"Devil's creed is what imposters follow, who simply teach once saved is forever and cuts out 'works' from faith." Once saved, always saved is what our Bible teaches to everyone. Yes?
Sanctification must be total where our worship is concerned. Many cults make their will worship to mean sanctification. Flee from such. Christ has nowhere a place in their hearts. They do it all for the praise of men. Wolves in sheep's clothes they are.
Total sanctification in you is what Christ does in his fulness,- we received grace for grace so our perfection is how Christ has covered our shortfall. Peter may deny him but Christ our Lord sees him for fit for his service.
Q: God explains on the death of two sons of Aaron and it is plain nothing short of total sanctification will do. Am I correct?
A: Yes. "This is it that theLordspake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace." Le.10:3 God did not explain to Aaron but to Moses because he stood after the likeness of his Son.
God's will concerning for whom he called was to present his Son as their captain of salvation. It is thus the Spirit has presented the everlasting covenant under seven days. He blessed man in his Son. "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (He.2:10-11) This oneness where 'Thou-in-me, I-in-me So 'that God may be all in all' is not putting together some new on old clothes to pass for an ephod. Jesus Christ who of God has become sanctification for us. " For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren".
Strange fire signifies "divers and strange doctrines" and it is set next to the verse, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."(He.13:8-9). What is Christian nationalism or any other doctrine that displaces his fulness in a believer's heart to burn incense elsewhere whether Mar-a-Lago or before Virgin Mary? "Before all people I will be glorified"
Q: "Between breaking open the book and the number sealed, and the sounding of trumpets we have saints redeemed from the earth.This is still in the mind of God. What do they represent?"
A: You referred Re.7:1. The next verse makes clear:"And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God." The same seal with which the book was sealed calls all those who are foreknown according to his purpose. St Paul annotates it as thus,"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."(Ep.1:5). The elders also refer to it,"For thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."(4:11)
As the Lamb opens the seven seals sequentially, it is simultaneously setting the everlasting covenant in motion, so creation of heaven gathering of seas from dry land life forms are seeded with the word of God. Consequently the wind should hold still, :Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."(v.3)
The number,"an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel" is in the same sense as the whole house of Israel, in the vision of Dry bones where "these bones are the whole house of Israel" (Ez.37:11) Without being connected to Jesus Christ the word made flesh, it is meaningless.
The passage in vv.9-12 "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb;" is the conclusion of the passage beginning in ch.5:9," And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." These serves as book-ends. This is about the saints redeemed from the earth.
Penultimate para requires explanation: The ingredients are four instead of three. Frankincense known as olibanum is an aromatic resin. It forms part of presents the Magi presented to Infant Jesus. "gold, and frankincense and myrrh."(Matt.2:11)
Galbanum is an aromatic gum resin; Stacte being either the natural exudate from the Commiphora tree.
Onycha is most likely the dried and processed secreted lids of a group of Mollusk Opercula found primarily in the Red Sea
Q: Isn't fire meant to cleanse or destroy in spiritual sense? What does 'strange' mean?
A: The Spirit applies strange to anything that man does according to his will against What God has commanded. The strange fire is evident from the context. "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not./And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. "(Le.10:1-2)
God has set his memorial which serves the Gospel preached in the worlds framed by his word. He sent his word, the sound of which anyone may hear and understand. He has sent his only begotten Son, the word become flesh, and he is the sign. He has set us an example.All these are freely given to us for what? "And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean."(10:10) Christ lives in us by faith. So we are an earthly tabernacle, and we have a reasonable service. (Ro.12:1).
St Paul asks,"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" So anyone who,"is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh." Heed the warning: "For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:/...Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell."(Pr.5:3-5) The harlot is 'strange' for a man of God who has been called to be the temple of God. So does he who follows strange and diverse doctrines than that shown to him by Christ the redeemer. " But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit."(1 Co.6:17). As many as are led by the Spirit are the children of God and not one who follows Dod some of the time and mammon all other times.
Devil's creed is what imposters follow, who simply teach once saved is forever and cuts out 'works' from faith.
Q:"On what basis are the label elders are applied to the four and twenty?
A" These four and twenty are memorial and the embodiment of the Law forever settled in the heavens. (Ps.119:89) Jesus Christ the same, yesterday and forever refers to the Son who abides forever whereas the servant cannot claim such privilege. These are elders because they witness that Jesus Christ is the firstborn from the dead while the four beasts signify that he is 'the firstborn of every creature.' They are elders in the sense the Ancient of days is the embodiment of the Law of the Spirit. The elders were chosen in the early church and the seven in number were to serve. The number Seven establish their appointment was determined in heaven by the Law, (Ac.6:3). The four and twenty elders thus were installed in heaven as the firstborn for the saints redeemed from the earth. Their worship also indicate thus connection. "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;/And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Re.5:9-10) Notice the expression, 'Hast redeemed us to God by thy blood' and what John describes in the chapter is of the trajectory of the divine Will. For this reason breaking open each seal is setting out his Will as made to appear.
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, also known as the unforgivable sin, is the act of rejecting the Holy Spirit's guidance and denying the divine nature of God's work:
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if you eject god plans of salvation, that's denying God calling you to be saved-that's blasphemy Holy Sprite. that when a person tells the Holy to leave me alone.
[ IF A PERSON SAYS I DON'T WANT TO GET SAVED NOW OR FOREVER. ] PLEASE LISTEN, God loves you so much that He sent His Son, His only begotten son for you. Think about that, God gave his son for you. to have everlasting life. God has given you the best thing He Has . [ DO NOT LET THE DEVIL HAVE YOUR LIFE] }he is a liar ]
One thing we know for certain is that every single person one day will stand before God. Will they have an excuse? Will God accept "I never heard?"
Romans 1:20 tells us, "For the invisible things of him (God) from the creation of the world (from the time of creation up till now), the invisible things of God, and please notice the clarity, are CLEARLY seen. So, there's no confusion! And then we see the comprehension: "being understood by the things that are made (referring to creation). Verse 20 ends by saying that "they are without excuse."
Not a single person will ever stand before God and say, "I didn't know," or "no one ever told me." Through creation, God testifies to man that there is a God. No one will have an excuse!
Psalm 19:1-4 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God. And the firmament shows His handywork. Day unto day utters speech and night unto night shows knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard." So, we know that there's no language or speech that God's creation cannot reach.
God has His testimony draped over us every night as well as the sun beating down on us during the day, and it is all a testimony. Somebody had to create that, someone so powerful that they created the entire universe. Even the psalmist says that there is a testimony in the heavens that God is using to illuminate a person's spirit and their conscience to make them consciously aware that there is a God. They might not know His name, but He's out there!
John 1:9 tells us that every person born into this world is enlightened. Again, no one will have an excuse. God's Spirit is able to reach every person that comes into this world one way or another. If never hearing about Jesus or the gospel message could be used as an excuse, and God accepts that excuse and grants salvation, wouldn't it be beneficial is no one ever heard?
I am sure we all have thought about that, but it is hard to answer. We have a loving and just God wanting all to come to Him and be saved because He gave His only Son for the redemption of sins. Some may say no since the only way to the Father is through the Son but what about those who never had the opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus?
All of us have a conscience and the knowledge of good and evil, some get to a point of no return and God gives them over to a reprobate mind, Romans 1:28. Some go so far into evil that their conscience is seared with a hot iron, 1 Timothy 4:2, they do not know good from evil. I do not know if you have ever met someone like that, but you can see cold darkness in their eyes.
If we read Romans 1-16 it is not the hearers of the law but the doers of the law for they, have it written in their heart and their conscience bears witness. Our conscience records all we have ever done or thought. I believe this is about those who have heard the gospel and those who did not have a chance to hear it.
Many take the great white throne judgment as for the lost only, but I believe this is for those who are not in the first resurrection, Revelation 20:4-6. My understanding is the great white throne judgment goes with Daniel 12:2John 5:28-29Matthew 25:31-46 and Revelation 20:11-15.
As it says in Revelation 20:15 all that was not found in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. So, to me, this is all the rest of the dead Revelation 20:5 if some were not found, some are found in the Book of Life. Some who lived before Jesus first came and some after Jesus came who never heard the gospel, their conscience bearing witness, will be found in the Book of Life. As we see in John 8:9Acts 24:16Romans 9:12 Corinthians 1:121 Timothy 3:9Hebrews 13:18.
Q:"Are the four and twenty elders entrusted with the prayers of saints in the will of God?"
A: Yes they are part of the mystery of his Will so parables are one manner, by which what have been kept secret from the foundation of the worldis revealed. These elders are the memorial and witnesses to the manner God shall frame the worlds by his word. (He.11:3) Their position and their crown establish the sovereignty of the Law and of the Gospel.(4:4) The same faith of the creative God gives them foreknowledge so when the Lamb is found worthy to let the unseen world appear they "fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints."(Re.5:8) Additional clue we have from their circle about the throne."And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices." This is the Gospel which shall be preached by angel in heaven as well as on earth and lower parts. The number 24 is made up of 3x8 so the Spirit of Christ will preach gospel to the souls in prison.
The same thunderings appear as God descends mount Sinai.(Ex.19:16,18) The Spirit gives us a snapshot of heaven (lightening, thunderings voices) the earth (the mount) and lower parts is represented by the smoke "And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because theLorddescended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace. cf."and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace."(Re.9:1).
Prayers of saints redeemed from the earth are as incense.(Ex.30:23) It was made of three principal spices. Number three refers to the Son and also signify "hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;/And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."(Re.5:9-10)
Offering of Noah on the altar, "And the Lord smelled a sweet savour."(Ge.8:21) Prayer is associated with altar.
Q: Isn't the householder in the Parable of Jesus about the Son?
A: Parable itself as the Spirit introduced through the prophet refers to it. "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world."(Matt.13:35). The Word establishes Jesus Christ as the son, as the householder of whose house are we."But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end."(He.3:6)
Mysteries which have been from the worlds began, the Gospel of God Jesus made manifest in his life. He was like the householder which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. Much of these things his disciples could not first understand but the Word made flesh made them catch on,"Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord."(Matt.13:5-52). How does the Spirit teach but by principle of Association? "He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me."( Luke 10:16; Matt.10:40)
Synoptic gospels are written by men of old as taught of the Spirit. Jesus presents the doctrine of God against the backdrop of the mountain God. Sermon on the mount is how the householder sets him emblem as the stone cut not with hands. Where as in Luke we have Jesus sending the other seventy disciples and it is concerned with the everlasting gospel and the end times. Beatitudes as delivered by Jesus is set in the plains, "Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain" (Ze.4:7) This is also about the same mystery, of 'the house of my rest'. (Is.66:1) which St Matthew ans St Luke are approaching from different angles.
Q: If Ark is intended simply as a chest, the body of a believer can be called an ark. Does it not?
A: Yes if the body is born of the incorruptible Word. In Joseph's case he was anointed before the Israelites "embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt."(Ge.50:25-26). In v.25 we read that "And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence./So Joseph died." He had faith that he was created 'after our likeness' so he died in hope. "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever" is our hope since Jesus Christ the captain of our salvation has gone before us. (1 Pe.1:23) God chose Joseph before he was born and his dreams are clear indication of it, and the Spirit includes it for our edification. He was hated by his brethren without a cause as Jesus was. The Hebrew word Aron is an ark, which when associated with Egyptian funerary purposes is called Canopic jar. It is in this sense Joseph deemed his bones for his after life. Our body is a tabernacle, built without hands which liveth Jesus Christ.
"And the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant" (He.9:4). What does manna signify for a new creation? "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." ( John 4:34) The tables of the covenant is the Law as we read in the Psalm,"I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart."(Ps.40:8). Aaron's rod is our abiding life in Christ so the same power of resurrection that worked with Jesus, - in all things he might have the pre-eminence explains the ark of his testimony. "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament."(Re.11:19)
Q: Similitude sets heaven correspond to the earth. What role man play 'After our likeness' while the earth is 'after our image'?"
A: Principle of Similitude governs the actions so like begets like. 'The earth abides forever' because Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. The two worlds framed by the word of God relates the Father Son relationship. The Law of the Spirit sets 'the Word was with God' after our likeness which relates the humanity of Christ. For and example Joseph is set after our likeness' so the Ark of his testament is a heavenly pattern for Joseph after his death. Death and burial of Christ among the heathen and in the tomb intended for another carries a pattern on the earth. The Spirit as with the role of Moses set the life of Joseph 'after our likeness'. "And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor."(Josh.24:32)
The Similitude sets the worlds framed by word upon faith which is the only way one could be made after 'our likeness' To be conformed after the image Jesus Christ is set as the captain our salvation. It is what makes our volume word-based . The book of life itself corresponds to our heart. So the revelation that God through an angel to John is the testament of Jesus Christ. This explains the last verse in the Gospel of John. "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." John 21:25)
Before the world was ever created, before there ever was an earth, a Mars, a Jupiter, a Venus; before there ever was a sun, or moon, or stars, there was a Heaven. God lived in the Heaven, in fellowship with His angels. It isthought there were three different companies of angels under three different archangels, Gabriel, Michael, and Lucifer, who is the Devil. Three different (you might say) battalions or regiments of angels. Now Lucifer decided he wanted to take over Heaven, so Lucifer rebelled against God and took his group of the angels and started a war in Heaven. Immediately God put down the rebellion of Lucifer, and cast him and his angels out of Heaven. They were excommunicated from Heaven.
If that be so, immediately God prepared a place for the Devil and these angels, Heaven's fallen angels and the Devil. The place was called Hell. In Matthew 25:41 it says they were cast into everlasting fire "prepared for the devil and his angels." As I have said many times, if you go to Hell, you will be an intruder. Hell was not made for you. But if you do not receive Christ, you will go there, and you will burn forever. I don't care how many degrees you have; I don't care how smart you are; I don't care how rich you are; I don't care how influential you are; you will go to Hell and you will burn forever unless you have been born again. So Hell is a place made for the Devil and his angels. My precious friend, you can be a Baptist, you can be a Methodist, you can be a Presbyterian, you can be a Catholic, you can be an Episcopalian, you can be a Lutheran and all the rest of them; you can be baptized in this pool, and sprinkled in another church, and confirmed in another, and reared in another, but if you die without Jesus Christ, without being born again, the Bible says you will go to Hell and suffer in a bottomless pit.
I believe in Hell people constantly fall forever and forever. There is no bottom to Hell. It is a bottomless pit. While people are burning, BY: DR. HYLES
Acts 10:43 - To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Two things about this verse:
The word believes is a Present Participle which means continuously believing. Secondly: the term "in him" is the most common term for believing in Christ. It is EIS AUTON, and it means "into him."
It is a word that expresses surrender, so that whosoever continually believes, and continually surrenders to Christ, will receive forgiveness of sins.
Acts 10:45 - And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The word "gift," DOREA, and there are several words for gift in the bible but there is only one word out of several that means to give you a gift, (actually give it to you), and that's this word! DOREA is always associated with the Holy Spirit. According to the New Testament, the only "gift" that has been given to the believers is the Holy Spirit.
People are told that God gives you "other things." Unfortunately, those words do not mean to give a gift. "Gifts of the Spirit" has nothing to do with giving gifts. It is the word CHARISMA. CHARIS is the word for grace. CHARISMA, with just an MA on the end of it means an expression of grace. That's what it means!
1 Corinthians Chapter12 tells us that there are many expressions of grace or gifts of the Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is the one who has the capacity for all of these expressions of grace. The unfortunate thing about teachings of "the gifts of the spirit" today is that they tell you "You have one!" A talent! There are people out there in the ministry that will teach their people how they need to use their "gifts" for God's work, combining God's "gift" with their personality, and their "God given talents." The problem with this is that it centers on us.
Acts 10:25 - And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
I'll share an important side note. The word for worship in the New Testament, PROSKUNEO, doesn't have anything to do with worship. It's literally to pay respect or homage. He was going to the extreme, but Peter says you don't have to do that. Now how does that fit into the New Testament for the believers?
I'll use John Chapter 4 as an example when Jesus was talking to the Samaritan woman and He say to her that those who worship God must worship Him in Spirit and in truth, and He's using the same word. What Jesus is saying is true worship is bowing down to and submitting to God's Spirit and God's truth. That's worship!
Worship can be expressed in singing, but the bible doesn't say singing is worship. It can be an expression of worship. That's why Jesus said you worship me with your lips, but your heart is far from me, and in vain you worship me.
So just going through a routine and being involved in certain activities that deal with music, or preaching, or prayer, or whatever, God says you can go through whatever you want to, but I see your heart, and if your heart is not in it, it's not acceptable!
Acts 10:38 - How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
There are a couple of words for "good" that we need to know. There's the word AGATHOS which is the word for spiritual good. And then the word KALOS for human good, and neither one of those words are used here!
It is the prefix "EU." He went about doing well for everybody. And here's what is described for doing good: We are doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. People who had physical health problems because they were oppressed by the devil. And He freed them from the devil and healed them.
Acts 9:26 - And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself, that is, he was continually (Imperfect Tense), he was continually trying to join himself to the disciples.
And the word "joined" is the word glue. He was continually attempting to be a permanent part of the fellowship of the disciples in Jerusalem. But they were all afraid of him, and they believed not that he was a disciple.
Acts 9:36 - Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
Secondly: Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas, which is Aramaic. And her names, both Tabitha or Dorcas mean either Gazelle or Deer.
She is called that because they picked an animal that had large, beautiful eyes. So, they named her Tabitha because of her large, beautiful eyes that means Gazelle or Deer.
So anyways, there's a disciple who belongs to Christ, and this woman was full of good works. The word "good" is Agathos which pertains not to humanitarian good, but spiritual good. And almsdeeds, which means acts of mercy, which she was doing!
Acts 9:41 - And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he called the saints and the widows, he presented her living. In the Greek text, it's a Participle. Not alive, but living, all human functions working as if they never stopped!
Acts 10:10 - And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
More literally, the Greek text says, "the trance fell on him." That is very important. The trance fell on him.
Acts 9:11 - And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight. This is Straight Street. The reason why it was called that was because it is a two-mile street, and it is about as straight as an arrow. The engineering in that town didn't have much of a problem naming that street!
Jesus goes on to say and enquire in the house of Judas (not Judas Iscariot). Judas was a common name. Enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus.
Now I want to share with you that the text never says, "Saul of Tarsus." There's no Genitive case. It is "Saul the Tarsinian." But they say Tarsus so that we know he is from the city of Tarsus. He is Saul the Tarsinian. So, enquire for one called Saul the Tarsinian: for, behold, he is praying.
Acts 9:18 - And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Here is the literal translation. And immediately there fell from his eyes as if scales. This is Dr. Luke describing it for us. It didn't say they were scales, but to him it looked like scales just falling off of his eyes. And he received sight immediately, and arose, and was baptized.
Acts 9:3 - And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
I do find some humor in this! He travelled 135 miles, mad as a hornet, saying, "I've got official paperwork to go from house to house." God doesn't save him at the beginning of the journey or the middle of the journey, but right before he goes into the city, 135 miles away.
The word "shined" (or shown), it's the word that is used for lightning, only this is lightning frozen in time. It's not a one quick flash thing like lightning. It's like it appears and just holds right over this entire contingent of people that Saul has with him. And it came from heaven.
Acts 9:5 - And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
In the Greek text, there's emphasis in both places. He says, "I myself am Jesus, and you yourself are persecuting me." You are directly persecuting me. You are responding to me in my people!
It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. The Greek word for "pricks" means both a cattle prod, and a bee sting. You can imagine a cattle prod sticking you. It was making Saul madder. What would make him so mad? I can see him being mad enough to chase the Christians out of Jerusalem. But then to say "Hey, I hear there's Christians in Damascus, 135 miles away." It's not like you can take a plane and go over there.
He gets legal papers to travel 135 miles away to go house to house and round up Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem bound. That's obsessed! The Lord says, "I myself am Jesus whom you yourself are persecuting." It's hard for you to kick against the prods.
He's telling him that that's what it's like to get stung by a bee, every time you come across a Christian, and that sting just irritates you and you just want to "rub them out!"
Q: "We are set under the shadow of the Almighty, and yet we are made a spectacle to the world. Can you elaborate on this?"
A: You have quoted St Paul, "for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." Taking into context of his times a spectacle would suggest the bread and circus where baiting a Christian was a public sport. Unto the immediate circle of kith and kin becoming a Christian was looked at some sort of madness that could not be got rid of except by a good thrashing. But what Paul is referring to his circumstance in Ac.13:2. He did not become an apostle as they could choose to reign if they wanted to without him ministering unto them. Witnessing of a Christian before the world has its secret place under the shadow of the Almighty as well as becoming lights, "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world"(Ph.2:15). Spectacle unto angels refer the great congregation.
We can understand the significance of the saying of Jesus,"Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops."( Luke 12:3). Nuclear Age was ushered in utmost secrecy. The father of the bomb, a brilliant scientist himself was not trusted, so much so it was as the right hand could not trust the left hand. Despite of all these it spread especially with the Age of internet. In the Bible we read that King of Syria could not keep his war plans either. 2 Ki.6:11) Prophet Elisha only need trust in his God that it was revealed. This brings to my trust in my Saviour King that what I have privately posted online shall be public knowledge. all glory to him. Amen.
Total sanctification in you is what Christ does in his fulness,- we received grace for grace so our perfection is how Christ has covered our shortfall. Peter may deny him but Christ our Lord sees him for fit for his service.
Q: God explains on the death of two sons of Aaron and it is plain nothing short of total sanctification will do. Am I correct?
A: Yes. "This is it that theLordspake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace." Le.10:3 God did not explain to Aaron but to Moses because he stood after the likeness of his Son.
God's will concerning for whom he called was to present his Son as their captain of salvation. It is thus the Spirit has presented the everlasting covenant under seven days. He blessed man in his Son. "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (He.2:10-11) This oneness where 'Thou-in-me, I-in-me So 'that God may be all in all' is not putting together some new on old clothes to pass for an ephod. Jesus Christ who of God has become sanctification for us. " For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren".
Strange fire signifies "divers and strange doctrines" and it is set next to the verse, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."(He.13:8-9). What is Christian nationalism or any other doctrine that displaces his fulness in a believer's heart to burn incense elsewhere whether Mar-a-Lago or before Virgin Mary? "Before all people I will be glorified"
Q: "Between breaking open the book and the number sealed, and the sounding of trumpets we have saints redeemed from the earth.This is still in the mind of God. What do they represent?"
A: You referred Re.7:1. The next verse makes clear:"And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God." The same seal with which the book was sealed calls all those who are foreknown according to his purpose. St Paul annotates it as thus,"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."(Ep.1:5). The elders also refer to it,"For thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."(4:11)
As the Lamb opens the seven seals sequentially, it is simultaneously setting the everlasting covenant in motion, so creation of heaven gathering of seas from dry land life forms are seeded with the word of God. Consequently the wind should hold still, :Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."(v.3)
The number,"an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel" is in the same sense as the whole house of Israel, in the vision of Dry bones where "these bones are the whole house of Israel" (Ez.37:11) Without being connected to Jesus Christ the word made flesh, it is meaningless.
The passage in vv.9-12 "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb;" is the conclusion of the passage beginning in ch.5:9," And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." These serves as book-ends. This is about the saints redeemed from the earth.
Galbanum is an aromatic gum resin; Stacte being either the natural exudate from the Commiphora tree.
Onycha is most likely the dried and processed secreted lids of a group of Mollusk Opercula found primarily in the Red Sea
Q: Isn't fire meant to cleanse or destroy in spiritual sense? What does 'strange' mean?
A: The Spirit applies strange to anything that man does according to his will against What God has commanded. The strange fire is evident from the context. "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not./And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. "(Le.10:1-2)
God has set his memorial which serves the Gospel preached in the worlds framed by his word. He sent his word, the sound of which anyone may hear and understand. He has sent his only begotten Son, the word become flesh, and he is the sign. He has set us an example.All these are freely given to us for what? "And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean."(10:10) Christ lives in us by faith. So we are an earthly tabernacle, and we have a reasonable service. (Ro.12:1).
St Paul asks,"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" So anyone who,"is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh." Heed the warning: "For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:/...Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell."(Pr.5:3-5) The harlot is 'strange' for a man of God who has been called to be the temple of God. So does he who follows strange and diverse doctrines than that shown to him by Christ the redeemer. " But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit."(1 Co.6:17). As many as are led by the Spirit are the children of God and not one who follows Dod some of the time and mammon all other times.
Devil's creed is what imposters follow, who simply teach once saved is forever and cuts out 'works' from faith.
Q:"On what basis are the label elders are applied to the four and twenty?
A" These four and twenty are memorial and the embodiment of the Law forever settled in the heavens. (Ps.119:89) Jesus Christ the same, yesterday and forever refers to the Son who abides forever whereas the servant cannot claim such privilege. These are elders because they witness that Jesus Christ is the firstborn from the dead while the four beasts signify that he is 'the firstborn of every creature.' They are elders in the sense the Ancient of days is the embodiment of the Law of the Spirit. The elders were chosen in the early church and the seven in number were to serve. The number Seven establish their appointment was determined in heaven by the Law, (Ac.6:3). The four and twenty elders thus were installed in heaven as the firstborn for the saints redeemed from the earth. Their worship also indicate thus connection. "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;/And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Re.5:9-10) Notice the expression, 'Hast redeemed us to God by thy blood' and what John describes in the chapter is of the trajectory of the divine Will. For this reason breaking open each seal is setting out his Will as made to appear.
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if you eject god plans of salvation, that's denying God calling you to be saved-that's blasphemy Holy Sprite. that when a person tells the Holy to leave me alone.
[ IF A PERSON SAYS I DON'T WANT TO GET SAVED NOW OR FOREVER. ] PLEASE LISTEN, God loves you so much that He sent His Son, His only begotten son for you. Think about that, God gave his son for you. to have everlasting life. God has given you the best thing He Has . [ DO NOT LET THE DEVIL HAVE YOUR LIFE] }he is a liar ]
COME LORD JESUS
One thing we know for certain is that every single person one day will stand before God. Will they have an excuse? Will God accept "I never heard?"
Romans 1:20 tells us, "For the invisible things of him (God) from the creation of the world (from the time of creation up till now), the invisible things of God, and please notice the clarity, are CLEARLY seen. So, there's no confusion! And then we see the comprehension: "being understood by the things that are made (referring to creation). Verse 20 ends by saying that "they are without excuse."
Not a single person will ever stand before God and say, "I didn't know," or "no one ever told me." Through creation, God testifies to man that there is a God. No one will have an excuse!
Psalm 19:1-4 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God. And the firmament shows His handywork. Day unto day utters speech and night unto night shows knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard." So, we know that there's no language or speech that God's creation cannot reach.
God has His testimony draped over us every night as well as the sun beating down on us during the day, and it is all a testimony. Somebody had to create that, someone so powerful that they created the entire universe. Even the psalmist says that there is a testimony in the heavens that God is using to illuminate a person's spirit and their conscience to make them consciously aware that there is a God. They might not know His name, but He's out there!
John 1:9 tells us that every person born into this world is enlightened. Again, no one will have an excuse. God's Spirit is able to reach every person that comes into this world one way or another. If never hearing about Jesus or the gospel message could be used as an excuse, and God accepts that excuse and grants salvation, wouldn't it be beneficial is no one ever heard?
Just my thoughts!
I am sure we all have thought about that, but it is hard to answer. We have a loving and just God wanting all to come to Him and be saved because He gave His only Son for the redemption of sins. Some may say no since the only way to the Father is through the Son but what about those who never had the opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus?
All of us have a conscience and the knowledge of good and evil, some get to a point of no return and God gives them over to a reprobate mind, Romans 1:28. Some go so far into evil that their conscience is seared with a hot iron, 1 Timothy 4:2, they do not know good from evil. I do not know if you have ever met someone like that, but you can see cold darkness in their eyes.
If we read Romans 1-16 it is not the hearers of the law but the doers of the law for they, have it written in their heart and their conscience bears witness. Our conscience records all we have ever done or thought. I believe this is about those who have heard the gospel and those who did not have a chance to hear it.
Many take the great white throne judgment as for the lost only, but I believe this is for those who are not in the first resurrection, Revelation 20:4-6. My understanding is the great white throne judgment goes with Daniel 12:2 John 5:28-29 Matthew 25:31-46 and Revelation 20:11-15.
As it says in Revelation 20:15 all that was not found in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. So, to me, this is all the rest of the dead Revelation 20:5 if some were not found, some are found in the Book of Life. Some who lived before Jesus first came and some after Jesus came who never heard the gospel, their conscience bearing witness, will be found in the Book of Life. As we see in John 8:9 Acts 24:16 Romans 9:1 2 Corinthians 1:12 1 Timothy 3:9 Hebrews 13:18.
This is my understanding.
God bless,
RLW
Q:"Are the four and twenty elders entrusted with the prayers of saints in the will of God?"
A: Yes they are part of the mystery of his Will so parables are one manner, by which what have been kept secret from the foundation of the worldis revealed. These elders are the memorial and witnesses to the manner God shall frame the worlds by his word. (He.11:3) Their position and their crown establish the sovereignty of the Law and of the Gospel.(4:4) The same faith of the creative God gives them foreknowledge so when the Lamb is found worthy to let the unseen world appear they "fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints."(Re.5:8) Additional clue we have from their circle about the throne."And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices." This is the Gospel which shall be preached by angel in heaven as well as on earth and lower parts. The number 24 is made up of 3x8 so the Spirit of Christ will preach gospel to the souls in prison.
The same thunderings appear as God descends mount Sinai.(Ex.19:16,18) The Spirit gives us a snapshot of heaven (lightening, thunderings voices) the earth (the mount) and lower parts is represented by the smoke "And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because theLorddescended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace. cf."and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace."(Re.9:1).
Prayers of saints redeemed from the earth are as incense.(Ex.30:23) It was made of three principal spices. Number three refers to the Son and also signify "hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;/And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."(Re.5:9-10)
Offering of Noah on the altar, "And the Lord smelled a sweet savour."(Ge.8:21) Prayer is associated with altar.
Q: Isn't the householder in the Parable of Jesus about the Son?
A: Parable itself as the Spirit introduced through the prophet refers to it. "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world."(Matt.13:35). The Word establishes Jesus Christ as the son, as the householder of whose house are we."But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end."(He.3:6)
Mysteries which have been from the worlds began, the Gospel of God Jesus made manifest in his life. He was like the householder which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. Much of these things his disciples could not first understand but the Word made flesh made them catch on,"Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord."(Matt.13:5-52). How does the Spirit teach but by principle of Association? "He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me."( Luke 10:16; Matt.10:40)
Synoptic gospels are written by men of old as taught of the Spirit. Jesus presents the doctrine of God against the backdrop of the mountain God. Sermon on the mount is how the householder sets him emblem as the stone cut not with hands. Where as in Luke we have Jesus sending the other seventy disciples and it is concerned with the everlasting gospel and the end times. Beatitudes as delivered by Jesus is set in the plains, "Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain" (Ze.4:7) This is also about the same mystery, of 'the house of my rest'. (Is.66:1) which St Matthew ans St Luke are approaching from different angles.
Q: If Ark is intended simply as a chest, the body of a believer can be called an ark. Does it not?
A: Yes if the body is born of the incorruptible Word. In Joseph's case he was anointed before the Israelites "embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt."(Ge.50:25-26). In v.25 we read that "And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence./So Joseph died." He had faith that he was created 'after our likeness' so he died in hope. "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever" is our hope since Jesus Christ the captain of our salvation has gone before us. (1 Pe.1:23) God chose Joseph before he was born and his dreams are clear indication of it, and the Spirit includes it for our edification. He was hated by his brethren without a cause as Jesus was. The Hebrew word Aron is an ark, which when associated with Egyptian funerary purposes is called Canopic jar. It is in this sense Joseph deemed his bones for his after life. Our body is a tabernacle, built without hands which liveth Jesus Christ.
"And the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant" (He.9:4). What does manna signify for a new creation? "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." ( John 4:34) The tables of the covenant is the Law as we read in the Psalm,"I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart."(Ps.40:8). Aaron's rod is our abiding life in Christ so the same power of resurrection that worked with Jesus, - in all things he might have the pre-eminence explains the ark of his testimony. "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament."(Re.11:19)
Q: Similitude sets heaven correspond to the earth. What role man play 'After our likeness' while the earth is 'after our image'?"
A: Principle of Similitude governs the actions so like begets like. 'The earth abides forever' because Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. The two worlds framed by the word of God relates the Father Son relationship. The Law of the Spirit sets 'the Word was with God' after our likeness which relates the humanity of Christ. For and example Joseph is set after our likeness' so the Ark of his testament is a heavenly pattern for Joseph after his death. Death and burial of Christ among the heathen and in the tomb intended for another carries a pattern on the earth. The Spirit as with the role of Moses set the life of Joseph 'after our likeness'. "And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor."(Josh.24:32)
The Similitude sets the worlds framed by word upon faith which is the only way one could be made after 'our likeness' To be conformed after the image Jesus Christ is set as the captain our salvation. It is what makes our volume word-based . The book of life itself corresponds to our heart. So the revelation that God through an angel to John is the testament of Jesus Christ. This explains the last verse in the Gospel of John. "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." John 21:25)
If that be so, immediately God prepared a place for the Devil and these angels, Heaven's fallen angels and the Devil. The place was called Hell. In Matthew 25:41 it says they were cast into everlasting fire "prepared for the devil and his angels." As I have said many times, if you go to Hell, you will be an intruder. Hell was not made for you. But if you do not receive Christ, you will go there, and you will burn forever. I don't care how many degrees you have; I don't care how smart you are; I don't care how rich you are; I don't care how influential you are; you will go to Hell and you will burn forever unless you have been born again. So Hell is a place made for the Devil and his angels. My precious friend, you can be a Baptist, you can be a Methodist, you can be a Presbyterian, you can be a Catholic, you can be an Episcopalian, you can be a Lutheran and all the rest of them; you can be baptized in this pool, and sprinkled in another church, and confirmed in another, and reared in another, but if you die without Jesus Christ, without being born again, the Bible says you will go to Hell and suffer in a bottomless pit.
I believe in Hell people constantly fall forever and forever. There is no bottom to Hell. It is a bottomless pit. While people are burning, BY: DR. HYLES
God bless.
Acts 10:43 - To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Two things about this verse:
The word believes is a Present Participle which means continuously believing. Secondly: the term "in him" is the most common term for believing in Christ. It is EIS AUTON, and it means "into him."
It is a word that expresses surrender, so that whosoever continually believes, and continually surrenders to Christ, will receive forgiveness of sins.
Acts 10:45 - And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The word "gift," DOREA, and there are several words for gift in the bible but there is only one word out of several that means to give you a gift, (actually give it to you), and that's this word! DOREA is always associated with the Holy Spirit. According to the New Testament, the only "gift" that has been given to the believers is the Holy Spirit.
People are told that God gives you "other things." Unfortunately, those words do not mean to give a gift. "Gifts of the Spirit" has nothing to do with giving gifts. It is the word CHARISMA. CHARIS is the word for grace. CHARISMA, with just an MA on the end of it means an expression of grace. That's what it means!
1 Corinthians Chapter12 tells us that there are many expressions of grace or gifts of the Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is the one who has the capacity for all of these expressions of grace. The unfortunate thing about teachings of "the gifts of the spirit" today is that they tell you "You have one!" A talent! There are people out there in the ministry that will teach their people how they need to use their "gifts" for God's work, combining God's "gift" with their personality, and their "God given talents." The problem with this is that it centers on us.
Acts 10:25 - And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
I'll share an important side note. The word for worship in the New Testament, PROSKUNEO, doesn't have anything to do with worship. It's literally to pay respect or homage. He was going to the extreme, but Peter says you don't have to do that. Now how does that fit into the New Testament for the believers?
I'll use John Chapter 4 as an example when Jesus was talking to the Samaritan woman and He say to her that those who worship God must worship Him in Spirit and in truth, and He's using the same word. What Jesus is saying is true worship is bowing down to and submitting to God's Spirit and God's truth. That's worship!
Worship can be expressed in singing, but the bible doesn't say singing is worship. It can be an expression of worship. That's why Jesus said you worship me with your lips, but your heart is far from me, and in vain you worship me.
So just going through a routine and being involved in certain activities that deal with music, or preaching, or prayer, or whatever, God says you can go through whatever you want to, but I see your heart, and if your heart is not in it, it's not acceptable!
Acts 10:38 - How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
There are a couple of words for "good" that we need to know. There's the word AGATHOS which is the word for spiritual good. And then the word KALOS for human good, and neither one of those words are used here!
It is the prefix "EU." He went about doing well for everybody. And here's what is described for doing good: We are doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. People who had physical health problems because they were oppressed by the devil. And He freed them from the devil and healed them.
Acts 9:26 - And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself, that is, he was continually (Imperfect Tense), he was continually trying to join himself to the disciples.
And the word "joined" is the word glue. He was continually attempting to be a permanent part of the fellowship of the disciples in Jerusalem. But they were all afraid of him, and they believed not that he was a disciple.
Acts 9:36 - Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
Secondly: Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas, which is Aramaic. And her names, both Tabitha or Dorcas mean either Gazelle or Deer.
She is called that because they picked an animal that had large, beautiful eyes. So, they named her Tabitha because of her large, beautiful eyes that means Gazelle or Deer.
So anyways, there's a disciple who belongs to Christ, and this woman was full of good works. The word "good" is Agathos which pertains not to humanitarian good, but spiritual good. And almsdeeds, which means acts of mercy, which she was doing!
Acts 9:41 - And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he called the saints and the widows, he presented her living. In the Greek text, it's a Participle. Not alive, but living, all human functions working as if they never stopped!
Acts 10:10 - And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
More literally, the Greek text says, "the trance fell on him." That is very important. The trance fell on him.
Acts 9:11 - And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight. This is Straight Street. The reason why it was called that was because it is a two-mile street, and it is about as straight as an arrow. The engineering in that town didn't have much of a problem naming that street!
Jesus goes on to say and enquire in the house of Judas (not Judas Iscariot). Judas was a common name. Enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus.
Now I want to share with you that the text never says, "Saul of Tarsus." There's no Genitive case. It is "Saul the Tarsinian." But they say Tarsus so that we know he is from the city of Tarsus. He is Saul the Tarsinian. So, enquire for one called Saul the Tarsinian: for, behold, he is praying.
Acts 9:18 - And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Here is the literal translation. And immediately there fell from his eyes as if scales. This is Dr. Luke describing it for us. It didn't say they were scales, but to him it looked like scales just falling off of his eyes. And he received sight immediately, and arose, and was baptized.
(Acts Part 21):
Acts 9:3 - And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
I do find some humor in this! He travelled 135 miles, mad as a hornet, saying, "I've got official paperwork to go from house to house." God doesn't save him at the beginning of the journey or the middle of the journey, but right before he goes into the city, 135 miles away.
The word "shined" (or shown), it's the word that is used for lightning, only this is lightning frozen in time. It's not a one quick flash thing like lightning. It's like it appears and just holds right over this entire contingent of people that Saul has with him. And it came from heaven.
Acts 9:5 - And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
In the Greek text, there's emphasis in both places. He says, "I myself am Jesus, and you yourself are persecuting me." You are directly persecuting me. You are responding to me in my people!
It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. The Greek word for "pricks" means both a cattle prod, and a bee sting. You can imagine a cattle prod sticking you. It was making Saul madder. What would make him so mad? I can see him being mad enough to chase the Christians out of Jerusalem. But then to say "Hey, I hear there's Christians in Damascus, 135 miles away." It's not like you can take a plane and go over there.
He gets legal papers to travel 135 miles away to go house to house and round up Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem bound. That's obsessed! The Lord says, "I myself am Jesus whom you yourself are persecuting." It's hard for you to kick against the prods.
He's telling him that that's what it's like to get stung by a bee, every time you come across a Christian, and that sting just irritates you and you just want to "rub them out!"
Q: "We are set under the shadow of the Almighty, and yet we are made a spectacle to the world. Can you elaborate on this?"
A: You have quoted St Paul, "for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." Taking into context of his times a spectacle would suggest the bread and circus where baiting a Christian was a public sport. Unto the immediate circle of kith and kin becoming a Christian was looked at some sort of madness that could not be got rid of except by a good thrashing. But what Paul is referring to his circumstance in Ac.13:2. He did not become an apostle as they could choose to reign if they wanted to without him ministering unto them. Witnessing of a Christian before the world has its secret place under the shadow of the Almighty as well as becoming lights, "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world"(Ph.2:15). Spectacle unto angels refer the great congregation.
We can understand the significance of the saying of Jesus,"Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops."( Luke 12:3). Nuclear Age was ushered in utmost secrecy. The father of the bomb, a brilliant scientist himself was not trusted, so much so it was as the right hand could not trust the left hand. Despite of all these it spread especially with the Age of internet. In the Bible we read that King of Syria could not keep his war plans either. 2 Ki.6:11) Prophet Elisha only need trust in his God that it was revealed. This brings to my trust in my Saviour King that what I have privately posted online shall be public knowledge. all glory to him. Amen.
Please read the line: God is in control that holds true for us and holds true for the Word outside,"
as
"God is in control that holds true for us and holds true for the world outside."