Verses 17 through 21 give a clear indication of the rapture/resurrection of the righteous; and the burden of those left behind who themselves weren't delivered. There is a personalized assurance of resurrection for the prophet (verse 19); and this is similar to the verse in Job which states something similar in the last days. The birth pangs in verse 16 and 17 show how the nation cries out to God in that period of time; which makes the most sense after the rapture of the church and Resurrection of O.T. saints. Interestingly the increase of the nation is indicated twice in verse 15 after an earlier diaspora; which could show that a second phase of that is yet to come (perhaps after defeat of the armies in the Psalm 83 war). Going back to verse 10 and 11 we see a Millennium reference to when God's majesty even in a land of "uprightness" and destruction either at Armageddon or the end of the Millennial period is indicated with fire devouring them (also of course indicative of eternal destruction in hellfire). The chapter begins with the edifice of what no doubt will constitute the heavenly city or Jerusalem during the Millennium; when the hope waited for in verse 8 is finally realized for His people. Those who tread down the lofty city in verse 6 sound similar to the verse about trodding on the ashes of the wicked in Malachi 4:3.
I believe this is what you would be looking for, He went to preach unto the the souls that were lost in the great flood from Noah's day. As for Adam and Eve there is no indication to where they are, in heaven or hell that I'm aware of.
Genesis 5:5 "And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died."
1 Peter 3:19 Context 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Simply put Faith is something you believe in without a doubt. example, when you sit in a chair that you have never sat in before, do you check it out to make sure that it is safe or do you just sit in it, trusting that it was built to hold a human weight. This, to me would be an example of Faith that it was built to be safe. Or when you see a little child and see the trust they have in their parents to protect and nourish them, this is another example of Faith. Throughout the NT there are many examples of Faith, John 20:25 Thomas who just spent 3 years with Jesus, but had doubt on His resurrection, until Jesus showed himself to him, Mark 5:25-34 is of a woman who had an issue of blood, and believed, and she was healed. Matthew 8:10 the Roman centurion believed and his servant was healed. Likewise as Christians we need to believe that Jesus death and resurrection on the cross is the only way to our salvation. Hebrews chapter 11 Paul explains faith in great detail, Matthew 18:3 tells us to become and believe as a child. I hope this helps.
John 20:25 "The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe."
Mark 5:25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. Mark 5:34 "And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."
Matthew 8:10 "When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel."
There is no requirement. It is a free gift from God. All you have to do is confess with your mouth that Jesus is the Son of God and believe in your heart that he was raised from the dead, you shall be saved.
I do believe everything in the Bible is true. The Bible becomes more easily understood when we understand the difference between God and Satan--between truth and lies. There are only two powers humans can serve, either God or Satan. There is no other choice.
I dont think that there are many people who are either totally good or totally evil ,we are all a mixture of both ,we are all sinners which is why we need Jesus ,right up to the last moment Jesus loved Judas ,Jesus will have washed Judas feet with love ,God doesnt give up on any of us no matter how horrible we are and we are all horrible sometimes ,Only Jesus is sinless .
You also quote here Romans 11:32, "For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all", & then ask, "How can Christianity be saving the world at the same time?"
There's no question about 'Christianity saving the world' here. Paul is talking about the (spiritual) blindness of Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles come in (v 25). As the Gentiles have not believed God, but now obtained God's Mercy because of Israel's unbelief (v 30), so Mercy comes to the Jews who now don't believe (the Gospel) (vv 28,31) with the same Mercy God has shown to the Gentiles.
So God has seen that all (Jew & Gentile alike) have lived in unbelief, & because of this, His Mercy is available to all. Nothing at all to do with Christians saving the world but of God Who shows Mercy to all of us.
I took the liberty of checking in at your website, & though I scanned through some of the subjects you've addressed & noted that you've produced several books, I will admit that my comments are based purely on the oft mentioned "sin of Eden".
I understand that you believe that this sin is not pride, disobedience or anything else, but a sexual perversion (I won't mention here your description of it). I also note, in my cursory look around in your website, that there is no mention of how you arrived at this belief. I know you have used other Scriptures to show this perversion, but you have failed to deal with the sin of Adam & Eve, as declared in the Book of Genesis. So anyone who has an iota of biblical knowledge & understanding of some basic Truths, will immediately ask, 'From where has this information come?' There's not even a reference to this in any other book of the Bible, & even where Adam & Eve are mentioned, this sin that you accuse them of, is mysteriously absent. And please don't think that I'm going to 'throw the baby out with the bath water', as that would be foolish, as I'm sure you have shared some very useful, truthful observations elsewhere, but at this first 'hurdle', one with any understanding of the Bible is left dumbfounded.
May I ask, 'From where did you learn this?' It can't be from the Scriptures, maybe from some extra-biblical writings or some other publication that has no correlation to the Bible.
When you say "an answer has not been given" do you mean that you are genuinely seeking understanding by carefully reading the Bible yourself? Or do you mean that you expect people to just provide you answers at your service? Of course people are willing to help if someone is genuinely trying to find answers, but if their motive is something else, then that person shouldn't expect people to do work for you.
You asked a lot of questions and it would be easier to address questions one at a time. The way you asked them sounds consistent with someone who is frustrated, but isn't actually interested in the right answer and maybe just venting.
Obviously there are clear, and logical questions to each one you asked if you were patient to hear the answer.
Sometimes someone carries a bias against Christianity in assuming that Christianity must meet a certain burden of proof standard that a person invents in their own mind. They assume by default that it must not be true. But the problem is you exist. You are a walking miracle. Your heart beats for no reason- literally nothing is keeping you alive right now, except the miracle of God's power giving you life. He can take it away at any moment and that's His right to do so. Life is temporary anyway- every one dies then something happens which we haven't yet experienced ourselves. But look around. Look at how amazing life is and how beautiful it is. Things we try to make we often try to mimic nature's amazing designs, like airplanes. And imagine a car with all its features inventing itself and evolving from an explosion. No rational person believes that. But somehow rational people bought into the lie that our own bodies- way more advanced than cars- just randomly resulted from an explosion and time passing. That takes more faith than believing a creator.
Let me ask: If you found out that everything in the Bible is true, would you believe it? If you found out Christianity was true, would you become a Christian?
Yes, I am looking for answers. So far an answer has not been given as to what was the sin in Eden. I have found no single answer to the trinity or how to explain the Holy Spirit. Why after 2000 years of Christianity are there so many questions Christianity cannot explain or answer? Why are there over 60 different denominations with each one telling their own variation of truth? Jesus is the truth made flesh and his truth is the same for all people. I believe some day we will have one denomination and truth will be the same for all.
God tells us he will conclude the world in unbelief. How can Christianity be saving the world at the same time God is concluding it in belief? We are told that when Jesus comes the condition of the human race will be the same as it was in the days of Noah--only a few who believe in God and the majority believe in Satan. Is that the condition of mankind today? Don't you think we need a better explanation as to what the sin in Eden was?
I have a website, alawfromeden that will give you my 50 years of biblical research on the condition of the human race today.
Yes, the tree was the knowledge of good and evil. Knowledge of good. Knowledge of evil. One big difference between God and Satan is God is truth and Satan is lies. Adam and Eve believed a lie when they left God to serve Satan. All those who serve Satan have departed from truth. If those who commit evil were to become pastors and stand behind the pulpit they would tell us no truth. But what was that lie. What is the evil that changes a person's God from God to Satan? What is the definition of evil?
That's Proverbs 8:13, but in any case, the biblical definition of evil, as I understand it, is 'any physical or mental act by anyone that contradicts or violates God's Holiness, His Commands & His Requirements'.
Where evil began, was in the heavenlies, as the "covering cherub" ( Ezek 28:14,15), using his power of choice, allowed pride to develop in a skewed way resulting in anger & rebellion against the Most High. He, as all the beings in God's Presence, ought to have been 'proud' to be created to worship & serve the Eternal God, living in all Holiness & Perfection, but Satan allowed what ought to be directed towards God to be reversed & directed to himself. And that has been the root of man's sin from the beginning: that he can be as God, to fulfil his own will & desires, disregarding what is true & holy. From the 'smallest white lie' to the most heinous of crimes, they all demonstrate man's pride to believe that he has the power to rule his life, for he alone is the god of his life.
Marilyn Taplin, With the guidance of Satan, Adam and Eve became self-centered, pride, instead of God-centered, as was intended for them. God gave Adam a commandment, not a choice. The separation from God was not him leaving them. They died, per the commandment, God continued living as omnipresent to his creation. Evil is that which is not of God, and we can know God from his word/Son."
"Depart from evil, and do good..." If a person departs from evil, what are they departing from?" They are departing from that which God has instructed to be not of him.
"the knowledge of how to bring heaven to earth." Your desire/plan is not in God's plan, therefore, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2Timothy 2:15
Marilyn, Are you really looking for answers, or an excuse to believe as you think seems right to you?
Hi Marilyn, Evil didn't start in Eden, Isaiah 45:7, I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. I think you are meaning "The tree of KNOWLEDGE of good and evil" Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. What happened to man wants he ate of that tree? Genesis 3:7, And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were "NAKED"; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. naked in the bible often expresses sin exposed, and garments often expresses righteousness. Some would say Adam and Eve was clothed with light before the fall, The question is when did they become naked/sinful? When they bit of the fruit? I believe eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil revealed their nakedness to them, The issue was what they did afterwards, "clothed themselves". Their fall was no surprise to God, he set forth the plan of redemption before the world begun, 1st Peter 1:18-20. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world. The scripture says by one man sin entered the world, not evil. I believe there is a difference between the two by means of definition. Apart from the Holy Spirit man is flesh and lost in the wilderness, and easy prey for Satan. In the millennium man will have a thousand years in the best conditions to evolve with Satan chained up, and prove himself. but after all those years of practice here is what happens. Revelation 20:7-8, And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth. THKS
When speaking of us humans, evil began in Eden. The tree of good and evil was in Eden. Adam and Eve departed from God to follow Satan. They committed evil. What evil did they commit that would result in God leaving them? How does one depart from God? In Psalms 34:14 we are instructed to "Depart from evil, and do good..." If a person departs from evil, what are they departing from?
I believe humankind needs a better definition of evil. When we know what evil removed us from Eden, we have the knowledge of how to bring heaven to earth.
(Remember ye now O man and consider: The Fear of THE LORD, given of GOD by the Son of man on the Sabbath day: one thousand one hundred ninety and nine Sabbath days past: and forget not 2 Esdras 15.) Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. O people: If you will not observe to do all the words of this law that are written, that you may fear this glorious and fearful name, MICHAEL ISAAC, THE LORD THY GOD, even the CHRIST child; then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful and the plagues of thy seed: even great plagues and of long continuance: and sore sicknesses and of long continuance. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: I commanded all men everywhere to repent that your sins may be blotted out. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Man that dug down my alters and covered my memorials: and attempted to corrupt my Word to oppress my people; have violated exceedingly more than any copyright! I AM he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I AM alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. (Sin was taken, rightesness is left.)
30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. (when we accept Jesus into our lives, "the second coming", He is revealed to us in a personal way. Praise God, thank you Jesus.
31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
32 Remember Lot's wife.
33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. At that instant, they will be as one man,evil life and new beginning. When we accept Jesus into our lives, "the second coming", Our old sinful life is taken and the new life with Jesus is left.
Likewise:
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
no matter what we say or do HE is the only one who can fix it we all have a habit of trying to fix things I myself do the same inside we are afraid that He may not get it right like we want it... not how God wants it done I ask that he forgive me I need him like a newborn child needs his or her mother i need him to take my hands and guide me literally I have faults but I want to learn how to be more godlike someone he can call his child.. Amen
Romona Williams on Isaiah 263 on Isaiah 26:20 - 4 years ago
This scripture is very relevant for this time. We live in a day when people are sad and depressed. Covid 19 demands that we wear masks and live almost in isolation. This virus have placed restraints on our way of life; it exposed our vulnerabilities and our helplessness. Who can we depend on? they are all overwhelm. All that can be shaken have shaken and who can fix it? But God. We have lost focus.
Comments by Alex about our new birth. Isaiah 26 v 17 This is so timely, i just had to mention this. Like a woman with Child that Draweth near the time of her delivery is in pain and crieth out in her pains so have we been in thy sight O Lord. The church, humanity is gona have a baby. Rev 12, the 2 nd coming
Isaiah 26:20 before the storm, little moment.
Revelation 19:2 after the storm, Babylon falls.
Isaiah 54:7 promise of resurrection, small moment.
Genesis 5:5 "And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died."
1 Peter 3:19 Context 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
John 20:25 "The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe."
Mark 5:25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. Mark 5:34 "And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."
Matthew 8:10 "When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel."
You also quote here Romans 11:32, "For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all", & then ask, "How can Christianity be saving the world at the same time?"
There's no question about 'Christianity saving the world' here. Paul is talking about the (spiritual) blindness of Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles come in (v 25). As the Gentiles have not believed God, but now obtained God's Mercy because of Israel's unbelief (v 30), so Mercy comes to the Jews who now don't believe (the Gospel) (vv 28,31) with the same Mercy God has shown to the Gentiles.
So God has seen that all (Jew & Gentile alike) have lived in unbelief, & because of this, His Mercy is available to all. Nothing at all to do with Christians saving the world but of God Who shows Mercy to all of us.
I took the liberty of checking in at your website, & though I scanned through some of the subjects you've addressed & noted that you've produced several books, I will admit that my comments are based purely on the oft mentioned "sin of Eden".
I understand that you believe that this sin is not pride, disobedience or anything else, but a sexual perversion (I won't mention here your description of it). I also note, in my cursory look around in your website, that there is no mention of how you arrived at this belief. I know you have used other Scriptures to show this perversion, but you have failed to deal with the sin of Adam & Eve, as declared in the Book of Genesis. So anyone who has an iota of biblical knowledge & understanding of some basic Truths, will immediately ask, 'From where has this information come?' There's not even a reference to this in any other book of the Bible, & even where Adam & Eve are mentioned, this sin that you accuse them of, is mysteriously absent. And please don't think that I'm going to 'throw the baby out with the bath water', as that would be foolish, as I'm sure you have shared some very useful, truthful observations elsewhere, but at this first 'hurdle', one with any understanding of the Bible is left dumbfounded.
May I ask, 'From where did you learn this?' It can't be from the Scriptures, maybe from some extra-biblical writings or some other publication that has no correlation to the Bible.
When you say "an answer has not been given" do you mean that you are genuinely seeking understanding by carefully reading the Bible yourself? Or do you mean that you expect people to just provide you answers at your service? Of course people are willing to help if someone is genuinely trying to find answers, but if their motive is something else, then that person shouldn't expect people to do work for you.
You asked a lot of questions and it would be easier to address questions one at a time. The way you asked them sounds consistent with someone who is frustrated, but isn't actually interested in the right answer and maybe just venting.
Obviously there are clear, and logical questions to each one you asked if you were patient to hear the answer.
Sometimes someone carries a bias against Christianity in assuming that Christianity must meet a certain burden of proof standard that a person invents in their own mind. They assume by default that it must not be true. But the problem is you exist. You are a walking miracle. Your heart beats for no reason- literally nothing is keeping you alive right now, except the miracle of God's power giving you life. He can take it away at any moment and that's His right to do so. Life is temporary anyway- every one dies then something happens which we haven't yet experienced ourselves. But look around. Look at how amazing life is and how beautiful it is. Things we try to make we often try to mimic nature's amazing designs, like airplanes. And imagine a car with all its features inventing itself and evolving from an explosion. No rational person believes that. But somehow rational people bought into the lie that our own bodies- way more advanced than cars- just randomly resulted from an explosion and time passing. That takes more faith than believing a creator.
Let me ask: If you found out that everything in the Bible is true, would you believe it? If you found out Christianity was true, would you become a Christian?
God tells us he will conclude the world in unbelief. How can Christianity be saving the world at the same time God is concluding it in belief? We are told that when Jesus comes the condition of the human race will be the same as it was in the days of Noah--only a few who believe in God and the majority believe in Satan. Is that the condition of mankind today? Don't you think we need a better explanation as to what the sin in Eden was?
I have a website, alawfromeden that will give you my 50 years of biblical research on the condition of the human race today.
Where evil began, was in the heavenlies, as the "covering cherub" ( Ezek 28:14,15), using his power of choice, allowed pride to develop in a skewed way resulting in anger & rebellion against the Most High. He, as all the beings in God's Presence, ought to have been 'proud' to be created to worship & serve the Eternal God, living in all Holiness & Perfection, but Satan allowed what ought to be directed towards God to be reversed & directed to himself. And that has been the root of man's sin from the beginning: that he can be as God, to fulfil his own will & desires, disregarding what is true & holy. From the 'smallest white lie' to the most heinous of crimes, they all demonstrate man's pride to believe that he has the power to rule his life, for he alone is the god of his life.
"Depart from evil, and do good..." If a person departs from evil, what are they departing from?" They are departing from that which God has instructed to be not of him.
"the knowledge of how to bring heaven to earth." Your desire/plan is not in God's plan, therefore, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2Timothy 2:15
Marilyn, Are you really looking for answers, or an excuse to believe as you think seems right to you?
I believe humankind needs a better definition of evil. When we know what evil removed us from Eden, we have the knowledge of how to bring heaven to earth.
28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. (Sin was taken, rightesness is left.)
30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. (when we accept Jesus into our lives, "the second coming", He is revealed to us in a personal way. Praise God, thank you Jesus.
31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
32 Remember Lot's wife.
33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. At that instant, they will be as one man,evil life and new beginning. When we accept Jesus into our lives, "the second coming", Our old sinful life is taken and the new life with Jesus is left.
Likewise:
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Thank You Jesus, Praise God.