1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He -the Father- taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
2Peter 3:7- But the heavens(spiritual environment of the OT & NT) and the earth(Israel), which are now, by the same Word are kept in store, reserved unto FIRE against the Day of Judgment (the Lord's Day, the current seventh and last Day, or seventh and last millennium in which we are living) and perdition of ungodly men.
Speaking on'Gentiles and the Olive Tree',you'highighted the unity and interdependence of both groups within God's redemptive plan', and"The natural branches(Israel)were broken off due to unbelief, and wild olive shoots(Gentiles)were grafted in'.
The Word of GOD shows us the existence of two Olive Trees and Two Candlesticks:The two olive trees(source of oil -the OTand NT-, two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of THEMSELVES- Zechariah 4:11-14),and the two candlesticks(two Churches:the Gentile Church,and the Jewish Church- Hebrews 12:22-24)are standing before the God of the earth(the person of the Holy Spirit).
Many Jews attended the Church in Rome,there were dissensions among them,so Paul wrote:Ro.2:1-11:
1Therefore thou art inexcusable,O man,whosoever thou art that judgest:for wherein thou judgest another,thou condemnest thyself;for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2But we are sure that the judgment of GOD is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3And thinkest thou this,O man,that judgest them which do such things,and doest the same,that thou shalt escape the Judgment of GOD?
4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering;not knowing that the goodness of GOD leadeth thee to repentance?
5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself WRATH against the Day of WRATH and REVELATION of the righteous Judgment of GOD;
6Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality,ETERNAL LIFE:
8But unto them that are contentious,and do not obey the Truth,but obey unrighteousness,INDIGNATION AND WRATH,
9TRIBULATION and ANGUISH,upon every soul of man that doeth evil,of the JEW first,and also of the GENTILE;
10But glory,honour,and peace,to every man that worketh good,to the JEW first,and also to the GENTILE:
I am going to attempt to slow down here; and focus attention on my personal walk; a more comprehensive study of the Word and evangelism opportunities.
As to the Psalms study and prayer; Psalm 3 seems to begin an actual prayer of David and is case specific as stated in the intro. as relating to the troubles with Absolom. I will have to seek the Lord as to whether I should go through each Psalm whether it is a prayer or not. I think I may have started something with Psalms a year or two ago and didn't complete it on this site. There are certain Psalms that should be grouped together according to the way they were originally constructed. Some stuff like Psalm 22 is applicable to David and the Messiah but we should basically look at is as any other inspired scripture; we can repeat it to reassure ourselves of His promises or learn the text; but it is not a prayer uniquely. Finally; of course I don't want to place undo focus on the end time ramifications, although understanding the big picture is helpful.
As much as I enjoy this site; I fear that it may be at the expense of me growing in other areas as well as keeping me from facing situations that need to be dealt with. The focus should always be on scripture reading as well as the subject at hand; prayer. I probably am as guilty as anyone else in just forging ahead with a topic; or in my case in particular a concept and bolstering it with scripture. I need to consider if at the time it is edifying; and possibly undo questions it will raise. Trying to use whatever cleverness I have rather than Godly wisdom is not the best approach.
That being said; as Paul said the love of Christ constrains us ( 2 Cor. 5:14). The verse goes on to describe how we die to self in an analogy to Christ's sacrifice and a life of service. I appreciate all the input; as well as love and support. The love of many is said to grow cold in the end times; and that would also I would argue include professing Christians.
Hi GiGi: It is good to be back to posting again. I hope all is well with your daughter-in-law and the baby. I know the thrill of having grandchildren, I have nine and my first great-grandchild was born a few months ago. Her family lives in Alaska and I'm in Tennessee so I haven't seen her in person yet.
I have enjoyed reading the comments between you and Richard about the Godhead. They are pretty good, however, you said something I don't understand. You might be totally correct about it, I never thought of it before but what did you mean when you said " He will forever have a human body." I know His scars were visible when He walked on earth before He ascended into Heaven but then didn't He go back to being God without anything "human" being a part of Him as God? God is a spirit or else how could He be all knowing, all powerful and everywhere at all times so how does a human body fit into that? These are honest questions because, as I said, I've never heard of this before.
Also, I probably misunderstood you, but it seemed in one of your other postings you indicated Paul sat under the teachings of Jesus during His earthly ministry; "but as a born again person and after spending many years in the desert learning from Jesus and the Spirit." This is what i am talking about. God Bless :)
Scripture tells us Jesus returns only one time, Zachariah 14:4 Matthew 24:30Acts 1:111 Thessalonians 4:16-17Hebrews 9:28Rev. 1:7Rev. 6:15-16. When Jesus returns those who are chosen and faithful are resurrected to reign on earth with Jesus, Rev. 17:14Daniel 2:44Daniel 7:26-272 Timothy 2:12Rev. 5:10Rev. 11:15.
This reign on earth begins after the tribulation and the armies of Satan, the beast, the false prophet, and the ten kings/countries of the beast who destroy mystery Babylon come to battle Jesus in the battle of Armageddon, Zachariah 14:1-3 Ezekiel 39:17-22Rev. 19:17-19Rev. 16:13-16. In Rev. 20 we see Satan bound and sealed in the bottomless pit for 1000 years. Jesus then sets up the Kingdom on earth and we see the judgment of those in the first resurrection who will be reigning with Jesus on earth for 1000 years Rev. 20:4-6.
The 1000-year Kingdom will be on the earth, but it will be very different from the world today without the temptation of Satan, Isaiah 65:25Zechariah 14:16 It will be a time when Lord Jesus and those chosen to rule the nations with an iron rod so that all the promises of God be fulfilled, all the boundaries of land God promised Abraham have never been, Genesis 15:18-20Numbers 34:1-12 but they will in the future.
We know from Rev. 20:7-10, that there will be nations after the 1000 years that Satan will go out to deceive and bring them together to battle. After this battle, a fire burns up the earth and Satan is cast into the lake of fire, "the earth and the heaven fled away" The final Judgment of the white throne is not just for the lost, and all in this judgment who is not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire, Rev. 20:11-15, Daniel 12:2Matthew 25:32-46John 5:28-29.
"The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath."
These kings are labeled the heathen, "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?/The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against theLord, and against his anointed,"(Ps.2:1-2) "He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries."(v.6)
7He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
This evokes the test God gave Gideon and it is confirmed by the clue the Spirit has consistently followed. "Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink./And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men."(Ju.7:5-6) The Command number Three refers to the Son. (3x100) attests it. In the case of man 3x10 applies to the service "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age" ( Luke 3:23) when he began his ministry.
"he shall wound the heads over many countries."
Another interesting parallel we have in the life of Gideon in the manner his illegitimate son Abimelech was killed "And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull."(Ju.9:53) Speed forward we find the angel similarly throwing a stone 'like a great millstone' to finish off Babylon, the generic name for the nations in the outer darkness. (Re.18:21)
"He shall wound the heads over many countries."(v.6)
This is precisely what is happening about us. Nations are yet to get a grip on the manner conspiracy theories have thrown a monkey wrench over their works. There are news reports of that human brain is shrinking at a faster rate and with change in life styles, -ultra-processed foods and recreational drugs dementia is everywhere. Apart from nature taking a toll what of moral havoc sown by his attitudes to truth? Alternate reality spun by man in his bubble has a way of splintering his society. Jotham's fable is more likely to play out our very eyes. "Let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. " (Ju.9:15). We shall come to that while we discuss the next verse.
One way God has shown his wrath is in the epistle to the church of the Thessalonians. "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:"(2 The.2:11). How does Satan work? He has a way of working with those who are lackadaisical toward truth. Loving God 'with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." (De.6:4) Ever studying and yet not coming to truth is a sure sign. What imposter church has taught to take the Bible with a pinch of salt becomes a stony heart. Deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, is to interpret literally so textual criticism calls for historical context and many distractions besides. The seed sown in their heart is like seed sown by the wayside. "the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:/Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."(Matt.13:45-46). Comparing spiritual with spiritual needs grace, -and patience and humility which have been given a short shrift in a society where style over substance is favoured. In short Satan has scored a hit because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
I am reminded, who is the "Israel" of God? Gal 3:28,29.. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29) And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the "promise" amen to that.
Romans 11 is a chapter in the New Testament where the Apostle Paul addresses the relationship between Israel and the Gentiles within the context of God's salvation plan. It serves as a theological treatise on God's sovereignty, mercy, and the mystery of His grace.
The Remnant of Israel
Paul begins by asserting that God has not rejected His people, Israel. He cites his own identity as an Israelite and references the story of Elijah to illustrate that God always preserves a remnant of faithful believers ( Romans 11:1-5). This remnant is chosen by grace, not by works, underscoring the continuity of God's promises to Israel.
Gentiles and the Olive Tree Metaphor
Paul introduces the metaphor of the olive tree to explain the relationship between Israel and the Gentiles ( Romans 11:17-24). The natural branches (Israel) were broken off due to unbelief, and wild olive shoots (Gentiles) were grafted in. However, Paul warns the Gentiles against arrogance, reminding them that they stand by faith and could also be cut off if they do not continue in God's kindness. This metaphor highlights the unity and interdependence of both groups within God's redemptive plan.
The Mystery of Israel's Salvation
Paul speaks of a "mystery" regarding Israel's partial hardening until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in ( Romans 11:25-27). He prophesies that all Israel will be saved, referencing the Deliverer coming from Zion to turn godlessness away from Jacob. This eschatological promise affirms God's unchanging covenant with Israel.
Mercy and God's Wisdom
In the concluding section, Paul extols the depth of God's wisdom and knowledge, marveling at His inscrutable judgments and unsearchable ways ( Romans 11:33-36). This doxology reflects Paul's awe at the inclusiveness of God's mercy and the mysterious ways in which He orchestrates salvation history for both Jews and Gentiles.
"TheLordhath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."
Here we have an oath stated here. It did not begin with the Levites or with Aaron. It began with the everlasting covenant so the day decreed for the Man has a beginning and the ending and how long it is also mentioned her. "Thou art a priest forever."
So Melchizedek blessing Abraham is merely a confirmation of what is stated in day 6 and day Seven in which God sanctified it. Thus holiness of God is Person specific. "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God."(Ge.14:18).
In the light of the above what is Aaron but the poster boy for the nation of Israel? In his failure we must explain the failure of the Levitical priesthood. Over the golden calf episode the nation corrupted themselves and Aaron facilitated it and "he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to theLord."(Ex.32:1-8). Since then idolatry never left them. It has continued in the imposter church unto this day. So when the false prophet urges his congregation to worship the image of the beast (Re.13) what does it tell you? Holiness has a face, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ'(2 Co.4:6). It is what the heart of true worshipers bear. Without holiness none shall see God and it is what outer darkness would mean. So God reveal only his backparts' to Moses.
The literalism of the imposter church must be attributed to bad faith. Thus evil is made to appear as good and darkness for light.(Is.5:20). The MAGA movement that the white evangelicals spearheads is the spirit of the times.
In the covenant we read thus. "And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good." (Ge.1:11-12)" And the next verse is what leads us to the morning star. "And the evening and the morning were the third day."(v.13) This verse repeated at the end of day indicate the day decreed shall race inexorably towards a morning that is when the morning star arises. "Ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:"(2 Pe.1:19)
Jesus promised "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:/ And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father./ And I will give him the morning star."(Re.2:26-28) This shall explain the significance of ' Thou hast the dew of thy youth."
"Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth."
From the term, 'the womb of the morning' we have three concepts,- the day, holiness as well as the dew and these must be fixed as the basis for the beginning and the ending. Simply put the Alpha Omega aspect of Jesus Christ gives the morning star, the light of which sheds on all three, consequently shades of meaning must be understood to define in human speech the holiness of God .
"Be ye holy for I am holy" leads to a holy nation. " But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;"(1 Pe.2:9)
Without holiness no one shall see God speaks of the light with which it can be seen and understood. ("For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light."Ps.36:9 Jesus Christ as the true light.
Moses gives us a meaning for the dew. Dew speaks for the words of Jesus Christ in particular, referring to the word of his grace. "And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions."(Matt.22:46) In the Book of Job we have this verse, "After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them." ( Job 29:22)
This dew ties up with the everlasting covenant. "My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass"(De.32:2).
In the covenant we read thus. "And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good." (Ge.1:11-12)" And the next verse is what leads us to the morning star. "And the evening and the morning were the third day."(v.13)
"TheLordsaid unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." (v.1)
Re.Matt.22:43-44. This is a Messianic prophecy looking to the day od regeneration. "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."(Matt.19:28) The writer to the Hebrews has touched upon the significance of 'my right hand', "when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." Ministry of Jesus did not end with the earth; nor with the lower parts. At present "and upholding all things by the word of his power," tells us truth shall judge the present day wickedness' and the word of his power will not let off the wicked . His grace also is equally at work for those who are true worshipers.
Jesus revealed what his ministry consisted of, "I go to prepare a place for you./And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." ( John 14:2-3)
"Thy footstool",
Compare with the Isaiah quote, "Thus saith theLord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool." (Is.66:1a) The day decreed for his Son covers also the day of regeneration.
"TheLordshall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies." (v.2)
The rod of iron serves two purposes. It is for smashing the nations. The heathen in particular. "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. (Ps.2:9) secondly it is for "and he shall rule them with a rod of iron."(Re.19:15)
'In the midst of enemies' refer to the nations on the earth formerly designated as the outer darkness,
GOD gave the Revelation unto JESUS,to shew unto His servants,and JESUS revealed unto us by His angel,in fact an archangel, one like unto the Son of man,and also through John,the Apostle,who write the book.
Revelation 13:11-And I beheld ANOTHER Beast coming up out of the earth;and he had two horns like a lamb,and he spake as a dragon.
Rainwalker, remember:
The dragon, the Beast that will manifest himself in this current time,he is the Beast of the earth.Who is the dragon? He is the old serpent, called the Devil,and Satan,which deceives the whole world,in other words,as JESUS said,he is the father of the Jews- John 8:44.
By the way, I must say that this MAN Beast of the earth already was born decades ago, understand?What withholdes his manifestation is the validity of sacrifice of our Lord on the cross,the blood of JESUS,that he might be revealed only in his time.It will be soon.
The sacrifice and the oblation will cease,the abomination of desolation will stand in the holy place,and the overspreading of abominations shall make it desolate until the consummation.
He will manifest himself not as Devil or Satan,the prince of the darkness,but like a lamb,a false lamb,a false Messiah,of course. Furthermore,he has two horns, symbol of two kingdoms-Israel and Judah.
2 Thes.2:7-12
7The mystery of iniquity doth already work:only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8And then shall that Wicked be revealed,whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth(His Word),and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming:
9Even him,whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;because they received not the love of the truth,that they might be saved.
11And for this cause GOD shall send them strong DELUSION,that they should believe a lie:
12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth,but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Then went Boaz(by allegory,the Holy Spirit)up to the gate,and sat him down there:and,behold,the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by;unto whom Boaz said,Ho,such a one!(that is the Lord JESUS)turn aside,sit down here.And he turned aside,and sat down.And Boaz took 10 men of the elders of the city,and said,Sit ye down here.They sat down.Boaz said unto the kinsman:Naomi that come again out of the country of Moab,sells a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:And I advertise thee:Buy it before the inhabitants and the elders of my people.If thou wilt redeem it,redeem it:but if thou wilt not redeem it,then tell me,that I may know:THERE IS NONE TO REDEEM IT BESIDE THEE;and I AM after thee.And he said,I will redeem it.
Boaz said:What day thou buy the field of the hand of Naomi,thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess,wife of the dead,to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.And the kinsman said,I CANNOT REDEEM IT FOR MYSELF,LEST I MAR MINE OWN INHERITANCE:redeem thou MY RIGHT to thyself;I CANNOT REDEEM IT, buy it for thee.And Boaz said unto the elders and all the people,Ye are witnesses that I have bought all that was Elimelech's and was Chilion's and Mahlon's,of the hand of Naomi.And Ruth the Moabitess(by allegory the Gentile Church) have I purchased to be my wife,to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.And all the people that were in the gate,and the elders,said,We are witnesses,do thou worthily in Ephratah,and be famous in Bethlehem.So Boaz took Ruth,and she was his wife:and when he went in unto her,the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son.And Naomi took the child,and laid it in her bosom,and became nurse unto it.And the women her neighbours gave it a name,saying,there is a son born to Naomi;and they called his name Obed,father of Jesse,the father of David.These are the generations:Pharez begat Hezron,and Hezron begat Ram,begat Amminadab,begat Nahshon,begat Salmon,begat Boaz,and Boaz begat Obed,Jesse,Jesse begat David.
In the days of the judges there was famine in the land,and a man of BethlehemJudah called Elimelech and his wife Naomi went to sojourn in the country of Moab,he,his wife and two sons Mahlon and Chilion,Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah,and they continued there.Times after,Elimelech died,Naomi was left,and her two sons took wives of the women of Moab;one was Orpah,the other Ruth,and dwelled there about 10 years.The two sons of Naomi died,so Naomi arose with her daughters in law that she might return to Bethlehem,she heard the Lord had visited His people and gave them bread,she went forth out of the place where she was,and her two daughters in law with her to return unto Judah. Naomi said unto her two daughters in law,Go,return each to her mother's house,she kissed them and they lifted up their voice,and wept,and they said unto Naomi:Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.Naomi said,Turn my daughters:why will ye go with me?Turn again,my daughters,go your way, they wept again, and Orpah kissed her mother in law. But Ruth clave unto Naomi, and said:for whither thou goes,I will go;and where thou lodge,I will lodge:thy people shall be my people,and thy God my God.Where thou die,will I die,and there will I be buried if ought but death part thee and me.Then they two went to Bethlehem,when they arrived to Bethlehem all the city was moved about them,and they said,Is this Naomi?Naomi said unto them,call me Mara:for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.I went out full and the Lord has brought me home again empty:why then call ye me Naomi,seeing the Lord hath testified against me,and the Almighty has afflicted me?So Naomi and Ruth returned out of the country of Moab and came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.Ruth is revered as a figure of faithfulness and virtue,a symbol of the true Gentile Church-true GOD's people.Through her marriage to Boaz,she becomes the great-grandmother of King David,giving Moabite's lineage into the genealogy of JESUS.
Also, those who deny the Trintiy doctrine also separate the oneness of God by citing Scriptures that say that the Father is the one true God and that Jesus is the one Lord, and that the Spirit comes from the Father (which to them means that he is an emanation but not a distinct person). However, that is not the way the apostalic churches believed. They were known to the Romans as people who worshipped a crucified man. They sang hymns of praise to Jesus, the Father, and the Spirit. The apostle Paul used these "doxologies" as in 2 Cor. 13:14, Eph. 4:4-6; Phil. 4:19-20; Col. 1:2-3; 1Thess. 1:1-3: 1 Tim. 1:1-2; 1Tim. 6:13-16; Rom. 16:24-27: Eph. 1:3; any many others to exalt the triune Godhead, not to delienate Jesus and the Spirit as being less than divine or separate beings from the Father. That was not the teaching of the early church. Paul used these various blessings, benedictions, doxologies, and prayers to emphasize the oneness of God who was a tri-unity.
Paul's strict Pharisaical upbringing would have made him strictly avoid associating Jesus and the Holy Spirit with God; but as a born again person and after spending many years in the desert learning from Jesus and the Spirit, he shed the Jewish concept of God and instead adhered to honoring and loving the Son as He does the Father, and believing and obeying the Spirit as he would the Father.
John's long career as an apostles brought him to a firm stand on the deity of Jesus and the Spirit, as his Gospel and Epistles clearly show.
I so wish I could read and understand Greek so I could learn the depth of meaning in the NT as our English language does fall short of using exact terms to match the Greek terms and meanings.
Hopefully, Giannis and Jesse will return here soon and help us with Greek.
Take care Richard. Thanks for responding to my posts. I do read yours and ponder them. How good it is that we have each other on here to share and grow together.
As to the Spirit, Jesus said that He will take from Jesus what is His (Jesus') and reveal it unto the disciples. ( Jn. 16:14) and then said in vs. 15 that "all things that the Father has are mine."
No one can take (share, or possess) what belongs to God but God No one can possess ALL that God is in His essence but God. So, both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are equally divine persons with the Father. What did Jesus "take" from the Father? He did not take any essence from the Father because He and the Spirit possessed this eternally with the Father. But there are some things that were given to the Son and the Spirit from the Father. These verses simply point out that Jesus and the Spirit have all that the Father is in divine essence, but they have different roles as distinct persons.
The other point that comes to mind on this topic is that Jn. 5:21-23-Jesus says that the Father raises the dead and quickens them AND that He (Jesus), even so (just as the Father), quickens whom He wills. That the Father judges no man, but the Father has committed all judgment to the Son. That all men should honor the Son, even (the same as) they honor the Father He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which has sent Him. (Again one more instance where Jesus is teaching that He is equal with the Father in divinity and is to be worshipped as the Father is worshipped.)
Jesus teaches that He and the Father are one-meaning unified. ( Jn. 10:30) which the Jews took Him to say He is equal with God.
And in Jn 15:23 Jesus says that he who hateth Him (Jesus) hateth the Father. Again claiming oneness and equal standing as the Father.
Though some who deny the Trinity doctrine will bring up many verses that seem to refute this, but often the verses are referring to Jesus' status as a human person, not concerning His deity.
The deity of Jesus was defended again and again even before the death of all of the apostles and into the ensuing centuries.
As my post on His deity shows, Scripture clearly teaches that He is a divine person in the Godhead as the Father is. There were many other Scriptural references I could have used but I believe that I gave plenty to make the point of what has been taught of Him since the time of the apostles and what He actually said of Himself.
So, too, with the Holy Spirit. He is a divine person of the Godhead.
People who do not believe that God is a trinity of persons can cite many biblical verses that seem to say that the Father is the only one God and that Jesus is just "the Lord" but not God. Some say Jesus is not God because it seems that the Bible say that He was a creation. But the eternal existence of Jesus, the Son, is well documented in the Bible. Some say that the Holy Spirit is only God's power in action, thus making Him just a force or emanation from God, yet in so many Scriptures the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all spoken of as distinct persons using pronouns such as I, You, Me, We, Us, Him, He, His, My.
As to image making, Scripture does say that Jesus ascended to heaven in His human body and remains there as God and Man. Therefore, The human nature/body of Jesus is the only physical image of God we will see in the eternal state. But I do believe we will see angel and other spiritual beings in that state. Whether or not we will be given the ability to see the Father and the
Spirit in their actual essential form I cannot find Scripture that speaks of that. But we may be given that ability as part of our glorification. I guess I feel that being satisfied with truly and actually seeing Jesus in a physical way will be completely satisfying and sufficient for me because He clearly said that "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father"; that Jesus is the express image of the invisible Father".
It is interesting as Spurgeon was strong on Predestination; as was George Whitfield who weeped during prayer before going out on his extensive revivals.
I am sure that I will continue to hammer this concept home as I continue through Psalms; as it seems in many churches if hell is even mentioned and believed in; the frequent contrasts between the righteous and the wicked in scripture seems overlooked at least from my experience. I could quote something else related to this from C.S. Louis in the Dawn Treader
So I just lay flat down on my back to let him do it. The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I've ever felt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off. You know-if you've ever picked the scab off a sore place. It hurts like billy-oh, but it is such fun to see it coming away."
This showed how the character Edmond had a dragon like skin because of the evil that had come into him after; I think greedily eating some magic sweets that were addictive. There is also a scene in another book where the lion (representing Christ) was told to have someone tear into him as well; indicative of how deeply Christ had to suffer for our sake.
It seems the Lord provides the contacts in our lives; and the proper time(s) to give opportunity to witness. It is ok to weep with people; I have seen it myself in regard to street ministry. I would argue with the person you describe that we all are beyond redemption apart from His saving grace and of course today is the day for salvation. Nonetheless we need to trust His timing; and also that suffering in others He is calling serves a purpose.
Anyway; no need to respond to all of this; I tend to "wax eloquent" as it were. This is my social outlet in many ways aside from my church fellowship. I am also hoping to take this to heart and preach to myself.
You stated; "all teachins have both a heavenly & literal meanin..
Ok, Here is what I said,
"We are to understand the Bible in its normal or plain meaning, UNLESS the passage is obviously intended to be symbolic or if figures of speech are employed.
I don't understand why you feel there is a disagreement so I won't get into that.
You stated; "
biggest problem is the bible has been so altered & butchered no one knows the truth"
Do you believe that what was supposedly excluded from the Bible was all important?
Do you believe what is written must be absolute truth and the truth is vital for our salvation?
Do you believe God's word is important to him?
Do you believe there is any other way to know God outside his Word?
Do you believe God is omniscience?
Do you believe God is omnipotent?
If you answered yes to these last two questions then how can a worm such as humans thwart his all important message to those he loves by contaminating his word?
I think much more of him than that and he expects us to.
That's an insult to who he is!
Isaiah 40:6-8. "The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: BUT THE WORD OF OUR GOD SHALL STAND FOR EVER.
1 Peter 1:23. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
I hold that to be truth.
Did God have to write to Moses and the Prophets?
G has no problem getting out his word, he made Balaam's donkey speak.
As we apply these verses to prayer; we may consider that His victory means our victory; in the sense of our eternal future living with Him forever in heaven as well as now; when we suffer for His Name's sake we are fulfilling the Great Commission; and are assured of a reward in heaven as Jesus alludes to in the Sermon on the Mount. All of our life should therefore be wrapped up in the greater purposes; sowing in tears to reap later in joy ( Psalm 126:5-6). The meaning and purpose of earthly blessings common to man is only appreciated in the light of the weight of eternal glory. We ask for good things so that we can further His Kingdom; especially in regard to the filling of the Holy Spirit ( Luke 11:13). In praise; we ask that the King be exalted; and of course that starts in our hearts.
We look at Christ who suffered and His visage was marred more than any man ( Isaiah 52:14). But He shall see and be satisfied with His travail ( Isaiah 53:11). He willingly suffered in our place to fulfill the wish of the Father; but also came to serve and not be served as an example to us. ( Mark 10:45). We shall see Him exalted and victorious and no longer suffering; and no doubt He will rejoice for us as well. Therefore; we endure knowing that patience will have it's perfect work ( James 1:4).
This doesn't mean we don't long every day to see an end to suffering; but we know that we are gaining further eternal rewards in continuing to live faithfully until death or He comes on this earth. This should be a motivation primarily for others; we see the beginnings of what surely will be increasing numbers of Christians persecuted and martyred as we approach the end. We weary having not only to deal with our own sin and the terrible conditions of the last days but the spiritual warfare which is no doubt at fever pitch today. We must continue to boldly declare His coming conquest and victory even when looking like fools ( 1 Cor. 1:25)
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
I should mention verse 7 which mentions the Son begotton of the Father. He was always existent; but as the Son (glorified in a human body) forever He would be God incarnate; in a man in who would overcome death for all men to be able to gain victory through His sacrificial atonement.
The rest of this Psalm goes into the Millennial period where Christ is to rule with unquestioned authority and not tolerate any nonsense. We should note that TRUST is a key issue here; many will see Christ rule and reign but true faith involves trust that following Christ is the best thing to do and that our well being is paramount in His essense. Trusting what He says in the Word which is alive being spoken and breathed by God Himself is also imperative.
These statements remind us that things aren't always going to remain the same. As incredible as it seems; this event is literal and it will one final time repeat itself at the end of the Millennium when there is one final attempt at rebellion against God which results; of course in eternal damnation with the ensuing Great White Throne Judgment. Sadly this shows how men who don't know Christ will view a world that He reigns over thinking either that it will be a life that never ends; or thinking 1000 years is too long to concern themselves with anything but self interests. As a prayer; we see in later Psalms such as Psalm 22 that David suffered in many cases like Christ the Holy One.
1Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
This prayer is basically synonymous with Revelation 19; and a host of other prophecies related to Christ's return in victory to rule and reign over the earth. The Tribulation itself begins just 7 years earlier with the Daniel 9:27 covenant "with many". The covenant with "death and hell" ( Isaiah 28:15 describing what the authors of this contract themselves proclaim at its inception).
It appears that the world may very well praise God if we take the verses in Revelation 5:3 literally. Once we get to the sixth seal in Revelation 6:12-15 we see men running from God's judgment; but after the Revelation 13 beast rises up and the False Prophet does his thing the world will take their mark of allegiance and in the end will be deceived by the 3 demons ( Rev. 16:13) and decide to fight against the Lord. That will be a consummation of a number of battles; not the least of which is the Ezekiel 38 war where everyone meets at Meddigo; probably beginning to fight one another; then turning on each other and fighting Christ.
Moving on; verses 4-7 say: He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Trying to focus this as it applied to David's understanding of what was a clearly prophetic message; we see how David was a sort of forerunner of the Messiah who would indeed be victorious over His foes and rule and reign. David is promised to rule with Him as well ( Jeremiah 30:9).
WOW! Read yur posts & think & U have the best perceptions I've seen on the Bible on the whole internet. NOT bad considerin U R usin only what's LEFT of the Bible to decipher from.
One of the biggest deceptions taught is the Bible only applies to Christians & the one tribe of so called Jews which Rev 3 says R lyin & not really Jews. Both religions act like all other ppl came from some other God or somethin & not even part of the Bible & been tryin to figure out what happened to all the Lost tribes of Israel? They have been sittin right n front of ppl all along. Both Christians & Jews refuse to acknowledge them as part of the Bible.
God has 12 tribes of Gentiles/white children & 12 tribes of Jewish/black-brown children & God scattered ALL the children across the world givin EACH their own portion of land. When U look at Gods Chosen Ones they R a "tribe" of Jews NOT a religion. One tribe of ppl & there indeed is a huge connection between Israel America & Egypt N these end times. All those Biblical teachins have a literal & heavenly meanin.
The Harbingers I & II by Johnathan Cahn R extraordinary bks to read & history is repeatin itself n USA & it has fallen under great judgment. 9/11 a warnin from God to USA it better repent & change its ways.
From the butchered bk of Remembrance of ENOCH tablet of Seth 3:61 "And the Lord said that ALL the religions of the world would issue forth from these two stones for there is save TWO religions ONLY. One is drawn to the LIGHT of TRUTH & the other LOVES VIOLENCE & DARKNESS & ALL the righteous need to give diligent heed & the Lord said look & see with me how all of this began..." MANY great bks butchered from the Bible which n itself is deception to hide truth. Satan IS the Father of Lies & deception & is his works/conduct that seperates him from God & false prophets & their followers from true followers. Not a Christian badge. Look at Christian history/conduct vs Bible says for TRUTH of it.
Acts chapter one verses 6+7 , chapter 28 verses 30+31 , Revelation chapter 21+chapter 22 . Ezekiel chapter 34 . And I the LORD will be their God , and my servant David a prince among them ; I the LORD have spoken it .Even so , come , Lord Jesus .
So u r sayingl when god says do not build yur house upon the sand he means do not build on oceans lakes & rivers where every christian is buyin up all they can?
that jesus's bride is a literal person to? maybe mary magdalene his beloved & goddess of wisdom sophia that the roman empire that killed jesus butchered from the bible should b placed back n it bcz she is a literal person?
biggest problem is the bible has been so altered & butchered no one knows the truth of anything & winners n any war write the history bks & make up the rules. its literal here but not there... no question the bk got butchered bcz the bible itself reflects it & has 66bks left n it & over 120 found & n existence & claim to b part of it. a very deceptive bk now & lack of truth to anything no matter how u look at it.
u now have a library full of altered bibles created by men to better fit some man or branches opinion. should b one bible with gods words only & not a buffet of bibles full of mens words u can pick from.
read rev 22:26-21 the warning the bride gives u when signin the bible off. read mat 23 bcz all rome did was change the word rabbi to father preacher pastor & minister & synagogue to church to decieve u & read jesus's opinion of yur scribes leaders & pharisees that follow them. ministers r not rabbbis n conduct.
from the butchered book of remembrance of enoch tablet of seth 3:61 "and the lord said that all the religions of the world would issue forth from these two stones for there is save two religions only. one is drawn to the light of truth & the other loves violence & darkness & all the righteous need to give diligent heed & the lord said look & see with me how all of this began..."
all teachins have both a heavenly & literal meanin & christians have a inability to grasp anything but literal & only where it serves them the heavenly. one need only look at the bible & the history of christianity & its conduct for 2,000 yrs to see which religion it is. keep it simple.
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He -the Father- taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
2Peter 3:7- But the heavens(spiritual environment of the OT & NT) and the earth(Israel), which are now, by the same Word are kept in store, reserved unto FIRE against the Day of Judgment (the Lord's Day, the current seventh and last Day, or seventh and last millennium in which we are living) and perdition of ungodly men.
Speaking on'Gentiles and the Olive Tree',you'highighted the unity and interdependence of both groups within God's redemptive plan', and"The natural branches(Israel)were broken off due to unbelief, and wild olive shoots(Gentiles)were grafted in'.
The Word of GOD shows us the existence of two Olive Trees and Two Candlesticks:The two olive trees(source of oil -the OTand NT-, two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of THEMSELVES- Zechariah 4:11-14),and the two candlesticks(two Churches:the Gentile Church,and the Jewish Church- Hebrews 12:22-24)are standing before the God of the earth(the person of the Holy Spirit).
Many Jews attended the Church in Rome,there were dissensions among them,so Paul wrote:Ro.2:1-11:
1Therefore thou art inexcusable,O man,whosoever thou art that judgest:for wherein thou judgest another,thou condemnest thyself;for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2But we are sure that the judgment of GOD is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3And thinkest thou this,O man,that judgest them which do such things,and doest the same,that thou shalt escape the Judgment of GOD?
4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering;not knowing that the goodness of GOD leadeth thee to repentance?
5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself WRATH against the Day of WRATH and REVELATION of the righteous Judgment of GOD;
6Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality,ETERNAL LIFE:
8But unto them that are contentious,and do not obey the Truth,but obey unrighteousness,INDIGNATION AND WRATH,
9TRIBULATION and ANGUISH,upon every soul of man that doeth evil,of the JEW first,and also of the GENTILE;
10But glory,honour,and peace,to every man that worketh good,to the JEW first,and also to the GENTILE:
11For there is no respect of persons with GOD.
As to the Psalms study and prayer; Psalm 3 seems to begin an actual prayer of David and is case specific as stated in the intro. as relating to the troubles with Absolom. I will have to seek the Lord as to whether I should go through each Psalm whether it is a prayer or not. I think I may have started something with Psalms a year or two ago and didn't complete it on this site. There are certain Psalms that should be grouped together according to the way they were originally constructed. Some stuff like Psalm 22 is applicable to David and the Messiah but we should basically look at is as any other inspired scripture; we can repeat it to reassure ourselves of His promises or learn the text; but it is not a prayer uniquely. Finally; of course I don't want to place undo focus on the end time ramifications, although understanding the big picture is helpful.
As much as I enjoy this site; I fear that it may be at the expense of me growing in other areas as well as keeping me from facing situations that need to be dealt with. The focus should always be on scripture reading as well as the subject at hand; prayer. I probably am as guilty as anyone else in just forging ahead with a topic; or in my case in particular a concept and bolstering it with scripture. I need to consider if at the time it is edifying; and possibly undo questions it will raise. Trying to use whatever cleverness I have rather than Godly wisdom is not the best approach.
That being said; as Paul said the love of Christ constrains us ( 2 Cor. 5:14). The verse goes on to describe how we die to self in an analogy to Christ's sacrifice and a life of service. I appreciate all the input; as well as love and support. The love of many is said to grow cold in the end times; and that would also I would argue include professing Christians.
I have enjoyed reading the comments between you and Richard about the Godhead. They are pretty good, however, you said something I don't understand. You might be totally correct about it, I never thought of it before but what did you mean when you said " He will forever have a human body." I know His scars were visible when He walked on earth before He ascended into Heaven but then didn't He go back to being God without anything "human" being a part of Him as God? God is a spirit or else how could He be all knowing, all powerful and everywhere at all times so how does a human body fit into that? These are honest questions because, as I said, I've never heard of this before.
Also, I probably misunderstood you, but it seemed in one of your other postings you indicated Paul sat under the teachings of Jesus during His earthly ministry; "but as a born again person and after spending many years in the desert learning from Jesus and the Spirit." This is what i am talking about. God Bless :)
Scripture tells us Jesus returns only one time, Zachariah 14:4 Matthew 24:30 Acts 1:11 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Hebrews 9:28 Rev. 1:7 Rev. 6:15-16. When Jesus returns those who are chosen and faithful are resurrected to reign on earth with Jesus, Rev. 17:14 Daniel 2:44 Daniel 7:26-27 2 Timothy 2:12 Rev. 5:10 Rev. 11:15.
This reign on earth begins after the tribulation and the armies of Satan, the beast, the false prophet, and the ten kings/countries of the beast who destroy mystery Babylon come to battle Jesus in the battle of Armageddon, Zachariah 14:1-3 Ezekiel 39:17-22 Rev. 19:17-19 Rev. 16:13-16. In Rev. 20 we see Satan bound and sealed in the bottomless pit for 1000 years. Jesus then sets up the Kingdom on earth and we see the judgment of those in the first resurrection who will be reigning with Jesus on earth for 1000 years Rev. 20:4-6.
The 1000-year Kingdom will be on the earth, but it will be very different from the world today without the temptation of Satan, Isaiah 65:25 Zechariah 14:16 It will be a time when Lord Jesus and those chosen to rule the nations with an iron rod so that all the promises of God be fulfilled, all the boundaries of land God promised Abraham have never been, Genesis 15:18-20 Numbers 34:1-12 but they will in the future.
We know from Rev. 20:7-10, that there will be nations after the 1000 years that Satan will go out to deceive and bring them together to battle. After this battle, a fire burns up the earth and Satan is cast into the lake of fire, "the earth and the heaven fled away" The final Judgment of the white throne is not just for the lost, and all in this judgment who is not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire, Rev. 20:11-15, Daniel 12:2 Matthew 25:32-46 John 5:28-29.
God bless,
RLW
Romans 11:30-32.
For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
God is speaking of the NATURAL BRANCHES. Paul's Kinsman of the flesh!
God bless you.
(Continued)
"The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath."
These kings are labeled the heathen, "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?/The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against theLord, and against his anointed,"(Ps.2:1-2) "He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries."(v.6)
7He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
This evokes the test God gave Gideon and it is confirmed by the clue the Spirit has consistently followed. "Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink./And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men."(Ju.7:5-6) The Command number Three refers to the Son. (3x100) attests it. In the case of man 3x10 applies to the service "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age" ( Luke 3:23) when he began his ministry.
"he shall wound the heads over many countries."
Another interesting parallel we have in the life of Gideon in the manner his illegitimate son Abimelech was killed "And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull."(Ju.9:53) Speed forward we find the angel similarly throwing a stone 'like a great millstone' to finish off Babylon, the generic name for the nations in the outer darkness. (Re.18:21)
"He shall wound the heads over many countries."(v.6)
This is precisely what is happening about us. Nations are yet to get a grip on the manner conspiracy theories have thrown a monkey wrench over their works. There are news reports of that human brain is shrinking at a faster rate and with change in life styles, -ultra-processed foods and recreational drugs dementia is everywhere. Apart from nature taking a toll what of moral havoc sown by his attitudes to truth? Alternate reality spun by man in his bubble has a way of splintering his society. Jotham's fable is more likely to play out our very eyes. "Let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. " (Ju.9:15). We shall come to that while we discuss the next verse.
One way God has shown his wrath is in the epistle to the church of the Thessalonians. "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:"(2 The.2:11). How does Satan work? He has a way of working with those who are lackadaisical toward truth. Loving God 'with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." (De.6:4) Ever studying and yet not coming to truth is a sure sign. What imposter church has taught to take the Bible with a pinch of salt becomes a stony heart. Deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, is to interpret literally so textual criticism calls for historical context and many distractions besides. The seed sown in their heart is like seed sown by the wayside. "the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:/Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."(Matt.13:45-46). Comparing spiritual with spiritual needs grace, -and patience and humility which have been given a short shrift in a society where style over substance is favoured. In short Satan has scored a hit because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
The Remnant of Israel
Paul begins by asserting that God has not rejected His people, Israel. He cites his own identity as an Israelite and references the story of Elijah to illustrate that God always preserves a remnant of faithful believers ( Romans 11:1-5). This remnant is chosen by grace, not by works, underscoring the continuity of God's promises to Israel.
Gentiles and the Olive Tree Metaphor
Paul introduces the metaphor of the olive tree to explain the relationship between Israel and the Gentiles ( Romans 11:17-24). The natural branches (Israel) were broken off due to unbelief, and wild olive shoots (Gentiles) were grafted in. However, Paul warns the Gentiles against arrogance, reminding them that they stand by faith and could also be cut off if they do not continue in God's kindness. This metaphor highlights the unity and interdependence of both groups within God's redemptive plan.
The Mystery of Israel's Salvation
Paul speaks of a "mystery" regarding Israel's partial hardening until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in ( Romans 11:25-27). He prophesies that all Israel will be saved, referencing the Deliverer coming from Zion to turn godlessness away from Jacob. This eschatological promise affirms God's unchanging covenant with Israel.
Mercy and God's Wisdom
In the concluding section, Paul extols the depth of God's wisdom and knowledge, marveling at His inscrutable judgments and unsearchable ways ( Romans 11:33-36). This doxology reflects Paul's awe at the inclusiveness of God's mercy and the mysterious ways in which He orchestrates salvation history for both Jews and Gentiles.
"TheLordhath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."
Here we have an oath stated here. It did not begin with the Levites or with Aaron. It began with the everlasting covenant so the day decreed for the Man has a beginning and the ending and how long it is also mentioned her. "Thou art a priest forever."
So Melchizedek blessing Abraham is merely a confirmation of what is stated in day 6 and day Seven in which God sanctified it. Thus holiness of God is Person specific. "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God."(Ge.14:18).
In the light of the above what is Aaron but the poster boy for the nation of Israel? In his failure we must explain the failure of the Levitical priesthood. Over the golden calf episode the nation corrupted themselves and Aaron facilitated it and "he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to theLord."(Ex.32:1-8). Since then idolatry never left them. It has continued in the imposter church unto this day. So when the false prophet urges his congregation to worship the image of the beast (Re.13) what does it tell you? Holiness has a face, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ'(2 Co.4:6). It is what the heart of true worshipers bear. Without holiness none shall see God and it is what outer darkness would mean. So God reveal only his backparts' to Moses.
The literalism of the imposter church must be attributed to bad faith. Thus evil is made to appear as good and darkness for light.(Is.5:20). The MAGA movement that the white evangelicals spearheads is the spirit of the times.
"Thou hast the dew of thy youth"
(Continued)
In the covenant we read thus. "And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good." (Ge.1:11-12)" And the next verse is what leads us to the morning star. "And the evening and the morning were the third day."(v.13) This verse repeated at the end of day indicate the day decreed shall race inexorably towards a morning that is when the morning star arises. "Ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:"(2 Pe.1:19)
Jesus promised "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:/ And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father./ And I will give him the morning star."(Re.2:26-28) This shall explain the significance of ' Thou hast the dew of thy youth."
"Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth."
From the term, 'the womb of the morning' we have three concepts,- the day, holiness as well as the dew and these must be fixed as the basis for the beginning and the ending. Simply put the Alpha Omega aspect of Jesus Christ gives the morning star, the light of which sheds on all three, consequently shades of meaning must be understood to define in human speech the holiness of God .
"Be ye holy for I am holy" leads to a holy nation. " But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;"(1 Pe.2:9)
Without holiness no one shall see God speaks of the light with which it can be seen and understood. ("For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light."Ps.36:9 Jesus Christ as the true light.
Moses gives us a meaning for the dew. Dew speaks for the words of Jesus Christ in particular, referring to the word of his grace. "And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions."(Matt.22:46) In the Book of Job we have this verse, "After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them." ( Job 29:22)
This dew ties up with the everlasting covenant. "My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass"(De.32:2).
In the covenant we read thus. "And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good." (Ge.1:11-12)" And the next verse is what leads us to the morning star. "And the evening and the morning were the third day."(v.13)
"TheLordsaid unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." (v.1)
Re.Matt.22:43-44. This is a Messianic prophecy looking to the day od regeneration. "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."(Matt.19:28) The writer to the Hebrews has touched upon the significance of 'my right hand', "when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." Ministry of Jesus did not end with the earth; nor with the lower parts. At present "and upholding all things by the word of his power," tells us truth shall judge the present day wickedness' and the word of his power will not let off the wicked . His grace also is equally at work for those who are true worshipers.
Jesus revealed what his ministry consisted of, "I go to prepare a place for you./And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." ( John 14:2-3)
"Thy footstool",
Compare with the Isaiah quote, "Thus saith theLord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool." (Is.66:1a) The day decreed for his Son covers also the day of regeneration.
"TheLordshall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies." (v.2)
The rod of iron serves two purposes. It is for smashing the nations. The heathen in particular. "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. (Ps.2:9) secondly it is for "and he shall rule them with a rod of iron."(Re.19:15)
'In the midst of enemies' refer to the nations on the earth formerly designated as the outer darkness,
GOD gave the Revelation unto JESUS,to shew unto His servants,and JESUS revealed unto us by His angel,in fact an archangel, one like unto the Son of man,and also through John,the Apostle,who write the book.
Revelation 13:11-And I beheld ANOTHER Beast coming up out of the earth;and he had two horns like a lamb,and he spake as a dragon.
Rainwalker, remember:
The dragon, the Beast that will manifest himself in this current time,he is the Beast of the earth.Who is the dragon? He is the old serpent, called the Devil,and Satan,which deceives the whole world,in other words,as JESUS said,he is the father of the Jews- John 8:44.
By the way, I must say that this MAN Beast of the earth already was born decades ago, understand?What withholdes his manifestation is the validity of sacrifice of our Lord on the cross,the blood of JESUS,that he might be revealed only in his time.It will be soon.
The sacrifice and the oblation will cease,the abomination of desolation will stand in the holy place,and the overspreading of abominations shall make it desolate until the consummation.
He will manifest himself not as Devil or Satan,the prince of the darkness,but like a lamb,a false lamb,a false Messiah,of course. Furthermore,he has two horns, symbol of two kingdoms-Israel and Judah.
2 Thes.2:7-12
7The mystery of iniquity doth already work:only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8And then shall that Wicked be revealed,whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth(His Word),and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming:
9Even him,whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;because they received not the love of the truth,that they might be saved.
11And for this cause GOD shall send them strong DELUSION,that they should believe a lie:
12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth,but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Then went Boaz(by allegory,the Holy Spirit)up to the gate,and sat him down there:and,behold,the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by;unto whom Boaz said,Ho,such a one!(that is the Lord JESUS)turn aside,sit down here.And he turned aside,and sat down.And Boaz took 10 men of the elders of the city,and said,Sit ye down here.They sat down.Boaz said unto the kinsman:Naomi that come again out of the country of Moab,sells a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:And I advertise thee:Buy it before the inhabitants and the elders of my people.If thou wilt redeem it,redeem it:but if thou wilt not redeem it,then tell me,that I may know:THERE IS NONE TO REDEEM IT BESIDE THEE;and I AM after thee.And he said,I will redeem it.
Boaz said:What day thou buy the field of the hand of Naomi,thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess,wife of the dead,to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.And the kinsman said,I CANNOT REDEEM IT FOR MYSELF,LEST I MAR MINE OWN INHERITANCE:redeem thou MY RIGHT to thyself;I CANNOT REDEEM IT, buy it for thee.And Boaz said unto the elders and all the people,Ye are witnesses that I have bought all that was Elimelech's and was Chilion's and Mahlon's,of the hand of Naomi.And Ruth the Moabitess(by allegory the Gentile Church) have I purchased to be my wife,to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.And all the people that were in the gate,and the elders,said,We are witnesses,do thou worthily in Ephratah,and be famous in Bethlehem.So Boaz took Ruth,and she was his wife:and when he went in unto her,the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son.And Naomi took the child,and laid it in her bosom,and became nurse unto it.And the women her neighbours gave it a name,saying,there is a son born to Naomi;and they called his name Obed,father of Jesse,the father of David.These are the generations:Pharez begat Hezron,and Hezron begat Ram,begat Amminadab,begat Nahshon,begat Salmon,begat Boaz,and Boaz begat Obed,Jesse,Jesse begat David.
In the days of the judges there was famine in the land,and a man of BethlehemJudah called Elimelech and his wife Naomi went to sojourn in the country of Moab,he,his wife and two sons Mahlon and Chilion,Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah,and they continued there.Times after,Elimelech died,Naomi was left,and her two sons took wives of the women of Moab;one was Orpah,the other Ruth,and dwelled there about 10 years.The two sons of Naomi died,so Naomi arose with her daughters in law that she might return to Bethlehem,she heard the Lord had visited His people and gave them bread,she went forth out of the place where she was,and her two daughters in law with her to return unto Judah. Naomi said unto her two daughters in law,Go,return each to her mother's house,she kissed them and they lifted up their voice,and wept,and they said unto Naomi:Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.Naomi said,Turn my daughters:why will ye go with me?Turn again,my daughters,go your way, they wept again, and Orpah kissed her mother in law. But Ruth clave unto Naomi, and said:for whither thou goes,I will go;and where thou lodge,I will lodge:thy people shall be my people,and thy God my God.Where thou die,will I die,and there will I be buried if ought but death part thee and me.Then they two went to Bethlehem,when they arrived to Bethlehem all the city was moved about them,and they said,Is this Naomi?Naomi said unto them,call me Mara:for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.I went out full and the Lord has brought me home again empty:why then call ye me Naomi,seeing the Lord hath testified against me,and the Almighty has afflicted me?So Naomi and Ruth returned out of the country of Moab and came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.Ruth is revered as a figure of faithfulness and virtue,a symbol of the true Gentile Church-true GOD's people.Through her marriage to Boaz,she becomes the great-grandmother of King David,giving Moabite's lineage into the genealogy of JESUS.
Also, those who deny the Trintiy doctrine also separate the oneness of God by citing Scriptures that say that the Father is the one true God and that Jesus is the one Lord, and that the Spirit comes from the Father (which to them means that he is an emanation but not a distinct person). However, that is not the way the apostalic churches believed. They were known to the Romans as people who worshipped a crucified man. They sang hymns of praise to Jesus, the Father, and the Spirit. The apostle Paul used these "doxologies" as in 2 Cor. 13:14, Eph. 4:4-6; Phil. 4:19-20; Col. 1:2-3; 1Thess. 1:1-3: 1 Tim. 1:1-2; 1Tim. 6:13-16; Rom. 16:24-27: Eph. 1:3; any many others to exalt the triune Godhead, not to delienate Jesus and the Spirit as being less than divine or separate beings from the Father. That was not the teaching of the early church. Paul used these various blessings, benedictions, doxologies, and prayers to emphasize the oneness of God who was a tri-unity.
Paul's strict Pharisaical upbringing would have made him strictly avoid associating Jesus and the Holy Spirit with God; but as a born again person and after spending many years in the desert learning from Jesus and the Spirit, he shed the Jewish concept of God and instead adhered to honoring and loving the Son as He does the Father, and believing and obeying the Spirit as he would the Father.
John's long career as an apostles brought him to a firm stand on the deity of Jesus and the Spirit, as his Gospel and Epistles clearly show.
I so wish I could read and understand Greek so I could learn the depth of meaning in the NT as our English language does fall short of using exact terms to match the Greek terms and meanings.
Hopefully, Giannis and Jesse will return here soon and help us with Greek.
Take care Richard. Thanks for responding to my posts. I do read yours and ponder them. How good it is that we have each other on here to share and grow together.
As to the Spirit, Jesus said that He will take from Jesus what is His (Jesus') and reveal it unto the disciples. ( Jn. 16:14) and then said in vs. 15 that "all things that the Father has are mine."
No one can take (share, or possess) what belongs to God but God No one can possess ALL that God is in His essence but God. So, both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are equally divine persons with the Father. What did Jesus "take" from the Father? He did not take any essence from the Father because He and the Spirit possessed this eternally with the Father. But there are some things that were given to the Son and the Spirit from the Father. These verses simply point out that Jesus and the Spirit have all that the Father is in divine essence, but they have different roles as distinct persons.
The other point that comes to mind on this topic is that Jn. 5:21-23-Jesus says that the Father raises the dead and quickens them AND that He (Jesus), even so (just as the Father), quickens whom He wills. That the Father judges no man, but the Father has committed all judgment to the Son. That all men should honor the Son, even (the same as) they honor the Father He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which has sent Him. (Again one more instance where Jesus is teaching that He is equal with the Father in divinity and is to be worshipped as the Father is worshipped.)
Jesus teaches that He and the Father are one-meaning unified. ( Jn. 10:30) which the Jews took Him to say He is equal with God.
And in Jn 15:23 Jesus says that he who hateth Him (Jesus) hateth the Father. Again claiming oneness and equal standing as the Father.
Though some who deny the Trinity doctrine will bring up many verses that seem to refute this, but often the verses are referring to Jesus' status as a human person, not concerning His deity.
cont.
Good thoughts here.
The deity of Jesus was defended again and again even before the death of all of the apostles and into the ensuing centuries.
As my post on His deity shows, Scripture clearly teaches that He is a divine person in the Godhead as the Father is. There were many other Scriptural references I could have used but I believe that I gave plenty to make the point of what has been taught of Him since the time of the apostles and what He actually said of Himself.
So, too, with the Holy Spirit. He is a divine person of the Godhead.
People who do not believe that God is a trinity of persons can cite many biblical verses that seem to say that the Father is the only one God and that Jesus is just "the Lord" but not God. Some say Jesus is not God because it seems that the Bible say that He was a creation. But the eternal existence of Jesus, the Son, is well documented in the Bible. Some say that the Holy Spirit is only God's power in action, thus making Him just a force or emanation from God, yet in so many Scriptures the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all spoken of as distinct persons using pronouns such as I, You, Me, We, Us, Him, He, His, My.
As to image making, Scripture does say that Jesus ascended to heaven in His human body and remains there as God and Man. Therefore, The human nature/body of Jesus is the only physical image of God we will see in the eternal state. But I do believe we will see angel and other spiritual beings in that state. Whether or not we will be given the ability to see the Father and the
Spirit in their actual essential form I cannot find Scripture that speaks of that. But we may be given that ability as part of our glorification. I guess I feel that being satisfied with truly and actually seeing Jesus in a physical way will be completely satisfying and sufficient for me because He clearly said that "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father"; that Jesus is the express image of the invisible Father".
I am sure that I will continue to hammer this concept home as I continue through Psalms; as it seems in many churches if hell is even mentioned and believed in; the frequent contrasts between the righteous and the wicked in scripture seems overlooked at least from my experience. I could quote something else related to this from C.S. Louis in the Dawn Treader
So I just lay flat down on my back to let him do it. The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I've ever felt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off. You know-if you've ever picked the scab off a sore place. It hurts like billy-oh, but it is such fun to see it coming away."
This showed how the character Edmond had a dragon like skin because of the evil that had come into him after; I think greedily eating some magic sweets that were addictive. There is also a scene in another book where the lion (representing Christ) was told to have someone tear into him as well; indicative of how deeply Christ had to suffer for our sake.
It seems the Lord provides the contacts in our lives; and the proper time(s) to give opportunity to witness. It is ok to weep with people; I have seen it myself in regard to street ministry. I would argue with the person you describe that we all are beyond redemption apart from His saving grace and of course today is the day for salvation. Nonetheless we need to trust His timing; and also that suffering in others He is calling serves a purpose.
Anyway; no need to respond to all of this; I tend to "wax eloquent" as it were. This is my social outlet in many ways aside from my church fellowship. I am also hoping to take this to heart and preach to myself.
You stated; "all teachins have both a heavenly & literal meanin..
Ok, Here is what I said,
"We are to understand the Bible in its normal or plain meaning, UNLESS the passage is obviously intended to be symbolic or if figures of speech are employed.
I don't understand why you feel there is a disagreement so I won't get into that.
You stated; "
biggest problem is the bible has been so altered & butchered no one knows the truth"
Do you believe that what was supposedly excluded from the Bible was all important?
Do you believe what is written must be absolute truth and the truth is vital for our salvation?
Do you believe God's word is important to him?
Do you believe there is any other way to know God outside his Word?
Do you believe God is omniscience?
Do you believe God is omnipotent?
If you answered yes to these last two questions then how can a worm such as humans thwart his all important message to those he loves by contaminating his word?
I think much more of him than that and he expects us to.
That's an insult to who he is!
Isaiah 40:6-8. "The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: BUT THE WORD OF OUR GOD SHALL STAND FOR EVER.
1 Peter 1:23. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
I hold that to be truth.
Did God have to write to Moses and the Prophets?
G has no problem getting out his word, he made Balaam's donkey speak.
He can make a rock sing out.
God bless.
As we apply these verses to prayer; we may consider that His victory means our victory; in the sense of our eternal future living with Him forever in heaven as well as now; when we suffer for His Name's sake we are fulfilling the Great Commission; and are assured of a reward in heaven as Jesus alludes to in the Sermon on the Mount. All of our life should therefore be wrapped up in the greater purposes; sowing in tears to reap later in joy ( Psalm 126:5-6). The meaning and purpose of earthly blessings common to man is only appreciated in the light of the weight of eternal glory. We ask for good things so that we can further His Kingdom; especially in regard to the filling of the Holy Spirit ( Luke 11:13). In praise; we ask that the King be exalted; and of course that starts in our hearts.
We look at Christ who suffered and His visage was marred more than any man ( Isaiah 52:14). But He shall see and be satisfied with His travail ( Isaiah 53:11). He willingly suffered in our place to fulfill the wish of the Father; but also came to serve and not be served as an example to us. ( Mark 10:45). We shall see Him exalted and victorious and no longer suffering; and no doubt He will rejoice for us as well. Therefore; we endure knowing that patience will have it's perfect work ( James 1:4).
This doesn't mean we don't long every day to see an end to suffering; but we know that we are gaining further eternal rewards in continuing to live faithfully until death or He comes on this earth. This should be a motivation primarily for others; we see the beginnings of what surely will be increasing numbers of Christians persecuted and martyred as we approach the end. We weary having not only to deal with our own sin and the terrible conditions of the last days but the spiritual warfare which is no doubt at fever pitch today. We must continue to boldly declare His coming conquest and victory even when looking like fools ( 1 Cor. 1:25)
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
I should mention verse 7 which mentions the Son begotton of the Father. He was always existent; but as the Son (glorified in a human body) forever He would be God incarnate; in a man in who would overcome death for all men to be able to gain victory through His sacrificial atonement.
The rest of this Psalm goes into the Millennial period where Christ is to rule with unquestioned authority and not tolerate any nonsense. We should note that TRUST is a key issue here; many will see Christ rule and reign but true faith involves trust that following Christ is the best thing to do and that our well being is paramount in His essense. Trusting what He says in the Word which is alive being spoken and breathed by God Himself is also imperative.
These statements remind us that things aren't always going to remain the same. As incredible as it seems; this event is literal and it will one final time repeat itself at the end of the Millennium when there is one final attempt at rebellion against God which results; of course in eternal damnation with the ensuing Great White Throne Judgment. Sadly this shows how men who don't know Christ will view a world that He reigns over thinking either that it will be a life that never ends; or thinking 1000 years is too long to concern themselves with anything but self interests. As a prayer; we see in later Psalms such as Psalm 22 that David suffered in many cases like Christ the Holy One.
Starting in verses 1-3 we read:
1Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
This prayer is basically synonymous with Revelation 19; and a host of other prophecies related to Christ's return in victory to rule and reign over the earth. The Tribulation itself begins just 7 years earlier with the Daniel 9:27 covenant "with many". The covenant with "death and hell" ( Isaiah 28:15 describing what the authors of this contract themselves proclaim at its inception).
It appears that the world may very well praise God if we take the verses in Revelation 5:3 literally. Once we get to the sixth seal in Revelation 6:12-15 we see men running from God's judgment; but after the Revelation 13 beast rises up and the False Prophet does his thing the world will take their mark of allegiance and in the end will be deceived by the 3 demons ( Rev. 16:13) and decide to fight against the Lord. That will be a consummation of a number of battles; not the least of which is the Ezekiel 38 war where everyone meets at Meddigo; probably beginning to fight one another; then turning on each other and fighting Christ.
Moving on; verses 4-7 say: He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Trying to focus this as it applied to David's understanding of what was a clearly prophetic message; we see how David was a sort of forerunner of the Messiah who would indeed be victorious over His foes and rule and reign. David is promised to rule with Him as well ( Jeremiah 30:9).
Amen to you, all of Scripture is the truth for those who have ears to hear.
God bless,
RLW
One of the biggest deceptions taught is the Bible only applies to Christians & the one tribe of so called Jews which Rev 3 says R lyin & not really Jews. Both religions act like all other ppl came from some other God or somethin & not even part of the Bible & been tryin to figure out what happened to all the Lost tribes of Israel? They have been sittin right n front of ppl all along. Both Christians & Jews refuse to acknowledge them as part of the Bible.
God has 12 tribes of Gentiles/white children & 12 tribes of Jewish/black-brown children & God scattered ALL the children across the world givin EACH their own portion of land. When U look at Gods Chosen Ones they R a "tribe" of Jews NOT a religion. One tribe of ppl & there indeed is a huge connection between Israel America & Egypt N these end times. All those Biblical teachins have a literal & heavenly meanin.
The Harbingers I & II by Johnathan Cahn R extraordinary bks to read & history is repeatin itself n USA & it has fallen under great judgment. 9/11 a warnin from God to USA it better repent & change its ways.
From the butchered bk of Remembrance of ENOCH tablet of Seth 3:61 "And the Lord said that ALL the religions of the world would issue forth from these two stones for there is save TWO religions ONLY. One is drawn to the LIGHT of TRUTH & the other LOVES VIOLENCE & DARKNESS & ALL the righteous need to give diligent heed & the Lord said look & see with me how all of this began..." MANY great bks butchered from the Bible which n itself is deception to hide truth. Satan IS the Father of Lies & deception & is his works/conduct that seperates him from God & false prophets & their followers from true followers. Not a Christian badge. Look at Christian history/conduct vs Bible says for TRUTH of it.
Great insight & glad U shared.
that jesus's bride is a literal person to? maybe mary magdalene his beloved & goddess of wisdom sophia that the roman empire that killed jesus butchered from the bible should b placed back n it bcz she is a literal person?
biggest problem is the bible has been so altered & butchered no one knows the truth of anything & winners n any war write the history bks & make up the rules. its literal here but not there... no question the bk got butchered bcz the bible itself reflects it & has 66bks left n it & over 120 found & n existence & claim to b part of it. a very deceptive bk now & lack of truth to anything no matter how u look at it.
u now have a library full of altered bibles created by men to better fit some man or branches opinion. should b one bible with gods words only & not a buffet of bibles full of mens words u can pick from.
read rev 22:26-21 the warning the bride gives u when signin the bible off. read mat 23 bcz all rome did was change the word rabbi to father preacher pastor & minister & synagogue to church to decieve u & read jesus's opinion of yur scribes leaders & pharisees that follow them. ministers r not rabbbis n conduct.
from the butchered book of remembrance of enoch tablet of seth 3:61 "and the lord said that all the religions of the world would issue forth from these two stones for there is save two religions only. one is drawn to the light of truth & the other loves violence & darkness & all the righteous need to give diligent heed & the lord said look & see with me how all of this began..."
all teachins have both a heavenly & literal meanin & christians have a inability to grasp anything but literal & only where it serves them the heavenly. one need only look at the bible & the history of christianity & its conduct for 2,000 yrs to see which religion it is. keep it simple.