Discuss Ecclesiastes 3 Page 3

Sister Nancy, may CHRIST IN US grace us with HIS wisdom and HIS understanding.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, and a (God's) time to every purpose under the heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:2 A (God's) time to be born, and a (God's) time to die.....

God is SOVEREIGN, nothing happens without God CAUSING IT. He uses Satan and man TO DO HIS WORK.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God that WORKETH in you (man) BOTH TO WILL and TO DO of his good pleasure.

Isaiah 54:16 .... I have created the waster to destroy.

You can take all the covid shots available and if God has PREDISINATED you to die from covid; you will die from covid.

On the other hand; you can stand in a crowd of thousands that are infected with covid, and if you were PREDESTINATED to live, you will live.

Few put their TRUST in God's word.

Few TRUST GOD.

Few think God CAUSES everything.

What's happening in GOD'S WORLD are HIS TRIALS and HIS JUDGEMENTS.

It's for our GOOD (even though it appears very bad).

These trials and judgements CAUSE us to TRUST GOD.

OSEAS, may CHRIST IN US grace us with HIS wisdom and HIS understanding.

I haven't spent a lot of time letting the Spirit teach me the things in Genesis that have to be SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED. I KNOW there are THERE because EVERYTHING LITERAL has a PARALLEL that has to be SPIRITUALLY discerned. I know part of them because you can see them quite clearly; as JESUS was the first created light.

I spend most of my study in the prophets and Revelation and their relation to the New Testament and how we become the the likeness and image of Christ; which also has to be spiritually discerned. How and when we will be the judges with Christ in the kingdom of God. None of this can be seen, but is as REAL as God himself.

Ecclesiastes 3:15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

1 Corinthians 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural, and afterwards that which is spiritual.

Hebrews 12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the REMOVING of those things that can be SHAKEN, as of those things that are made, that those things which CANNOT BE SHAKEN shall remain.

I BELIEVE from reading you comments you understand that the literal has a parallel and that is what's REAL, the literal will DISAPPEAR.

When you have time, look at the story of Jacob (the literal) and the ladder to heaven, and replace Jacob with Jesus the REAL.

Genesis 28:10-22

John 1:51

I will study the seven days of creation in Genesis more; in the mean time; God willing, let us keep digging for the treasures of God's word (living and written), as the Spirit reveals them to us.

Ecclesiastes 3:v.1-8 and 17

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

17 God shall Judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

Miyelani, may CHRIST IN US grace us with HIS wisdom and HIS understanding.

There was no sin until man was created.

Romans 8:20 For the creature (man) was created SUBJECT TO VANITY, not willingly, but by reason of him (God) who hath SUBJECTED the same (man) in hope,

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 ....also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from beggining to the end.

Adam and Eve were created with a heart subject to the weakness of FLESH.

They were predestined to sin because; Christ was predestined to die for OUR sins:

Revelation 13:8 And ALL THAT DWELL upon the earth SHALL WORSHIP HIM, whose names ARE NOT WRITTEN in the book of the life of the Lamb SLAIN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION of the world.

Sister Martha, may CHRIST IN US grace us with HIS wisdom and HIS understanding.

God predestinated before the world was, that creation (man) would be like him. God created us with this world set in our hearts (flesh).

Ecclesiastes 3:11 ....also he has set the world in their heart...

This was necessary so we could come to know everything in the same likeness as God knows (good and evil).

Being naturally born in the flesh (worldly) we start as ANTI-CHRIST, false prophets not knowing the truth of God, beast of the earth with now concept of the ways of the Spirit.

When Jesus died and was resurrected a new way of LIFE became possible; a way to OVERCOME and become LIKE GOD.

This is the BATTLE being fought a battle between truth and deception, love and hate, mercy and no mercy, self and selflessness, faithfulness and no faithfulness. God is the ONE and flesh is the OTHER.

THE WORD (written and living) is our means of fighting this battle and winning. None of this can be seen, we have to rely on the SPIRIT and his WORD for instructions of WAR.

Revelation is depicting this battle. We are not faithful to our creator (husband); therefore we are the WHORE. We don't know God's word; therefore, we are the false prophet. We have no love or mercy; therefore, we are BEAST. Through TRUTH; anti Christ, the false prophet and the beast are DESTROYED and we become the LIKENESS OF CHRIST.

Colossians 1:27 ...this mystery, CHRIST IN US ....

Brother Stan, may CHRIST IN US grace us with HIS wisdom and HIS understanding. Most of the Psalms are prophecies pointing to the NEW COVENANT. Christ already knows the END. He knows because HE SPOKE THE WORDS before the foundation of the world. They are coming to fruition at HIS APPOINTED TIME. (his works)

Ecclesiastes 3:1-9

Hebrews 4:3 For we which have believed do ENTER INTO (SABBATH) REST, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into MY (SABBATH) REST: although THE (his) WORKS were FINISHED from the foundations of the world. Christ has been RESTING since those first six days; you are defiling the SABBATH if you are not also resting (IN CHRIST'S WORKS): THE WORKS ARE DONE (COMPLETE).

Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor setteth in the seat of the scornful.

Christ is declaring kis WORKS that the death and resurrection of HIMSELF will bring to mankind. At his APPOINTED TIME in each of us. HIS WORKS!

Proverbs 16:6 BY MERCY and TRUTH iniquity is purged.....(his works)

Romans 2:4...not knowing that THE GOODNESS of God leadeth thee to REPENTANCE? (his works)

Isaiah 27:12 And it shall COME TO PASS in that day (NEW COVENANT) (day of the Lord)... ye shall be gathered ONE by ONE (appointed time)...(his works)

Revelation 21:3 ...Behold, the tabernacle (temple) of God is with men...CHRIST IN YOU (his works)

1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that YE are the temple of God (new heaven), and that the SPIRIT of God DWELLETH IN YOU. (his works)

Revelation 21:22 And I saw no temple therein (new Jerusalem), for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb ARE THE TEMPLE OF IT (CHRIST IN US). Accomplished at the NEW COVENANT. Death and resurrection of Christ. New heaven (NEW dwelling place of God) and new earth (new body; no longer dust, but THE GLORY OF GOD)! (his works)

Sarah, may the Spirit grace us with HIS wisdom and HIS understanding.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also he has set the world in their heart, that no man can find out the WORK THAT GOD MAKETH from the beginning to the end.

Isaiah 28:21 .....that he may do HIS WORK, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.

The tree of (the) knowledge of GOOD and EVIL. One tree, two fruits within themselves. You can't eat one without eating the other.

Children are born without knowledge; the FATHER tells them DO NOT touch the stove, it's hot. HOW CAN THEY BELIEVE, they don't know what hot is. So the FATHER has to teach knowledge through the experience of extremes found in the world. GOOD AND EVIL; but also HOPE.

Romans 8:20 For the creature (creation) was made SUBJECT TO VANITY, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in HOPE.

In God's strange act he is choosing a FEW to become Sons of God; that they with him will deliver the rest of creation from corruption.

Romans 8:19 For the earnest EXPECTATION of the creature waiteth for the MANIFESTATION of the SONS OF GOD.

Romans 8:21 Because the creature itself shall ALSO BE DELIVERED from the bondage of corruption (death) into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

This is the yin/yang. The point is that everything is good in the right season, even death and war. All things must have a polar opposite to exist. We place our values on what is good and what is evil. But there can be no absolute rules because every thing is good and beautiful in the appropriate season. To pull up a plant is evil until it is ready to be harvested. Then it is good. See? This chapter also tells us that time does not exist but God gave us the sense of time adding to allow us to experience every part of His creation. It's a big video game. He programmed a reaction to every move you might make. But it's all pre-written since time began. This chapter confirms this fact.

Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Genesis 18:27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

Job 4:19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?

Psalms 103:14, Psalms 104:29 , -- Ecclesiastes 3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

We haven't cremated any of our family, no plans to. But I wouldn't think it makes a difference.

The Holy Scriptures when rightly divided always answers for itself. Therefore being in agreement with responses viewed in regards to Proverbs 24:4-5. The simplicity of scripture reveals in the next book Ecclesiastes 3:7 ", a time to be silent and a time to speak". In one biblical example: Jesus "my Lord and Savior" said nothing to defend the woman who was taken in adultery, "the very act", per her accusers. However, Jesus knew their foolishness was not concerned about the adulterous act. They attempted to invoke the old testament passage, Deut 17:5 which clearly say, "to bring the man and the woman,,,,". So where was the man? Therefore, Christ silence was knowing when not to answer. However, when they began to press him of what He says should be done, Now, they're bringing into light the thoughts of GOD to which Christ being the Word broke his silence to address their foolishness so they could go no further in this by simply saying, "He among you who is without sin, let him first cast a stone at her". The rest of the story is known. It is proper to allow scripture to interpret scripture in that way it's The LORD answering for what we believe to His Word. GOD Bless!

Ecclesiastes 3:14-17 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

Ecclesiastes 5:8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

2 Timothy 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Revelation 21:4 - And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Psalms 34:18 - The LORD [is] nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

John 16:22 - And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

Matthew 5:4 - Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

John 14:27-29 - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (Read More...)

Isaiah 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

2 Timothy 4:7 - I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith:

Colossians 2:5 - For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 - To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: (Read More...)

Psalms 147:3 - He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 - But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (Read More...)

Philippians 1:3 - I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

John 11:25 - Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Philippians 4:6-7 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Read More...)

They are a great comfort

This is what I feel both intellectually and intuitively: I believe that all higher animals, at least those that share the beginnings of the qualities that differentiate us from the animal world, have a soul. A soul, but not an individual spirit. There are millions that die every day, the light of their souls switching off, as their bodies return to dust. However, there are some that live on in the memories of the humans that they connected with; some that have an attachment that clings to the eternal spirit of the human. This animal's soul will live vicariously within the spirit of the one who finds salvation in Christ. So yes, they will be with you in heaven.

not sure but would this help just happening to be reading this last night.

Ecclesiastes 3:18 "I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts."

Ecclesiastes 3:19 "For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. " Ecclesiastes 3:20 "All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. " Ecclesiastes 3:21 "Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?"

There is a time for everything and we must use discernment to be able to tell when it is the appropriate time for something.

1 Thessalonians 5:23: "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

As the Apostle Paul believed & is indeed the case, we are a type of trinity, without any one aspect of our make-up, we cease to be the creation that God made. The 'body' part is easy: we see it & most people give very little thought to any other aspect of our being. Yet, God has given it to us so that the 'real' parts of us can be 'housed' & that both the visible & invisible parts of us are accountable to God, unlike some who believe that we can do whatever we like with & through our bodies.

Genesis 2:7: "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."

Even though the word 'soul' can be used almost interchangeably with 'spirit', I think we should understand it as "the life of a person". And in that 'life' we also have our faculties, emotions, reasoning powers, etc.

However, I see that the 'spirit' given to man is quite different. Proverbs 20:27, "The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly (heart)." God gives both man & animals a spirit. In man, God can minister or speak to us. So one might be 'spiritually alive' which means, being receptive to God/to spiritual things, ( 1 Corinthians 2:9-11). Or one is 'spiritually dead', having no spiritual discernment or is so hindered by Satan, that he no longer is moved by God. Of what sort the spirit in animals is, I don't know, except for what Ecclesiastes 3:21 tells us.

But when we die, our spirits return to the Lord ( Ecclesiastes 12:7): we are not only accountable to God for our lives, but also we are indestructible, or the body can be destroyed but the spirit lives on, whether with God or with Satan.

As far as the animals are concerned if we observe them, even the plants and Fish, birds that fall (sparrows) their designs seam to be patterned after us inasmuch as they are either males or females, plants, creatures, not sure about amebas or germ, or viruses???Because of the dark ages in the Western Hemisphere some common sense things JESUS taught were lost?!?! "All" the thousands of years old religions teach that "AS THEY ARE WE ONCE WERE, AS WE ARE THEY ARE EVOLVING TO"?!?!?! They seam to be in the loop of GOD'S creations?!?!?!?! I like to think that ADAM had a really good relationship with ALL GOD'S creatures before the fall from the Garden Of EDEN seemly left us with permission to mistreat them!?!? Maybe JESUS will make repairs in the BREACH we have with Common Sense?!?!?!

Isaiah was put in a hollow log and summarily sawed into with a wooden saw. Thus he died as a Martyr!!!! Sealing his testimony of our SAVIOR with his BLOOD!!!!

Hello Ed,

Wanting to give my thoughts to the question you have. I believe yes animals do have a soul. But they do not have a spirit as us humans do. As we all know different animals can have different personalities and uniqueness. Even thou the same type of animal. Showing they do have attributes to a soul. Although as us humans being made "in the image of God" have a spirit which is unique to humans over any other animal. Although I believe God is in everything living, even His trees, they do not have the "spirit" we have been Blessed with. One attribute being our link to our Father in Heaven through the Holy Spirit. Having received from Christ.

My belief on your question. God Bless you brother.

Israel has found almost ALL of the original. Scrolls. They're locked up of course.

You can see them by googling or 700 club has videos of it.

Comparing the KJV Bible to other versions. King James of England spared no effort to get a Bible into "the little" lay people who did not have Bibles.

People, priests were burned at the stake for smuggling a page of scripture so everyone could read it.

We are so spoiled. Anyone can walk into a Goodwill Store and find a Christian KJV Bible. Careful not to get a Jehovah Witnesses Bible or even a R.C. Bible. KJV's are getting harder to find.

It's simply because they want to mislead people from the truth. That's why they made a lot of versions. If you are searching and looking for the truth about God or the real God you must read the King James version because its 99.9 % accurate from the original version. It was proven when the scroll of Isiah was found in the dead sea and when they checked it from the King James version it was 99.9 % accurate and this KJV is really infallible. That's why the reason is simply to misinformed or deceived people or drive people away from the truth.

I think if everyone wants to be more enlightened search if it is really true about the scroll of Isiah.

Page 1.

Luke, this is one of those subjects that doesn't give us clear answers on all aspects of death & the afterlife. And since we can't get first-hand detail from someone who has been through it, we have to rely on what the Bible reveals & remain confident in these Truths, yet not dogmatic.

We do know that within us, that which gives us our real identity is our soul & spirit & these are housed in our body. The body can die & deteriorate, but the soul & spirit are immaterial & cannot perish. Ecclesiastes 3:20,21: "All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" This verse shows that the animal at death simply perishes, but the human spirit doesn't & is accountable to God.

Then Jesus spoke in Luke 16:19-31 about the death of a rich man & a beggar named Lazarus. Jesus clearly showed that they were in a place other than at the grave. The rich man was suffering & the beggar was not. And Adam also cited the passage about the repentant thief on his cross beside Jesus. So I believe that we can understand that the spirit of man does go beyond this earthly realm at death rather than lingering in or near its deteriorating frame. Then what happens to those who are cremated with their ashes scattered everywhere? How does a spirit of a dead man deal with that? My sense is that our spirit, being liberated from the body, has to move to another point or place. My preference takes Paul's words into account in 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, that if he was in the body he was absent from the Lord, but if he was absent in the body, he would be present with the Lord, i.e. he would be in Heaven. Also Philippians 1:23.

Joe, very true that we must heed the words of warning in Rev 22:19. Though I wrote that because I would rather people read from a version of the Bible that they can understand than just wander through aimlessly in a version that is written in a language that they cannot properly comprehend. If one takes the time to research those words or verses that are difficult, then yes, do read from the KJV with understanding. But most readers won't make that effort & so the Bible becomes a difficult & tedious book to read resulting in eventually not reading it all. It's a case of what is important. I know both the correct version & reading with understanding is both important, however some people have to choose between them.

Here is the explanation, men thinking they know better than God, changed His word to fit there understanding, desires, or sin. Here is another explanation, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin," they didn't have faith in Gods word, so they changed it. The sin they are doing is of the serpent, that wicked one, "Yeah, hath God said?".

Rev 22:19 is the bottom line.

I'm in my 60's too. Born again in 1985.

My first Bible was a Living Bible which was so severely marked up after a year, I got a KJV on the 2nd Bible. I'm on my 8th Bible now (KJV).

Best advise: google has Bible Commentaries you can read. Type in your scripture like this:

" John 16:8 Commentary"

Several commentaries will pop up. Matthew Henry is reliable. Usually the first 5 are most reliable.

I love studying. In some places you'll see verses repeated a couple of chapter forward; like in Genesis.

If you'll get a KJV with center of each page, reference columns, it's a huge help in studying. The tiny abc's imbedded in the scripture correspond to the center column: that will add other books and scriptures that give more light to what you are reading.

I learn faster by reading 2-3 books at a time. It flows better. Make notes in pencil to go backward to a verse; or forward.

When your Bible is all marked up, it's time to get a new one so the Lord can show you even more light and revelation on scriptures. You'll see how much you are growing and learning.

Always ask the Holy Spirit to help you see the truth and the mysteries.

If you see someone struggling to put it all together as we did, once: you are approved to help them. "Study to show yourself approved (by the Lord), a workman that need not be ashamed."

We need you in here to help those who are new to this :)

In man's attempt to present new Bible versions in contemporary English & style, they have also appealed to 'old' manuscripts that have not wholly been faithful to the true Words of God. Not to say that these other versions are altogether in error, but the many changes, inclusions & omissions should alert us to maintaining constant vigilance in this area. I would also include the Apocryphal writings as well - these too are riddled with errors, that to me, make any use of them, worthless & futile. Though many Christians are ill-informed about these things & so they continue on in blissful ignorance & not knowing the full Truth. But the bottom line is this: should one read from another 'acceptable' version so that they can understand what they read, or read from the KJV that is difficult to comprehend because of its wording & style?

Hello Mr.Wallace,

This is a good question. We begin to understand by reading the book of Revelations, the types of things that will befall those who love God in the end-times, which all be for God's glory.

Matthew 24 is an excellent example of what to expect.

Read Jeremiah 5:31. The wicked deceive the people of God, and God's people love the have it so.

In summary there is nothing sacred, nothing which Satan will not pollute and corrupt. People prefer to have a bible and God that conforms to their own wants, and desires. And they have corrupted versions of God's word to fulfill these desires.

I have always read from the KJV my whole life. I am in my 60's. I do not understand the reason for all of these new versions. Help me to understand why would anyone rewrite the KJV of the Bible? Please help me to understand. Thank you, Connie Wallace

As you may have read other portions of this Book, Solomon speaks largely of the seemingly aimless cycles of life & its paradoxes. And one of those issues that might cause us to despair is the similar condition we have to those of animals.

As far as the flesh is concerned, man is no better than they. With all our intelligence, abilities to calculate & forecast, as well as our moral & spiritual dimensions, we still are no better than animals when we die: our bodies return to the dust - we are equal in that sense.

But 'the spirit of man goes upwards & the spirit of the beast goes downward to the Earth' (v21). Our spirits are accountable to our Creator for what we have done in this life (& specifically to God's call upon us), whereas the animal's spirit (that gave it life) perishes with it into the Earth. There is no indication here or anywhere else, that the end of man's life is simply a disappearance or annihilation from an earthly existence. Our spirits are indestructible & accountable, unlike the animal's. That's how I understand this portion.