The Command number for the Word of God is four. In the kingdom of God as with Cosmos there is no center but the throne of God from which the Law of the Spirit sets every space obey the word of God, Up Down. Across the earth and lawer parts are to be reconciled in his Son.(Col.1:16-20) This ministry of Reconciliation is what the four horse men in Ch.6 signify. Heaven and mid-air we covered and the third horsemen holds a pair of balances." And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand."(6:5)
A pair of balances set the word of God. "A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight."(Pr.11:1-2) So wrath of God comes over price gouging and unfair trade practices.
"And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth."(v.8) This horseman goes to the lower parts of which we read, "and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit./And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit." We see this hell beneath the mount Sinai. Similarly the Spirit sets them beneath the unjust. The Revolt of Korah, tell of their destruction, "And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods./They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation."(Nu.16:32-33) We are not to keep company with the unjust. (Ps.1:1) God's command," And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,/ Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram."(vv.23-24)
"He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms."
When the Lamb slain breaks open the seals one after the other we see the significance of each the word gone forth from the mouth of the Lord. In the example of Moses God descended upon the mount Sinai to meet his servant face to face. "After our likeness" the Spirit set on the face, the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Decalogue is a digest of the Word and it has its appropriate signs to create terror. "Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death." (Ex.19:12) Here it produces terror befitting the nation of Israel under the law of sin. On the other hand what the Spirit delineates in Re.ch.6 is the Law of the Spirit. For example in heaven the first rider sets out conquer and conquering. "And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer."(6:2). The bow is "after our likeness" set in heaven (Ge.9:12-13) so we have the sure word of prophecy. The key verse is what spiritual war can achieve. This rider on the white horse is with regards to the war in heaven. "And there was war in heaven."(Re.12:5) In the Book of Psalms we have its conclusion, "Come, behold the works of the LORD, What desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire."(Ps.45:8-10) Now the second rider is set in the mid-air. He is a given a sword. " And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword."(6:4) Its conclusion brings us to the scene mentioned earlier. "The Word of God,"the sword out of his mouth."(19:14-16)
"LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled."
In a series of posts we shall consider what "after our likeness" would spiritually mean; "Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me."(He.10:5) After our likeness consequently explains the river of God with passes through heart; (Ps,46:4) and there is a mountain of God and the Psalmist sets the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of God after the similitude of a mountain. Moses going up the mount Sinail is an example. Here we have the face of Moses "Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face," So God descends so the Spirits set up literally face to face meeting. Who is Moses but a man after our likeness. So he is a double for Jesus Christ as a servant over his house. " And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly."(Ex.19:18). The Spirit connects this furnace, "And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace;"(Re.9:2). Compare this with Genesis account, " and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces."(Ge.15:17) Setting heart of man we have above the altar (out of the belly of a believer:) for the earth, caul and liver indicate the lower parts. When God comes down to meet Moses quaking of the mount explain(the belly). From this let us consider an example, "Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils./He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters."(Ps.18:15-16)Same arrangement as we have seen so the face in Ge.1:2 explains after a similitude the word wide web works for us (De.30:11-14)
"Brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies"
God is qualified as the Father of all mercies. God set the firmament(Ge.1:6-7), so the water above was channelled to whomsoever it wilt. "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for theLord Jehovahis my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation./Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation."(Is.12:2-3) La.3:22-23). God sanctified the firmament by giving it a face. He called it Heaven. (Ps.19:1) Heaven declares the glory which is the glorious salvation. This interfaces with the face that we represent.("Open thy mouth"). This glory of God in whatever form is revealed is the vector of both Power and Wisdom principles in the Godhead. It is the Name or holiness of God. Thus face may be expressed with regards to the knowledge. ("the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ"-2 Co.4:6) And we have another example in Moses,( like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,:-De.34:10). "In Ge.1:28 God creating man "after our image and after our likeness: serves as the lynchpin for understanding the perfect will of God. "that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God/Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."(1 Co.2:12-15)Spiritual underpinning for "After our likeness" is in terms of comparing the fulness of God in Jesus Christ on the basis of the word. So God sends a river from heaven which shall be found in the face of the heart of man. The Spirit reveals this truth in the vision of Daniel.(12:5) Daniel stands on this side across the river of time-the river Ulai looking at the Angel of the Lord. This river of God passes through every heart formed by God which is alike. It leads unto the Re.22:1.We shall continue with the next post.
another example what Timothy is saying about Faith without works. is Love without works.
in the same way,if a person tells there spouse or whatever,I love you,.then do nothing to physically show it.the words are meaningless.the words should be a result of past tense not before it happens same with Faith
does she not love for love, does she not deserve it..
3 basic steps to show Faith n love to the Holy
1st is where it starts..in the thoughts,stay away from all the nasty stuff,dont cuss foul language etc
2nd is give to someone or something in need whenever possible or however possible
3rd is Extremely Important.. Do Not Work On Sundays.
Mark 9:43-48 - And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: (Read More...)
Matthew 13:50 - And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Revelation 20:14 - And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 - Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Revelation 20:10 - And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Psalms 145:20 - The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
Matthew 5:22 - But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Hebrews 10:26-31 - For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (Read More...)
Revelation 14:11 - And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Luke 16:19-31 - There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: (Read More...)
Luke 12:5 - But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him
I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. ( John 17:9).
Presumption is a dangerous thing. This verse along with much text in the chapters comprising the book of John in particular make it quite clear there is indeed a subsection of all men that are called and chosen by God; otherwise defined as "Predestination". Having discussed this book in regard to that subject in some detail a couple years back I won't confine this posting to corner everyone into a boxing match as to the whole 5 Point Calvin idea. I will go back to what is another clear teaching from scripture that His sheep hear His voice and they bear fruit that indicates they possess true faith.
The "come as you are" motif that is commonplace in the "seeker friendly church" is at best only half right. Upon entering a true Spirit filled fellowship the John 16:8 convicting power of the Spirit should begin to affect someone; for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. God in order to save anyone must provide a change of heart and a person must repent. There is much argument these days about this statement; but if we look at the redemption concept such as with Ruth and the kinsman-redeemer we understand the transaction idea. Christ takes our sin and through the atonement forgives sins and His righteousness is transferred to us. The WORLD at large is part of a system ruled by Satan as we are all enemies of God prior to our conversion. Understanding a proper concept of what the TRUE love of God is means that men must understand in no uncertain terms that they must fall o the Rock of Christ lest they be crushed by it (See Luke 20:18). Renouncing our sin means that we turn from what we used to do and trust in Christ to change or sanctify us. It means that our love for the world; flesh and the Devil is replaced by love for Christ. Therefore the god of this world must be rejected; any turning back ensnares us once again.
As for Ecclesiastes 12:7, I understand this "spirit" to be the one given to man by God, and one which can never be annihilated. Each person is accountable to God & that person's spirit lives on, even while the body may be decaying in the ground. Man's spirit doesn't linger at the body or some other holding place, for in many instances, there is no body, but the spirit returns "unto God who gave it", for judgement.
Now, if this 'spirit' is only "the breath of life given to all living beings", then the question, is our true self simply a body without any possibility of a connection to God, but to just to age, to die & decay into the ground awaiting the resurrection? Even as the apostle stated in Romans 8:16, "The Spirit (the Holy Spirit) itself beareth witness with our spirit (our God-given spirit), that we are the children of God". If we don't have such a (human) spirit within us, how does the Holy Spirit indwell us, commune with us, assure us, teach us & admonish us? As even Ecclesiastes 3:20,21 reads, "All (man & beast) go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" Both will die, but the spirit of the animal (not accountable to God) goes to the Earth while the spirit of man, who is made in the Image of God & accountable to God, returns back to Him. Blessings.
Hi Ronald. Thank you for those thoughts concerning this passage of Scripture. You asked whether the Luke 16:19-31 account was literal or simply a parable. I have tried to recall the many instances of Jesus' parables given us in the Gospels, & I find that in all of them, His parables are as you said, just "a simple story to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson". So, even the Luke 16 account also fits that particular description: of a story with a lesson to be learned.
However, why I believe that this account does not entirely fit the description of a parable, is because Jesus is sharing very specifically of what takes place in the afterlife between certain people in a specified place. Apart from maybe Luke 10:30-37 (The Good Samaritan parable), where places are named (i.e. "from Jerusalem to Jericho"), I don't recall Jesus ever indicating where the events in His parables took place (e.g. concerning the lost coin, the sower in the field, ten virgins, the prodigal son, et al). And probably more importantly, in His parables, He never uses the names of people, as He did in Luke 16 (though the rich man's name was not given). Had he done so in any of His parables, His audience (specifically the religious leaders), could well have a good argument against Him as being a liar & a deceiver.
But here in Luke 16, Jesus takes the bold step to name the place (Hades), and the names of Lazarus & Abraham, something He correctly avoided in His other parables, which were, as you stated, just simple stories. Here, Jesus is giving sinners a glimpse into the afterlife (as pertaining to that point in time, pre-crucifixion/resurrection). I know nothing of Plato except what the Bible states & teaches, & to me, this place in Hades was certainly not a time & place of purification (purgatory), but of judgement, probably with those in-waiting for their judgement post-crucifixion. Onto Page 2.
Just some thoughts and questions we may study for understanding.
Jesus is speaking to, His disciples, publicans, and others but mainly to the Pharisees and scribes we see in Luke 16:14 that the Pharisees derided Him, they were ridiculing Him for what He said in Luke 16:1-18. In the context of Luke 16, the lesson was for the Pharisees and scribes about stewardship, love of riches, adultery, and no servant can serve two masters. The Pharisees were covetous, they flaunted their wealth and the seat of authority they had.
Is the same context continuing in Luke 16:19-31? Is this a literal story that happened to these two actual people? Is this a parable? The general definition of a parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus many times in the Gospels.
The rich man and Lazarus had bodies and were both fully aware of their surroundings. Does Scripture support this? What lesson can we learn from Jesus's story here? Do we miss what is in Luke 16:31? Is this about Lazarus or is Jesus telling them they still will not be persuaded after He is resurrected?
Do we receive our rewards before or after we are judged? When are we judged, is it as soon as we die or after Jesus returns and we are resurrected? What is this great chasm, is it real and people can talk back and forth, or is it because of the hardness and unbelief of their heart after death that the way of repentance and salvation is unpassable?
Some believe in purgatory, is this not a revision of celestial Hades from the writings of Plato? Is this what we see here in Luke 16 the dead go to heaven or hell? Does Scripture support that? Ecclesiastes 12:7 is this for all that has lived, saints and the lost, or just the saints? What is this spirit that goes back to God? Is it us, who we are, or is it the breath of life given to all living beings?
Sunday School book COGIC 9/15/24 Jeremiah 32:2-9,14-15 My reverence : 1 Corinthians 15:3-4- I worship a God of Signs, A God that is a Redeemer,God of prophecy,God of inheritance,God of salvation, God that help us& care for others, restore relationships.
RED APPLE TREATY 4 ME ONLY - In Reply - 5 months ago
Line 8-11 My Respond: I believe fruit can also allow growth and to bear.
God's confirming his covenant & to be God's son and in growth. Galatians 3:17 KJV
Though we have an important role to play, even our determination to flourish with fruit of the Spirit is evidence of God's grace.
Eveidence- Hebrews 11:1 KJV
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Myself trusting God and having faith has blessed me with evidence to receive (fruit of the Spirit)
Ways you can have faith is by reading your Holy Bible, prayer, attending church, involved in ministry, volunteering.
The Holy Spirit is the one who stimulates our desire to grow in Christ. Growth is gracious. My interpetation is God's grace Matthew 3:2 KJV, Ephesians 2:8 KJV
Trust that growth will happen, and when it does, thank Jesus for the fruit produced by his appointment.
Producing fruit John 15:7-8 KJV
Elder Graves Quoted Motivations for Christian Excellence
4. Excellence is a Witness to Others:
Line 5-8 My Respond: Having faith on Jesus death,burial and resurrection1 Corinthians 15:3-4 has blessed me and with integrity and Fairness.
Elder Graves Quoted Examples of Biblical Excellence
I like your scripture on Daniel and the Three Hebrew Boys:
My Respond:Daniel giving God credit, reference, Glory that is due.
Elder Graves Quoted 2.Define What Excellence Means to You:
My Respond:
Myself practicing these helps me show myself approved.
Elder Graves Quoted 3.Develop Habits of Diligence and Discipline:
My repsond:
Yes it prepared me in career, ministry, amd personal life.
My interpetation and Word spoken by Redappletreaty4meonly
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." My interpetation: No mean time, cannot work or be done (not of God)
Elder Graves Quoted in Paragraph 1: Line 10-13 , Paragraph 2:Line 1-5
My interpetation:
Coming out of the law in truth meaning victory. 1 Corinthians 15:55 KJV
Elder Graves Quoted Paragraph 3 Line 8-14
My Respond: has blessed me with the opportunity that I have used my gifts to serve other writing comments of my ministry on Elder Graves blog website being displayed.
Colossians 3:17 KJV
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Proverbs 22:29 KJV
My interpetation:
Blessed my hands to see God, work, accomplish for me, and prosper. ( Mark 10:43-44, Nehemiah 2:18, Genesis 39:3,6
Genesis 41:43 )
Genesis 41:43 KJV
Elder Graves Defining Excellence Paragraph 2 Line 6-10
My Respond: I have honored God in Fairness and integrity in serving others working hands on and promoting the intellectual, ethical, cultural, emotional, and physical growth of each student.
According to California Department of Education supports high - quality educational programs for California diverse student population through its educational leadership role and places great importance on cultivating a diverse staff that understands and promotes the intellectual, ethical, cultural, emotional, and physical growth of each student.
Elder Graves Quoted Motivations for Christian Excellence
1. God and Jesus are Excellent:
My Respond: As a follower of Christ reflecting his excellence these are my supporting scripture texts Hebrews 12:2 KJV, Hebrews 4:15-16 KJV
Elder Graves Quoted Motivations for Christian Excellence
Leaving the worlds framed by the word we shall examine the world made to appear, where the earthly tabernacle tells of a vile body formed out of dust of the ground. The glorious tabernacle "we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" forms what is unseen. (2 Co.5:1) Jesus refers to the face where these two worlds interface. "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."( John 7:38) The vision of Isaiah illustrates this temple."Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar." (Is.6:6). In the vision it evokes the vision of John and the altar of soul was placed on the sea of glass. " I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held."(Re.6:9)
The face between the heart and the belly is one. Seraphim guards this by their wings as with their two pairs they guard above and below. "The seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly."(6:2)
As mentioned earlier each face is established where a believer may fly to the heavenly places as well as guard their walk. "How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word."(Ps.119:9-10) "Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it." (Ps.81:10). Israel would have none of it. They shut out their ear of faith lest they should be converted. The liver and caul were to be burnt. "And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul that is above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar."(Ex.29:13) Our living sacrifice covers all the worldly appetites that war against our soul.
Thirdly a life of separation."Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood,"(He.13:12-15)
"Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away."
The entire action of casting the net, drawing to shore takes place in heaven. Where would they sat down? The Spirit sets the Noah's Ark to lead the way." And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat." In the case Noah face of the ground was yet to be dry."And, behold, the face of the ground was dry.(Ge.8:4.13)
The Spirit establishes the mid-air so when God commands Noah and his family to possess the new earth, he is 'after our likeness' a forerunner of Jesus Christ.
This v.50 refers to Re.20:14-15."And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
In between what happens is in the mid-air including the Millennial Reign. "and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years./But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection./Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection."(Re.20:4-6)
" Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord."(v.51)
The question Jesus asks in v.51 tells us that there is much more than what a plain reading tells us. Previous parables required him to explain their significance. They were the scribes mentioned in v.52 and part of the household of God. "Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old."
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:/Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
The shore is the face between the waters and heaven. It is in this sense we have this verse: "And darkness was upon the face of the deep/ And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Between the deep and the heaven there is a face; so is the face between heaven and the waters." Let us define first what the Spirit means by the face. It is the point of contact between God and his kingdom. In case of man we find similarly a face. "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." God sets a face in the heart, a spiritual space as He would give his own kingdom. By word of God the worlds were framed so the face is where ever the world is made to appear. Faith in the Word made flesh so we may say," no place in the kingdom can escape from having a face. (Col.1:16-17) The Spirit moving upon the face of the waters has decidedly a purpose, is it not? It is to give the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God, so the fulness of God in the face of Jesus may be known. As man looking at the natural face, but when one has faith with works it is growing from glory to glory.(2 Co.3:18)
The foundations, pillars and beams we came across lately refers to the net, word-wide web.
"So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just," (v.49) The wicked are separated from the just. " And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal."(Matt.25:46)
"And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."(v.50)
You can only get security in this life from God . To get it you need to have the strongest foundation , which is , His Word . You must read your Bible every day and you must acknowledge God in prayer through Christ . 1st John chapter 4 . This is just one chapter amongst many hundreds that will help you to be strong and confident in your faith and in your understanding of what exactly the Gospel is and what it means to you in your daily life . Build your faith on a sure foundation , the Bible . The Living Word of The Everlasting God Almighty .
The Law did not work with the nation did not work 'because their deeds were evil.' "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil./For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."
The points we have two parallel worlds where this world of changes to which the sun, the moon and the stars are lights while the two great lights "And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness."(Ge.1:18)
With these two worlds each having two distinct signs "the outer darkness' explain the nations,- the heathen that war against the mind of Christ.
New heaven and the new earth we have Zion and New Jerusalem in mid air, the light of the Lamb explains the holy city of God. "There shall be no night there. On the other hand the saved nations walk under the light of the Lamb. The outer darkness left behind on the earth explains them. (Re.21:24)
"8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
What is darkness? It is the absence of the light and we are here discussing it in spiritual terms. The natural light from the sun, moon and the stars belong to the world made to appear by the word of God. We shall keep this part aside while we discuss the unseen aspects of his Will. Darkness explains the state where the light of knowledge arising from the word is zero. It is a condition but not permanent. According to the word of God the Spirit moving upon the face of the waters separates one state from the other. God commanded and there was light. Just as He named it Day, he names the darkness, as Night.(vv.4-5). So in terms of light and darkness both are both alike to him. (Ps.139:12) So it is a matter of first and the last in theological term Matt.20:16. This quote is to be understood in this sense, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee."(Is.60:1)
Th word of God however spoken is beyond recall. The sign for the earthly ministry of Jesus was made manifest, for God made it known. "The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up./From that time Jesus began to preach."(Matt.4:16-17;Ro.1:19-20). How did the nation of Israel respond to it? When in that awful night Jesus was seized for a malefactor Jesus put the finger on the spot,"When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness."( Luke 22:53). Literally in the cover of darkness they went about without a fair trial to judge him. The power of darkness stamped them as sons of perdition. John's Gospel sums it up, " In him was life; and the life was the light of men./And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."( John 1:4-5). The nation had the Law of Moses but that did not work with them. ( John 3:19-20)
What is the sign? " Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. God showing it to the creature is the sign and it is faith, 'the pure speech' between two worlds (He.11:3) Zephaniah refers to it, "For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent."(Ze.3:9). It is also manifest that they do it naturally. Why do an amoeba shrink when an electrode is introduced to it? It senses pain and the responses are involuntary. Mind of God is manifest in them. So the duality of body-mind so crucial to the Western school of thought is incorrect. Each of our cells contains dozens of mitochondria tiny factories to extract energy in convenient form from the food that we eat. These mitochondria were free organisms billions of years ago but have cast their lot with the cell. Even when many-celled organisms arose this relationship continued because of the perceived advantage. Mind of God inherent in his creation is manifest in them. Mind and matter as with the word,- sound as well as the sign exist as one.
"Doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it?" The work of God in creating a man is word-based. "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."( John 6:29) The only way is by faith in Christ Jesus. God formed all hearts alike and when he breathed into the nostrils of man he became a living soul. All things being equal how come some fail to understand the mind of God? Without putting on Christ it is impossible. "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." Christ who of God has become wisdom and it the spirit of Christ that enables us to compare "spiritual things with spiritual".The Scripture has been a template where whosoever submitted himself as Christ did to fulfil the will of his Father has the wherewithal to be conformed in the image of his Son. Instead the imposter churches interpreting the Bible literally makes a case for Israel and undermining the deity of Jesus Christ. " For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." (Col.1:19) Consider for example the sign Isaiah gave with regards to his birth. "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." The sign establishes the word and 'behold' as a word gives us a clue to the mind of God. Human intellect twists itself into knots to explain as to how because what is spiritually established foolish would explain with reason. He cannot explain what mind is precisely but yet try he would. In order to understand it correctly it is to the sign we need pay attention. "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead." (Ro.1:20) What is the sign? " Because that which may be known of God"
"If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
Ignorance is not an excuse. Before the law or the court of law it is inadmissible. Man's works are judged by God whose work has ever been on the basis of his word. He framed the worlds by word of his mouth which is so pervasive that depths of his kingdom is well aware,"Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment." So is with the face, "Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment."(Ps.104:6,2). The Spirit as a preface to the everlasting covenant gives us a vivid imagery of the Spirit moving upon the face of the waters."And darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." As a brooding hen to which Jesus refers,"Even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"The waters refer to 'all people, nations, and languages,' (Ge.1:2;Matt.23:37;Dan.7:14) The word cast forth by God has set up a word wide web and it works. Jesus said, "My Father works hitherto ,and I work." So there is no excuse for man to plead ignorance.
Secondly the word has been tailor-made for every man. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all" established the basic template,- word wide web on which he may be made to conform in the image of his Son. This is requisite for the intent of the covenant, the Fellowship of God with Man to work best for every man. The Spirit gives us several instances. With Ezekiel he was to eat the roll,"So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll."(Ez.3:2). With Moses he assured his presence,"and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say."(Ex.4:12). The written word is our manna, when we live accordingly it is faith works, "but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord."(De.8:3)
I think that might be Mahershalalhashbaz ( Isaiah 8:1-3): the second son of Isaiah. And according to my Bible, this name means, 'speeds booty, hastens spoil', or better understood as 'quick pickings, easy prey'.
Great advice ! The Gospel of John is a very spiritual account , John is the eagle of the four faces of the cherubim in Ezekiel . I'm glad you understand the importance of the old testament , it illuminates the new and the new illuminates the old . They are like the sun and the moon , both give us light !
The Command number for the Word of God is four. In the kingdom of God as with Cosmos there is no center but the throne of God from which the Law of the Spirit sets every space obey the word of God, Up Down. Across the earth and lawer parts are to be reconciled in his Son.(Col.1:16-20) This ministry of Reconciliation is what the four horse men in Ch.6 signify. Heaven and mid-air we covered and the third horsemen holds a pair of balances." And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand."(6:5)
A pair of balances set the word of God. "A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight."(Pr.11:1-2) So wrath of God comes over price gouging and unfair trade practices.
"And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth."(v.8) This horseman goes to the lower parts of which we read, "and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit./And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit." We see this hell beneath the mount Sinai. Similarly the Spirit sets them beneath the unjust. The Revolt of Korah, tell of their destruction, "And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods./They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation."(Nu.16:32-33) We are not to keep company with the unjust. (Ps.1:1) God's command," And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,/ Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram."(vv.23-24)
"He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms."
When the Lamb slain breaks open the seals one after the other we see the significance of each the word gone forth from the mouth of the Lord. In the example of Moses God descended upon the mount Sinai to meet his servant face to face. "After our likeness" the Spirit set on the face, the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Decalogue is a digest of the Word and it has its appropriate signs to create terror. "Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death." (Ex.19:12) Here it produces terror befitting the nation of Israel under the law of sin. On the other hand what the Spirit delineates in Re.ch.6 is the Law of the Spirit. For example in heaven the first rider sets out conquer and conquering. "And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer."(6:2). The bow is "after our likeness" set in heaven (Ge.9:12-13) so we have the sure word of prophecy. The key verse is what spiritual war can achieve. This rider on the white horse is with regards to the war in heaven. "And there was war in heaven."(Re.12:5) In the Book of Psalms we have its conclusion, "Come, behold the works of the LORD, What desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire."(Ps.45:8-10) Now the second rider is set in the mid-air. He is a given a sword. " And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword."(6:4) Its conclusion brings us to the scene mentioned earlier. "The Word of God,"the sword out of his mouth."(19:14-16)
"LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled."
In a series of posts we shall consider what "after our likeness" would spiritually mean; "Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me."(He.10:5) After our likeness consequently explains the river of God with passes through heart; (Ps,46:4) and there is a mountain of God and the Psalmist sets the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of God after the similitude of a mountain. Moses going up the mount Sinail is an example. Here we have the face of Moses "Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face," So God descends so the Spirits set up literally face to face meeting. Who is Moses but a man after our likeness. So he is a double for Jesus Christ as a servant over his house. " And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly."(Ex.19:18). The Spirit connects this furnace, "And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace;"(Re.9:2). Compare this with Genesis account, " and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces."(Ge.15:17) Setting heart of man we have above the altar (out of the belly of a believer:) for the earth, caul and liver indicate the lower parts. When God comes down to meet Moses quaking of the mount explain(the belly). From this let us consider an example, "Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils./He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters."(Ps.18:15-16)Same arrangement as we have seen so the face in Ge.1:2 explains after a similitude the word wide web works for us (De.30:11-14)
"Brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies"
God is qualified as the Father of all mercies. God set the firmament(Ge.1:6-7), so the water above was channelled to whomsoever it wilt. "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for theLord Jehovahis my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation./Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation."(Is.12:2-3) La.3:22-23). God sanctified the firmament by giving it a face. He called it Heaven. (Ps.19:1) Heaven declares the glory which is the glorious salvation. This interfaces with the face that we represent.("Open thy mouth"). This glory of God in whatever form is revealed is the vector of both Power and Wisdom principles in the Godhead. It is the Name or holiness of God. Thus face may be expressed with regards to the knowledge. ("the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ"-2 Co.4:6) And we have another example in Moses,( like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,:-De.34:10). "In Ge.1:28 God creating man "after our image and after our likeness: serves as the lynchpin for understanding the perfect will of God. "that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God/Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."(1 Co.2:12-15)Spiritual underpinning for "After our likeness" is in terms of comparing the fulness of God in Jesus Christ on the basis of the word. So God sends a river from heaven which shall be found in the face of the heart of man. The Spirit reveals this truth in the vision of Daniel.(12:5) Daniel stands on this side across the river of time-the river Ulai looking at the Angel of the Lord. This river of God passes through every heart formed by God which is alike. It leads unto the Re.22:1.We shall continue with the next post.
in the same way,if a person tells there spouse or whatever,I love you,.then do nothing to physically show it.the words are meaningless.the words should be a result of past tense not before it happens same with Faith
does she not love for love, does she not deserve it..
3 basic steps to show Faith n love to the Holy
1st is where it starts..in the thoughts,stay away from all the nasty stuff,dont cuss foul language etc
2nd is give to someone or something in need whenever possible or however possible
3rd is Extremely Important.. Do Not Work On Sundays.
that means no lawn care or any personal gain
It is the Lords Day
Matthew 13:50 - And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Revelation 20:14 - And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 - Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Revelation 20:10 - And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Psalms 145:20 - The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
Matthew 5:22 - But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Hebrews 10:26-31 - For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (Read More...)
Revelation 14:11 - And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Luke 16:19-31 - There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: (Read More...)
Luke 12:5 - But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him
COME LORD JESUS
Presumption is a dangerous thing. This verse along with much text in the chapters comprising the book of John in particular make it quite clear there is indeed a subsection of all men that are called and chosen by God; otherwise defined as "Predestination". Having discussed this book in regard to that subject in some detail a couple years back I won't confine this posting to corner everyone into a boxing match as to the whole 5 Point Calvin idea. I will go back to what is another clear teaching from scripture that His sheep hear His voice and they bear fruit that indicates they possess true faith.
The "come as you are" motif that is commonplace in the "seeker friendly church" is at best only half right. Upon entering a true Spirit filled fellowship the John 16:8 convicting power of the Spirit should begin to affect someone; for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. God in order to save anyone must provide a change of heart and a person must repent. There is much argument these days about this statement; but if we look at the redemption concept such as with Ruth and the kinsman-redeemer we understand the transaction idea. Christ takes our sin and through the atonement forgives sins and His righteousness is transferred to us. The WORLD at large is part of a system ruled by Satan as we are all enemies of God prior to our conversion. Understanding a proper concept of what the TRUE love of God is means that men must understand in no uncertain terms that they must fall o the Rock of Christ lest they be crushed by it (See Luke 20:18). Renouncing our sin means that we turn from what we used to do and trust in Christ to change or sanctify us. It means that our love for the world; flesh and the Devil is replaced by love for Christ. Therefore the god of this world must be rejected; any turning back ensnares us once again.
As for Ecclesiastes 12:7, I understand this "spirit" to be the one given to man by God, and one which can never be annihilated. Each person is accountable to God & that person's spirit lives on, even while the body may be decaying in the ground. Man's spirit doesn't linger at the body or some other holding place, for in many instances, there is no body, but the spirit returns "unto God who gave it", for judgement.
Now, if this 'spirit' is only "the breath of life given to all living beings", then the question, is our true self simply a body without any possibility of a connection to God, but to just to age, to die & decay into the ground awaiting the resurrection? Even as the apostle stated in Romans 8:16, "The Spirit (the Holy Spirit) itself beareth witness with our spirit (our God-given spirit), that we are the children of God". If we don't have such a (human) spirit within us, how does the Holy Spirit indwell us, commune with us, assure us, teach us & admonish us? As even Ecclesiastes 3:20,21 reads, "All (man & beast) go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" Both will die, but the spirit of the animal (not accountable to God) goes to the Earth while the spirit of man, who is made in the Image of God & accountable to God, returns back to Him. Blessings.
Hi Ronald. Thank you for those thoughts concerning this passage of Scripture. You asked whether the Luke 16:19-31 account was literal or simply a parable. I have tried to recall the many instances of Jesus' parables given us in the Gospels, & I find that in all of them, His parables are as you said, just "a simple story to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson". So, even the Luke 16 account also fits that particular description: of a story with a lesson to be learned.
However, why I believe that this account does not entirely fit the description of a parable, is because Jesus is sharing very specifically of what takes place in the afterlife between certain people in a specified place. Apart from maybe Luke 10:30-37 (The Good Samaritan parable), where places are named (i.e. "from Jerusalem to Jericho"), I don't recall Jesus ever indicating where the events in His parables took place (e.g. concerning the lost coin, the sower in the field, ten virgins, the prodigal son, et al). And probably more importantly, in His parables, He never uses the names of people, as He did in Luke 16 (though the rich man's name was not given). Had he done so in any of His parables, His audience (specifically the religious leaders), could well have a good argument against Him as being a liar & a deceiver.
But here in Luke 16, Jesus takes the bold step to name the place (Hades), and the names of Lazarus & Abraham, something He correctly avoided in His other parables, which were, as you stated, just simple stories. Here, Jesus is giving sinners a glimpse into the afterlife (as pertaining to that point in time, pre-crucifixion/resurrection). I know nothing of Plato except what the Bible states & teaches, & to me, this place in Hades was certainly not a time & place of purification (purgatory), but of judgement, probably with those in-waiting for their judgement post-crucifixion. Onto Page 2.
Just some thoughts and questions we may study for understanding.
Jesus is speaking to, His disciples, publicans, and others but mainly to the Pharisees and scribes we see in Luke 16:14 that the Pharisees derided Him, they were ridiculing Him for what He said in Luke 16:1-18. In the context of Luke 16, the lesson was for the Pharisees and scribes about stewardship, love of riches, adultery, and no servant can serve two masters. The Pharisees were covetous, they flaunted their wealth and the seat of authority they had.
Is the same context continuing in Luke 16:19-31? Is this a literal story that happened to these two actual people? Is this a parable? The general definition of a parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus many times in the Gospels.
The rich man and Lazarus had bodies and were both fully aware of their surroundings. Does Scripture support this? What lesson can we learn from Jesus's story here? Do we miss what is in Luke 16:31? Is this about Lazarus or is Jesus telling them they still will not be persuaded after He is resurrected?
Do we receive our rewards before or after we are judged? When are we judged, is it as soon as we die or after Jesus returns and we are resurrected? What is this great chasm, is it real and people can talk back and forth, or is it because of the hardness and unbelief of their heart after death that the way of repentance and salvation is unpassable?
Some believe in purgatory, is this not a revision of celestial Hades from the writings of Plato? Is this what we see here in Luke 16 the dead go to heaven or hell? Does Scripture support that? Ecclesiastes 12:7 is this for all that has lived, saints and the lost, or just the saints? What is this spirit that goes back to God? Is it us, who we are, or is it the breath of life given to all living beings?
God bless,
RLW
God's confirming his covenant & to be God's son and in growth. Galatians 3:17 KJV
Though we have an important role to play, even our determination to flourish with fruit of the Spirit is evidence of God's grace.
Eveidence- Hebrews 11:1 KJV
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Myself trusting God and having faith has blessed me with evidence to receive (fruit of the Spirit)
Ways you can have faith is by reading your Holy Bible, prayer, attending church, involved in ministry, volunteering.
The Holy Spirit is the one who stimulates our desire to grow in Christ. Growth is gracious. My interpetation is God's grace Matthew 3:2 KJV, Ephesians 2:8 KJV
Trust that growth will happen, and when it does, thank Jesus for the fruit produced by his appointment.
Producing fruit John 15:7-8 KJV
Elder Graves Quoted Motivations for Christian Excellence
4. Excellence is a Witness to Others:
Line 5-8 My Respond: Having faith on Jesus death,burial and resurrection1 Corinthians 15:3-4 has blessed me and with integrity and Fairness.
Elder Graves Quoted Examples of Biblical Excellence
I like your scripture on Daniel and the Three Hebrew Boys:
My Respond:Daniel giving God credit, reference, Glory that is due.
Elder Graves Quoted 2.Define What Excellence Means to You:
My Respond:
Myself practicing these helps me show myself approved.
Elder Graves Quoted 3.Develop Habits of Diligence and Discipline:
My repsond:
Yes it prepared me in career, ministry, amd personal life.
My interpetation and Word spoken by Redappletreaty4meonly
West Angeles Church Cogic Cathedral member
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." My interpetation: No mean time, cannot work or be done (not of God)
Elder Graves Quoted in Paragraph 1: Line 10-13 , Paragraph 2:Line 1-5
My interpetation:
Coming out of the law in truth meaning victory. 1 Corinthians 15:55 KJV
Elder Graves Quoted Paragraph 3 Line 8-14
My Respond: has blessed me with the opportunity that I have used my gifts to serve other writing comments of my ministry on Elder Graves blog website being displayed.
Colossians 3:17 KJV
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Proverbs 22:29 KJV
My interpetation:
Blessed my hands to see God, work, accomplish for me, and prosper. ( Mark 10:43-44, Nehemiah 2:18, Genesis 39:3,6
Genesis 41:43 )
Genesis 41:43 KJV
Elder Graves Defining Excellence Paragraph 2 Line 6-10
My Respond: I have honored God in Fairness and integrity in serving others working hands on and promoting the intellectual, ethical, cultural, emotional, and physical growth of each student.
According to California Department of Education supports high - quality educational programs for California diverse student population through its educational leadership role and places great importance on cultivating a diverse staff that understands and promotes the intellectual, ethical, cultural, emotional, and physical growth of each student.
Elder Graves Quoted Motivations for Christian Excellence
1. God and Jesus are Excellent:
My Respond: As a follower of Christ reflecting his excellence these are my supporting scripture texts Hebrews 12:2 KJV, Hebrews 4:15-16 KJV
Elder Graves Quoted Motivations for Christian Excellence
3. Excellence Encourages Growth:
I Peter 4:10 KJV Allows you listen to God.
Line 8-11 My Respond: I believe fruit can a
Leaving the worlds framed by the word we shall examine the world made to appear, where the earthly tabernacle tells of a vile body formed out of dust of the ground. The glorious tabernacle "we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" forms what is unseen. (2 Co.5:1) Jesus refers to the face where these two worlds interface. "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."( John 7:38) The vision of Isaiah illustrates this temple."Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar." (Is.6:6). In the vision it evokes the vision of John and the altar of soul was placed on the sea of glass. " I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held."(Re.6:9)
The face between the heart and the belly is one. Seraphim guards this by their wings as with their two pairs they guard above and below. "The seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly."(6:2)
As mentioned earlier each face is established where a believer may fly to the heavenly places as well as guard their walk. "How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word."(Ps.119:9-10) "Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it." (Ps.81:10). Israel would have none of it. They shut out their ear of faith lest they should be converted. The liver and caul were to be burnt. "And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul that is above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar."(Ex.29:13) Our living sacrifice covers all the worldly appetites that war against our soul.
Thirdly a life of separation."Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood,"(He.13:12-15)
"Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away."
The entire action of casting the net, drawing to shore takes place in heaven. Where would they sat down? The Spirit sets the Noah's Ark to lead the way." And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat." In the case Noah face of the ground was yet to be dry."And, behold, the face of the ground was dry.(Ge.8:4.13)
The Spirit establishes the mid-air so when God commands Noah and his family to possess the new earth, he is 'after our likeness' a forerunner of Jesus Christ.
This v.50 refers to Re.20:14-15."And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
In between what happens is in the mid-air including the Millennial Reign. "and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years./But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection./Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection."(Re.20:4-6)
" Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord."(v.51)
The question Jesus asks in v.51 tells us that there is much more than what a plain reading tells us. Previous parables required him to explain their significance. They were the scribes mentioned in v.52 and part of the household of God. "Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old."
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:/Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
The shore is the face between the waters and heaven. It is in this sense we have this verse: "And darkness was upon the face of the deep/ And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Between the deep and the heaven there is a face; so is the face between heaven and the waters." Let us define first what the Spirit means by the face. It is the point of contact between God and his kingdom. In case of man we find similarly a face. "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." God sets a face in the heart, a spiritual space as He would give his own kingdom. By word of God the worlds were framed so the face is where ever the world is made to appear. Faith in the Word made flesh so we may say," no place in the kingdom can escape from having a face. (Col.1:16-17) The Spirit moving upon the face of the waters has decidedly a purpose, is it not? It is to give the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God, so the fulness of God in the face of Jesus may be known. As man looking at the natural face, but when one has faith with works it is growing from glory to glory.(2 Co.3:18)
The foundations, pillars and beams we came across lately refers to the net, word-wide web.
"So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just," (v.49) The wicked are separated from the just. " And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal."(Matt.25:46)
"And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."(v.50)
Thank you again for calling us to prayer for your family and the several other requests mentioned. I will keep praying for these and yours.
The Law did not work with the nation did not work 'because their deeds were evil.' "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil./For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."
The points we have two parallel worlds where this world of changes to which the sun, the moon and the stars are lights while the two great lights "And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness."(Ge.1:18)
With these two worlds each having two distinct signs "the outer darkness' explain the nations,- the heathen that war against the mind of Christ.
New heaven and the new earth we have Zion and New Jerusalem in mid air, the light of the Lamb explains the holy city of God. "There shall be no night there. On the other hand the saved nations walk under the light of the Lamb. The outer darkness left behind on the earth explains them. (Re.21:24)
"8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
"Darkness was upon the deep"
What is darkness? It is the absence of the light and we are here discussing it in spiritual terms. The natural light from the sun, moon and the stars belong to the world made to appear by the word of God. We shall keep this part aside while we discuss the unseen aspects of his Will. Darkness explains the state where the light of knowledge arising from the word is zero. It is a condition but not permanent. According to the word of God the Spirit moving upon the face of the waters separates one state from the other. God commanded and there was light. Just as He named it Day, he names the darkness, as Night.(vv.4-5). So in terms of light and darkness both are both alike to him. (Ps.139:12) So it is a matter of first and the last in theological term Matt.20:16. This quote is to be understood in this sense, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee."(Is.60:1)
Th word of God however spoken is beyond recall. The sign for the earthly ministry of Jesus was made manifest, for God made it known. "The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up./From that time Jesus began to preach."(Matt.4:16-17;Ro.1:19-20). How did the nation of Israel respond to it? When in that awful night Jesus was seized for a malefactor Jesus put the finger on the spot,"When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness."( Luke 22:53). Literally in the cover of darkness they went about without a fair trial to judge him. The power of darkness stamped them as sons of perdition. John's Gospel sums it up, " In him was life; and the life was the light of men./And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."( John 1:4-5). The nation had the Law of Moses but that did not work with them. ( John 3:19-20)
What is the sign? " Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. God showing it to the creature is the sign and it is faith, 'the pure speech' between two worlds (He.11:3) Zephaniah refers to it, "For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent."(Ze.3:9). It is also manifest that they do it naturally. Why do an amoeba shrink when an electrode is introduced to it? It senses pain and the responses are involuntary. Mind of God is manifest in them. So the duality of body-mind so crucial to the Western school of thought is incorrect. Each of our cells contains dozens of mitochondria tiny factories to extract energy in convenient form from the food that we eat. These mitochondria were free organisms billions of years ago but have cast their lot with the cell. Even when many-celled organisms arose this relationship continued because of the perceived advantage. Mind of God inherent in his creation is manifest in them. Mind and matter as with the word,- sound as well as the sign exist as one.
"Doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it?" The work of God in creating a man is word-based. "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."( John 6:29) The only way is by faith in Christ Jesus. God formed all hearts alike and when he breathed into the nostrils of man he became a living soul. All things being equal how come some fail to understand the mind of God? Without putting on Christ it is impossible. "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." Christ who of God has become wisdom and it the spirit of Christ that enables us to compare "spiritual things with spiritual".The Scripture has been a template where whosoever submitted himself as Christ did to fulfil the will of his Father has the wherewithal to be conformed in the image of his Son. Instead the imposter churches interpreting the Bible literally makes a case for Israel and undermining the deity of Jesus Christ. " For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." (Col.1:19) Consider for example the sign Isaiah gave with regards to his birth. "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." The sign establishes the word and 'behold' as a word gives us a clue to the mind of God. Human intellect twists itself into knots to explain as to how because what is spiritually established foolish would explain with reason. He cannot explain what mind is precisely but yet try he would. In order to understand it correctly it is to the sign we need pay attention. "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead." (Ro.1:20) What is the sign? " Because that which may be known of God"
"If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
Ignorance is not an excuse. Before the law or the court of law it is inadmissible. Man's works are judged by God whose work has ever been on the basis of his word. He framed the worlds by word of his mouth which is so pervasive that depths of his kingdom is well aware,"Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment." So is with the face, "Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment."(Ps.104:6,2). The Spirit as a preface to the everlasting covenant gives us a vivid imagery of the Spirit moving upon the face of the waters."And darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." As a brooding hen to which Jesus refers,"Even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"The waters refer to 'all people, nations, and languages,' (Ge.1:2;Matt.23:37;Dan.7:14) The word cast forth by God has set up a word wide web and it works. Jesus said, "My Father works hitherto ,and I work." So there is no excuse for man to plead ignorance.
Secondly the word has been tailor-made for every man. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all" established the basic template,- word wide web on which he may be made to conform in the image of his Son. This is requisite for the intent of the covenant, the Fellowship of God with Man to work best for every man. The Spirit gives us several instances. With Ezekiel he was to eat the roll,"So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll."(Ez.3:2). With Moses he assured his presence,"and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say."(Ex.4:12). The written word is our manna, when we live accordingly it is faith works, "but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord."(De.8:3)
come lord jesus
A person has to be a son of "God" before he becomes a Disciple of "God".
Come, Lord Jesus,
God bless us all , Truth seekers !