Hi Daaaviddd0921: Sorry my reply is a little late. In verse Romans 9:16 (KJV)
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. S
He is simply saying mankind cannot will or make progress ( runneth: (trekh'-o Strong's/Bible Hub) to gain heaven. It is only through God's mercy for those who ask for it. you didn't answer my question: what happens to those who are not of the elect, those not chosen by God to be saved? It seems to me God is just disposing of them.
Ephesians 1:3-7 Is addressed to the to the church in Ephesus (us) and the Church of God was predestined to be established during Christ's ministry on earth NOT individuals.
Ephesians 2:1-10 is telling simply telling us that it is the grace and mercy of God through Jesus' death and resurrection the we can be born again.
Please show me through the actually wording of these verses how they interpret different then what I have shown. God Bless:)
You are right, the word "even" doesn't appear in the grk text. As you said it was probably used to emphasize Jesus' person.
The grk says:
Acts 9:17,"...the Lord sent me, Jesus, who appeared to you on the way that you were coming..."
1 Thessalonians 1:10, "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who releases of us from the coming wrath."
Hebrews 6:20, " Where forerunner for us Jesus entered, becoming high priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedec".
1 John 5:6, "He is who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ; not in water only, but in water and blood. And the Spirit is that bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth."
The text I am using is the majority text which is almost the same as the received text.
I also believe Revelation 22:18-19 is for Revelation only and Jaz said it well about Jesus being tempted as we are. I do not want to stir the pot and you don't have to reply. I know most on this site know my understanding of this through my discussing it, I just felt I needed to reply. I know many believe Jesus was tempted but Jesus couldn't give in to temptation, it was impossible for Jesus to sin.
We are told our Savior our priest and the only mediator between us, and God was tempted as we are tempted, would not this temptation only be valid if he could succumb to temptation and was able to sin? If Jesus' temptations were real, then he must have been able to sin, but He lived a perfect sinless life totally obedient to His Father's will not His in every way. Jesus lived a sinless life means that we can receive salvation through Him because He was a perfect spotless sacrifice. He was born under the law, and He fulfilled it perfectly, He died for us, and Jesus was the first who God His Father by His Spirit raised Him from death, and in Jesus is our only hope.
"But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils."
Blasphemy against the Spirit was not a single instance that can be levelled against the nation. In the Parable of the Wicked Tenants Jesus sums up"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof."(Matt.21:43) As a nation they were unfit so Isaiah says, " Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint."(Is.1:5). While Moses went up the mount to receive the Decalogue the Israelites were already buy making a golden calf. What spirit was animating them? They were not of God. "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."( John 8:44)
Decalogue therefore was a set of commandments distinct from Gospel of salvation signified by the Command Number 10.
We shall see the difference in the vision of the Woman clothed with the Sun. "And upon her head a crown of twelve stars." This tag signifies the everlasting covenant and the nation of Israel shall not enter therein as the Parable signified.
"And behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads." (Re.12:3). The dragon signifying spiritual wickedness in high places is under condemnation. Therefore the ten horns refer to the Decalogue and he shall be cast into the lake of fire before the day of Regeneration commence. "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."(Re.20:10)
Israel as a nation of the Law have no place in the holy city of God.
I am looking forward to your post on Matthew showing the Greek perspective, I agree with S Spencer, you and Giannis are a blessing to us when it comes to Greek.
Please pray that I would be filled with God's fire and passion and fire for His kindgdom. Also that my husband will be the same. Please also pray for my children that God will fill their hearts with fire and passion for His kingdom. Also for my family protection. Please also pray that I will get a new Job. Also that my neighbors would be more sensitive with their noise above us or that they move out. Please pray for my mom and dad, step dad, and my brothers salvation. Than you.
"But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you."
From the passage given above it is clear that Christ was manifested to destroy the works of the devil. ( 1 John 3:8) A "house divided against itself shall not stand."The Advent of the Son of man was to bind the strongman and spoil his house which is what we see in the chapters 19 and 20 of the last book. The Spirit gives us a concrete imagery of 'all the fowls'( The angel "saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God" are spiritually understood for clearing up the spoils gathered by Satan and his cohorts.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."(Ep.6:12) Saints following the Word of God are fighting in the mid-air (Re.19:13-14) Who is not gathering with Christ Jesus are gathering with Satan.
This leads to the verse on blasphemy repeated twice in vv.31-32."but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."(v.32) Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit in this world slanders the world to come which is the day of Regeneration in which His everlasting dominion is Satan-proof. The strong man referred in the key text is the spiritual darkness working through the sons of perdition.
The Spirit of God where two kingdoms of God and his dear Son tagged as two, is one. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;" If the salt has lost its savour what good is it? It is for this reason Jesus Christ manifested and his Gospel is everlasting gospel. This day of Salvation is tagged by 12 while the day of Regeneration is noted by Command number Seven. These aspects of Alpha Omega attributed to the Son work with the Spirit of God.
"And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart."
"Bread wine and oil" are triadic motives that God has provided man as blessing which have spiritual significance as well."That whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?"(Matt.15:17) This bread is what Satan intended but Jesus put in the right context. "But by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matt.4:4) Partaking Christ is to fortify man living in heavenly places. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven./For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world."( John 6:32-33).
Here we have the significance of the multiplying loaves of bread. John 6:9-13 "When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost./ Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten." This broken loaves were meant as a testimony to his Father. Ministry of Reconciliation included heaven and earth. In the bread broken symbolically pointed to his death on the cross. The angels serving as the cloud of witnesses were to be reconciled to him. " And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."(Col.1:20)
What made the single measurement man angel as one is the Word which was God. It is thus the Spirit has set the symbols, parables as part of the Word become flesh as the Mediator. After our likeness must prove perfect in all these triadic motives. Bread of heaven sets angels and man on the same standard as the body of Christ. (Col.1:21-22)
The Spirit for the foregoing reasons gives us some clue. "Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full."(Ps.78:25). This shall help us figure out the proclamation here in the verse, "And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;/ That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great."(Re.19:18-19) Restitution of all things must play a part in creating a single standard. "And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust." (Ps.78:18) The entire psalm is set as an extended parable for which reason the nation of Israel is a warning for us. "Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come."(1 Co.10:11) They loathed what God had provided. "But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes."(Nu.11:6)
On the fifth day God blessed all life forms, "And fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.". God provided meat to the nation to which the cloud of angels is a witnesses. So restitution of all things explains it. "and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began."(Ac.3:20-22)
Hi Cheryl1655. I understand what you are thinking & could be confusing, as several verses in the NT have this phrase, "even Jesus" ( Acts 9:17, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Hebrews 6:20, 1 John 5:6). I couldn't detect the word 'even' appearing in the Greek (our Greek reading/speaking brothers could verify this), so I surmise that the KJB translators added this word to emphasize the One Who was being spoken/written of. It's probably like us saying, "the Lord, that is, Jesus", or "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, the very One called Jesus", when we want to correctly or emphatically point to Jesus alone. So these verses don't speak of two different people, just the One called Jesus.
"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."
This shall explain the single measure for the holy city of God, " according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel."(Re.21:17) In Christ both earth and heaven are to be reconciled. Angel serving as cloud of witnesses and saints redeemed from the earth are be one. The rule of three applies here. Principle is the ultimate basis for actions and we have principle of Reconciliation principle of Association and principle of Similitude. So body prepared for the Son before the worlds began must reconcile angels as well as man. So the word become flesh preached gospel on earth as well as the same shall be preached from heaven as well.""And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,"(Re.14:9) The writer to the Hebrews gives us a reason, "God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." It includes angels as well since the next verse refers to this cloud. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."(He.11:40;12:1-2)
God has set this cloud as witnesses to man and ministry of Christ is directed from both fronts. Everlasting gospel is proclaimed from the mid-air or the face with which the covenant began. "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." This shall end only when the new heaven and new earth are inaugurated. This veil is removed so "the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." This signals the Son has fulfilled the will of his Father.
I will pray for all these needs you mention tonight. You are so faithful to bring the needs of your loved ones forward on here. Thanks and God's blessing to all you know and care about.
Dear Momsage, and also my brothers and sisters in Christ,
As I promised, I am going to share some of my personal studies of the New Testament from a Biblical Greek perspective, beginning with Matthew and working through the book of Revelation, Lord willing! I just finished going through Matthew, but it is late in the evening here for me, so I will try and start this tomorrow. What I am going to share are the differences I see between what the Greek text is saying, and what we read in our English translations. My intent is not to discredit any English translation one might use or study from. My intent is to show why I believe that there are no "perfect" English translations, using the Greek text as the source of comparison. With the Lord's help, I will do my best to point out the differences between what the original language is saying and what our English bibles say, places where certain words translated for us in the English are not the same words in the Greek. I also want to share places where I believe the Greek text enhances our understanding of what we read in our English bibles. I do want to mention upfront that I have learned to read Greek, but I am no Greek scholar by any means. But then again, I'm no English scholar either! I am only sharing from my own personal studies, and I leave it up to you to put everything I say to the test and decide for yourselves if what I am sharing is helpful in your studies. I do ask for your prayers as I take this on. Thanks!
Very well said! Those who claim to have "new revelations" or claim to have special powers and greater understanding need to be avoided. This wreaks of Gnosticism. I agree with you about what you shared on 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 about those things ceasing, although this would be another topic of discussion in and of itself as there are some who believe those things mentioned are still for today.
And yes, Christ is our only mediator, and he does sympathize with us in the human. He took on flesh and He experienced the same things we go through, even, as you mentioned, Him being tempted as we are, the only difference between Him and us is that it is impossible for Him to give in to temptation.
Also, as you say, the bible is truly alive (and powerful). And yes, the more we prayerfully read and study His word, God impresses it upon our hearts, even if we leave off for a short time. But not to leave off for very long because if we leave off for an extended period of time, we become dull of hearing. Spiritual growth cannot happen without the continuous study of God's word. And like you say that growth does not happen overnight. It is a lifelong process. Even being in the word every day is no guarantee because we can only grow spiritually if God permits. He knows our hearts and knows what we are ready to handle. He's only going to give us understanding and allow us to move forward when He knows we are ready to understand and move on (if that makes sense).
Yes, I agree that it should cause caution. One has to wonder what caution these men today who claim to be prophets take. They will tell people that God gave them a prophetic message to give to them. There are actually people who fall for this because they believe these men are indeed prophets and that God actually speaks to them. My response to them would be, "Well, if God gave you a message of prophecy, then you need to add it to the bible." I mean, if it's God speaking, then it is His word, right? But I'm sure they're not willing to go that far. If anyone proclaims that God gave them a message, and it is something outside of the bible, it is to be rejected! Thanks for your comment on my other post, and you are welcome.
Brother Jesse yes ! Where I live I am regularly accosted by representatives of various churches , out touting for souls to save , promising new revelations from new prophets or pastors who posses special powers or greater understanding .
We know that the promises of dreams and prophecies from Joel chapter two are fulfilled in Acts as it says in Acts chapter two . 1st Corinthians chapter 13 tells us that these things will cease ! Why would they cease ? Because of the fact that God has provided the perfect means by which any one of us can get to know Him , through His Living Word ! The Bible . He has given us everything that we need to draw closer to Him , we have a mediator in heaven , Christ , who knows how it feels to be human , weak , vulnerable , afraid , he was in every way tempted as we are , he understands us perfectly because he has been where we are now . He has walked in the flesh , in our shoes , in these kingdoms of men and we can read all about it any time we choose .
The Bible truly is alive ! It is a living entity and the more we read it the more it fills us up with the Word of God and that becomes part of us so that even when we are not actually engaged in reading it it is still in us , growing and taking us over , it is the good seed !
This doesn't happen overnight , this takes time and effort and this time and effort on our part must be coupled with a desire , to learn and grow and for this we must have open eyes and ears and an open heart , we must be willing to grow and change , to allow the Living Word to take root in us and we must feed every day on it . Colossians chapter two verse 8 and chapter three verse 2 , this is not advice , it's instruction as relevant as thou shalt not kill .
We must feed to the full , every day and allow ourselves to be taken over by God's Truth which is , His love and forgiveness as epitomised in Christ .
Please pray that my ultrasound tomorrow shows no tumors, cancers etc. Please pray I get answers/healing this week. I am so scared. We have no health insurance and cannot afford bills. I am so scared. Please I need healing and peace. Thank you. God bless you.
Please pray for mental, physical, and spiritual protection for my daughter valeria. that god may protect her wherever she may be. the blood of christ over her from her head to the plant of her feet. that god may open doors everywhere for her. thank you brothers and sisters in christ.
Lord Jesus please fight our battles, please grant breakthrough, strong protection, deliverance, healing, salvation (those not saved), restoration and for us to live lives pleasing to you and walk in your power and authority doing exploits for you and the kingdom. Asking for us and all in need. Please also watch over the meeting and protect our church and ignite a fire in all of us to shine our lights brightly. We cannot do it but you can. May you be glorified. In your holy name I pray Lord Jesus. Amen.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. S
He is simply saying mankind cannot will or make progress ( runneth: (trekh'-o Strong's/Bible Hub) to gain heaven. It is only through God's mercy for those who ask for it. you didn't answer my question: what happens to those who are not of the elect, those not chosen by God to be saved? It seems to me God is just disposing of them.
Ephesians 1:3-7 Is addressed to the to the church in Ephesus (us) and the Church of God was predestined to be established during Christ's ministry on earth NOT individuals.
Ephesians 2:1-10 is telling simply telling us that it is the grace and mercy of God through Jesus' death and resurrection the we can be born again.
Please show me through the actually wording of these verses how they interpret different then what I have shown. God Bless:)
You are right, the word "even" doesn't appear in the grk text. As you said it was probably used to emphasize Jesus' person.
The grk says:
Acts 9:17,"...the Lord sent me, Jesus, who appeared to you on the way that you were coming..."
1 Thessalonians 1:10, "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who releases of us from the coming wrath."
Hebrews 6:20, " Where forerunner for us Jesus entered, becoming high priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedec".
1 John 5:6, "He is who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ; not in water only, but in water and blood. And the Spirit is that bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth."
The text I am using is the majority text which is almost the same as the received text.
I prayed for your daughters and grands last night.
I also believe Revelation 22:18-19 is for Revelation only and Jaz said it well about Jesus being tempted as we are. I do not want to stir the pot and you don't have to reply. I know most on this site know my understanding of this through my discussing it, I just felt I needed to reply. I know many believe Jesus was tempted but Jesus couldn't give in to temptation, it was impossible for Jesus to sin.
We are told our Savior our priest and the only mediator between us, and God was tempted as we are tempted, would not this temptation only be valid if he could succumb to temptation and was able to sin? If Jesus' temptations were real, then he must have been able to sin, but He lived a perfect sinless life totally obedient to His Father's will not His in every way. Jesus lived a sinless life means that we can receive salvation through Him because He was a perfect spotless sacrifice. He was born under the law, and He fulfilled it perfectly, He died for us, and Jesus was the first who God His Father by His Spirit raised Him from death, and in Jesus is our only hope.
God bless,
RLW
"But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils."
Blasphemy against the Spirit was not a single instance that can be levelled against the nation. In the Parable of the Wicked Tenants Jesus sums up"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof."(Matt.21:43) As a nation they were unfit so Isaiah says, " Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint."(Is.1:5). While Moses went up the mount to receive the Decalogue the Israelites were already buy making a golden calf. What spirit was animating them? They were not of God. "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."( John 8:44)
Decalogue therefore was a set of commandments distinct from Gospel of salvation signified by the Command Number 10.
We shall see the difference in the vision of the Woman clothed with the Sun. "And upon her head a crown of twelve stars." This tag signifies the everlasting covenant and the nation of Israel shall not enter therein as the Parable signified.
"And behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads." (Re.12:3). The dragon signifying spiritual wickedness in high places is under condemnation. Therefore the ten horns refer to the Decalogue and he shall be cast into the lake of fire before the day of Regeneration commence. "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."(Re.20:10)
Israel as a nation of the Law have no place in the holy city of God.
I am looking forward to your post on Matthew showing the Greek perspective, I agree with S Spencer, you and Giannis are a blessing to us when it comes to Greek.
God bless,
RLW
You and Giannis have been a blessing in showing us what scripture says in the Greek and how it can make a huge difference.
The Greek is such a direct language, I heard it is to be understood intertextuality, therefore it was written to be read out loud.
Thanks again and God bless.
"But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you."
From the passage given above it is clear that Christ was manifested to destroy the works of the devil. ( 1 John 3:8) A "house divided against itself shall not stand."The Advent of the Son of man was to bind the strongman and spoil his house which is what we see in the chapters 19 and 20 of the last book. The Spirit gives us a concrete imagery of 'all the fowls'( The angel "saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God" are spiritually understood for clearing up the spoils gathered by Satan and his cohorts.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."(Ep.6:12) Saints following the Word of God are fighting in the mid-air (Re.19:13-14) Who is not gathering with Christ Jesus are gathering with Satan.
This leads to the verse on blasphemy repeated twice in vv.31-32."but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."(v.32) Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit in this world slanders the world to come which is the day of Regeneration in which His everlasting dominion is Satan-proof. The strong man referred in the key text is the spiritual darkness working through the sons of perdition.
The Spirit of God where two kingdoms of God and his dear Son tagged as two, is one. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;" If the salt has lost its savour what good is it? It is for this reason Jesus Christ manifested and his Gospel is everlasting gospel. This day of Salvation is tagged by 12 while the day of Regeneration is noted by Command number Seven. These aspects of Alpha Omega attributed to the Son work with the Spirit of God.
"And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart."
"Bread wine and oil" are triadic motives that God has provided man as blessing which have spiritual significance as well."That whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?"(Matt.15:17) This bread is what Satan intended but Jesus put in the right context. "But by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matt.4:4) Partaking Christ is to fortify man living in heavenly places. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven./For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world."( John 6:32-33).
Here we have the significance of the multiplying loaves of bread. John 6:9-13 "When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost./ Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten." This broken loaves were meant as a testimony to his Father. Ministry of Reconciliation included heaven and earth. In the bread broken symbolically pointed to his death on the cross. The angels serving as the cloud of witnesses were to be reconciled to him. " And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."(Col.1:20)
What made the single measurement man angel as one is the Word which was God. It is thus the Spirit has set the symbols, parables as part of the Word become flesh as the Mediator. After our likeness must prove perfect in all these triadic motives. Bread of heaven sets angels and man on the same standard as the body of Christ. (Col.1:21-22)
The Spirit for the foregoing reasons gives us some clue. "Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full."(Ps.78:25). This shall help us figure out the proclamation here in the verse, "And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;/ That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great."(Re.19:18-19) Restitution of all things must play a part in creating a single standard. "And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust." (Ps.78:18) The entire psalm is set as an extended parable for which reason the nation of Israel is a warning for us. "Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come."(1 Co.10:11) They loathed what God had provided. "But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes."(Nu.11:6)
On the fifth day God blessed all life forms, "And fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.". God provided meat to the nation to which the cloud of angels is a witnesses. So restitution of all things explains it. "and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began."(Ac.3:20-22)
"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."
This shall explain the single measure for the holy city of God, " according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel."(Re.21:17) In Christ both earth and heaven are to be reconciled. Angel serving as cloud of witnesses and saints redeemed from the earth are be one. The rule of three applies here. Principle is the ultimate basis for actions and we have principle of Reconciliation principle of Association and principle of Similitude. So body prepared for the Son before the worlds began must reconcile angels as well as man. So the word become flesh preached gospel on earth as well as the same shall be preached from heaven as well.""And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,"(Re.14:9) The writer to the Hebrews gives us a reason, "God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." It includes angels as well since the next verse refers to this cloud. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."(He.11:40;12:1-2)
God has set this cloud as witnesses to man and ministry of Christ is directed from both fronts. Everlasting gospel is proclaimed from the mid-air or the face with which the covenant began. "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." This shall end only when the new heaven and new earth are inaugurated. This veil is removed so "the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." This signals the Son has fulfilled the will of his Father.
I will pray for all these needs you mention tonight. You are so faithful to bring the needs of your loved ones forward on here. Thanks and God's blessing to all you know and care about.
I will pray for Valeria tonight.
As I promised, I am going to share some of my personal studies of the New Testament from a Biblical Greek perspective, beginning with Matthew and working through the book of Revelation, Lord willing! I just finished going through Matthew, but it is late in the evening here for me, so I will try and start this tomorrow. What I am going to share are the differences I see between what the Greek text is saying, and what we read in our English translations. My intent is not to discredit any English translation one might use or study from. My intent is to show why I believe that there are no "perfect" English translations, using the Greek text as the source of comparison. With the Lord's help, I will do my best to point out the differences between what the original language is saying and what our English bibles say, places where certain words translated for us in the English are not the same words in the Greek. I also want to share places where I believe the Greek text enhances our understanding of what we read in our English bibles. I do want to mention upfront that I have learned to read Greek, but I am no Greek scholar by any means. But then again, I'm no English scholar either! I am only sharing from my own personal studies, and I leave it up to you to put everything I say to the test and decide for yourselves if what I am sharing is helpful in your studies. I do ask for your prayers as I take this on. Thanks!
Blessings to you all!
Very well said! Those who claim to have "new revelations" or claim to have special powers and greater understanding need to be avoided. This wreaks of Gnosticism. I agree with you about what you shared on 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 about those things ceasing, although this would be another topic of discussion in and of itself as there are some who believe those things mentioned are still for today.
And yes, Christ is our only mediator, and he does sympathize with us in the human. He took on flesh and He experienced the same things we go through, even, as you mentioned, Him being tempted as we are, the only difference between Him and us is that it is impossible for Him to give in to temptation.
Also, as you say, the bible is truly alive (and powerful). And yes, the more we prayerfully read and study His word, God impresses it upon our hearts, even if we leave off for a short time. But not to leave off for very long because if we leave off for an extended period of time, we become dull of hearing. Spiritual growth cannot happen without the continuous study of God's word. And like you say that growth does not happen overnight. It is a lifelong process. Even being in the word every day is no guarantee because we can only grow spiritually if God permits. He knows our hearts and knows what we are ready to handle. He's only going to give us understanding and allow us to move forward when He knows we are ready to understand and move on (if that makes sense).
Blessings in Christ!
Yes, I agree that it should cause caution. One has to wonder what caution these men today who claim to be prophets take. They will tell people that God gave them a prophetic message to give to them. There are actually people who fall for this because they believe these men are indeed prophets and that God actually speaks to them. My response to them would be, "Well, if God gave you a message of prophecy, then you need to add it to the bible." I mean, if it's God speaking, then it is His word, right? But I'm sure they're not willing to go that far. If anyone proclaims that God gave them a message, and it is something outside of the bible, it is to be rejected! Thanks for your comment on my other post, and you are welcome.
God Bless!!!
My Grace, is suffecient for thee
We know that the promises of dreams and prophecies from Joel chapter two are fulfilled in Acts as it says in Acts chapter two . 1st Corinthians chapter 13 tells us that these things will cease ! Why would they cease ? Because of the fact that God has provided the perfect means by which any one of us can get to know Him , through His Living Word ! The Bible . He has given us everything that we need to draw closer to Him , we have a mediator in heaven , Christ , who knows how it feels to be human , weak , vulnerable , afraid , he was in every way tempted as we are , he understands us perfectly because he has been where we are now . He has walked in the flesh , in our shoes , in these kingdoms of men and we can read all about it any time we choose .
The Bible truly is alive ! It is a living entity and the more we read it the more it fills us up with the Word of God and that becomes part of us so that even when we are not actually engaged in reading it it is still in us , growing and taking us over , it is the good seed !
This doesn't happen overnight , this takes time and effort and this time and effort on our part must be coupled with a desire , to learn and grow and for this we must have open eyes and ears and an open heart , we must be willing to grow and change , to allow the Living Word to take root in us and we must feed every day on it . Colossians chapter two verse 8 and chapter three verse 2 , this is not advice , it's instruction as relevant as thou shalt not kill .
We must feed to the full , every day and allow ourselves to be taken over by God's Truth which is , His love and forgiveness as epitomised in Christ .
That should cause caution shouldn't it Brother Jesse.
I think that makes the Prophecy of this book all important!
God bless