus if He was going to establish it then, Acts 1:6.
Their final rejection is shown when they cried out loudly and covered their ears, Acts 7:57. Though many disagree, this also fulfills the last seven years in the prophecy of Daniel 9, which many associate with the end times and the doctrine of the Rapture of the Church. This gospel of grace is offered to Jew or Greek, and unto the whole world.
There is no difference between the Jew and any other person of any nation, Romans 10:12. It took the apostles some time to understand this, as shown by Peter's reluctance and his dream. It may not be in our Bible, but I believe they all understood God's plan. This Kingdom will be established when Jesus returns, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, Romans 11:25.
God bless,
RLW
11There is a generation of those who curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers.
12There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes
and yet unwashed of their filth.
13There is a generation-how haughty are their eyes
and pretentious are their glances-
14there is a generation whose teeth are swords
and whose jaws are knives,
devouring the oppressed from the earth
and the needy from among men.
Pretty fair summation of today; I would say.
I have spent a fair amount of time recently in discussing judgment in the house of God; not so much in general of those who are unbelievers. OF couse we have to stop and think about behaviors that are uncomely to God's people. James 3:10 states:
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. The world holds the church up to the standard it professes; while the world is expected; more or less to behave badly. Such an assumption is naive at best; and can keep us from reaching very kind individuals assuming they aren't in spiritual danger and focus on opposition with this logic.
More precisely; it is the master who is the conductor of our lives and as Jesus stated we cannot serve two masters. Jesus Himself said "forgive them because they know not what they're doing" in Luke 23:34 as well as Acts 7:60 when Stephen was being stoned after his heavenly vision of Christ standing on the throne. It may well have been a reminder from Christ Himself as his spirit departed to do the same. At any rate; the world is under bondage from the enemy but a truly saved individual isn't. Despite this; of course the enemy will try to accuse and convince someone that they are useless for the Lord and indeed if there is a stronghold of sin it is sufficient for him to maintain; with glee no doubt whatever power the particular minion has over a person.
So unconditional love helps us to overcome evil with good ( Romans 12:21). Otherwise we're toast.
Pt. 6
The Father gives to Jesus as the incarnate Word of God all dominion, power, and authority Mt. 28:18) over creation before creation as it is through the Son that all things were created. The Son is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords over all creation. Jesus gives eternal life to all whom the Father brings to Him and He is given the right to judge all of created beings, humans and angelic. ( Heb 1:8, Jn. 17:2)
The Father wills that every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord of all to the glory of God. The Father has commanded the angels to worship the Son ( Heb 1:6) and all the redeemed are to worship Jesus as well as shown in Rev. 5:6-13 acclaiming that Jesus was slain and redeemed for Himself by His shed blood His people who come from every tongue tribe and nation.
The Father has ordained that His Son will secure the victory over sin, death, hell, and the devil, destroying all the evil works and sins of Him who deceived Eve and enticed Adam to disobey God in the beginning. ( 1 john 3:8, 1 Cor. 15:55; Rev. 1:17-18; 1 Cor. 15:26; Rev. 20:1-10; 21:1-5)
The Father commands that the Son be given the same honor as the Father ( Jn. 5:23) and restores the glory to Jesus upon His resurrection ( Jn. 17:1, 4-5) that He always had before His incarnation.
The Father has the Son, Jesus, sitting on the Father's throne in heaven, at His right hand ( Acts 7:55; Jn. 12:41; Mk. 16:19) displaying that Jesus is equal in nature to the Father and worthy to receive all that the Father receives in worship.
Got to go for now. Making wings for dinner. I realized that I did not cite verses for thr other parts. Sorry, but in this section.
See Pt. 7
Part 2
Daniel 9, there are 69 weeks from the commandment unto the Messiah. I understand this is when Jesus was baptized and anointed with the Holy Spirit, becoming the Messiah. In verse 26, Jesus's ministry was 3.5 years when Jesus was cut off/crucified, this would be 69.5 weeks. It is the people/army of the prince that will come and destroy, not the prince. We see a parable relating to this very thing, Matthew 22:1-7.
In verse 27, Jesus is the one who came to confirm the new covenant to the house of Israel, Jeremiah 31:31-34. His ministry was 3.5 years, which is in the middle of the 70th week when He was cut off. Jesus, through His apostles, confirmed the covenant to the house of Israel for the remaining 3.5 years until the death of Stephen, Acts 7:54-60. The confirming of the covenant to the house of Israel ended, and the gospel was then given to the Gentiles. 1 Corinthians 11:25, Hebrews 12:24, Hebrews 13:20.
It is not a beast that makes it desolate, we see in Matthew 23 Jesus was addressing the leaders of the Jewish nation, He was retorting to their rejection of His saving work on their behalf. They refused His call for repentance, because of their overspreading of abominations, Jesus said, "Behold your house is left unto you desolate".
This refers to the coming judgment on Jerusalem and the temple for their rejection of Jesus and the saving work of God. "even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured out on the desolate". What Jesus said your house is left unto you desolate, the consummation, the complete destruction poured out on the desolate in 70 AD.
Thank you, brother.
God bless,
RLW
"Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?"
Acts 7:50
"Hath not my hand made all these things?"
Blessings
Part 5.
5, And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
On the surface, it can be seen that Jesus is asking to be glorified by the Father with the glory He shared before creation, indicating the eternal nature of Christ, who existed before time began. Does Philippians 2:6-8 justify this request? Jesus, for His obedient earthly ministry, He rightfully deserves?
Does all of Scripture agree with this? We have these verses with similar wording. Were the things in these verses physically present before the world was? Were they all in the mind, thoughts, and the plan of God? Can we say some were and some were not? Are they confirmation of God's eternal plan and foreknowledge?
Verses that say before the world was, before the world, and before the foundation of the world. God's foreknowledge, purpose, and plan were before creation.
1 Corinthians 2:7 This wisdom is the gospel of Jesus Christ, hidden in the thoughts of God from before the world was. It was ordained from before the world that would be revealed in the fullness of time, as stated in Ephesians 1:10 and Colossians 1:26-27. There are hints of it throughout the Old Testament, but hidden from the Gentile world, it is now revealed through the preaching of the apostles who were with Jesus from the beginning of His three-and-a-half-year ministry, and Paul, after the leaders of Jerusalem said no to Jesus being the Messiah and killed Stephen, Acts 7:54-60.
2 Timothy 1:9 Our calling and salvation are given not by anything we have done or can do to earn. It is according to God's grace and for His purpose. This grace, which was given to us in Jesus, is part of God's plan before the world began, as we see in Ephesians 2:8-10 and Romans 8:28-29.
Salvation through Jesus Christ is available to everyone who accepts it, it is received by faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God alone.
See part 6.
Part 2
The Bible consistently indicates that souls can die and cease to exist. For example, Matthew 10:28, it mentions that the soul can be destroyed, implying it is not immortal. The Greek word translated as soul is psuche, which has several meanings, including the vital breath, the breath of life, the human soul, the soul as the seat of affections and will, consciousness, a human person. Essentially, it includes who we are, and is inseparable.
This does not happen until we are resurrected, when Jesus Christ returns, it is a gift of God, Romans 2:5-7. Immortality is not given until the resurrection from the dead, only then will we be absent from this flesh and blood body and present with the Lord, Revelation 19:11-21, Revelation 20:1-6. The Bible never describes the soul of man as immortal or eternal. We die and are buried mortal, dead in corruption, and we will be raised incorruptible, 1 Corinthians 15:42-44. Every part of us is mortal, and we must put on immortality, 1 Corinthians 15:52-54.
The spirit: The spirit is the breath of life given to us by God, in Luke 25:46 Jesus said to His Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. In Acts 7:59, Stephen said Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. The spirit empowers us to experience God's profound love, it is through the spirit that we are empowered to live according to the ways of God, embracing righteousness and walking in His ways, in God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit, rather than walking in the ways of the world.
Our spirit is how we communicate with God, Job 32:8, Proverbs 20:27, John 4:24, 1 Corinthians 2:10-12. God inspires or motivates us by stirring up the spirit in a person, 1 Chronicles 5:25-26. God inspired King Cyrus to issue a decree, allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem, Ezra 1:1.
See part 3
The grace age church in the Body of Christ Jesus is Heavenly.
Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings inheavenlyplacesin Christ:
Ephesians 2:6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together inheavenlyplacesin Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 3:10
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers inheavenlyplacesmight be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Amen, glory to God and the Lord Jesus Christ for the Heavenly Places
How important is the Jews ? ? The Jew had the word of God and all the blessings that came with it.
Romans 3:1-2
1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
2Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
Acts 7:38
This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the livelyoraclesto give unto us:
1 Peter 4:11
If any man speak, let him speak as theoraclesof God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
May we all love the Jew and pray for them.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
No, the Bible does not teach that the soul sleeps after death.Instead, the Bible describes death as a sleep-like state for the body, while the soul is immediately present with God.
The Bible uses the word "sleep" metaphorically to describe death, which is temporary.For example, in Acts 7:60, Luke describes Stephen's death as "falling asleep".
The Christians soul and spirit will be with Christ in Heaven and it will be awake and alive when they die.
2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to beabsentfromthebody, and to be present withtheLord.
Apostle John saw in a revelation the 144,000 saints singing. The souls are not sleeping but awake and alive.
Revelation 14:3
And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
We know that God rested on the 7th day, but did not go to sleep.
Genesis 2:2
AndontheseventhdayGod ended his work which he had made; and herestedontheseventhdayfrom all his work which he had made.
The fiscal body of this world sleeps both ways, life and death , but not soul sleeping in the spirit.
May we all sleep good tonight in the Lord Jesus Christ without having any bad dreams.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 the gospel of grace that never sleeps
I know when we hear heaven we think of where God is but there are three. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands, Psalm 19:1. The first heaven is the sky, the atmosphere the air we breathe, and where the clouds float so beautifully.
The second heaven is the galaxy where God placed the lights in heaven for signs and seasons, as we see in Genesis 1:14-19. The place of the sun moon and all the planets and stars we call space.
The third is where God and all the angelic beings are. This is the heaven we see King Uzziah saw in Isaiah 6:1, which Stephen saw when they stoned him in Acts 7:55-56, Paul spoke of in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, and we see all that John saw in Revelation.
I hope this helps,
God bless,
RLW
I would like to share my understanding, but please pray and study to find the truth you seek. The breaking off of the branches was necessary to graft in the wild branches, representing the Gentiles. This mystery relates to the temporary blindness of the Israelites until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in, as mentioned in Romans 11:11 and Romans 11:25. It's important to note that this blindness is not permanent. This goes back to the promise God made to Abraham, in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, that seed is Jesus.
Just to say this was not all the house of Israel as we see the Church began with Jews, to the Jews first. It was not until the leaders of Jerusalem shut their ears to Jesus and killed Stephen was the gospel sent to the Gentiles, Acts 7:54-60, and still many Jews believed in Jesus. They were broken off because of unbelief, we must stand by faith and not be arrogant.
I don't view the Gentiles as a group being cut off; rather, it's each individual who faces such a fate. There will come a time when the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. The falling away will occur among those believers who lack strength in their faith and who are unable to endure until the end.
Dear brother, I do not believe in the rapture as taught with the taking up the Church, and the seven years. You must pray and study for your understanding without preconceived ideas relying on the Holy Spirit not man. Study where the 7 years come from, and study 1 Thessalonians 4 with prayer asking what are the people concerned about. When Jesus returns and people meet Him in the air where is the destination?
God bless your study, trust in God, He will show you the truth, not man.
RLW
Acts 7:9-11 9And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, 10And delivered him out of all his afflictions [Greek: thlipsis], and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction [Greek: thlipsis]: and our fathers found no sustenance.
Jacob's affliction stemmed from the fact that they were forced to leave the land of Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey, a land that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had dwelt in for 215 years, due to the famine. And in regards to famine, remember Amos 8:11?
Amos 8:11-12 11Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: 12And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.
Amos 8:11 is speaking about our day, which is parallel to Jacob's tribulation in that within the churches there is a famine of HEARING the words of the LORD, meaning the Holy Spirit is no longer present in the churches to give spiritual ears to hear.
God has provided a time bridge of 1,290 years between Jacob's tribulation and the tribulation of Daniel's day. The 1,290 years comes from Daniel 12:11.
Daniel 12:9-11 9And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. 11And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
God occasionally substitutes a day for a year, as in Ezekiel 4:4-6.
Cont in Part 8
Matthew 24:1-3 1And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
The temple that God has in view are the churches and congregations that are scattered all over the earth. The word "buildings" in Matthew 24:1 is the same Greek root word translated "building" in 1 Corinthians 3:9 9For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's "building".
God goes on in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 to describe that there are two kinds of materials in this spiritual building: gold, silver, precious stones, typifying true believers, and wood, hay, stubble, typifying those who externally identify with the kingdom of God and yet are not born from above, and are fit to be burned and consumed by God who is a consuming fire.
The statement of Matthew 24:2, "There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down," means that there are no exceptions.
We are living in the period of great tribulation, spoken of in Matthew 24:21-22 21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
The word 'tribulation' is the Greek word thlipsis translated "affliction" twice in Acts 7:10-11.
Cont in Part 7
Acts 7:51 - Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
That's not a great way to start out and win friends. Stiffnecked! All of us have actually experienced waking up some morning with a stiff neck. But that's not what it means. They called a person a "stiffneck person" when they refused to bow. And someone would come over to them and grab them by the back of the neck and try to make them bow and they would stiffen up and refuse to bow. A "stiffnecked" person is a person who refuses to bow to the lordship of Christ.
Acts 8:1 - And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
And Saul was consenting unto his death. That is a specific Jewish term making reference to vote. He was consenting. He cast his vote to have Stephen put to death. And at that time, there was a great persecution against the church, which was at, or in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
The apostles didn't travel, at least at the beginning, and they stayed behind. But Paul wasn't finished. He wasn't satisfied with just the death of Stephen. This began a city-wide persecution of rounding up believers. And so, they scattered. And that is their official name, even to this day. They are the DIASPORA. That is the Greek word for scattered. DIASPORA are the scattered ones, the Jews who had been scattered outside their homeland of Israel.
Acts 6:8 - And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
The word miracles is the word signs. They translated it miracles to emphasize the fact that whatever powerful work, whatever moving of God's Spirit, it was a physical sign to draw people to establish it being from God.
Acts 7:1 - Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
Literally, the Greek text presents a legal court question. "Do any of these accusations hold these things?" Meaning, are any true? Answer for yourself!
Acts 7:38 - This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
The word church is the word assembly. It is the first word of church, other than the Lord in Matthew Chapter 16 saying, "Upon this rock I will build my church," that there were churches mentioned.
And it literally means an assembly or called out ones! The English word church in the bible is not the same word church that we use in English. It looks the same on paper but it's not. KURIDOMA is the word that we use as church, and it means the house or dome of the Lord, meaning the building. But the biblical church is called EKKLESIA, EK meaning out, and KALEO to call.
These are people who have been called out by the Lord. The church are His people. It's not a building. It's not a system. It's God's people!
So, this is interesting. This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him on mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the living oracles to give to us. Again, he is making emphasis on that leadership that has come.
Here's what I find that may or may not be significant.
In Acts 7:56 the word for standing I believe is "histemi"
A prolonged form of a primary word stao (of the same meaning and used for it in certain tenses); to stand (transitively or intransitively) used in various applications (literally or figuratively): - abide appoint bring continue covenant establish hold up lay present set (up) stanch stand (by forth still up).
Mark 14:62 and Luke 22:69
Christ is "sitting" refers to the fact that His work of redemption is done.
Hebrews 10:12-13.
"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
In Luke 22:69 Jesus states "Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God" and then they ask him "Art thou then the Son of God? ( They understood his claim to sit on the right hand of the power of God makes him God.)
And he said unto them, (I am.)
And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
They accused him of Blasphemy!
God's right hand" refers to the Messiah, the LORD Jesus Christ, and He is of equal position, honor, power, and authority with God!
I may be wrong but I believe there is figurative emphasis on the standing and sitting.
God bless.
But my thoughts turned to several Scriptures, some of which are Acts 7:55,56; Romans 8:34; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3; 1 Peter 3:22, etc., that certainly do imply Jesus' Divine Power & Authority, but I can't help but read of a positional aspect to it. When the words, 'seated or standing' are given, I think most of us would immediately see this aspect of Christ's 'physical' position as well (not to say, that Jesus doesn't move about in Heaven). How would you say that we should view such verses, especially the one where Stephen full of the Holy Spirit, was steadfastly ('atenizo': eyes affixed) on this wonder seeing the Risen Lord at God's right Hand? Even in this verse, & others, do we need to apply the 'right hand' as only to that of 'power & authority' & not of position? Thanks & blessings.
With reference to the Trinity, the title "Glory" is applied to each of the persons in the Holy Trinity: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, respectively "The Father of Glory, The Lord of Glory and "The Spirit of Glory." As God will not give his glory to another, then Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together are the one God.
This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. ( Psalms 24:6-10 KJV)
The "King of Glory," who commands the armies of heaven and will eventually defeat all His enemies in this world, is none other than Jesus Christ. He is the Lord of hosts ( Revelation 19:11- 20). He is Father in the Old Testament and Son in the New Testament, thanks to the incarnation.
I am the LORD; that is my name, and my glory I will not give to another, nor my praise to graven images. ISA 42:8.
The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, Acts 7:2.
Jesus is the Lord of Glory on earth.
None of the princes of this world knew it, for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory. 1Cor 2:8.
As well as being the Lord of Glory on earth, Jesus is: "The glory of the Gentiles."
For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream; then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. Isa_66:12.
Jesus is "the glory in the midst."
For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about and the glory in the midst of her. Zec_2:5.
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt am
He is eternal as God is: Heb. 9:14. He gives eternal life: John 6:63, 2 Cor. 3:6 ( Rom. 6:23 says that God gives eternal life and Jn. 10:28 Jesus says He gives eternal life) Only God can give eternal life.
He was with the Father and the Son "in the beginning" and created all things with them ( Gen. 1:3; Ps. 104:30)
He knows all things: 1 Cor. 2:20. Therefore, he is omniscient and has an intellect (mind). He is able to control a believer's mind ( Rom. 8:6).
He sent the Son into the world with the Father (Is. 48:16)
He regenerates sinners to come to faith and be saved ( Jn. 3:3,8). He baptizes believers ( 1Cor. 12:13, Acts 11:16).
He can be blasphemed ( Mt. 12:31, Mk. 3:29) Only God can be blasphemed.
He vindicated Jesus in raising Him from the dead ( 1Tim 3:16). The Scriptures teach that God raised Jesus from the dead ( Acts 2:24; 10:40; that Jesus raised Himself from the dead ( Jn. 2:19), and that the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead (2Cr. 4:14).
He is a person just as the Father and the Son are Persons. Not as we think of person in that each human is an individual being, but that He is a divine person unified in the One God.
As a person, He has emotions. He can be resisted ( Acts 7:51), can be pleased ( Gal. 6:8), quenched, grieved ( Eph. 4:30; Is 63:10), insulted ( Heb. 10:29).
As a person, He acts. He speaks ( Rev. 2:7; Acts. 13:2). He inspired Scriptures to be written ( 2Pet. 1:21). He teaches ( Jn. 14:26). He guides ( Jn. 16:13). He convicts of sin ( Jn. 16:8). He contends with man (Gen, 6:3).
In Acts 5 he is called God in the account of Ananias and Sephora, saying they lied to the Holy Spirit in vs. 3 and then reframes the statement by declaring that they have lied to God in vs. 4. Here the Holy Spirit is called God by God's inspiration to Luke.
The Holy Spirit is not a force, nor an emanation from God, not something God created-but a divine Person who united in the Being of God.
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
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 asked, "what GOD's NAME was manifested by my Lord JESUS?" Yet, reading the rest of your comments, it appears to me that you hold to an "only Jesus is in Heaven" position, that when Jesus was made flesh, "GOD called Himself Jesus.." Really!!! So, as not to be mistaken, are you in that camp, that says 'that since God is in Christ that only Jesus is now in Heaven'? I'm hoping that I've misunderstood you, as we know most assuredly that when Jesus ascended into Heaven, He went back to the Father & is seated at His right Hand ( John 20:17, Acts 2:32,33, Romans 8:34, Hebrews 1:3, 1 Peter 3:22, etc.). So, NOT two Gods, but the One God, with Jesus His Son Who came forth out of God now distinct from Him through the incarnation. Thus He rightly fully claims the eternity of the Godhead (the Alpha & Omega), & also receives the worship of all. So your comments are troubling, if that is your position.