Jesus was ever dutiful Son who would while hanging on the cross entrusted the care of his mother to John, "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!/Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."( John 19:26-27). By literal approach how false teachers consistently strip passages of their pith and serve the husks instead. This is one example. Covenant between God and Man entrusts man with His creation and does he care?
God had prepared a worm as he a great fish to instruct Prophet Jonah. At the end of the book He tells Jonah,"And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?"( Jonah 4:11) Family of man is incomplete without this same care for His creation. The Four beasts in heaven is a memorial.
Pilgrims in 1630 settled in the Americas to make a New Canaan. However it was like sewing old garment to the new in the manner the divine Will was shortchanged. Salt crystal is made up of chlorine and sodium which by themselves have their distinctive characteristics. Sodium is metal, and corrosive while chlorine is a gas and poisonous. How billions of these atoms are precisely arranged by force keeping the formation gives the table salt its savor. In the manner culture wars have dogged the country tells making a family or nation without fulfilling the will of the Father is a non-starter. "And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles."(2:22)
In this passage the Spirit is setting two sets of families each representing the world of the Spirit and of the body. In the former world familial relationship is pendent to the covenant between God and Man, The latter is symbolic of heaven but in keeping with the body formed of the dust, it is the union of dust to dust and ashes to ashes. "For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven."(12:25; Matt.22:30). Resurrection of the dead is restoration of the covenant to its former glory where Power and glory of God renders the Man his throne so "and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."(Re.21:3)
Thus the saying of Jesus refers to the world of the Spirit,"But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren./And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."(Matt.23:8-9)
In marriage man and woman leave their parents and they shall be one flesh, "And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?"( Luke 16:12; Ge.2:23)
This was provisioned for in the covenant. In Ge.1:28-29 we are shown what our Father in heaven had entrusted them with His creation. "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." This was entrusted with man in his Son. It is to this God willed and the covenant exists, and as a proof sent his only begotten Son to the world in fulness of time.
As the key verse states there is no gender difference. Only those who do the will of God.
" No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house."
Of whose house are we? " But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." (He.3:6).One whose hope is firm to the end and works are done in faith cannot be a weak vessel. He is instead an overcomer" Jesus Christ has overcome the world and abiding in him all things are possible because he has promised and we know all promiseds of God are yea in his Son. If we have the Son we have the Father as well.
The verse speaks of anyone who serves God and mammon; like Samson there comes a point in his life that he gets taken like the dumb beast for the slaughter-house. "And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him."(Ju.16:20)
Parable of Jesus tells how the unclean spirit spoils his house.
"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none./ Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished./Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation." (Matt.12:43-45)
When Jesus sent his disciples he authorized them to cast out demons. "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease."(Matt.10:1) Jesus was among them as a sign; so are believers whose lives identify with it. "And these signs shall follow them,"(16:17). 'In my name'
"But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation./ Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit."
Jesus was in a synagogue when he cast out the man with the unclean spirit. He called Jesus," Let us alone; what have we to do with thee". He was using the spirit of man so uses the plural form and tells "I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God."(1:24-25). St Paul warned us that no one with indwelling Spirit shall say Jesus is accursed. ("Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost."-1 Co.12:3). The unclean spirit in the man having taken over his life would not curse Jesus but only want him to leave him in peace. He showed faith in his speech, did he not, testifying,' I know thee who thou art, the Holy one of God'. This is what faith without works mean. In our times some of the so-called believers deny the deity of Jesus while not leaving it altogether, ought to warn not to have any trek with them. They are besides themselves to hold on to their belief. Their heresies and holding on to them, does not remain on a single point but becomes entangled with great many other errors. If one says, resurrection of the body is a lie, he is likely to cover it by the glory of this world. It is what the devil offered Jesus before he would preach the gospel. Christian nationalism, white evangelicalism are similarly are telltale signs of believers who simply appropriate Jesus, and their faith is the truncated tail of a lizard without the body of Christ."And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him."(1:25)
While we groan in this vile body we have a building of God eternal in heavens. So do we live both worlds as one or not? "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." In thy light we see the light.
Jesus formally chose the twelve "And they went into an house." Here we a curious passage,"And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread./And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself."(vv.20-21).
Fame of the new prophet we read earlier in the Gospel of Mark was no different than of John the Baptist. "And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee."(1:28) Jesus having seen the masses who were as sheep without a shepherd.(Matt.9:36) began to preach of the gospel while his cousin before him aroused much speculation and curiosity. "Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan." to hear his message.(Matt.3:5) " And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?"( John 1:19). His testimony was received and they saw him as well. "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Here we have an unvarnished look at fame or celebrity status. The ear hears so much as eye sees so often yet Jesus was an unknown quantity to his friends. "He is possessed!" summed up their report. The Spirit gives us the instance of his mother, "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."( Luke 2:19).
Hearing without faith is a dumb thing to do and it is how Jesus became so many things to so many. She heard with her ear of faith and digested over it. What many have witnessed or heard are good seed sown into the heard but it poves to be no man's land."When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side."(Matt.13:19). Is it strange to hear that some believers do not believe in trinity?
"And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him."
Sabbath day was designated as entering into the rest of God who testified, "This is my beloved Son". As a father takes delight in watching his infant takes control of his movements he doted on the Son. Jesus testified, "And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him."( John 8:29). This rest is two -way street as God testified with a voice from heaven, the Son of man glorified his Father. The rest comes from the two worlds of the Spirit and of the flesh, as two beams of light on a single standard of obedience: of the body to God, a Spirit. This true worship kept both worlds in focus, and sharp. It is thus Satan, he may quote as many words from the Scripture but was to no avail. Jesus well knew his Father having heard from his bosom and he was not fooled..
As the Word become flesh he did everything that is pleasing in his sight.
Sabbath signified faith and as logical conclusion of one who was blessed by the Father in his Son (that was stipulated in day Six) would want to enter directly therein. Pharisees stalking every step of Jesus to accuse him breaking the Sabbath reveal that they were of bad seed. " Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it./ And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not."( John 8:44-45)
Sabbath is for those who has the seed in itself, "And the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good."(Ge.1:12) Day Three is also a command number for the Son. He is the tree of life, fruit of which for man to eat freely. Fall of man began in preferring the tree commended by the serpent.
Do you believe that the will of the Father and the will of the Son are always the same or different?
Jesus was obedient to the Father, Jesus said many times it is not His will but the will of the Father who sent Him, the same as we are to do, John 4:34John 5:30Mark 3:35.
Do you believe that a human being can truly save all men from sin and death by a perfect life in their own will?
First, I will have to say it was the will of the Father, Jesus at the end even asked His father if there was another way but not Jesus's will but the will of His Father, Matthew 26:39Luke 22:42. We are told this is the foundation of our faith, Jesus' sacrificial death. God cannot die God is Spirit He has no blood to shed for sin it had to be a man, His Son, born of a woman.
John 3:16 God gave His Son not Himself 1 John 2:221 John 4:32 John 1:7Romans 5:82 Corinthians 5:21, God cannot be made sin, 1 Corinthians 15:17 Jesus died, and God raised Him from the dead, the first man to live a perfect life, the first fruits of those who sleep in death. 1 Corinthians 15:14 as said if Jesus was not a man who lived a perfect life and died and was raised from the dead all is vain.
The first Adam was the first man Jesus was the last Adam and the second man, 1 Corinthians 15:45-47. 1 Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. The law had to be fulfilled by a man.
How would a human being know that they are the Messiah from birth and thus know not to ever sin?
As we see Luke 2:51-52 Jesus grew up increasing in wisdom and stature in favor with God and man. Jesus was twelve years old and He knew His father was God, but it doesn't say Jesus knew then He was to be the Messiah. God also said He would raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, Deuteronomy 18:15, Isaiah 11:1-5Isaiah 61:1-2 confirmed in Luke 4:18-21. Romans 1:1-42 Timothy 2:8.
Jesus of Nazareth came; in the flesh to fulfill numerous prophecies from the Old Testament of the Messiah to come; yet most didn't believe. This is inclusive of His own family members; the Pharisees and Saducees; and at times attitudes from His own disciples.
Eventually after He was risen the stupor was lifted at least for those who He had called and chosen. (see John 1:11; John 7:4-5).
In assessing the situation with the very real parable of Lazarus and the unnamed rich man; the very clear reality is shown that even if one was to rise from the dead they wouldn't believe ( Luke 16:31). This was proven by the soldiers and the concocted tale of how the body of Christ was stolen while they slept ( Matthew 28:13). It would be expected that the supernatural signs with the sun and moon during the Crucifixion would have been enough to convince everyone what had just happened; but we see similar things during the plagues in Revelation; yet the unregenerate in the end will attempt to fight Christ upon His return after hiding from Him during the sixth seal judgment.
Thus; the Holy Spirit is hidden from the world. Much as Christ's acts were recognized; many would not understand that He was indeed the Son of God. Some; as the Pharisees would blaspheme stating that the source was Beelzebub which prompted the warnings of Mark 3:29. Others such as the crowds being fed or those being healed were caught up with having their stomachs filled or earthly ills relieved; and as we see in Luke 17:11-19 only one of ten lepers comes back to Christ to worship Him after being healed. The rest followed Christ's instructions technically to go show themselves to the priests to affirm healing but weren't giving priority to the Messiah over Levitical law. This speaks to us on how we should not have fear to authenticate what are genuine healings as opposed to false ones which sadly are commonplace today.
A recurring theme in Jesus' conversations with His critics is that they are being willfully obstinate. Jesus' life and teachings align perfectly with the Scriptures these men know all too well-but they actively refuse to accept Him ( John 5:39-40). An intent to disbelieve, not a lack of knowledge, is their main problem ( John 7:17). Others have seen Jesus' miracles, and properly interpreted them as signs that He is divinely empowered ( John 3:1-2; 10:21). The men who threaten Him now, however, have proven they're opposed to God ( John 10:1-6) by crediting Jesus' miracles to Satan ( Mark 3:22).
Jesus will continue to answer in the next verse by reiterating the first of His three shepherding-related analogies from this chapter. This puts His answer in plain terms: I already told you who I was, but you're not going to listen.
And He earnestly warned them not to tell who He was. ( Mark 3:12).
This and 22 other verses apparently exist in the Gospels where Jesus warned either people or the demons cast out of individuals not to tell anyone who He was. This seems to be particularly focused on the area where the Jews were; for we see exceptions with these examples:
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. ( Mark 5:1). Here after Jesus cast the legion of demons out of a man he told him to NOT follow Him right away "Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." ( Mark 5:19).
We see the same principal with the woman at the well. John 4 doesn't give any explicit command for the woman to stop; but she goes to her town and brings others; who come to faith and He remains 2 days with an unnamed town of Samaritans who also come to faith after hearing from Christ after the woman told them to come.
These incidences above show how the contrast exists with the Pharisees and religious order who were hell bent literally to oppose and try to destroy Christ from the onset. Christ had to ensure that His time wouldn't come until 3 1/2 years after he started the public ministry; as it was there were about 10 attempts on His life before the Crucifixion at the set time. This also showed a lack of faith in general among His own people; a Prophet is not honored in his hometown ( Mark 6:4). Contrast that with the pasage above and others where He stayed multiple days and no doubt they didn't want Him to leave.
This situation lead; no doubt to Jesus speaking in Parables which at one point at least He ONLY did when speaking to the crowds. ( Matthew 13:34; Mark 4:34). This is quite astonishing and shows how facts alone don't convince hardened hearts. Perhaps it allowed less people to blasphemy the Spirit the unforgiveable sin or cause other to be persuaded such ( Matthew 12:31).
Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. ( John 9:41).
In the Old Testament we see the mad Prophet Balaam stopped by a donkey who God readily used to block his way and for a mouthpiece of rebuke. ( 2 Peter 2:16-18 as quoted in the N.T. from Numbers 22-24). We see also how the demons Jesus cast out knew who Jesus was ( Mark 3:11-12). This is somewhat understandable from the fact that the angels were there to see God in heaven and witness the creation of the earth ( Job 38:7).
We are warned in James 2:19 about not just saying that we believe in God. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom; this is quoted many times in scripture. The conscience of men can be seared after some time; hearts hardened ( 1 Tim. 4:2; Exodus 7:3 and subsequent verses with Pharaoh). A believer has a healthy awe based on God's Holiness; and without holiness no man can see God ( Heb. 12:14).
Only man could see the miracles of Christ and still remain in unbelief. That would not just be related to the physical miracles when on earth; but also the miracle of salvation which often was accompanied by deliverance in scripture but which we see today. Mercifully God forgives any sin against the Father or Son is forgivable ( Matt. 12:32); but against the Holy Spirit is not.
The Spirit demonstrates His Holiness amongst the ministry of John 16:8 warning the world of sin; righteousness and judgment to come. The opposite of a broken and contrite heart is pride and self righteousness (only the sick need a physician Matt. 9:12).
Therefore such Pharisitical people also make their own twisted judgments on right and wrong and condemn others based on that mindset.
May we read scripture for its true meaning not through any man centered agenda; respecting ALL of it as God's Word ( 2 Tim. 3:16). May we have a heart to always glean new truths from God; seeking His face daily ( Psalm 1:2
If you've never been through the book of Revelation before, you might be interested in knowing that the study of the introduction to the book of Revelation is a study in and of itself.
It could take several long posts to go over everything, so what I have done is excerpted out some of the main points.
I. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
The Apostle John. The Apostle John is not John the Baptist.
The Apostle John is mentioned five times in the Book of Revelation: 1:1; 1:4; 1:9; 21:2; 22:8.
The Apostle John had a brother by the name of James. They were known as the sons of Zebedee, found in Matthew 10:2-4.
Jesus gave them the name "The sons of thunder," recorded in Mark 3:17. They always wanted to call fire down from heaven and consume people if they didn't want anything to do with the Lord. There's a lot of "sons of thunder" in the church today!
John, Peter, and James were the inner circle of the disciples of Jesus, and spent many special times with the Lord, Matthew 17:1; 26:37.
The Apostle John was the only original apostle not to die a martyr's death.
What is interesting, in association with the book of Revelation, is that tradition says that around 86 A.D., they tried to execute John by dipping him in burning oil. And after they pulled him out, nothing was wrong with him. And they figured that they couldn't kill him, so they decided to exile him off onto the island of Patmos.
Again, most of the introduction to 3 John will be the same as 1 & 2 John. I will share a couple of pieces of information that will be different. I would like to point out that all of John's writings (other than the gospel of John), are in the Jewish Literature section of the New Testament.
It was written to the Jews, Jewish believers. But that didn't eliminate or cause the Gentiles not to be able to receive from the truth from these letters.
I. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
The apostle John. This is not John the Baptist. This is the apostle, John.
The apostle John had a brother by the name of James. They were known as "The Sons of Zebedee" ( Matthew 10:2-4). Jesus gave them the name "The Sons of Thunder" ( Mark 3:17).
John, Peter, and James were the inner circle of the disciples of Jesus and spent many special times with the Lord ( Matthew 17:1; 26:37).
The apostle John was the only original apostle not to die a martyr's death.
John wrote the Gospel of John, 1, 2, and 3 John, and the Book of Revelation.
And you should keep in mind that even though he wrote the Gospel of John that's at the beginning of the New Testament, the gospel of John was one of the last books written in chronological order. But it was put at the beginning so that all of the gospels could be put together about the earthly ministry of Christ.
Most of this introduction will be the same as I presented in 1 John in which I shared an overall introduction to all three books.
I. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
The Apostle John. The Apostle John is not John the Baptist.
The Apostle John had a brother by the name of James. They were known as "The Sons of Zebedee" ( Matthew 10:2-4). Jesus gave them the name "The Sons of Thunder" ( Mark 3:17).
John, Peter, and James were the inner circle of the disciples of Jesus and spent many special times with the Lord ( Matthew 17:1; Matthew 26:37).
The Apostle John was the only original apostle not to die a martyr's death.
John wrote the Gospel of John, I, II and III John, and the Book of Revelation.
II. ABOUT THE RECIPIENTS:
The Apostle John wrote I, II and III John to the churches of Asia Minor over which John exercised Apostolic leadership in his later years. Most of the recipients of his letters were Jewish believers but the letters were written for all of the believers in the churches.
III. ABOUT THE DATE AND LOCATION:
I John was written sometime in the late 80s or early 90s A.D. It is believed John's letters were written soon after he composed the Gospel of John. All five of John's letters were written from Ephesus where he spent his elder years leading the churches in Asia Minor.
The Apostle John is the author. He is not to be confused with John the Baptist. He is a completely different person. We can get confused with the different people by the name of John in the scriptures. This is the Apostle John, one of the original 12 Apostles.
The Apostle John had a brother by the name of James. They were known as "The Sons of Zebedee" ( Matthew 10:2-4). Zebedee was their father.
Jesus gave them the name "The Sons of Thunder" ( Mark 3:17). As they travelled with Jesus and the other disciples, they were the ones that said if people rejected Christ, they wanted to know if the Lord wanted to call fire down from heaven and consume them. They wanted to be the guys that blow everybody up if they don't believe. So, they're called the "Sons of Thunder" by Jesus.
John, Peter, and James were the inner circle of the disciples of Jesus and spent many special times with the Lord, on the Mount of Transfiguration in Matthew 17:1. Also, in the garden before Jesus died, the three of them were with Him as He was praying in Matthew 26:37.
The Apostle John was the only original apostle not to die a martyr's death. Tradition says that they tried to kill him by dipping him in burning oil. But when he came out, he wasn't harmed. So, they put him out on the island of Patmos to serve his time out there. And it was on the island of Patmos where he received what we know as the book of Revelation.
John wrote the Gospel of John, 1, 2 and 3 John, and the Book of Revelation.
So, when Peter was called PETROS, or Cephas in Aramaic, and remember in John Chapter 1, Jesus said you will be called Cephas. Well, at this particular time in Matthew 16:18 is when Jesus named him PETROS. It's a spiritual name. It's a rock. But it's not a foundation stone. That's PETRA, and that's Jesus.
Simon Peter, Andrew, and their father were from the village called Bethsaida, on the Northeastern side of the Sea of Galilee. They later moved to Capernaum to continue their fishing business, as recorded in Mark 1:21, and Mark 1:29. The reason for the move was because Capernaum was the Lord's home during much of his public ministry.
Luke 4:38-39 tells us that Peter was married. In this account, Jesus heals Simon Peter's mother-in-law who was sick with a fever. Simon Peter's wife also accompanied him on some of the missionary journeys as told to us in I Corinthians 9:5.
Simon Peter also appears to be the leader of the Apostles. In all four lists of the Apostles in the New Testament, Simon Peter is named first. Matthew 10:2-7; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:13-16; Acts 1:13.
In Acts Chapter 2, when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples, Peter was the one who gave the first sermon.
In Acts Chapter 4, Peter is the one answering to the Sanhedrin (the religious council of the Jews). They pulled the disciples in and said you cannot preach the resurrection anymore in the name of Jesus. It was Peter who responded and spoke for the disciples.
In Acts Chapter 5, Peter is the one administering discipline in the Church. So, he's a leader.
The writer of James is introduced to us in Verse 1. The Greek word for James is the Hebrew name for Jacob. There are four prominent people in the New Testament by the name of James. The first one is James, who with his brother John, are known as the sons of Zebedee. They are presented to us in Mark 1:19.
This James was put to death by Herod Agrippa as recorded in Acts 12:2. So he is not the writer of this letter. Secondly, there is James the son of Alphaeus. He is presented to us in Mark 3:18 as one of the disciples. We don't have any more information about James the son of Alphaeus.
The third one is presented to us in Luke 6:16 where we are told about Judas the son of James. This Judas in not Judas Iscariot. Since this James is the father of one of the disciples mentioned in Luke 6:16, he would have been too old or even dead by the time James was written therefore he cannot be the author.
Fourthly, James that is given to us in the New Testament and by tradition as well as scripture itself, it is presented to us as the writer of this letter. The tradition from Jerome, Augustine, and other writers says James the writer of the Letter of James is the half-brother of Jesus.
In Mathew 13:55, it tells us that Mary and Joseph, after the birth of Jesus Christ, gave birth to other children. There are four brothers mentioned along with sisters. James is listed first so he must have been the oldest.
John 7:5 tells us that during Jesus' earthly ministry, His earthly brothers were taunting Him and did not believe in Him.
I Corinthians 15:5 tells us that after Jesus died and rose from the dead, He appeared to James His brother, as well as the other disciples and His family, and they became believers in Jesus Christ as the Savior and Messiah.
Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I have a few questions and comments.
I am of the belief that all opposites including light and darkness can only be contrasted and not compared, for the simple reason - they have nothing in common. They are as far from each other as the east is from the west. They are separated or divided. Is not God One? By your comments you seem to be suggesting God is divided, i.e. opposes Himself: the effects of a kingdom doing such, found in Mark 3:23-26.
It appears you confirmed your belief that God creates darkness, stating that darkness represents lies, deception, misinformation, etc. Are you saying that God represents lies, deception, misinformation, etc? Would you agree that darkness is lack of light (Truth)? Yet if God is the source of darkness as He is Light, then His Self would lack Light. Would you agree that whenever Light enters darkness, the darkness is abolished? If yes, then if God is darkness as He is Light, then He must be capable of abolishing Himself. Light abolishes darkness merely by showing us the darkness is not there. If this is true and God is responsible and the Source for both Light and darkness, then He would literally abolish Himself into non existence. I realize this sounds harsh, but this is what happens to that which is the opposite of itself and is divided, as described in Mark: it has an end. But of course, we know this is impossible with God.
What we can decide between is fixed, because there are no alternatives except truth (Light) and lies (darkness). And there is no overlap between them, because they are OPPOSITES, i.e. they have nothing in common and never share a common purpose. They can not be reconciled and cannot both be true. The truth of one thing always make the falsity of its opposite perfectly clear.
If God is the Creator of Light and darkness, and I'm asked to love God, am I being asked to love both Light and darkness?
Thank you, brother, for this discussion. I understand the 7-year tribulation rapture doctrine hinges on the prince in Dan. 9:26 and the he in vs. 27 as being the beast/antichrist at the end times. This is in brief my understanding of the 70th week and what Scripture says to me on this very important subject.
Dan. 9:25 says 69 weeks until the Messiah the Prince. Jesus was baptized and anointed by the Holy Spirit; the meaning of Messiah is the Anointed One. Vs. 27 "And he shall confirm the covenant" Isaiah 42:6 "with many" Matt. 20:28Matt. 26:28Mark 14:24, "for one week:"
Jesus came and was baptized and anointed by the Holy Spirit and John confirmed this John 1:34 The demons knew who He was Mark 3:11 and Andrew told Simon they have found the Messiah, and Philip told Nathanael, John 1:41,45 Jesus said this Luke 4:17-21.
In Luke 3:1-2 we see the time when John was called by God. If we look at history, Tiberius Ceasar, his 15th year would be 26-27 AD. It is considered Jesus was baptized in late summer or early fall. Jesus attended 3 Passovers and was crucified on the fourth in 30-31 AD. John 2:13, John 5:1John 6:4John 19:14.
There is a discussion on John 5:1 whether it is a Passover, but most accept it is. The old manuscripts have "the" in front of the feast leading scholars to conclude that it was probably the Passover feast.
The first Passover would be in 27-28 AD and His crucifixion in 30-31 AD. This would make Jesus's ministry 3.5 years, halfway through the 70th week.
"and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease" That is what Jesus's death did. Heb. 10 and when the judgment came in 70 AD the physical act of sacrificing ceased caused by their rejection of Him and crucifying Him.
Notice Mark 3:28-29, Jesus answered "...ALL sins will be FORGIVEN the sons of men and WHATEVER blasphemies they may utter.
That is including ALL sons of men and ALL blasphemies they may utter, provided of course they repent from their sins.
But he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit NEVER has forgiveness but is subject to eternal condemnation. Daniel 7: verse 8 and 11 show us who is the one without forgiveness: the beast speaking pompous words and he was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.
Also in Rev 13:5 "And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for
42 months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle and those who dwell in heaven.
Mark 3:23-26 . Observe what occurs when a kingdom or anything is divided against itself, i.e. opposes or is the opposite of itself. It cannot stand!
All of us are in a state of dissociation which is a distorted process of thinking whereby two systems of belief which cannot coexist are both maintained. What we can decide between, though, is fixed , because there are no alternatives except truth and what is not true. And there is no overlap between them, because they are opposites which cannot be reconciled and cannot both be true. You are guilty or guiltless, bound or free, at peace in your mind or at war. Opposites must brought together, not kept apart. For their separation is only in our mind, and they are reconciled by union, as we are. In union, everything that is not real must disappear, for truth IS union. In other words, whenever light enters darkness (its opposite) the darkness is abolished. It shows us the darkness is not there i.e. it does not exist.
Interestingly, after studying scripture I've noticed, GOD gave mankind dominion, on Earth. Genesis 1:26,27,28, GOD didn't take that dominion away, people have misused their powers. They/we will all give account: Revelation 1:5-8, Romans 14:12, Daniel 4:3,34, Matthew 25:31-46, Matthew 18,
Jesus was here to show us how to bring His Kingdom the Kingdom of GOD on Earth, with Love, John 3:16-21, John 13:34, Romans 12:10, 1John 4:7,12, 1Peter 3:8, John 15:17, James 2:13-17, Luke 13:34,
one day all dominion will go to Christ: 1Corinthians 15:20-28, Romans 16:20,
Galatians 4:1-8, Colossians 3:21,
Matthew 20:25-28, Ephesians 1, (whole chapters) 1Peter 4, Jude 1,
Jesus gave all that believe in him, authority under heaven: from GOD ALMIGHTY: Matthew 28:18-20, Matthew 6, Luke 11, Mark 3:15, Acts 4:30,31, Luke 9:2,
We all have power in the natural if even just to comfort someone else, & as we grow in faith, supernatural power in prayer, through GOD & Christ Jesus our Savior.
It seems the answer is adequate for blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. For the believer the Spirit is indwelling and no one can say God is accursed ( 1 Cor. 12:3) if the Spirit of God is in them. Certainly we can sin against God and grieve the Spirit. ( Eph. 4:30-31). Any sin will be sin against the Godhead; and unconfessed sin will cause estrangement as to the blessings in one's life and the Lord often withdraws some of His protection in order to shock us back to reality. This chastisement; of course is different for God's children than judgment that the world at large is under ( John 3:36).
I'm guessing you are referring to Mark chapter 3 verses 22-30 . The crux of the matter seems to be that the scribes and pharisees were saying that Jesus was a devil and therefore they were ascribing the power that Jesus had , to the devil and not to God . God is all powerful . In John chapter 3 , we read that Nicodemus says : WE know ( verse 2) , so the scribes and pharisees knew that Jesus had the power of God with him and yet , in public they accused him of being a devil in order to discredit him . This is some serious sinfulness I think , knowing that something or someone is acting in accordance with God's will and by the power of God and yet accusing them of being evil in order to discredit them , in other words discrediting God Himself . Ascribing God's power to the devil . Very very serious trouble .
There are two different things that change in our lives when becoming Born again. There may be need; for the sake of the Kingdom of God to abandon friends and family. This takes into account our love being greater for God than anyone else i.e. those who don't "hate father and mother; etal ( Luke 14:26) cannot be my disciple". The normal explanation here is our relative love is greater for God than family. I would suggest a better explanation would be that the cultural norms; tradition; and expectations that are resistant to the Gospel must be when causing us to sin avoided; and the resulting shunning or persecution from that community is part of the necessary collateral damage.
What this does NOT mean is that men decide to divorce their "pagan" wives for a different "Christian" women; who just coincidentally is younger and more attractive than their marriage partner more than statistical averages would suggest....
It also doesn't mean we don't help widows in our family and those in need there lest we be considered "worse than a pagan" ( 1 Tim. 5:8). We can look at Jesus' example; He was the Son of God so His statement that those who were His mothers; brothers etc were those who did the will of God ( Mark 3:35) may be a bit harsh. Nonetheless; He knew at that point even some of his family didn't believe in Him. ( John 7:5). Ultimately; He said to John "behold your mother" during His greatest agony on the cross; thus exemplifying the love for Mary once Joseph clearly had passed. ( John 19:25-27). Now John would be as a son; also showing how we are put into God's adoptive family in John's case.
Malachi 4:6 discusses restoring fathers hearts to children; and vice-versa. This could be prophetic for those looking ahead toward the Church Age. One believer CAN bring about further repentance and belief among family members; as happened with Paul and the jailor; for instance. ( Acts 16:29-34). John 10:10 therefore can happen
Jesus was ever dutiful Son who would while hanging on the cross entrusted the care of his mother to John, "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!/Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."( John 19:26-27). By literal approach how false teachers consistently strip passages of their pith and serve the husks instead. This is one example. Covenant between God and Man entrusts man with His creation and does he care?
God had prepared a worm as he a great fish to instruct Prophet Jonah. At the end of the book He tells Jonah,"And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?"( Jonah 4:11) Family of man is incomplete without this same care for His creation. The Four beasts in heaven is a memorial.
Pilgrims in 1630 settled in the Americas to make a New Canaan. However it was like sewing old garment to the new in the manner the divine Will was shortchanged. Salt crystal is made up of chlorine and sodium which by themselves have their distinctive characteristics. Sodium is metal, and corrosive while chlorine is a gas and poisonous. How billions of these atoms are precisely arranged by force keeping the formation gives the table salt its savor. In the manner culture wars have dogged the country tells making a family or nation without fulfilling the will of the Father is a non-starter. "And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles."(2:22)
"Who is my mother, or my brethren?"
In this passage the Spirit is setting two sets of families each representing the world of the Spirit and of the body. In the former world familial relationship is pendent to the covenant between God and Man, The latter is symbolic of heaven but in keeping with the body formed of the dust, it is the union of dust to dust and ashes to ashes. "For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven."(12:25; Matt.22:30). Resurrection of the dead is restoration of the covenant to its former glory where Power and glory of God renders the Man his throne so "and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."(Re.21:3)
Thus the saying of Jesus refers to the world of the Spirit,"But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren./And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."(Matt.23:8-9)
In marriage man and woman leave their parents and they shall be one flesh, "And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?"( Luke 16:12; Ge.2:23)
This was provisioned for in the covenant. In Ge.1:28-29 we are shown what our Father in heaven had entrusted them with His creation. "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." This was entrusted with man in his Son. It is to this God willed and the covenant exists, and as a proof sent his only begotten Son to the world in fulness of time.
As the key verse states there is no gender difference. Only those who do the will of God.
" No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house."
Of whose house are we? " But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." (He.3:6).One whose hope is firm to the end and works are done in faith cannot be a weak vessel. He is instead an overcomer" Jesus Christ has overcome the world and abiding in him all things are possible because he has promised and we know all promiseds of God are yea in his Son. If we have the Son we have the Father as well.
The verse speaks of anyone who serves God and mammon; like Samson there comes a point in his life that he gets taken like the dumb beast for the slaughter-house. "And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him."(Ju.16:20)
Parable of Jesus tells how the unclean spirit spoils his house.
"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none./ Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished./Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation." (Matt.12:43-45)
When Jesus sent his disciples he authorized them to cast out demons. "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease."(Matt.10:1) Jesus was among them as a sign; so are believers whose lives identify with it. "And these signs shall follow them,"(16:17). 'In my name'
"But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation./ Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit."
Jesus was in a synagogue when he cast out the man with the unclean spirit. He called Jesus," Let us alone; what have we to do with thee". He was using the spirit of man so uses the plural form and tells "I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God."(1:24-25). St Paul warned us that no one with indwelling Spirit shall say Jesus is accursed. ("Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost."-1 Co.12:3). The unclean spirit in the man having taken over his life would not curse Jesus but only want him to leave him in peace. He showed faith in his speech, did he not, testifying,' I know thee who thou art, the Holy one of God'. This is what faith without works mean. In our times some of the so-called believers deny the deity of Jesus while not leaving it altogether, ought to warn not to have any trek with them. They are besides themselves to hold on to their belief. Their heresies and holding on to them, does not remain on a single point but becomes entangled with great many other errors. If one says, resurrection of the body is a lie, he is likely to cover it by the glory of this world. It is what the devil offered Jesus before he would preach the gospel. Christian nationalism, white evangelicalism are similarly are telltale signs of believers who simply appropriate Jesus, and their faith is the truncated tail of a lizard without the body of Christ."And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him."(1:25)
While we groan in this vile body we have a building of God eternal in heavens. So do we live both worlds as one or not? "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." In thy light we see the light.
Jesus formally chose the twelve "And they went into an house." Here we a curious passage,"And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread./And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself."(vv.20-21).
Fame of the new prophet we read earlier in the Gospel of Mark was no different than of John the Baptist. "And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee."(1:28) Jesus having seen the masses who were as sheep without a shepherd.(Matt.9:36) began to preach of the gospel while his cousin before him aroused much speculation and curiosity. "Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan." to hear his message.(Matt.3:5) " And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?"( John 1:19). His testimony was received and they saw him as well. "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Here we have an unvarnished look at fame or celebrity status. The ear hears so much as eye sees so often yet Jesus was an unknown quantity to his friends. "He is possessed!" summed up their report. The Spirit gives us the instance of his mother, "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."( Luke 2:19).
Hearing without faith is a dumb thing to do and it is how Jesus became so many things to so many. She heard with her ear of faith and digested over it. What many have witnessed or heard are good seed sown into the heard but it poves to be no man's land."When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side."(Matt.13:19). Is it strange to hear that some believers do not believe in trinity?
"And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him."
Sabbath day was designated as entering into the rest of God who testified, "This is my beloved Son". As a father takes delight in watching his infant takes control of his movements he doted on the Son. Jesus testified, "And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him."( John 8:29). This rest is two -way street as God testified with a voice from heaven, the Son of man glorified his Father. The rest comes from the two worlds of the Spirit and of the flesh, as two beams of light on a single standard of obedience: of the body to God, a Spirit. This true worship kept both worlds in focus, and sharp. It is thus Satan, he may quote as many words from the Scripture but was to no avail. Jesus well knew his Father having heard from his bosom and he was not fooled..
As the Word become flesh he did everything that is pleasing in his sight.
Sabbath signified faith and as logical conclusion of one who was blessed by the Father in his Son (that was stipulated in day Six) would want to enter directly therein. Pharisees stalking every step of Jesus to accuse him breaking the Sabbath reveal that they were of bad seed. " Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it./ And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not."( John 8:44-45)
Sabbath is for those who has the seed in itself, "And the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good."(Ge.1:12) Day Three is also a command number for the Son. He is the tree of life, fruit of which for man to eat freely. Fall of man began in preferring the tree commended by the serpent.
Part 4 Trinity discussion.
Do you believe that the will of the Father and the will of the Son are always the same or different?
Jesus was obedient to the Father, Jesus said many times it is not His will but the will of the Father who sent Him, the same as we are to do, John 4:34 John 5:30 Mark 3:35.
Do you believe that a human being can truly save all men from sin and death by a perfect life in their own will?
First, I will have to say it was the will of the Father, Jesus at the end even asked His father if there was another way but not Jesus's will but the will of His Father, Matthew 26:39 Luke 22:42. We are told this is the foundation of our faith, Jesus' sacrificial death. God cannot die God is Spirit He has no blood to shed for sin it had to be a man, His Son, born of a woman.
John 3:16 God gave His Son not Himself 1 John 2:22 1 John 4:3 2 John 1:7 Romans 5:8 2 Corinthians 5:21, God cannot be made sin, 1 Corinthians 15:17 Jesus died, and God raised Him from the dead, the first man to live a perfect life, the first fruits of those who sleep in death. 1 Corinthians 15:14 as said if Jesus was not a man who lived a perfect life and died and was raised from the dead all is vain.
The first Adam was the first man Jesus was the last Adam and the second man, 1 Corinthians 15:45-47. 1 Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. The law had to be fulfilled by a man.
How would a human being know that they are the Messiah from birth and thus know not to ever sin?
As we see Luke 2:51-52 Jesus grew up increasing in wisdom and stature in favor with God and man. Jesus was twelve years old and He knew His father was God, but it doesn't say Jesus knew then He was to be the Messiah. God also said He would raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, Deuteronomy 18:15, Isaiah 11:1-5 Isaiah 61:1-2 confirmed in Luke 4:18-21. Romans 1:1-4 2 Timothy 2:8.
See part 5
Jesus of Nazareth came; in the flesh to fulfill numerous prophecies from the Old Testament of the Messiah to come; yet most didn't believe. This is inclusive of His own family members; the Pharisees and Saducees; and at times attitudes from His own disciples.
Eventually after He was risen the stupor was lifted at least for those who He had called and chosen. (see John 1:11; John 7:4-5).
In assessing the situation with the very real parable of Lazarus and the unnamed rich man; the very clear reality is shown that even if one was to rise from the dead they wouldn't believe ( Luke 16:31). This was proven by the soldiers and the concocted tale of how the body of Christ was stolen while they slept ( Matthew 28:13). It would be expected that the supernatural signs with the sun and moon during the Crucifixion would have been enough to convince everyone what had just happened; but we see similar things during the plagues in Revelation; yet the unregenerate in the end will attempt to fight Christ upon His return after hiding from Him during the sixth seal judgment.
Thus; the Holy Spirit is hidden from the world. Much as Christ's acts were recognized; many would not understand that He was indeed the Son of God. Some; as the Pharisees would blaspheme stating that the source was Beelzebub which prompted the warnings of Mark 3:29. Others such as the crowds being fed or those being healed were caught up with having their stomachs filled or earthly ills relieved; and as we see in Luke 17:11-19 only one of ten lepers comes back to Christ to worship Him after being healed. The rest followed Christ's instructions technically to go show themselves to the priests to affirm healing but weren't giving priority to the Messiah over Levitical law. This speaks to us on how we should not have fear to authenticate what are genuine healings as opposed to false ones which sadly are commonplace today.
Jesus will continue to answer in the next verse by reiterating the first of His three shepherding-related analogies from this chapter. This puts His answer in plain terms: I already told you who I was, but you're not going to listen.
This and 22 other verses apparently exist in the Gospels where Jesus warned either people or the demons cast out of individuals not to tell anyone who He was. This seems to be particularly focused on the area where the Jews were; for we see exceptions with these examples:
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. ( Mark 5:1). Here after Jesus cast the legion of demons out of a man he told him to NOT follow Him right away "Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." ( Mark 5:19).
We see the same principal with the woman at the well. John 4 doesn't give any explicit command for the woman to stop; but she goes to her town and brings others; who come to faith and He remains 2 days with an unnamed town of Samaritans who also come to faith after hearing from Christ after the woman told them to come.
These incidences above show how the contrast exists with the Pharisees and religious order who were hell bent literally to oppose and try to destroy Christ from the onset. Christ had to ensure that His time wouldn't come until 3 1/2 years after he started the public ministry; as it was there were about 10 attempts on His life before the Crucifixion at the set time. This also showed a lack of faith in general among His own people; a Prophet is not honored in his hometown ( Mark 6:4). Contrast that with the pasage above and others where He stayed multiple days and no doubt they didn't want Him to leave.
This situation lead; no doubt to Jesus speaking in Parables which at one point at least He ONLY did when speaking to the crowds. ( Matthew 13:34; Mark 4:34). This is quite astonishing and shows how facts alone don't convince hardened hearts. Perhaps it allowed less people to blasphemy the Spirit the unforgiveable sin or cause other to be persuaded such ( Matthew 12:31).
The TRUE presence of God causes division
Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. ( John 9:41).
In the Old Testament we see the mad Prophet Balaam stopped by a donkey who God readily used to block his way and for a mouthpiece of rebuke. ( 2 Peter 2:16-18 as quoted in the N.T. from Numbers 22-24). We see also how the demons Jesus cast out knew who Jesus was ( Mark 3:11-12). This is somewhat understandable from the fact that the angels were there to see God in heaven and witness the creation of the earth ( Job 38:7).
We are warned in James 2:19 about not just saying that we believe in God. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom; this is quoted many times in scripture. The conscience of men can be seared after some time; hearts hardened ( 1 Tim. 4:2; Exodus 7:3 and subsequent verses with Pharaoh). A believer has a healthy awe based on God's Holiness; and without holiness no man can see God ( Heb. 12:14).
Only man could see the miracles of Christ and still remain in unbelief. That would not just be related to the physical miracles when on earth; but also the miracle of salvation which often was accompanied by deliverance in scripture but which we see today. Mercifully God forgives any sin against the Father or Son is forgivable ( Matt. 12:32); but against the Holy Spirit is not.
The Spirit demonstrates His Holiness amongst the ministry of John 16:8 warning the world of sin; righteousness and judgment to come. The opposite of a broken and contrite heart is pride and self righteousness (only the sick need a physician Matt. 9:12).
Therefore such Pharisitical people also make their own twisted judgments on right and wrong and condemn others based on that mindset.
May we read scripture for its true meaning not through any man centered agenda; respecting ALL of it as God's Word ( 2 Tim. 3:16). May we have a heart to always glean new truths from God; seeking His face daily ( Psalm 1:2
THE INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF REVELATION:
If you've never been through the book of Revelation before, you might be interested in knowing that the study of the introduction to the book of Revelation is a study in and of itself.
It could take several long posts to go over everything, so what I have done is excerpted out some of the main points.
I. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
The Apostle John. The Apostle John is not John the Baptist.
The Apostle John is mentioned five times in the Book of Revelation: 1:1; 1:4; 1:9; 21:2; 22:8.
The Apostle John had a brother by the name of James. They were known as the sons of Zebedee, found in Matthew 10:2-4.
Jesus gave them the name "The sons of thunder," recorded in Mark 3:17. They always wanted to call fire down from heaven and consume people if they didn't want anything to do with the Lord. There's a lot of "sons of thunder" in the church today!
John, Peter, and James were the inner circle of the disciples of Jesus, and spent many special times with the Lord, Matthew 17:1; 26:37.
The Apostle John was the only original apostle not to die a martyr's death.
What is interesting, in association with the book of Revelation, is that tradition says that around 86 A.D., they tried to execute John by dipping him in burning oil. And after they pulled him out, nothing was wrong with him. And they figured that they couldn't kill him, so they decided to exile him off onto the island of Patmos.
Again, most of the introduction to 3 John will be the same as 1 & 2 John. I will share a couple of pieces of information that will be different. I would like to point out that all of John's writings (other than the gospel of John), are in the Jewish Literature section of the New Testament.
It was written to the Jews, Jewish believers. But that didn't eliminate or cause the Gentiles not to be able to receive from the truth from these letters.
I. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
The apostle John. This is not John the Baptist. This is the apostle, John.
The apostle John had a brother by the name of James. They were known as "The Sons of Zebedee" ( Matthew 10:2-4). Jesus gave them the name "The Sons of Thunder" ( Mark 3:17).
John, Peter, and James were the inner circle of the disciples of Jesus and spent many special times with the Lord ( Matthew 17:1; 26:37).
The apostle John was the only original apostle not to die a martyr's death.
John wrote the Gospel of John, 1, 2, and 3 John, and the Book of Revelation.
And you should keep in mind that even though he wrote the Gospel of John that's at the beginning of the New Testament, the gospel of John was one of the last books written in chronological order. But it was put at the beginning so that all of the gospels could be put together about the earthly ministry of Christ.
Most of this introduction will be the same as I presented in 1 John in which I shared an overall introduction to all three books.
I. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
The Apostle John. The Apostle John is not John the Baptist.
The Apostle John had a brother by the name of James. They were known as "The Sons of Zebedee" ( Matthew 10:2-4). Jesus gave them the name "The Sons of Thunder" ( Mark 3:17).
John, Peter, and James were the inner circle of the disciples of Jesus and spent many special times with the Lord ( Matthew 17:1; Matthew 26:37).
The Apostle John was the only original apostle not to die a martyr's death.
John wrote the Gospel of John, I, II and III John, and the Book of Revelation.
II. ABOUT THE RECIPIENTS:
The Apostle John wrote I, II and III John to the churches of Asia Minor over which John exercised Apostolic leadership in his later years. Most of the recipients of his letters were Jewish believers but the letters were written for all of the believers in the churches.
III. ABOUT THE DATE AND LOCATION:
I John was written sometime in the late 80s or early 90s A.D. It is believed John's letters were written soon after he composed the Gospel of John. All five of John's letters were written from Ephesus where he spent his elder years leading the churches in Asia Minor.
NOW FOR THE INTRODUCTION TO 1, 2, & 3 JOHN.
I. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
The Apostle John is the author. He is not to be confused with John the Baptist. He is a completely different person. We can get confused with the different people by the name of John in the scriptures. This is the Apostle John, one of the original 12 Apostles.
The Apostle John had a brother by the name of James. They were known as "The Sons of Zebedee" ( Matthew 10:2-4). Zebedee was their father.
Jesus gave them the name "The Sons of Thunder" ( Mark 3:17). As they travelled with Jesus and the other disciples, they were the ones that said if people rejected Christ, they wanted to know if the Lord wanted to call fire down from heaven and consume them. They wanted to be the guys that blow everybody up if they don't believe. So, they're called the "Sons of Thunder" by Jesus.
John, Peter, and James were the inner circle of the disciples of Jesus and spent many special times with the Lord, on the Mount of Transfiguration in Matthew 17:1. Also, in the garden before Jesus died, the three of them were with Him as He was praying in Matthew 26:37.
The Apostle John was the only original apostle not to die a martyr's death. Tradition says that they tried to kill him by dipping him in burning oil. But when he came out, he wasn't harmed. So, they put him out on the island of Patmos to serve his time out there. And it was on the island of Patmos where he received what we know as the book of Revelation.
John wrote the Gospel of John, 1, 2 and 3 John, and the Book of Revelation.
So, when Peter was called PETROS, or Cephas in Aramaic, and remember in John Chapter 1, Jesus said you will be called Cephas. Well, at this particular time in Matthew 16:18 is when Jesus named him PETROS. It's a spiritual name. It's a rock. But it's not a foundation stone. That's PETRA, and that's Jesus.
Simon Peter, Andrew, and their father were from the village called Bethsaida, on the Northeastern side of the Sea of Galilee. They later moved to Capernaum to continue their fishing business, as recorded in Mark 1:21, and Mark 1:29. The reason for the move was because Capernaum was the Lord's home during much of his public ministry.
Luke 4:38-39 tells us that Peter was married. In this account, Jesus heals Simon Peter's mother-in-law who was sick with a fever. Simon Peter's wife also accompanied him on some of the missionary journeys as told to us in I Corinthians 9:5.
Simon Peter also appears to be the leader of the Apostles. In all four lists of the Apostles in the New Testament, Simon Peter is named first. Matthew 10:2-7; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:13-16; Acts 1:13.
In Acts Chapter 2, when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples, Peter was the one who gave the first sermon.
In Acts Chapter 4, Peter is the one answering to the Sanhedrin (the religious council of the Jews). They pulled the disciples in and said you cannot preach the resurrection anymore in the name of Jesus. It was Peter who responded and spoke for the disciples.
In Acts Chapter 5, Peter is the one administering discipline in the Church. So, he's a leader.
VI. THE AUTHOR:
The writer of James is introduced to us in Verse 1. The Greek word for James is the Hebrew name for Jacob. There are four prominent people in the New Testament by the name of James. The first one is James, who with his brother John, are known as the sons of Zebedee. They are presented to us in Mark 1:19.
This James was put to death by Herod Agrippa as recorded in Acts 12:2. So he is not the writer of this letter. Secondly, there is James the son of Alphaeus. He is presented to us in Mark 3:18 as one of the disciples. We don't have any more information about James the son of Alphaeus.
The third one is presented to us in Luke 6:16 where we are told about Judas the son of James. This Judas in not Judas Iscariot. Since this James is the father of one of the disciples mentioned in Luke 6:16, he would have been too old or even dead by the time James was written therefore he cannot be the author.
Fourthly, James that is given to us in the New Testament and by tradition as well as scripture itself, it is presented to us as the writer of this letter. The tradition from Jerome, Augustine, and other writers says James the writer of the Letter of James is the half-brother of Jesus.
In Mathew 13:55, it tells us that Mary and Joseph, after the birth of Jesus Christ, gave birth to other children. There are four brothers mentioned along with sisters. James is listed first so he must have been the oldest.
John 7:5 tells us that during Jesus' earthly ministry, His earthly brothers were taunting Him and did not believe in Him.
I Corinthians 15:5 tells us that after Jesus died and rose from the dead, He appeared to James His brother, as well as the other disciples and His family, and they became believers in Jesus Christ as the Savior and Messiah.
Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I have a few questions and comments.
I am of the belief that all opposites including light and darkness can only be contrasted and not compared, for the simple reason - they have nothing in common. They are as far from each other as the east is from the west. They are separated or divided. Is not God One? By your comments you seem to be suggesting God is divided, i.e. opposes Himself: the effects of a kingdom doing such, found in Mark 3:23-26.
It appears you confirmed your belief that God creates darkness, stating that darkness represents lies, deception, misinformation, etc. Are you saying that God represents lies, deception, misinformation, etc? Would you agree that darkness is lack of light (Truth)? Yet if God is the source of darkness as He is Light, then His Self would lack Light. Would you agree that whenever Light enters darkness, the darkness is abolished? If yes, then if God is darkness as He is Light, then He must be capable of abolishing Himself. Light abolishes darkness merely by showing us the darkness is not there. If this is true and God is responsible and the Source for both Light and darkness, then He would literally abolish Himself into non existence. I realize this sounds harsh, but this is what happens to that which is the opposite of itself and is divided, as described in Mark: it has an end. But of course, we know this is impossible with God.
What we can decide between is fixed, because there are no alternatives except truth (Light) and lies (darkness). And there is no overlap between them, because they are OPPOSITES, i.e. they have nothing in common and never share a common purpose. They can not be reconciled and cannot both be true. The truth of one thing always make the falsity of its opposite perfectly clear.
If God is the Creator of Light and darkness, and I'm asked to love God, am I being asked to love both Light and darkness?
God Is
Peace
Thank you, brother, for this discussion. I understand the 7-year tribulation rapture doctrine hinges on the prince in Dan. 9:26 and the he in vs. 27 as being the beast/antichrist at the end times. This is in brief my understanding of the 70th week and what Scripture says to me on this very important subject.
Dan. 9:25 says 69 weeks until the Messiah the Prince. Jesus was baptized and anointed by the Holy Spirit; the meaning of Messiah is the Anointed One. Vs. 27 "And he shall confirm the covenant" Isaiah 42:6 "with many" Matt. 20:28 Matt. 26:28 Mark 14:24, "for one week:"
Jesus came and was baptized and anointed by the Holy Spirit and John confirmed this John 1:34 The demons knew who He was Mark 3:11 and Andrew told Simon they have found the Messiah, and Philip told Nathanael, John 1:41,45 Jesus said this Luke 4:17-21.
In Luke 3:1-2 we see the time when John was called by God. If we look at history, Tiberius Ceasar, his 15th year would be 26-27 AD. It is considered Jesus was baptized in late summer or early fall. Jesus attended 3 Passovers and was crucified on the fourth in 30-31 AD. John 2:13, John 5:1 John 6:4 John 19:14.
There is a discussion on John 5:1 whether it is a Passover, but most accept it is. The old manuscripts have "the" in front of the feast leading scholars to conclude that it was probably the Passover feast.
The first Passover would be in 27-28 AD and His crucifixion in 30-31 AD. This would make Jesus's ministry 3.5 years, halfway through the 70th week.
"and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease" That is what Jesus's death did. Heb. 10 and when the judgment came in 70 AD the physical act of sacrificing ceased caused by their rejection of Him and crucifying Him.
See part 2
That is including ALL sons of men and ALL blasphemies they may utter, provided of course they repent from their sins.
But he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit NEVER has forgiveness but is subject to eternal condemnation. Daniel 7: verse 8 and 11 show us who is the one without forgiveness: the beast speaking pompous words and he was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.
Also in Rev 13:5 "And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for
42 months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle and those who dwell in heaven.
Mark 3:23-26 . Observe what occurs when a kingdom or anything is divided against itself, i.e. opposes or is the opposite of itself. It cannot stand!
All of us are in a state of dissociation which is a distorted process of thinking whereby two systems of belief which cannot coexist are both maintained. What we can decide between, though, is fixed , because there are no alternatives except truth and what is not true. And there is no overlap between them, because they are opposites which cannot be reconciled and cannot both be true. You are guilty or guiltless, bound or free, at peace in your mind or at war. Opposites must brought together, not kept apart. For their separation is only in our mind, and they are reconciled by union, as we are. In union, everything that is not real must disappear, for truth IS union. In other words, whenever light enters darkness (its opposite) the darkness is abolished. It shows us the darkness is not there i.e. it does not exist.
Peace
GOD IS
James 1:5,
Exodus 20, Exodus 31:12-17, note Exodus 31:16,17, Exodus 35:1-2, Leviticus 16:29-34, Leviticus 23, Leviticus 24:8,9,
Leviticus 25, Deuteronomy 5, Matthew 12, Matthew 28:1-9, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:52,53,54,56, John 19:31, Mark 1:21,
2Chronicles 36:20-21, Isaiah 58, Jeremiah 17, Amos 8, Matthew 25:31-46, Mark 3:4, John 5:10,16 hypocrisy & cruelty, John 7:22,23, Malachi 3:5,
Nehemiah 10:31, Nehemiah 13:14-27, Isaiah 56,
Colossians 2:16,
Hopefully these are all helpful in your study & Bible Study.
Interestingly, after studying scripture I've noticed, GOD gave mankind dominion, on Earth. Genesis 1:26,27,28, GOD didn't take that dominion away, people have misused their powers. They/we will all give account: Revelation 1:5-8, Romans 14:12, Daniel 4:3,34, Matthew 25:31-46, Matthew 18,
Jesus was here to show us how to bring His Kingdom the Kingdom of GOD on Earth, with Love, John 3:16-21, John 13:34, Romans 12:10, 1John 4:7,12, 1Peter 3:8, John 15:17, James 2:13-17, Luke 13:34,
one day all dominion will go to Christ: 1Corinthians 15:20-28, Romans 16:20,
Galatians 4:1-8, Colossians 3:21,
Matthew 20:25-28, Ephesians 1, (whole chapters) 1Peter 4, Jude 1,
Jesus gave all that believe in him, authority under heaven: from GOD ALMIGHTY: Matthew 28:18-20, Matthew 6, Luke 11, Mark 3:15, Acts 4:30,31, Luke 9:2,
We all have power in the natural if even just to comfort someone else, & as we grow in faith, supernatural power in prayer, through GOD & Christ Jesus our Savior.
Hopefully these are helpful
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Matthew 17:14-21, Mark 9:1-29,
Proverbs 14:5,25, John 8,
Revelation 12:19,
Hopefully these are helpful
There are two different things that change in our lives when becoming Born again. There may be need; for the sake of the Kingdom of God to abandon friends and family. This takes into account our love being greater for God than anyone else i.e. those who don't "hate father and mother; etal ( Luke 14:26) cannot be my disciple". The normal explanation here is our relative love is greater for God than family. I would suggest a better explanation would be that the cultural norms; tradition; and expectations that are resistant to the Gospel must be when causing us to sin avoided; and the resulting shunning or persecution from that community is part of the necessary collateral damage.
What this does NOT mean is that men decide to divorce their "pagan" wives for a different "Christian" women; who just coincidentally is younger and more attractive than their marriage partner more than statistical averages would suggest....
It also doesn't mean we don't help widows in our family and those in need there lest we be considered "worse than a pagan" ( 1 Tim. 5:8). We can look at Jesus' example; He was the Son of God so His statement that those who were His mothers; brothers etc were those who did the will of God ( Mark 3:35) may be a bit harsh. Nonetheless; He knew at that point even some of his family didn't believe in Him. ( John 7:5). Ultimately; He said to John "behold your mother" during His greatest agony on the cross; thus exemplifying the love for Mary once Joseph clearly had passed. ( John 19:25-27). Now John would be as a son; also showing how we are put into God's adoptive family in John's case.
Malachi 4:6 discusses restoring fathers hearts to children; and vice-versa. This could be prophetic for those looking ahead toward the Church Age. One believer CAN bring about further repentance and belief among family members; as happened with Paul and the jailor; for instance. ( Acts 16:29-34). John 10:10 therefore can happen
Matthew 25:31-46, Matthew 7, Romans 14:12, Deuteronomy 5:11, Exodus 20:7,
Jude 1,
Hopefully these are helpful