We think mainly of Jesus dying on the cross as the Passover Lamb. But how about all the other animal sacrifices that the law required? If we look closer, we can see what all Jesus fulfilled that day. This Passover day started when the sun went down and Jesus and His 12 gathered together for the Last Supper.
After midnight they went into the garden of Gethsemane from there Jesus was betrayed by a friend, Psalm 41:9 and more, taken to Annas and then Caiaphas, and then early that morning to Pilate to be judged where no fault was found in Him.
At the same time, a priest was selected to carry a wooden beam on his shoulders up the ramp to light the fire of the altar of sacrifice. The first Tamid lamb was brought up and tied to the altar and inspected to make sure it did not have any blemishes.
Jesus was nailed to the cross and stood up on the 3rd hour 9 AM, Mark 15:25, the first Tamid lamb was sacrificed and put on the altar of sacrifice on the 3rd hour 9 AM the first hour of prayer. All the sacrifices of the people were placed on top of the first Tamid lamb. The 2nd hour of prayer is the 6th hour, noon, Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
The 3rd hour of prayer coincided with the evening sacrifice, at the 9th hour 3 PM when the last Tamid lamb was sacrificed and put on top of all the sacrifices of the people done that day. This was the exact time Jesus cried out and said it was finished Mark 15:34John 19:30.
God told Abraham to sacrifice his son and just before he did, God provided a ram for Isaac, and on that day the 14th of Nisan God provided Himself another Lamb, His only begotten Son sacrificed for us. Jesus also carried the wood for his sacrifice. Jesus fulfilled all the sacrifices, not just down to the day, but to the very hour itself.
The other day I discussed roles of men and women; and showed the case of Miriam and good and bad things about her behavior.
This situation shows how in general how a true Prophet can have certain sins that cause a downfall. Another example is in 1 Kings 13 starting in verse 11. His disobedience in stopping anywhere to eat on his journey back from a prophetic mission cost him his life. This story shows not only his disobedience; but the obstinance of the other prophet who enticed him to eat with him. The Spirit entered him much as it did with Balaam after he accepted the offer with a true word from God (in this case about his demise). We could look at Cephus as another example in John 11:50. So we can see several situations here:
1. A TRUE Prophet that errs in obedience to God
2. A FALSE Prophet that the Lord still uses to some extent for His purposes
3. Someone not designated as a Prophet who still says something to that affect.
We could look at the third example in the case of Pontius Pilate; who put the inscription in Matthew 27:37 on being the King of the Jews. John 19:22 further expounds on this theme in Pilate's declaration that it should stand. Whether his reasonings were mocking; or an honest assesment of his innocence could be questioned-it is clear that he never came to true repentance even if his sins were less serious than those of the others who were complicit or outright demanded he be crucified and a murder (Barabbas) released.
The story of Balaam in Numbers 22 should teach us some object lessons as well. One may assume that his story was an ancient tale and not of any importance today other than looking for false prophecies in general. This isn't true because this man was hired for money and we see evidence in the last days of those looking for "filthy lucre" ( 1 Timothy 3 and a couple other places in the N.T.) To say what a megachurch Pastor wants to hear to draw multitudes occurs today.
Liars: Final warning of those in hell from Revelation 21:8
Definition: Merriam-Webster defines a liar as someone who tells lies. No comment here on how great that definition is..:(
I will state as I have numerous times that no names need to be given here; just a mere mention of politics whether "donkeys or elephants" should suffice. I have said to people on occasion that a liar is worse than a murderer. The Apostle Paul is my "exhibit A" in that he at least was complicit in murder but did it in ignorance ( 1 Timothy 1:13). What we can't say is that he ever lied about his intentions; everyone knew his impassioned motives in the persecution. Lying is probably the most common methodology for maintaining a lifestyle of sin; if not lying to ourselves as to what we are doing and the consequences it is lying to others for self promotion. There are scriptural instances of lying where the midwives told Pharoah that the babies he wanted to kill were born before they could get to them. ( Exodus 1:19). There are other cases where for instance the full census wasn't given of the Israelites (Levites excluded) because the evil was sensed in King David's request that Satan himself had supplanted his heart to perform. I won't quibble here on that but certainly when we find a lie as the only way to preserve a life it is different than when it is merely self promoting.
In concealing a matter; as a case study we aren't helping ourselves ( Prov. 28:13). Hiding our sins is only going to be destructive. We will in time be found out. Lying of course can attempt to distract from any sort of transgression so again it seems that it may be most dangerous and deliberately at the end of sins leading to damnation. We need to heed carefully David's reaction when Nathan said "YOU ARE THE MAN" ( 2 Samuel 12:7). Saul wasn't ever able to repent; even though he said that he sinned ( 1 Samuel 15:24). This is like Pharaoh in Exodus 9:27 or Judas in Matthew 27:4. Worldly sorrow.
In John 12:1-16 this is 6 days before Passover and Jesus rides into Jerusalem the next day which would be the 10th, the day the lambs are taken up five days before Passover day which is called today Palm Sunday.
Each day is recorded in Matthew 21 through Matthew 27:56Mark 11:1 through Mark 15:41Luke 19:28 through Luke 23:49John 12:1 through John 19:37.
On the 1st day of the week, we call Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem and returned to Bethany in the evening to lodge.
The second day shows Jesus going to Jerusalem and returning to Bethany.
The third day is two days before Passover Matthew 26:2Mark 14:1.
On the fourth day, Judas makes the deal to betray Jesus and toward the end of the day, the disciples ask him where he wants them to prepare to eat the Passover. God commanded it to be eaten inside the city walls but they did not eat the Passover, Luke 22:15-16.
When the sun went down the fourth day what we call Wednesday is the beginning of Passover day the 14th of Nisan the day the Passover lambs are killed, Mark 14:12Luke 22:7. What confuses things is then and now Passover day and the Feast of Unleavened Bread is referred to as an eight-day feast. Passover day is a preparation day for the seven-day feast of Unleavened Bread not part of the seven-day feast.
The lambs were killed on the 14th in the evening, the time when the sun starts to go down, any time after noon and before the sun sets. The Passover is eaten the night of the 15th the first day of the seven-day feast which is a holy convocation/Sabbath Exodus 12:8 the same night they went out of Egypt not on Passover day.
The Lord's Supper and the crucifixion were on Passover day the fifth day from when Jesus rode into Jerusalem which would make that the 5th day of the week we call Thursday.
God made Jesus Lord, Acts 2:36, made is thee Greek word ginomai that means to come into being, to happen, to become. This was foreordained before the foundation of the world and this Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world, 1 Peter 1:19-20Revelation 13:8, foreordained the Greek word proginosko means to know beforehand to appoint or decree beforehand.
I see too many Scriptures that do not agree with the doctrine. I hope this makes sense. This is Scripture without man's knowledge or wisdom 1 Corinthians 1:22Jeremiah 10:10 10 Malachi 2:10Mark 12:32
Paul wrote these; Romans 3:30Romans 15:61 Corinthians 8:62 Corinthians 1:32 Corinthians 11:31Ephesians 1:3Ephesians 1:17Ephesians 3:14Ephesians 4:6Colossians 1:31 Timothy 2:5
Peter wrote this; 1 Peter 1:3
These are Jesus's words Himself; Matthew 27:46 Same in Mark 15:34John 14:28John 17:3John 20:17Revelation 3:12
What this says to me, there is only one true God who is the God and Father of Jesus,
These Scriptures are clear without our wisdom or knowledge do not agree with the doctrine of the Trinity. I do thank you and again I hope you do not consider me a Gnostic that would be sad, they are more of a philosophical like the immortal soul came from Greek philosophy, I am believer and follower of Jesus our Lord and savior.
About Judas a lot has been written by many. The usual question is: why didn't God forgive Judas since he "repented"?
But did he repent? The answer is no, he didn't. He merely felt bad about what happened, and he never went to God to ask for forgiveness.
Firsty in greek the verb used in Matthew 27:3 is not the same as in other places in the Bible where repentance is mentioned. The grk here shows that somebody feels bad/sad for something that has occured and wishes that it hadn't occured. So does that mean that they repent? To answer that I will go to what happened to me, not long ago. One Sunday morning after the church service I quarreled with a fellow dear brother (never mind who started it). I spoke to him very badly infront of almost the whole church. In the evening as I was sitting in my house and was thinking about it and feeling very bad about the whole incident, I asked myself one question. Was I feeling bad because I hurt my brother's feelings or was I feeling bad because I made myself a fool infront of the church and created a bad situation in the church? To be honest it was the second case. So did I really repent? No I didn't, I just wished it never happened not because I hurt my brother but because I created a bad impression of me in the congregation.
So lets go back to Judas. Judas was just feeling bad because of all that happened and most probably everybody figured him as his master's trator. So a whole bad situation occured about him. Probably everybody started avoiding him, nobody likes and approves betraying. But he didn't realy care about Jesus. He said to the Pharisees that he betrayed an innocent blood. But he knew that before betraying Jesus, didn't he? Maybe he didn't expect that they wanted to kill Jesus? But he knew that they wanted to do that, it was obvious from the beginning.
So he didn't actually repent, that is why he never asked for forgiveness. He was only thinking of his own situation, not Jesus'
If, therefore, those who were brought up in the ancient order of things have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord's Day, on which also our life has sprung up again by Him and by His death - whom some deny, by which mystery we have obtained faith, and therefore endure, that we may be found the disciples of Jesus Christ, our only Master - how shall we be able to live apart from Him, whose disciples the prophets themselves in the Spirit did wait for Him as their Teacher? And therefore He whom they rightly waited for, having come, raised them from the dead. Matthew 27:52
Teachings of the 12 Apostles, 14:1
"But every Lord's day gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one who is at odds with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned. For this is that which was spoken by the Lord: "In every place and time offer to me a pure sacrifice; for I am a great King, says the Lord, and my name is wonderful among the nations."
Those were not Catholics, they were Greeks actually not Latins. At the time the church had not been separated into different fractions. The first split of that united church occured in 1054 AD, and the Roman Catholic church emmerged as a separate church.
We have all come another day closer to the return of Christ. Isaiah 51:6 and other verses in Psalms refer to the earth waxing old like a garment; but as Job said there will be a resurrection and we shall see Him in our own flesh ( Job 19:26 and surrounding verses). The suffering of the saints which is part of God's purging process in our own lives will come to an end; certainly if Paul with the immense suffering promised him in Acts 9:16 could state that sufferings now are no comparison to what is to come ( Romans 8:18) heaven is too wonderful for words.
Whatever is left will be restored during the Millennium so that people can live fulfilled long lives in a peaceful existence. The earth will produce its fruit in abundance and Satan will be restrained. Only this will bring about the end of war ( Isaiah 2:4).
I will be the first to admit; and I doubt that I'm the only one that it seems almost a cruel joke to hold on to such hope; especially in regard to the Rapture which was rather obsessed over in the 1970s and 1980s and today hardly discussed in traditional church settings. We have come to a point where it is not discussed in church; but there are numerous online sites which are pretty much obsessed with the topic and endless dreams and visions that individuals are supposed to have had on the issue. It is hard to imagine just how great it will be not to have Satan and his emissaries like a spider with tentacles removed from what is now a chokehold on almost everything in the world today. Nonetheless we have a cloud of witnesses ( Heb. 12:1) which are of every saint who has died since the time of Christ and in fact some are the "first of the firstfruits" as it were of the O.T. saints resurrected in Matthew 27:52 and 53.
To imagine society without the violence and lawlessness of today is a stretch. When Christ comes to rule with a rod of iron He will also be just (see Isaiah 11:3 and other verses). Today may He reign in our hearts.
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"
The scriptures show multiple times such as Matthew 27:19 with Pilate's wife (who may or may not have come to saving faith) and with Paul in particular (with the jailor who he had a chance to bring to faith along with his whole family) in Acts 16:30-33. The jailor even showed compassion in washing the stripes from whipping of Paul that apparently occurred earlier. There were others who Paul was able to bring to faith who were often wives of important officials.
Jesus; of course knew what He was talking about since we ALL start out as enemies of God. This puts us on an even playing field so to speak; so that we cannot understand how God can change the heart of a serial killer but not of someone who always seems to be a "nice person" whether our family members or friends. It isn't so much important to browbeat someone as to their sinfulness to convince them to repent; ASSUMING that we are preaching about the sorry state of human souls in general with unregenerate hearts. This is how the Gospel was preached; those in authority were given general and very harsh rebukes by Christ as part of the general call. WE certainly need to clearly speak of how Jesus saved us from total depravity or however we want to describe our sorry state before salvation.
Matthew 10:28 shows what we should NOT fear (our death) and what our persecutors SHOULD fear (see also Philippians 1:28).
Easier said than done; actually not possible apart from the Spirit giving us the utterance (see Luke 12:12).
We must remember God determines when our last day is on earth not Satan or man. No doubt Satan desires 24/7 to destroy us so we must always be vigilant and not let our guard down. The same should be said in prayer for those suffering persecution today.
Christ's hidden attributes and first Advent (cont)
In general, Christ's arrival as a suffering servant which should have been clearly understood from Isaiah 53 was largely missed even by the 12 disciples who expected a conquering king. This was to be in the future; as was made clear by the reading of the scroll when Jesus read Isaiah 61:1 and stopped before 61:2 which involves His return. Christ knew what was in the heart of men ( John 2:24-25) so He didn't need anyone to explain themselves to Him. This discernment in the Spirit is a spiritual gift; but with Christ who was God in the flesh He had the fullness of the Spirit without limit ( John 3:34).
Christ also came to forgive men's sins. This was considered blasphemy by the religious leaders who immediately tried to stone Him in John 8:59 after these claims in verse 58 as being the "I am". Clearly; the contentious crowd at His trial before the crucifixion who demanded that He be crucified and Barabbas a murderer released showed the blindness of the condition of an unregenerate human heart. Judas Iscariot recognized through worldly sorrow that Christ was a righteous man that was betrayed ( Matthew 27:4 technically an "innocent man"); but the Centurion showed saving faith ( Matthew 27:54).
These passages demonstrate the importance of recognizing Christ as God the Son; not merely a good teacher or righteous man (see Matthew 16:13-20). The hidden significance of these things is still blinding the unregenerate ( 2 Cor. 4:3-4); and the Jews have been blinded until the time of the end as we seee in Romans 11:25. It is "in part" as there are Jews who recognize Christ (called Messianic Jews by some) but until Jesus is returning according to Zechariah 12-14 the nation as a whole won't recognize Him. This is quite remarkable as the world in general knows they are hiding from Christ and God's judgment during the sixth seal. This; no doubt is because of the epicenter of Antichrist's deception there.
Hello Bmccaugh58. The answers to your questions are actually found throughout the Bible (from Genesis to Revelation), because the Bible essentially shows us how far mankind has fallen away from his Creator (because of sin), the repercussions we face from living in such a sinful state, & what God has done to offer correction & help, or else, judgement. So, one merely has to read through the Bible (even in your daily devotions/readings) & will see how people, yes all of us, have done wrong towards God & man & what subsequently entails from that. Some will learn & be corrected & then restored - others will persist in their evil ways & face God's Judgement.
So, here are some passages to start you off, but in your reading of the Bible, God's Spirit will alert you to what you seek or even where some action needs to be taken in your own life.
These are just a very few Scriptures, reminding us that there will always be consequences for our actions, not just in our dealings with each other, but more importantly, as we stand before God. But this God of Love always gives sinful wayward man an escape route, from a life of sin to a life of holiness & love - and His Name is Jesus.
The 144,000 are the Old Testament saints raised with Christ at his resurrection, they were made ONE FLESH with Christ at his resurrection..... Matthew 27:52-53 ..... Jerusalem is the New Jerusalem, the city of God.
The woman is YOU and Christ, the city is YOU and Christ, the temple is YOU and Christ.
The man child is YOU and Christ.
You were made ONE FLESH at his resurrection.
Revelation 12:1 And there APPEARED a great wonder in STEWART; STEWARD clothed with the Spirit of God (light), and CHRIST (God's faithful witness in heaven: IN STEWART), and upon STEWART'S HEAD a crown of twelve stars (the ministering spirits of the 12 tribes of OLD, the resurrected saints).
Revelation 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in STEWART, and behold a great red dragon (of the sea) .....
Revelation 12:9 .... that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, WHICH DECEIVES the whole world .....
Revelation is a revealing of Jesus Christ and THOSE who believe they were MADE ONE FLESH with Christ, by his resurrection.
It's symbolic, make Revelation apply TO YOU, and be BORN AGAIN by the words of God.
I thank you for your response. I think but seeing its in other scriptures its not telling us Heavens direction. Which is ok, we does tell us will do for me. His word is enough for me.
Here is one prophecy of Christ.
Matthew 27:46
"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken Me?"
Psalms 22:1
"(To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.) My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?"
John 19:30
"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and he bowed His head, and gave up the ghost."
Psalms 22:31
"They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this."
Revelation 6:12 And when the SIXTH seal was opened, and lo, there was a great earthquake .... Matthew 27:54.... and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair ...... Matthew 27:45 ....... and the moon became as blood ...... John 19:34 .....
All this was prophesied:
Joel 2:31 The sun shall turn into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable Day of the Lord come.
"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken Me?"
Psalms 22:1
"(To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.) My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?"
John 19:30
"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and he bowed His head, and gave up the ghost."
Psalms 22:31
"They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this." God's prophetic words always come true. In a Psalm of David, that God put in his heart.
1 Corinthians 6:20
"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken Me?
Psalms 22:1
(To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.) My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
John 19:30
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and he bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.
Psalms 22:31
They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
1 Corinthians 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
2 concepts are indicated in these lyrics. First; praise isn't always accepted by God and second riches of this world often are treasured above the Lord. Both of these points are an issue when it comes to the Contemporary Christian music industry; in particular.
Lucifer according to Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14 was anointed as a Cherubim with musical giftings built into him. He chose glory for himself; therefore lost his place in heaven and consequently; can only use his talents for evil purposes today. It is hard to conceive that those who have written scripturally sound lyrics in the past could abandon the Lord; but mind boggling to see those who have continued to confess Christ but accept all the ideologies contrary to scripture. This is certainly reminiscent of the type of people you would expect in the last days Laodicean type church. The kind of God which is worshipped in this case is one sided toward love and acceptance and doesn't look at repentance seriously. God loved us enough to send His Son ( John 3:16) but when the Son had our sins placed on Him the Father had to look away. ( Matthew 27:46; Habakkuk 1:13).
There are exceptions; of course of artists whose lives truly reflect the proper doctrines; and show the proper behavior as a humble servant. This often at the very least means turning down more lucrative offers that cause compromise and starting your own music label. Many start in local churches then end up getting sucked into the greed of worldly desires for success and any new musician should have regular discipling and close association with a local church; preferably as a member. We should pray also for those who are gifted musically in secular circles that they will turn to Christ and witness to them when opportunities arise.
Interesting sign-in name, just to add to Jema's wonderful reply. My understanding Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets and Jesus asking them in Luke 22:36 to buy swords was part of fulfilling the prophecy. He told them in, Luke 22:37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
Isaiah 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
In Luke 22:36-38, He tells them why the swords they had would be enough, then in verse 52, we see they came with swords and spears as against a thief. Jesus was also put on the cross between two thieves, Matthew 27:38. Even the least of the not obvious prophecies, Jesus fulfilled them all.
Your use of Matthew 7:14 is misinterpreted because TRUE, few will find The Way but what does finding the way have to do with Election? For Election is NOT about works (finding The Way), but Election is ALL about God Choosing! Look at Rom. Ch.11, the whole chapter. It's all about God "cutting off" His Chosen for the sake of those NOT chosen. There are two types of elect; there are those Chosen before the foundation of the world, Ephesians 1:4. And those chosen, only because His Chosen were "cut off"! Romans 11:11-12. The Jews (Hebrew) for the Gentile, the vessels of wrath for the vessels of mercy, Romans 9:21-23 and Christ for the world, Matthew 27:46. This is a Pattern, a plummet line, a way for us to "measure" the things of God.
Sorting out the firstfruits: From Christ to the 144,000
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. ( 1 Cor. 15:20-22).
Revelation 5:9-10 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Revelation 14:1-5
1And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
As I mentioned in earlier postings; the firstfruits originated with Christ Himself being lifted up; those who rose from the dead (a sort of gleaning) in Matthew 27:53. Then there is the Rapture where the church appears in Revelation 5 (although firstfruits isn't in that text) and finally the 144,000 mentioned as firstfruits in Rev. 14. It would seem that in this case those of Jewish descent would be the focus here. There is a new song shared here along with the church in Revelation 5. It would seem the 144,000 come after the midpoint of the Tribulation.
All the saints (elders) in the old testament died a physical death; because Christ, the promised SEED had not yet COME to give ALL immortal life by his resurrection.
Ezekiel 18:4 .... the SOUL that sinneth it shall DIE .....the soul goes to the grave .....
The promise in both the Old and New Testament has always been the promise of eternal live, destroying the enemy of man, DEATH.
Hebrews 11:39 And these all (the saints in the Old testament), having obtained a good report through faith (believing in the coming messiah to deliver them from death), RECEIVED NOT THE PROMISE.
Hebrews 11:40 For God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect (resurrected with Christ, Christ ONLY is perfect and hath immortality dwelling in the light .... 1 Timothy 6:16)
Matthew 27:52-53
All creation was given immortality at the same time: when Christ was resurrected; Christ only was resurrected, creating a NEW CREATION.
Revelation 21:5 ... Behold, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW ....
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in CHRIST (Christ ONLY was resurrected), he is a NEW creature: old things have passed away, Behold, all things have become NEW.
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow (God foreknew all creation), he did also PREDESTINATE (by Christ resurrection) to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the FIRSTBORN (Christ ONLY arose) of many brethren (CHRISTians).
-Please pray for understand for God will give him who ask freely.
It's written in John 10:35 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35, If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
meaning the bible cannot contradict itself. infact Jesus Has Said this in Proverbs 8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing froward or perverse in them.
So, my advice to you is to Kneel down and repent of your unbelief and ask The Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God to Help you understand His words The sharp two- Eged sword.
In Matthew 6:22 -23. 22Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
-What we fail to see here is this, Satan entered unto peter and he is using peter to try and deceive Jesus Christ not to Go to the Cross and if The Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God would have not gone to the cross then the whole bible would be compromised, and every word of prophecy would collapse just by that one action. remember Just before Jesus was arrested by the temple Gurds/solders What He said unto them. in Matthew 27:53-54
53Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? 54But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
Obviously the "EVERLASTING" conditons described in scripture concerning the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants.
Scriptures such as Isaiah 51:11 and many others don't exist of yet.
They are certainly back in the land but the wailing wall in Jerusalem reminds me of Matthew 27:25.
Also Matthew 23:38-39 seems to parallel with Hosea 5:15.
Does Israel disobedience void the UNCONDITIONAL COVENANT AND PROMISES?
According to Psalms 89:27-36. NO!
"My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;
If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;
Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, NOR SUFFER MY FAITHFULNESS TO FAIL.
( This is a marvelous saying! It's God's faithfulness that is on display!!)
MY COVENANT WILL I NOT BREAK, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.
His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me."
Daniel has much to say about this in Daniel 9:24
"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy."
Appreciate your reply Ronald & thanks. In regards to the transfiguration of Jesus ( Matthew 17:1-4), & to whether it was just a vision that Peter, James, & John had seen or if Moses & Elijah were physically there, I think any view we might hold onto could be endlessly & fruitlessly debated. Had we been told that the disciples physically embraced these two men/spirits or were unable to do so, then we might arrive at a better understanding. And similarly, with the description & destiny of the soul & spirit, a discussion of which never seems to bring out clear irrefutable answers, we may need to hold to our views until further light comes our way.
Re: Matthew 27:50-54 (as also in Matthew 27:63,64: pertaining to Jesus rising from the grave), I see that the same word (in a different form) is used in the Greek. By the way, I wasn't referring to verse 50, Jesus "yielding up the ghost" as to His resurrection, but to the event after His three day entombment.
So when we get to those saints who died & arose (vv 52,53), I understand those verses to show that there were two parts to this event. Firstly in verse 52a, when Jesus yielded up His Spirit on the Cross, simultaneously those specific graves were opened as the veil was rent & the earthquake, etc. But those departed saints remained dead in their graves until verse 52b, 53: "and many bodies of the saints arose and came out of the graves AFTER his resurrection" (at least that's the way I read those verses). This would affirm that Jesus was indeed the 'firstfruits of the resurrection' ( 1 Corinthians 15:20-23), since those saints only arose & came out of their graves (i.e. their resurrection, 'egerthesan') after Jesus first arose. So if I visualize the scene at that time: Jesus appearing to the women & then the disciples & simultaneously these long-departed saints now walking among the populace - this event alone should have sent Jerusalem into some turmoil. Thanks again brother & every blessing.
Hello Ronald. If I may share my thoughts on the Scriptures you shared & hopefully not feeding into a possible ruckus.
a. John 3:10-13. I understand that this speaks about Jesus asserting that it could only be Him Who brought this wonderful Truth (of rebirth) to Nicodemus since none else before Him had done so. He was the One always in Heaven, & as the Word of God now in flesh, He was even greater than the prophets that went before Him ( Hebrews 1:1,2); in that He, the Living Word, brought out the mysterious Truths of Heaven. There was none other that ascended to Heaven in the past, heard such things & then came back to Earth to deliver the message - only Jesus could do it & has done it. So Jesus isn't talking about a resurrection here, but that none has ever done what He has done now (i.e. entering Heaven & returning with this Word).
b. Then what about Enoch, Moses & Elijah? Enoch & Elijah are understood to have been translated at their final day on Earth, i.e. they weren't resurrected (as I understand that a resurrection can only happen after one dies first). Of Moses, it would be difficult to correctly understand his destiny at death; was it just in the grave awaiting resurrection, or into Heaven itself, or maybe as in the account of the rich man & Lazarus, where the spirit & soul temporarily resides in a 'paradise'. The only way that I can understand Moses' coming (in Matthew 17:1-4), is that Moses was released from his paradise, given an outward form (as also Elijah), for the purposes of this transfiguration & then maybe returned from whence he came.
c. And yes, I would agree that for Jesus to be "the firstfruits of them that slept" ( 1 Corinthians 15:20), then no other before Him could have experienced a bodily resurrection; either they were translated or their spirits/souls went into that paradise hold. Then of those who were resurrected post-Jesus' resurrection ( Matthew 27:51-53), we aren't told what became of them after that - we can only speculate.
Hey Ruby lea Read....TY kindly for the kind words of appreciation....Hold on tight to your dreams they will soon come true in a kingdom for all your family....AMEN and AMEN TO YOU RUBY....I always love to read all your posts....I was just thinking about what Jesus said I come as a thief in the night....When he was on the Cross ..Darkness covered the earth from the 6 hr. to the 9 th... hr... Matthew 27:45....He was making a new covenant with his blood a TYPE OF that red pottage that Jacob used to steal Esaus birth right....Darkness covered the earth from the 6 hr. to the 9 th. hr....He was stealing our old birth right of DEATH BY HIS BLOOD THAT RED STUFF....That New Covenant in his blood .... Romans 8 :2 The spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death....That was the old covenant the soul that sinneth shall surely die..Ezech.But he came as a thief in the nite at Calvary to make a new Covenant with that red pottage ( his blood.) Matthew 27 :45....Our old covenant was death... the soul that sinneth shall surely die....But he died in our place thus he stole that curse and took it upon himself....I come as a thief in the nite..At Calvary....When he had taken the cup he said this is the new Covenant in my blood drink ye all of it....Esau ate all that Red pottage....And lived....But he lost his birth right which was death, the soul that sinneth shall surly die...But Jesus died in our stead....Darkness covered the earth from the 6 hr to the 9 th hr....Thats when he died for our sins making a new covenant in his blood...ok gbu Ruby....Thus Jesus stole our old birth right which was death....And it was at night....Darkness covered the earth from the 6 th hr to the 9 th hr...This is that manna that if man eats he will neva die...The New Covenant is that hidden manna....These things are hid from the wise and prudent but only revealed unto babes...The result of this N.C.is gonna result in everybody breaking out in birth pains...The Child is th H.G.
It is my sense that the Church number was now completed & the Marriage Supper could take place (of course, this is not specifically mentioned). What happened at the Rapture, was an 'harpazo' (snatching away) of the dead, made alive & to be forever with the Lord; nothing akin to a resurrection where saints remain on the Earth, restored & reigning with Christ. So, the question, 'cannot the Rapture of the dead be seen as a resurrection?' In one sense yes, as it clearly is a raising from a state of death, but then we see Matthew 27:50-53; Acts 9:36-43; possibly Acts 20:7-12; (& not to mention the several other personal resurrections in the OT). I see the Rapture of the Church as a specific resurrection to remove believers from the impending Great Tribulation & not part of the General Resurrection (First Resurrection). And 'the shout & the trump'? Maybe, the call to march from Heaven & the command for the saints to rise up to the clouds; something the heavenly host hear & the personal call to those in Christ & none else can hear?
Revelation 1:7: Jesus comes to defeat the enemy armies & the world will behold this spectacular sight. I don't think one can confidently relate the clouds in this verse with the clouds in 1 Thessalonians. Maybe just cloudy days, or specially created clouds for that purpose. Who knows. As well "with clouds" & "in clouds" might be significant, but I wouldn't pursue that. I'm sorry Jimbob that you find so many holes in the "pre-trib theory".
I will admit that most things written of the future can be open to many opinions, simply because we don't get a nice laid out timeline of events. It's a matter of how we put Scriptures together. If wrong in my understanding, so be it - it's just how the Scriptures fall into place for me. Now some believe that the post-trib position involves believers who survive the tribulation & also have to face that time of God's Wrath poured out as well, which neither you nor I believe. That's a plus for us!
Are the Prophecies in Revelation and the gospels any different than those in Mosses and the Prophets? Are, or they just a second witness?
There was no brick and mortar churches, no doctrines of those churches, until the apostles founded them.
How did the apostles and first men come to the truth of the KINGDOM OF GOD?
Luke 16:31 ....If they HEAR NOT Mosses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Acts 28:23 ....he (Paul) expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Mosses, and out of the Prophets, from morning till evening.
Galatians 1:17 Neither went I (Paul) up to Jerusalem to THEM which were apostles before me, but I went into Arabia (the wilderness) ......Where the Spirit taught him ......
Revelation 12:6 And the WOMAN (the bride of Christ, his church) fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, and there should feed her a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
The disciples were feed by Christ for one thousand two hundred and threescore days, 42 months, 3 1/2 years, you and I are still being feed by that 3 1/2 year ministry, except NOW, Christ is WITHIN US, his second coming; but, we are still in the wilderness being feed.
Revelation 11:11 And after three days and a half (the great tribulation poured out on Christ) the Spirit of LIFE ( I am the Resurrection) from God entered into them ( those of OLD, the law and prophets, the old testament saints) --- Matthew 27:52-53 ---
Isaiah 26:19 ....with my dead body shall they arise .....
There are 2 deaths, 2 resurrections, 2 second comings and 2 judgements, one for the Firstfruits, feast of weeks, and one for the feast of the ingathering, AKA feast of tents, AKA feast of the tabernacles.
The woman, Christ bride, the church, rides the BEAST, and we are told TO COME OUT of here MY PEOPLE.
Matthew 24:29 Immediately after ----it's been 2000 years, that's not immediately after --- the tribulation of those days ---it's Christ's tribulation, leading up to his death on the cross, that he is speaking about ----shall the sun be darkened, Matthew 27:45 ---he is quoting Joel 2:31 and Revelation 6:12 a prophecy about Christ death on the cross ---and the moon (symbolising Christ) shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven ---- Revelation 12:4 ---and the powers of heaven shall be shaken ----all this description is a parable Matthew 13:34. Christ's words are most often HIDDEN in parables and symbols.
Matthew 24:30 Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven ---this is still symbolic and a parable ---heaven is symbolic of man, where GOD DWELLS, Colossians 2:27 ...Christ in you .... John 3:13 ... he which is in heaven ....
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord God will DO NOTHING, but he revealeth his secret to his servant the prophets.
Your raptured: one at a time
Isaiah 27:12 ....and ye shall be gathered ONE by ONE ....two in the field, one taken one left ....
God bless you, as you study and Christ reveals himself to you.
We think mainly of Jesus dying on the cross as the Passover Lamb. But how about all the other animal sacrifices that the law required? If we look closer, we can see what all Jesus fulfilled that day. This Passover day started when the sun went down and Jesus and His 12 gathered together for the Last Supper.
After midnight they went into the garden of Gethsemane from there Jesus was betrayed by a friend, Psalm 41:9 and more, taken to Annas and then Caiaphas, and then early that morning to Pilate to be judged where no fault was found in Him.
At the same time, a priest was selected to carry a wooden beam on his shoulders up the ramp to light the fire of the altar of sacrifice. The first Tamid lamb was brought up and tied to the altar and inspected to make sure it did not have any blemishes.
Jesus was nailed to the cross and stood up on the 3rd hour 9 AM, Mark 15:25, the first Tamid lamb was sacrificed and put on the altar of sacrifice on the 3rd hour 9 AM the first hour of prayer. All the sacrifices of the people were placed on top of the first Tamid lamb. The 2nd hour of prayer is the 6th hour, noon, Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
The 3rd hour of prayer coincided with the evening sacrifice, at the 9th hour 3 PM when the last Tamid lamb was sacrificed and put on top of all the sacrifices of the people done that day. This was the exact time Jesus cried out and said it was finished Mark 15:34 John 19:30.
God told Abraham to sacrifice his son and just before he did, God provided a ram for Isaac, and on that day the 14th of Nisan God provided Himself another Lamb, His only begotten Son sacrificed for us. Jesus also carried the wood for his sacrifice. Jesus fulfilled all the sacrifices, not just down to the day, but to the very hour itself.
God bless,
RLW
The other day I discussed roles of men and women; and showed the case of Miriam and good and bad things about her behavior.
This situation shows how in general how a true Prophet can have certain sins that cause a downfall. Another example is in 1 Kings 13 starting in verse 11. His disobedience in stopping anywhere to eat on his journey back from a prophetic mission cost him his life. This story shows not only his disobedience; but the obstinance of the other prophet who enticed him to eat with him. The Spirit entered him much as it did with Balaam after he accepted the offer with a true word from God (in this case about his demise). We could look at Cephus as another example in John 11:50. So we can see several situations here:
1. A TRUE Prophet that errs in obedience to God
2. A FALSE Prophet that the Lord still uses to some extent for His purposes
3. Someone not designated as a Prophet who still says something to that affect.
We could look at the third example in the case of Pontius Pilate; who put the inscription in Matthew 27:37 on being the King of the Jews. John 19:22 further expounds on this theme in Pilate's declaration that it should stand. Whether his reasonings were mocking; or an honest assesment of his innocence could be questioned-it is clear that he never came to true repentance even if his sins were less serious than those of the others who were complicit or outright demanded he be crucified and a murder (Barabbas) released.
The story of Balaam in Numbers 22 should teach us some object lessons as well. One may assume that his story was an ancient tale and not of any importance today other than looking for false prophecies in general. This isn't true because this man was hired for money and we see evidence in the last days of those looking for "filthy lucre" ( 1 Timothy 3 and a couple other places in the N.T.) To say what a megachurch Pastor wants to hear to draw multitudes occurs today.
Definition: Merriam-Webster defines a liar as someone who tells lies. No comment here on how great that definition is..:(
I will state as I have numerous times that no names need to be given here; just a mere mention of politics whether "donkeys or elephants" should suffice. I have said to people on occasion that a liar is worse than a murderer. The Apostle Paul is my "exhibit A" in that he at least was complicit in murder but did it in ignorance ( 1 Timothy 1:13). What we can't say is that he ever lied about his intentions; everyone knew his impassioned motives in the persecution. Lying is probably the most common methodology for maintaining a lifestyle of sin; if not lying to ourselves as to what we are doing and the consequences it is lying to others for self promotion. There are scriptural instances of lying where the midwives told Pharoah that the babies he wanted to kill were born before they could get to them. ( Exodus 1:19). There are other cases where for instance the full census wasn't given of the Israelites (Levites excluded) because the evil was sensed in King David's request that Satan himself had supplanted his heart to perform. I won't quibble here on that but certainly when we find a lie as the only way to preserve a life it is different than when it is merely self promoting.
In concealing a matter; as a case study we aren't helping ourselves ( Prov. 28:13). Hiding our sins is only going to be destructive. We will in time be found out. Lying of course can attempt to distract from any sort of transgression so again it seems that it may be most dangerous and deliberately at the end of sins leading to damnation. We need to heed carefully David's reaction when Nathan said "YOU ARE THE MAN" ( 2 Samuel 12:7). Saul wasn't ever able to repent; even though he said that he sinned ( 1 Samuel 15:24). This is like Pharaoh in Exodus 9:27 or Judas in Matthew 27:4. Worldly sorrow.
In John 12:1-16 this is 6 days before Passover and Jesus rides into Jerusalem the next day which would be the 10th, the day the lambs are taken up five days before Passover day which is called today Palm Sunday.
Each day is recorded in Matthew 21 through Matthew 27:56 Mark 11:1 through Mark 15:41 Luke 19:28 through Luke 23:49 John 12:1 through John 19:37.
On the 1st day of the week, we call Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem and returned to Bethany in the evening to lodge.
The second day shows Jesus going to Jerusalem and returning to Bethany.
The third day is two days before Passover Matthew 26:2 Mark 14:1.
On the fourth day, Judas makes the deal to betray Jesus and toward the end of the day, the disciples ask him where he wants them to prepare to eat the Passover. God commanded it to be eaten inside the city walls but they did not eat the Passover, Luke 22:15-16.
When the sun went down the fourth day what we call Wednesday is the beginning of Passover day the 14th of Nisan the day the Passover lambs are killed, Mark 14:12 Luke 22:7. What confuses things is then and now Passover day and the Feast of Unleavened Bread is referred to as an eight-day feast. Passover day is a preparation day for the seven-day feast of Unleavened Bread not part of the seven-day feast.
The lambs were killed on the 14th in the evening, the time when the sun starts to go down, any time after noon and before the sun sets. The Passover is eaten the night of the 15th the first day of the seven-day feast which is a holy convocation/Sabbath Exodus 12:8 the same night they went out of Egypt not on Passover day.
The Lord's Supper and the crucifixion were on Passover day the fifth day from when Jesus rode into Jerusalem which would make that the 5th day of the week we call Thursday.
God bless,
RLW
Part 2
God made Jesus Lord, Acts 2:36, made is thee Greek word ginomai that means to come into being, to happen, to become. This was foreordained before the foundation of the world and this Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world, 1 Peter 1:19-20 Revelation 13:8, foreordained the Greek word proginosko means to know beforehand to appoint or decree beforehand.
I see too many Scriptures that do not agree with the doctrine. I hope this makes sense. This is Scripture without man's knowledge or wisdom 1 Corinthians 1:22 Jeremiah 10:10 10 Malachi 2:10 Mark 12:32
Paul wrote these; Romans 3:30 Romans 15:6 1 Corinthians 8:6 2 Corinthians 1:3 2 Corinthians 11:31 Ephesians 1:3 Ephesians 1:17 Ephesians 3:14 Ephesians 4:6 Colossians 1:3 1 Timothy 2:5
Peter wrote this; 1 Peter 1:3
These are Jesus's words Himself; Matthew 27:46 Same in Mark 15:34 John 14:28 John 17:3 John 20:17 Revelation 3:12
What this says to me, there is only one true God who is the God and Father of Jesus,
These Scriptures are clear without our wisdom or knowledge do not agree with the doctrine of the Trinity. I do thank you and again I hope you do not consider me a Gnostic that would be sad, they are more of a philosophical like the immortal soul came from Greek philosophy, I am believer and follower of Jesus our Lord and savior.
God bless,
RLW
About Judas a lot has been written by many. The usual question is: why didn't God forgive Judas since he "repented"?
But did he repent? The answer is no, he didn't. He merely felt bad about what happened, and he never went to God to ask for forgiveness.
Firsty in greek the verb used in Matthew 27:3 is not the same as in other places in the Bible where repentance is mentioned. The grk here shows that somebody feels bad/sad for something that has occured and wishes that it hadn't occured. So does that mean that they repent? To answer that I will go to what happened to me, not long ago. One Sunday morning after the church service I quarreled with a fellow dear brother (never mind who started it). I spoke to him very badly infront of almost the whole church. In the evening as I was sitting in my house and was thinking about it and feeling very bad about the whole incident, I asked myself one question. Was I feeling bad because I hurt my brother's feelings or was I feeling bad because I made myself a fool infront of the church and created a bad situation in the church? To be honest it was the second case. So did I really repent? No I didn't, I just wished it never happened not because I hurt my brother but because I created a bad impression of me in the congregation.
So lets go back to Judas. Judas was just feeling bad because of all that happened and most probably everybody figured him as his master's trator. So a whole bad situation occured about him. Probably everybody started avoiding him, nobody likes and approves betraying. But he didn't realy care about Jesus. He said to the Pharisees that he betrayed an innocent blood. But he knew that before betraying Jesus, didn't he? Maybe he didn't expect that they wanted to kill Jesus? But he knew that they wanted to do that, it was obvious from the beginning.
So he didn't actually repent, that is why he never asked for forgiveness. He was only thinking of his own situation, not Jesus'
Just an opinion. GBU.
Ignatius of Antioch, chapter 9
If, therefore, those who were brought up in the ancient order of things have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord's Day, on which also our life has sprung up again by Him and by His death - whom some deny, by which mystery we have obtained faith, and therefore endure, that we may be found the disciples of Jesus Christ, our only Master - how shall we be able to live apart from Him, whose disciples the prophets themselves in the Spirit did wait for Him as their Teacher? And therefore He whom they rightly waited for, having come, raised them from the dead. Matthew 27:52
Teachings of the 12 Apostles, 14:1
"But every Lord's day gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one who is at odds with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned. For this is that which was spoken by the Lord: "In every place and time offer to me a pure sacrifice; for I am a great King, says the Lord, and my name is wonderful among the nations."
Those were not Catholics, they were Greeks actually not Latins. At the time the church had not been separated into different fractions. The first split of that united church occured in 1054 AD, and the Roman Catholic church emmerged as a separate church.
We have all come another day closer to the return of Christ. Isaiah 51:6 and other verses in Psalms refer to the earth waxing old like a garment; but as Job said there will be a resurrection and we shall see Him in our own flesh ( Job 19:26 and surrounding verses). The suffering of the saints which is part of God's purging process in our own lives will come to an end; certainly if Paul with the immense suffering promised him in Acts 9:16 could state that sufferings now are no comparison to what is to come ( Romans 8:18) heaven is too wonderful for words.
Whatever is left will be restored during the Millennium so that people can live fulfilled long lives in a peaceful existence. The earth will produce its fruit in abundance and Satan will be restrained. Only this will bring about the end of war ( Isaiah 2:4).
I will be the first to admit; and I doubt that I'm the only one that it seems almost a cruel joke to hold on to such hope; especially in regard to the Rapture which was rather obsessed over in the 1970s and 1980s and today hardly discussed in traditional church settings. We have come to a point where it is not discussed in church; but there are numerous online sites which are pretty much obsessed with the topic and endless dreams and visions that individuals are supposed to have had on the issue. It is hard to imagine just how great it will be not to have Satan and his emissaries like a spider with tentacles removed from what is now a chokehold on almost everything in the world today. Nonetheless we have a cloud of witnesses ( Heb. 12:1) which are of every saint who has died since the time of Christ and in fact some are the "first of the firstfruits" as it were of the O.T. saints resurrected in Matthew 27:52 and 53.
To imagine society without the violence and lawlessness of today is a stretch. When Christ comes to rule with a rod of iron He will also be just (see Isaiah 11:3 and other verses). Today may He reign in our hearts.
Matthew 5:44 states:
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"
The scriptures show multiple times such as Matthew 27:19 with Pilate's wife (who may or may not have come to saving faith) and with Paul in particular (with the jailor who he had a chance to bring to faith along with his whole family) in Acts 16:30-33. The jailor even showed compassion in washing the stripes from whipping of Paul that apparently occurred earlier. There were others who Paul was able to bring to faith who were often wives of important officials.
Jesus; of course knew what He was talking about since we ALL start out as enemies of God. This puts us on an even playing field so to speak; so that we cannot understand how God can change the heart of a serial killer but not of someone who always seems to be a "nice person" whether our family members or friends. It isn't so much important to browbeat someone as to their sinfulness to convince them to repent; ASSUMING that we are preaching about the sorry state of human souls in general with unregenerate hearts. This is how the Gospel was preached; those in authority were given general and very harsh rebukes by Christ as part of the general call. WE certainly need to clearly speak of how Jesus saved us from total depravity or however we want to describe our sorry state before salvation.
Matthew 10:28 shows what we should NOT fear (our death) and what our persecutors SHOULD fear (see also Philippians 1:28).
Easier said than done; actually not possible apart from the Spirit giving us the utterance (see Luke 12:12).
We must remember God determines when our last day is on earth not Satan or man. No doubt Satan desires 24/7 to destroy us so we must always be vigilant and not let our guard down. The same should be said in prayer for those suffering persecution today.
In general, Christ's arrival as a suffering servant which should have been clearly understood from Isaiah 53 was largely missed even by the 12 disciples who expected a conquering king. This was to be in the future; as was made clear by the reading of the scroll when Jesus read Isaiah 61:1 and stopped before 61:2 which involves His return. Christ knew what was in the heart of men ( John 2:24-25) so He didn't need anyone to explain themselves to Him. This discernment in the Spirit is a spiritual gift; but with Christ who was God in the flesh He had the fullness of the Spirit without limit ( John 3:34).
Christ also came to forgive men's sins. This was considered blasphemy by the religious leaders who immediately tried to stone Him in John 8:59 after these claims in verse 58 as being the "I am". Clearly; the contentious crowd at His trial before the crucifixion who demanded that He be crucified and Barabbas a murderer released showed the blindness of the condition of an unregenerate human heart. Judas Iscariot recognized through worldly sorrow that Christ was a righteous man that was betrayed ( Matthew 27:4 technically an "innocent man"); but the Centurion showed saving faith ( Matthew 27:54).
These passages demonstrate the importance of recognizing Christ as God the Son; not merely a good teacher or righteous man (see Matthew 16:13-20). The hidden significance of these things is still blinding the unregenerate ( 2 Cor. 4:3-4); and the Jews have been blinded until the time of the end as we seee in Romans 11:25. It is "in part" as there are Jews who recognize Christ (called Messianic Jews by some) but until Jesus is returning according to Zechariah 12-14 the nation as a whole won't recognize Him. This is quite remarkable as the world in general knows they are hiding from Christ and God's judgment during the sixth seal. This; no doubt is because of the epicenter of Antichrist's deception there.
So, here are some passages to start you off, but in your reading of the Bible, God's Spirit will alert you to what you seek or even where some action needs to be taken in your own life.
For "Consequences", see: Genesis 2:15-17; Genesis 3:16-19; Deuteronomy 28:1,2,15; 1 Kings 11:9-11; Job 4:8,9; Isaiah 59:2; Jeremiah 17:9,10; Matthew 27:3-5; Romans 6:23; Romans 13:4; Galatians 6:7,8; 1 Timothy 5:8; James 2:10; Revelation 20:12-15.
For "Correction", see: Proverbs 22:6; Proverbs 29:15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 6:4; 2 Timothy 4:2; Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelation 3:19.
These are just a very few Scriptures, reminding us that there will always be consequences for our actions, not just in our dealings with each other, but more importantly, as we stand before God. But this God of Love always gives sinful wayward man an escape route, from a life of sin to a life of holiness & love - and His Name is Jesus.
The 144,000 are the Old Testament saints raised with Christ at his resurrection, they were made ONE FLESH with Christ at his resurrection..... Matthew 27:52-53 ..... Jerusalem is the New Jerusalem, the city of God.
The woman is YOU and Christ, the city is YOU and Christ, the temple is YOU and Christ.
The man child is YOU and Christ.
You were made ONE FLESH at his resurrection.
Revelation 12:1 And there APPEARED a great wonder in STEWART; STEWARD clothed with the Spirit of God (light), and CHRIST (God's faithful witness in heaven: IN STEWART), and upon STEWART'S HEAD a crown of twelve stars (the ministering spirits of the 12 tribes of OLD, the resurrected saints).
Revelation 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in STEWART, and behold a great red dragon (of the sea) .....
Revelation 12:9 .... that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, WHICH DECEIVES the whole world .....
Revelation is a revealing of Jesus Christ and THOSE who believe they were MADE ONE FLESH with Christ, by his resurrection.
It's symbolic, make Revelation apply TO YOU, and be BORN AGAIN by the words of God.
God Bless YOU!
I thank you for your response. I think but seeing its in other scriptures its not telling us Heavens direction. Which is ok, we does tell us will do for me. His word is enough for me.
Here is one prophecy of Christ.
Matthew 27:46
"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken Me?"
Psalms 22:1
"(To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.) My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?"
John 19:30
"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and he bowed His head, and gave up the ghost."
Psalms 22:31
"They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this."
God Bless You
Revelation 6:12 And when the SIXTH seal was opened, and lo, there was a great earthquake .... Matthew 27:54.... and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair ...... Matthew 27:45 ....... and the moon became as blood ...... John 19:34 .....
All this was prophesied:
Joel 2:31 The sun shall turn into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable Day of the Lord come.
Quoted in Acts 2L20
God Bless YOU!
Matthew 27:46
"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken Me?"
Psalms 22:1
"(To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.) My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?"
John 19:30
"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and he bowed His head, and gave up the ghost."
Psalms 22:31
"They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this." God's prophetic words always come true. In a Psalm of David, that God put in his heart.
1 Corinthians 6:20
"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
Resharing.
Matthew 27:46
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken Me?
Psalms 22:1
(To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.) My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
John 19:30
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and he bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.
Psalms 22:31
They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
1 Corinthians 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.
2 concepts are indicated in these lyrics. First; praise isn't always accepted by God and second riches of this world often are treasured above the Lord. Both of these points are an issue when it comes to the Contemporary Christian music industry; in particular.
Lucifer according to Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14 was anointed as a Cherubim with musical giftings built into him. He chose glory for himself; therefore lost his place in heaven and consequently; can only use his talents for evil purposes today. It is hard to conceive that those who have written scripturally sound lyrics in the past could abandon the Lord; but mind boggling to see those who have continued to confess Christ but accept all the ideologies contrary to scripture. This is certainly reminiscent of the type of people you would expect in the last days Laodicean type church. The kind of God which is worshipped in this case is one sided toward love and acceptance and doesn't look at repentance seriously. God loved us enough to send His Son ( John 3:16) but when the Son had our sins placed on Him the Father had to look away. ( Matthew 27:46; Habakkuk 1:13).
There are exceptions; of course of artists whose lives truly reflect the proper doctrines; and show the proper behavior as a humble servant. This often at the very least means turning down more lucrative offers that cause compromise and starting your own music label. Many start in local churches then end up getting sucked into the greed of worldly desires for success and any new musician should have regular discipling and close association with a local church; preferably as a member. We should pray also for those who are gifted musically in secular circles that they will turn to Christ and witness to them when opportunities arise.
Interesting sign-in name, just to add to Jema's wonderful reply. My understanding Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets and Jesus asking them in Luke 22:36 to buy swords was part of fulfilling the prophecy. He told them in, Luke 22:37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
Isaiah 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
In Luke 22:36-38, He tells them why the swords they had would be enough, then in verse 52, we see they came with swords and spears as against a thief. Jesus was also put on the cross between two thieves, Matthew 27:38. Even the least of the not obvious prophecies, Jesus fulfilled them all.
God bless,
RLW
Your use of Matthew 7:14 is misinterpreted because TRUE, few will find The Way but what does finding the way have to do with Election? For Election is NOT about works (finding The Way), but Election is ALL about God Choosing! Look at Rom. Ch.11, the whole chapter. It's all about God "cutting off" His Chosen for the sake of those NOT chosen. There are two types of elect; there are those Chosen before the foundation of the world, Ephesians 1:4. And those chosen, only because His Chosen were "cut off"! Romans 11:11-12. The Jews (Hebrew) for the Gentile, the vessels of wrath for the vessels of mercy, Romans 9:21-23 and Christ for the world, Matthew 27:46. This is a Pattern, a plummet line, a way for us to "measure" the things of God.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. ( 1 Cor. 15:20-22).
Revelation 5:9-10 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Revelation 14:1-5
1And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
As I mentioned in earlier postings; the firstfruits originated with Christ Himself being lifted up; those who rose from the dead (a sort of gleaning) in Matthew 27:53. Then there is the Rapture where the church appears in Revelation 5 (although firstfruits isn't in that text) and finally the 144,000 mentioned as firstfruits in Rev. 14. It would seem that in this case those of Jewish descent would be the focus here. There is a new song shared here along with the church in Revelation 5. It would seem the 144,000 come after the midpoint of the Tribulation.
Matthew 27:22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? THEY ALL SAY UNTO HIM, LET HIM BE CRUCIFIED.
Matthew 27:25 THEN ANSWERED ALL THE PEOPLE, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
also Mark 15:8-15
Through out the gospel the multitude rejected him.
only a few followed and the wasn't totally convinced until after the resurrection.
I believe we covered much considering I can't participate as much as I would like too.
I will continue on what I was working on with the Millennium kingdom and the approach to it later when time permits.
As usual it's been a great discussion with you.
God bless.
All the saints (elders) in the old testament died a physical death; because Christ, the promised SEED had not yet COME to give ALL immortal life by his resurrection.
Ezekiel 18:4 .... the SOUL that sinneth it shall DIE .....the soul goes to the grave .....
The promise in both the Old and New Testament has always been the promise of eternal live, destroying the enemy of man, DEATH.
Hebrews 11:39 And these all (the saints in the Old testament), having obtained a good report through faith (believing in the coming messiah to deliver them from death), RECEIVED NOT THE PROMISE.
Hebrews 11:40 For God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect (resurrected with Christ, Christ ONLY is perfect and hath immortality dwelling in the light .... 1 Timothy 6:16)
Matthew 27:52-53
All creation was given immortality at the same time: when Christ was resurrected; Christ only was resurrected, creating a NEW CREATION.
Revelation 21:5 ... Behold, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW ....
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in CHRIST (Christ ONLY was resurrected), he is a NEW creature: old things have passed away, Behold, all things have become NEW.
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow (God foreknew all creation), he did also PREDESTINATE (by Christ resurrection) to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the FIRSTBORN (Christ ONLY arose) of many brethren (CHRISTians).
God bless YOU!
Hi
-Please pray for understand for God will give him who ask freely.
It's written in John 10:35 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35, If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
meaning the bible cannot contradict itself. infact Jesus Has Said this in Proverbs 8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing froward or perverse in them.
So, my advice to you is to Kneel down and repent of your unbelief and ask The Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God to Help you understand His words The sharp two- Eged sword.
In Matthew 6:22 -23. 22Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
-What we fail to see here is this, Satan entered unto peter and he is using peter to try and deceive Jesus Christ not to Go to the Cross and if The Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God would have not gone to the cross then the whole bible would be compromised, and every word of prophecy would collapse just by that one action. remember Just before Jesus was arrested by the temple Gurds/solders What He said unto them. in Matthew 27:53-54
53Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? 54But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
Part 2.
Obviously the "EVERLASTING" conditons described in scripture concerning the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants.
Scriptures such as Isaiah 51:11 and many others don't exist of yet.
They are certainly back in the land but the wailing wall in Jerusalem reminds me of Matthew 27:25.
Also Matthew 23:38-39 seems to parallel with Hosea 5:15.
Does Israel disobedience void the UNCONDITIONAL COVENANT AND PROMISES?
According to Psalms 89:27-36. NO!
"My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;
If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;
Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, NOR SUFFER MY FAITHFULNESS TO FAIL.
( This is a marvelous saying! It's God's faithfulness that is on display!!)
MY COVENANT WILL I NOT BREAK, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.
His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me."
Daniel has much to say about this in Daniel 9:24
"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy."
See Examining the covenants
Part 2.
God bless.
Re: Matthew 27:50-54 (as also in Matthew 27:63,64: pertaining to Jesus rising from the grave), I see that the same word (in a different form) is used in the Greek. By the way, I wasn't referring to verse 50, Jesus "yielding up the ghost" as to His resurrection, but to the event after His three day entombment.
So when we get to those saints who died & arose (vv 52,53), I understand those verses to show that there were two parts to this event. Firstly in verse 52a, when Jesus yielded up His Spirit on the Cross, simultaneously those specific graves were opened as the veil was rent & the earthquake, etc. But those departed saints remained dead in their graves until verse 52b, 53: "and many bodies of the saints arose and came out of the graves AFTER his resurrection" (at least that's the way I read those verses). This would affirm that Jesus was indeed the 'firstfruits of the resurrection' ( 1 Corinthians 15:20-23), since those saints only arose & came out of their graves (i.e. their resurrection, 'egerthesan') after Jesus first arose. So if I visualize the scene at that time: Jesus appearing to the women & then the disciples & simultaneously these long-departed saints now walking among the populace - this event alone should have sent Jerusalem into some turmoil. Thanks again brother & every blessing.
a. John 3:10-13. I understand that this speaks about Jesus asserting that it could only be Him Who brought this wonderful Truth (of rebirth) to Nicodemus since none else before Him had done so. He was the One always in Heaven, & as the Word of God now in flesh, He was even greater than the prophets that went before Him ( Hebrews 1:1,2); in that He, the Living Word, brought out the mysterious Truths of Heaven. There was none other that ascended to Heaven in the past, heard such things & then came back to Earth to deliver the message - only Jesus could do it & has done it. So Jesus isn't talking about a resurrection here, but that none has ever done what He has done now (i.e. entering Heaven & returning with this Word).
b. Then what about Enoch, Moses & Elijah? Enoch & Elijah are understood to have been translated at their final day on Earth, i.e. they weren't resurrected (as I understand that a resurrection can only happen after one dies first). Of Moses, it would be difficult to correctly understand his destiny at death; was it just in the grave awaiting resurrection, or into Heaven itself, or maybe as in the account of the rich man & Lazarus, where the spirit & soul temporarily resides in a 'paradise'. The only way that I can understand Moses' coming (in Matthew 17:1-4), is that Moses was released from his paradise, given an outward form (as also Elijah), for the purposes of this transfiguration & then maybe returned from whence he came.
c. And yes, I would agree that for Jesus to be "the firstfruits of them that slept" ( 1 Corinthians 15:20), then no other before Him could have experienced a bodily resurrection; either they were translated or their spirits/souls went into that paradise hold. Then of those who were resurrected post-Jesus' resurrection ( Matthew 27:51-53), we aren't told what became of them after that - we can only speculate.
It is my sense that the Church number was now completed & the Marriage Supper could take place (of course, this is not specifically mentioned). What happened at the Rapture, was an 'harpazo' (snatching away) of the dead, made alive & to be forever with the Lord; nothing akin to a resurrection where saints remain on the Earth, restored & reigning with Christ. So, the question, 'cannot the Rapture of the dead be seen as a resurrection?' In one sense yes, as it clearly is a raising from a state of death, but then we see Matthew 27:50-53; Acts 9:36-43; possibly Acts 20:7-12; (& not to mention the several other personal resurrections in the OT). I see the Rapture of the Church as a specific resurrection to remove believers from the impending Great Tribulation & not part of the General Resurrection (First Resurrection). And 'the shout & the trump'? Maybe, the call to march from Heaven & the command for the saints to rise up to the clouds; something the heavenly host hear & the personal call to those in Christ & none else can hear?
Revelation 1:7: Jesus comes to defeat the enemy armies & the world will behold this spectacular sight. I don't think one can confidently relate the clouds in this verse with the clouds in 1 Thessalonians. Maybe just cloudy days, or specially created clouds for that purpose. Who knows. As well "with clouds" & "in clouds" might be significant, but I wouldn't pursue that. I'm sorry Jimbob that you find so many holes in the "pre-trib theory".
I will admit that most things written of the future can be open to many opinions, simply because we don't get a nice laid out timeline of events. It's a matter of how we put Scriptures together. If wrong in my understanding, so be it - it's just how the Scriptures fall into place for me. Now some believe that the post-trib position involves believers who survive the tribulation & also have to face that time of God's Wrath poured out as well, which neither you nor I believe. That's a plus for us!
Are the Prophecies in Revelation and the gospels any different than those in Mosses and the Prophets? Are, or they just a second witness?
There was no brick and mortar churches, no doctrines of those churches, until the apostles founded them.
How did the apostles and first men come to the truth of the KINGDOM OF GOD?
Luke 16:31 ....If they HEAR NOT Mosses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Acts 28:23 ....he (Paul) expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Mosses, and out of the Prophets, from morning till evening.
Galatians 1:17 Neither went I (Paul) up to Jerusalem to THEM which were apostles before me, but I went into Arabia (the wilderness) ......Where the Spirit taught him ......
Revelation 12:6 And the WOMAN (the bride of Christ, his church) fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, and there should feed her a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
The disciples were feed by Christ for one thousand two hundred and threescore days, 42 months, 3 1/2 years, you and I are still being feed by that 3 1/2 year ministry, except NOW, Christ is WITHIN US, his second coming; but, we are still in the wilderness being feed.
Revelation 11:11 And after three days and a half (the great tribulation poured out on Christ) the Spirit of LIFE ( I am the Resurrection) from God entered into them ( those of OLD, the law and prophets, the old testament saints) --- Matthew 27:52-53 ---
Isaiah 26:19 ....with my dead body shall they arise .....
There are 2 deaths, 2 resurrections, 2 second comings and 2 judgements, one for the Firstfruits, feast of weeks, and one for the feast of the ingathering, AKA feast of tents, AKA feast of the tabernacles.
The woman, Christ bride, the church, rides the BEAST, and we are told TO COME OUT of here MY PEOPLE.
God Bless You!
Matthew 24:29 Immediately after ----it's been 2000 years, that's not immediately after --- the tribulation of those days ---it's Christ's tribulation, leading up to his death on the cross, that he is speaking about ----shall the sun be darkened, Matthew 27:45 ---he is quoting Joel 2:31 and Revelation 6:12 a prophecy about Christ death on the cross ---and the moon (symbolising Christ) shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven ---- Revelation 12:4 ---and the powers of heaven shall be shaken ----all this description is a parable Matthew 13:34. Christ's words are most often HIDDEN in parables and symbols.
Matthew 24:30 Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven ---this is still symbolic and a parable ---heaven is symbolic of man, where GOD DWELLS, Colossians 2:27 ...Christ in you .... John 3:13 ... he which is in heaven ....
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord God will DO NOTHING, but he revealeth his secret to his servant the prophets.
Your raptured: one at a time
Isaiah 27:12 ....and ye shall be gathered ONE by ONE ....two in the field, one taken one left ....
God bless you, as you study and Christ reveals himself to you.