Luke 11:14 - And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.
And he was casting out a demon, (The word devil is the word demon) in the Greek text.
Luke 11:15 - But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
Now, for this word Beelzebub. English translations use the term Beelzebub, the emphasis being on the last three letters "bub." The Greek texts use the word Beelzebul, "bul." It does make a difference.
Why does the English text use Beelzebub? It is because in the Old Testament, he was called Beelzebub, and in the New Testament he is called Beelzebul. So, the name changed and there are two different meanings.
Beelzebub means "lord of the fly." That is Beelzebub. Beelzebul is even worse. It means "the lord of the manure pile." These were the Phoenician gods and they had a god, small "g" for everything, even flies.
There was lord of the flies, and there was a god overseeing the manure pile, and the Jews used to call the Philistines' god the lord of the fly, the lord of the manure pile in a demeaning way.
So, when they approached Jesus, they said He cast out demons through Beelzebub who is the head of the demons. Not just any demon, but they said that He is the chief of the devils.
And so that's what Beelzebub and Beelzebul mean. In our English text, it has to do with lord of the flies, but the Greek word is lord of the manure pile.
Luke 11:33 - No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
Every time in the King James text, when you see the word "candle" and "candlestick," it is literally lamp and lamp stand.
Literal translation: No man, when he hath lighted a lamp, puts it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a lamp stand, so that they can see when they come in the house.
Luke 10:41 - And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
Careful is the word for anxiety. It is the word MERIMNA which I have mentioned before. It means to have the attention of your mind occupied with something. It's the word for worry and anxiety.
It is Satan's only weapon against a believer in Christ. Once you are saved, you belong to Christ. The second part of Christianity, after salvation, is the renewing of the mind, and growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Satan can't take your soul, so he gets you distracted and occupied to take you away from the word, so that the Lord can't heal and mend from the damage of sin.
And then troubled (TURBADZO) means turmoil, and it represents an outward expression of an inward thought. It is great how the Greek gives us a better picture of what's taking place in this verse.
Luke 11:3 - Give us day by day our daily bread.
The Greek word for "daily" is the word "necessary." The emphasis is that I am praying for my needs today. Not tomorrow or the next day.
The daily bread, which is necessary for today, whatever my sustenance is, today I pray that God will provide for that. I have to trust that whatever His provision is, that is His will for my life. I might not get to eat at In and Out Burger for lunch today like I would like to. It might not work out that way, but I'm trusting in the Lord to provide for my needs.
Luke 11:8 - I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
This word importunity in the Greek means shameless persistence. You may have only heard the word persistence in these teachings, but this is shameless persistence. No shame in this man and he is going to keep pounding on that door until he rises and gives him as many as he needs.
Luke 10:39 - And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
The word sat and hearing in the Greek denotes that it was a continuous habit of her to do. It is kind of interesting to see the characteristics of people? She loved to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His word.
Luke 10:40 - But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
This is great. I love to study about Martha. The word "cumbered" is one of three important words in this text.
First word (Cumbered), it is a fishing term that means having the net pulled up around you as if you were a fish in the sea and you are caught in the net. You are caught in the net and the net is being pulled up around you.
Now, about "much serving," because Jesus is in her house and He is teaching, and she's the only one in the kitchen serving. So, you can see her dilemma here.
And she came to Him, and in the Greek text it means this; and I think this is great, poor Martha! At least we don't have her last name so we can't slander her too much.
Reading it from the Greek text, it says she burst into the room and stood over Him. And she says, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me alone to serve?
Now, apparently the Lord nodded yes because she says, well then bid her to help me "if you care." Obviously, all this time she's been in the kitchen "stewing!" So, tell her to help me!
Luke 10:4 - Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
This word "purse" is not we understand a purse to be today. Back in those days, this was a small pouch that they carried money in. It was a money bag.
Luke 10:5 - And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
That is a Hebraism that means when you come into a house or into a city, you're asking for SHALOM, is there a son of peace here? Meaning, are you receptive to Messiah?
If they are rejecting the message they have about Jesus Christ as Messiah, then they are told, may your peace return to you, and you leave that house. It has to be a house that is going to be at peace with Christ, and at peace with them, for them to stay.
Luke 10:18 - And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
And Jesus said unto them, notice the literal translation, I was beholding Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
The verb "beheld" is where we get our English word theater from, THEAOMAI. And it's in the Imperfect Tense which means continuous action in the past.
He says I was continuously viewing Satan as lightening falling from heaven. The Lord is basically saying I have started viewing the beginning of the fall Satan.
Luke 10:21 - In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
These are the NAPIOS, the little babies. These are newborn babes. Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Luke 10:33 - But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
So, he says a Samarian comes down where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. This is the SPLUNKNOSE that I had mentioned before, the down deep compassion for people.
We read about this in 2 Corinthians 5:10. What you are referring to is the Bema Seat of Christ. It is called the judgment seat of Christ in this verse, and the Greek word is BEMATOS, or BEMA.
2 Corinthians 5:10 says that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. That is what is called the Bema seat. This is not the Great White Throne Judgment where non-believers will be judged.
We are also told in 1 Corinthians Chapter 3, as well as Romans 14:10 "Why do you judge your brother, or why do you set at nought your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat (the Bema seat) of Christ."
The Bema seat was the platform that some of the Roman officials would sit on as they were meting out judgment. But it's more known for the stand in which you come to at the Olympic games after you run your race to get your prize.
We see in the Olympics, the first, second, and third place athletes, they get up on this stand and they give them a medal. And they stand up there and play the anthem of the person that came in first place.
That is the Bema seat. But please know that this judgement (Bema Seat of Christ) is for believers only. It's not the judgment of heaven and hell. We (those who belong to Christ) are already assured of heaven in Christ. But we will be judged, and that judgment is described for us in 1 Corinthians Chapter 3.
There will be a type of fire that we will pass through and that which is not of Christ will burn, and whatever is left is the reward. Again, what emphasis do you put on the human? Only the things of Christ will last!
I'm having questions about fairness. Fairness is a virtue of the world, but not of God? Talents parable shows we should not compare and be satisfied with what we are given (Not focus on inequity). Does anyone here understand why God does not put much value on fairness?
"Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."
God had determined as to the inheritance of saints in the Son. The fulness of God provides in the everlasting covenant, all the features, the heaven and the earth, the waters, vegetation and life forms under seven days. It is alienated to the Son where the Day is covered by the word of God which is the Law.
So the decree of God must touch the word as sacred not subject to interpretation outside the holiness of God. It must correctly explain the man chosen for blessing under the covenant. Thirdly and not the least the nature of God where man in our image and after our likeness are set forth. The rod of iron refers to God meting out justice to man formed out of dust of the ground. It is thus the Word of God shall deal with nations. "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron." (Re.19:15) The key verse referred to the heathen and the nations are consequently of the heathen. Their rage and enmity we have in 2:1-3. The word of God is set in the 'similitude of the Lord'. In the inaugural vision in Re. Ch.1 read," And out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword."(1:16) The same emblem we have here," For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,"(He.4:12)
The conclusion is simple: without accepting the everlasting covenant as the basis for God's fellowship with man in his Son belies the professions of faith. The significance of the Word, must be set forth "after our image" and "after our likeness" so the fulness of Christ shall set the believer in terms of his likeness. It is thus Moses and other heroes of faith have served as his double and our inheritance set in context of the rock of salvation, trees of righteousness, the living waters, the bread from heaven etc.," He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith."
Hi Chris, your mention of "Trinity, Triunity, and Triune goes straight to the nub of the problem due to 'tri' meaning three. A camera tripod example has three legs while being one. A three-legged stool is one stool. An egg is a shell, yolk, and white while being one egg. We all understand that. A house has hundreds of bricks while being one house. I have been trying to explain the one triune God for the last twenty-four years. So, I use the word omnipresent instead, meaning ONE omnipresent God, in heaven, on earth, and in our hearts, and avoid using the word trinity or triune. But still, people think Trinitarians believe in three gods, due to the word itself meaning three. So, people quote scripture saying "God is One," adding that Trintarism is a false cult like all the other 'isms. Do you see the nature and extent of the problem, and can you offer an explanation that satisfies all people everywhere? In anticipation, yours in the Saviour's name.
"Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion."
We shall focus on the blessings the covenant has promised to the saints as against the heathen for whom the significance of the word of God has altogether a different emphasis. The name of the Lord is on their lips but their works are different. "Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up."(Ps.28:5) The saints on the other hand have put their trust, "Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong" and "Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.:(2:12;30:7a)
Similitude of the Lord we looked in an earlier post where the tree planted by the waters deposit blessing from the river of time. While the wicked are like the chaff the saints trusting in Jesus Christ shall go from strength to strength. In the key verse the Psalmist declares where he has put his trust, and it is the similitude of the Lord, so it is holy and bears the name Zion. The very stone which as the Prophet predicts, "Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste./ Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies." (Is.28:16-17) When God has set judgment to the line it means that we are firstly sized and polished smooth so we are ready to be fitted in its place as the Lord deems fit. "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."(Ps.119:71) Isaiah refers to "he that believeth shall not make haste" and we learn to trust him completely. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" is demanded of us since Christ in us spells the fullness of God. Blessing that the everlasting covenant promised is ours if we would onlu learn to trust in him. (Matt.5:49)
"The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away." The first sentence refers to what is planted by God and the chaff refers to the work of man's hands. The ungodly and his handiwork are interchangeable. The examples of Theudas and Judas come to mind. They think of themselves to be somebody and create a base; in the end they prove to be chaff and their movements come to nothing. In the WWII era we saw the Moral Re-Armament movement gaining popularity but it simply sank as a stone in the water and the present times show the foolishness of people to stymie the plan of God to show of what worth their ideas and work are. News today for example, has this: Fear has set in on Wall Street, the Dow tumbled more than 1,000 points, and the broader market plunged 3% Monday. All of that comes amid a global market selloff. This panic makes chaff and the greater fool theory on which man wants to amass fortune by playing at stocks, instead creates more fools. Has bailouts in the past sobered up the Hedge fund market? No since it is the mantra of Satan who would "and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;/And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. "(Matt.4:8-9)
Between showing and possessing what the ungodly promises there is a great credibility gap. Only the damed will take that route.
On the other hand we have the tree planted by the waters. The River of time brings everything needful for our lives and godliness and what one wants more than peace and contentment it instals within the volume of the blessed is greed. Remember Gehazi.
We are face to face with the great congregation in that volume being planted by God. We are the branches to the true Vine. Our witnessing is what his grace and done so in the day of Regeneration we are seated on the seat of Judgment and not before the White Throne. In patience we need possess our souls while the vile are about.
"Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous."
In order to explain the significance of the congregation we shall look at this passage," I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest./I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation."(Ps.40:9-10) The psalmist refers to the similitude of the Lord which is what the word establishes so we speak as Christ in us did speak. It is not our righteousness but that of Christ. "but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also"(Matt.5:39). So turning the other cheek is an indication that he is indeed fellow-sufferer with Christ. Same principle as in the double portion that Elisha requested from his mentor.. The Spirit of Elisha was doubled as 'after our likeness' of the Son.
From the great congregation refers to the cloud of witnesses. The volume of a Christian is from the fulness of Christ. He refers to the legion at his disposal and these are in multiples of 12? "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?:(Matt.26x53) A Roman legion consisted of 4000 to 6000 men. These are saints who followed the word of God,"And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean."(Re.19:14). The angels are part of that volume, "that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into."(1 Pe.1:12). St Paul refers to judgment, "Know ye not that we shall judge angels?" The sinners shall not stand in judgment along the righteous because our glorious body is spiritual body where the single measurment has angels incorporated with man component.
Jesus gave a definition, "because my word hath no place in you." ( John 8:37) He is a fool who rather cancel God from his calculations so he has a free hand to do evil. "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works,"(Ps.14:1). In Ps.119 we read, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."(v.11) The word of God is not simply word but the similitude of the Lord as God referred to Moses. It is abiding in Christ. Moses wanted to see the face of God which was not appropriate for him. Moses shall only see the back parts which from several other examples refers to the Advent of his Son. "And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by." (Ex.33:22) The slain Lamb is worthy to open the book "a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals."(Re.5:1).This glory of God that was to follow already was in his heart. "to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Moses was well aware of it." But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it."(De.30:11-14). Coming back to the key verse the ungodly simply set the glory of God to nought.
Instead he preferred to sit with the babblers idling their time whose words would not even peel an onion; ungodly has counsel how to make his nation great but if you come anywhere near his orbit you may end up doing jail time, that is for sure; do not even stand among those who have plans to rid the 'vermins' rapists and undesirables from the border and little do they know they themselves will be knocking at the borders of the lands of others sooner or later." The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men."(Ps.11:4) The ungodly are the chaff, which the wind driveth away.'
Here's one of many examples of how Nakedness is used in scripture.
Ezekiel 23:29, "And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare: and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be discovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.
Luke 9:60 - Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
I want to point something out here because Luke 9:59 in our English text would lead us to believe that this man's father had died, which is not the case
And then we get to this verse, and Jesus wouldn't even let him bury his father. That is kind of tough! Well, we know from the scriptures, in Deuteronomy 21:23, it tells us that once a person died, they had to be buried before sunset, on the day of the death.
So, if this man's father had already died, he would not be out listening to the teachings of Jesus. He would be attending the funeral and burying his father.
But rather, as Matthew's account tells us, that the phrase itself in the Greek text represents the Hebraism, that basically says "let me go back until my father dies so I get my inheritance."
You see, in those days you stayed around the house. And when the father died, then you took over the business, and you took over the estate.
And what he what he saying is "I'm really not free to leave. I have got some financial interests that I cannot leave. You see if I leave now, I leave all my inheritance, and so I can't do that!"
Do you understand what's happening here? Jesus is fixed towards Jerusalem. He is telling the disciples that you get fixed on Jesus and you follow Him.
But look at all the things that challenge that relationship. You have got conveniences. You've got, "Gee, I have waited my whole life to get the inheritance from my father, and now Jesus is asking me to follow Him, and if I do, I am going to lose all that inheritance." Yup! Let the spiritual dead bury their own dead. You go preach the Kingdom!
Luke 9:31 - Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
Literally, the Greek word for decease is the word exodus. It's the word death. It's the same word used in Hebrews 11:20 to talk about the children of Israel and their exodus out of Egypt. That's exactly what this word is supposed to make a reference to. The Lord's exodus is the fulfillment of the exodus in the Old Testament.
Luke 9:51 - And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
He steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem! The word steadfastly in the Greek means a fixed established position. When it was time to go and die, Jesus was fixed to go to Jerusalem. You couldn't get Him off track.
Luke 9:3 - And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
The word staves mean walking sticks. And scrip means money bag.
Luke 9:26 - For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
The word ashamed in Greek means to withdraw. That is what people do when they are ashamed or embarrassed, they kind of withdraw. So, Jesus says you withdraw from me and my word, when you stand before me in judgment, I will withdraw from you.
Luke 9:29 - And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
Now here's where the Greek text really brings out the meaning of this verse:
And as he was praying, the fashion, (literally outward appearance), of his countenance, or face, was altered. Here in the Greek text, it just uses the word HETEROS. His face became different.
But even with the Greek word HETEROS, meaning different in kind than He was before. It wasn't a physical change. It was a physical change into a Spiritual change.
Matthew uses the word METAMORPHOSIS, meaning completely transformed. So, he went from the physical to the Spiritual. And then it says about His clothing, it says that His raiment, or His clothing was white and glistering.
The Greek word for glistering represents emitting a light, not reflecting but emitting. The light was actually coming out from Him. And it is the word that is used to describe lightening.
So, you can imagine what the scene was like. It was not reflected light. It was not a spotlight coming out of heaven to shine on Jesus. He was literally transformed into His body of glory in front of them.
The difference between Adam before he ate of the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and Christ.
The usage of the word "NAKEDNESS" in the Bible.
I have shared this before, perhaps a few years ago. This is a view I hold and is open for correction so please offer your "Scriptural" take on this perhaps you can bring more light on the subject.
Naked in the Bible often means uncovered "Spiritually"
When we read Genesis 2:25 "And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
And then Genesis 3:7 "And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (This happens after they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.)
It's reasonable to think this is beyond being destitute of clothing.
Naked in the Bible often means uncovered Spiritually.
The word for naked is "erom", which means more than just unclothed, can also carry the idea of being guilty, exposed, and vulnerable to God's judgment.
So the question is, When did Adam become uncovered according to scripture?
When he sinned or when he was he born?
Note; I'm not asking when did he disobey God's commandment not to eat of the fruit, that was in Genesis 3. He was declared naked in chapter 2.
What did the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil do the Adam and Eve in declaring their eyes where opened?
Notice God's immediate response to their dilemma in Verses 3:10-11
"And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, BECAUSE I WAS NAKED; and I hid myself.
And he said, WHO TOLD THEE THAT THOU WAST NAKED? HAST THOU EATEN OF THE TREE, WHEREOF I COMMANDED THEE THAT THOU SHOULDEST NOT EAT?
God asked, "Who told thee that thou was naked?
That answer is, that got Knowledge of that from eating of the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
So is this "unclothed state" something they were in previously?
Please read over your Scriptural answers carefully.
Luke 8:19 - Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.
This word "press" is not talking about newspaper reporters. But of course, you already know that! This is the word OCHLON which means the throng of the crowd.
Luke 8:23 - But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
There came down a storm of wind on the lake; It's called a LAILOPS, which is hurricane force, hurricane force that sits almost 600 ft. below sea level, the Sea of Galilee.
Luke 8:27 - And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
The word devils is literally the word demons. He wore no clothes. That is one of the characteristics in the bible of demonized people. They don't like to keep their clothes on.
That doesn't mean that all people that don't want to keep their clothes on are demonized! He had devils or demons for a long time. He didn't wear any clothes, and he didn't live in any house. He lived in the tombs, the cemetery, where dead people are buried.
Luke 8:29 - (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
This word "fetters" in the Greek means shackles.
Luke 8:30 - And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
Legion means 6,000.
Luke 8:31 - And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
And they, (the demons), besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. That is the abyss where the demons are going to wind up as we know from the book of Revelation, the ABUSSO, the bottomless pit.
Luke 8:8 - And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
The term "let him hear" is not an invitation or a challenge. In the Greek text, it is a command. The one having ears to hear, and He says, hear! And what Jesus is doing is activating people's hearing, the ones who have a heart or an ear to hear, He is actually giving them the ability to do so.
Luke 8:14 - And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
The word "cares" is the word MERIMNA. It is usually translated anxiety or worry. MERIMNA, just as the general definition, means "to occupy the attention of the mind." Not to occupy the mind, but to occupy the attention of the mind. That is Satan's only weapon against a believer. That is what the Bible presents. Once you become a Christian, once you know Christ, Satan can't take your soul away from Jesus Christ. All he can do is keep our minds occupied and distracted from the things of the Lord in order to keeps us from growing spiritually.
Luke 8:16 - No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.
In the King James text, every time you see the word candle, it is the literally the word lamp in all of its uses. And a candle stick is a lamp stand. It wasn't a candle.
No one when he has lighted a lamp, covers it with a vessel, or puts it under his bed; (that is pretty comical), but he sets it on a lamp stand, in order that those who enter in may see the light. I mean that is what it is for, so that you can see.
Luke 8:2 - And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
Secondly in Verse 2, it tells us that there were certain women who were also part of this ministry caravan campaigning from city to city. It also gives us their condition, that they were healed of evil spirits and infirmities. Infirmities is usually translated sicknesses in the scripture.
But whenever it says devils or demons and sickness, Luke the physician is linking the two together, some kind of physical condition that has been brought about by demonic activity. Not all physical illness is from demons, or from sin. Well, actually the fallen nature, yes. But not all sickness is because of sin.
But Luke is linking these two together for us to tell us that these are people who were demonically affected, if not possessed, and they were healed of evil spirits and infirmities. The word infirmity literally means to be without strength. It is not the word for disease. It is the word for sickness, and it just means to be without strength.
Luke 8:4 - And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
A parable (PARA BOLE) is a commonly known event, known to man or in the community like farming, and other stories that are common to the everyday person, and taking a spiritual truth and putting it alongside of a common everyday story.
Not everything in the stories pertain to spiritual truth, but the heart of the stories does, and Jesus often used farming terms to express His truths.
I will start with a rather general statement that as we get closer to the time of the end and the Antichrist; there will be more and more apparent prophecies that come true as to specific things that happen but the conclusion that he is Christ or some great person of course will be a lie.
In my assessment therefore the scriptures used whether in a false or true prophecy bring an element of truth of something that ultimately will be fulfilled; hence as I say the poison always is most effective with something good mixed in. With all the similar manifestations in the last days such as fire coming out of the sky mimicking the work of the 2 Prophets; as well as the apparent "resurrection" of Antichrist we see how Satan both imitates or is a substitute for Christ but his character is totally against it.
In the spiritual dimension demons can be involved with nations; institutions or individuals and thus cause an apparent "self fulfilling" prophecy as God permits to delude men. The Lord in His Word has prophecies which often have more than one phase of fulfillment before the end and general things which characterize the end of the age in the birth pang timeframe. Such things are predicted by true and false prophets themselves. I would also say that until the end of the church age the Lord is holding back very definite things which may begin to show up as a foreshadowing of the Tribulation (such as plagues; warfare; etc.) People have debated for instance the prophecy of Agabus and how much church preparation avoided a crisis. We could legitimately have insight in a conditional sort of thing which is of course also scriptural as a general TENET. I often warn people that certain sins cause us to reap what we so which in a way is prophetic; perhaps more like a word of knowledge.
With all the proven falsehoods of almost all the so called popular prophets I lean closer to a cessationist mindset; but will not have the audacity to say God can't do something.
So, when we consider what someone might say, "The Father is not the Son", I wonder how are they interpreting 'the One God now revealed in His Son'? We believe that the Son is the coming of God in the flesh to fulfil the Father's Will in Salvation, but to another, the Son is still distinct from the Father (by position & material) and by virtue of Him being on Earth while the Father is in Heaven - therefore in this belief, the Father is not the Son. So even this can be correct, though the core of it is still that God was fully in Jesus His Son. Or, Jesus only became Divine after His God-generated Birth - which certainly makes distinction between the God in Heaven & the Jesus on Earth. And yet another belief: that if the Son is truly God come in the flesh, then God must be absent in Heaven, that Jesus is now the only God by His coming. But then the question to refute this belief, to Whom then is Jesus talking, praying & crying to during His Earthly sojourn? To Himself? So, I mention all this, so that through discussion on these pages, anyone who believes things that differ to our belief might through discussion, & using the Word, come to a better understanding of the Truth.
And I am sorry, unlike you, I tend to be a 'wordy person', simply so that I can better express my beliefs or answers given to another, without misunderstanding, or hopefully to minimize it. Thank you again for your input Everett & every blessing.
Thanks again Everett for those many Scriptures showing the fullness of God in Christ Jesus - the Man Jesus is indeed the Immanuel of God. Yet, when I read of beliefs of others on this important doctrine that God cannot take on human flesh or even your quote of "The Father is not the Son, etc", I always try to understand exactly what is being said/believed by that person & how that belief is supported. Sometimes the way we express ourselves may not be quite the same in another's hearing.
Invariably, those who do actually use the Scriptures to support their belief, will either read those verses in a different way to support their position, or some might even twist them to force them to reveal something not intended in the verses. So, when you say that you're "in the right place", you should be aware that not all who come here interpret the Scriptures in the same way. I always keep this in the back of my mind when reading the Bible: correct biblical hermeneutics is a primary (major) issue in reading & understanding Scripture, because what mechanisms we use to correctly understand the Word will form the basis of what we believe. And at the very core of this is that Scripture must be read as it is given, without adding our own interpretations/biases/hidden meanings to it (and knowing the original languages of course greatly helps). Only when the Word is giving us types or shadows, or even further clarification as we read in Jesus' parables, can we diverge from our simple reading of it & embrace the fuller meaning.
"Are there prophets that exist in today's world aside from having the gift of prophecy? Or are they one in the same?
I believe if one "must" have the gift of prophecy to be a Prophet.
No the question is, are Prophets around today.
I would say No.
Here's what Paul in Ephesians 2:20 says about the Church of God.
"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Before the Canon of scripture was completed the prophet proclaimed a message from the Lord in the OT and to the early believers.
Today we have the completed revelation from God in the Bible.
Does God reveal truth to someone in a way and enable that person to deliver that message to others? Yes! He does this to all of us.
However, That doesn't make us a foretelling Prophet.
Compare what is said to what the Word of God says. If it contradicts the Bible, throw it out. If it agrees with the Bible then it us written before hand and it's not a foretelling supernatural message.
Hebrews 1:1-2 reads, " God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,
As you know, Luke is fairly long. I am about three quarters of the way through but thought I would go ahead and post as I go. Thanks again for the encouragement.
Dear Walter, I will be praying for your recovery from the stroke and to be delivered from depression. These are two difficult conditions to experience and go through. I pray that the Lord will bring you through these things in the best of ways.
I was having a discussion with members of my Sunday school class about prophets. Are there prophets that exist in today's world aside from having the gift of prophecy? Or are they one in the same?
Luke 11:14 - And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.
And he was casting out a demon, (The word devil is the word demon) in the Greek text.
Luke 11:15 - But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
Now, for this word Beelzebub. English translations use the term Beelzebub, the emphasis being on the last three letters "bub." The Greek texts use the word Beelzebul, "bul." It does make a difference.
Why does the English text use Beelzebub? It is because in the Old Testament, he was called Beelzebub, and in the New Testament he is called Beelzebul. So, the name changed and there are two different meanings.
Beelzebub means "lord of the fly." That is Beelzebub. Beelzebul is even worse. It means "the lord of the manure pile." These were the Phoenician gods and they had a god, small "g" for everything, even flies.
There was lord of the flies, and there was a god overseeing the manure pile, and the Jews used to call the Philistines' god the lord of the fly, the lord of the manure pile in a demeaning way.
So, when they approached Jesus, they said He cast out demons through Beelzebub who is the head of the demons. Not just any demon, but they said that He is the chief of the devils.
And so that's what Beelzebub and Beelzebul mean. In our English text, it has to do with lord of the flies, but the Greek word is lord of the manure pile.
Luke 11:33 - No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
Every time in the King James text, when you see the word "candle" and "candlestick," it is literally lamp and lamp stand.
Literal translation: No man, when he hath lighted a lamp, puts it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a lamp stand, so that they can see when they come in the house.
Luke 10:41 - And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
Careful is the word for anxiety. It is the word MERIMNA which I have mentioned before. It means to have the attention of your mind occupied with something. It's the word for worry and anxiety.
It is Satan's only weapon against a believer in Christ. Once you are saved, you belong to Christ. The second part of Christianity, after salvation, is the renewing of the mind, and growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Satan can't take your soul, so he gets you distracted and occupied to take you away from the word, so that the Lord can't heal and mend from the damage of sin.
And then troubled (TURBADZO) means turmoil, and it represents an outward expression of an inward thought. It is great how the Greek gives us a better picture of what's taking place in this verse.
Luke 11:3 - Give us day by day our daily bread.
The Greek word for "daily" is the word "necessary." The emphasis is that I am praying for my needs today. Not tomorrow or the next day.
The daily bread, which is necessary for today, whatever my sustenance is, today I pray that God will provide for that. I have to trust that whatever His provision is, that is His will for my life. I might not get to eat at In and Out Burger for lunch today like I would like to. It might not work out that way, but I'm trusting in the Lord to provide for my needs.
Luke 11:8 - I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
This word importunity in the Greek means shameless persistence. You may have only heard the word persistence in these teachings, but this is shameless persistence. No shame in this man and he is going to keep pounding on that door until he rises and gives him as many as he needs.
Luke 10:39 - And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
The word sat and hearing in the Greek denotes that it was a continuous habit of her to do. It is kind of interesting to see the characteristics of people? She loved to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His word.
Luke 10:40 - But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
This is great. I love to study about Martha. The word "cumbered" is one of three important words in this text.
First word (Cumbered), it is a fishing term that means having the net pulled up around you as if you were a fish in the sea and you are caught in the net. You are caught in the net and the net is being pulled up around you.
Now, about "much serving," because Jesus is in her house and He is teaching, and she's the only one in the kitchen serving. So, you can see her dilemma here.
And she came to Him, and in the Greek text it means this; and I think this is great, poor Martha! At least we don't have her last name so we can't slander her too much.
Reading it from the Greek text, it says she burst into the room and stood over Him. And she says, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me alone to serve?
Now, apparently the Lord nodded yes because she says, well then bid her to help me "if you care." Obviously, all this time she's been in the kitchen "stewing!" So, tell her to help me!
Luke 10:4 - Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
This word "purse" is not we understand a purse to be today. Back in those days, this was a small pouch that they carried money in. It was a money bag.
Luke 10:5 - And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
That is a Hebraism that means when you come into a house or into a city, you're asking for SHALOM, is there a son of peace here? Meaning, are you receptive to Messiah?
If they are rejecting the message they have about Jesus Christ as Messiah, then they are told, may your peace return to you, and you leave that house. It has to be a house that is going to be at peace with Christ, and at peace with them, for them to stay.
Luke 10:18 - And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
And Jesus said unto them, notice the literal translation, I was beholding Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
The verb "beheld" is where we get our English word theater from, THEAOMAI. And it's in the Imperfect Tense which means continuous action in the past.
He says I was continuously viewing Satan as lightening falling from heaven. The Lord is basically saying I have started viewing the beginning of the fall Satan.
Luke 10:21 - In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
These are the NAPIOS, the little babies. These are newborn babes. Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Luke 10:33 - But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
So, he says a Samarian comes down where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. This is the SPLUNKNOSE that I had mentioned before, the down deep compassion for people.
We read about this in 2 Corinthians 5:10. What you are referring to is the Bema Seat of Christ. It is called the judgment seat of Christ in this verse, and the Greek word is BEMATOS, or BEMA.
2 Corinthians 5:10 says that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. That is what is called the Bema seat. This is not the Great White Throne Judgment where non-believers will be judged.
We are also told in 1 Corinthians Chapter 3, as well as Romans 14:10 "Why do you judge your brother, or why do you set at nought your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat (the Bema seat) of Christ."
The Bema seat was the platform that some of the Roman officials would sit on as they were meting out judgment. But it's more known for the stand in which you come to at the Olympic games after you run your race to get your prize.
We see in the Olympics, the first, second, and third place athletes, they get up on this stand and they give them a medal. And they stand up there and play the anthem of the person that came in first place.
That is the Bema seat. But please know that this judgement (Bema Seat of Christ) is for believers only. It's not the judgment of heaven and hell. We (those who belong to Christ) are already assured of heaven in Christ. But we will be judged, and that judgment is described for us in 1 Corinthians Chapter 3.
There will be a type of fire that we will pass through and that which is not of Christ will burn, and whatever is left is the reward. Again, what emphasis do you put on the human? Only the things of Christ will last!
I hope this helps, God Bless!!!
I'm having questions about fairness. Fairness is a virtue of the world, but not of God? Talents parable shows we should not compare and be satisfied with what we are given (Not focus on inequity). Does anyone here understand why God does not put much value on fairness?
Yes I am still here, I feel many here as family.
God bless,
RLW
"Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."
God had determined as to the inheritance of saints in the Son. The fulness of God provides in the everlasting covenant, all the features, the heaven and the earth, the waters, vegetation and life forms under seven days. It is alienated to the Son where the Day is covered by the word of God which is the Law.
So the decree of God must touch the word as sacred not subject to interpretation outside the holiness of God. It must correctly explain the man chosen for blessing under the covenant. Thirdly and not the least the nature of God where man in our image and after our likeness are set forth. The rod of iron refers to God meting out justice to man formed out of dust of the ground. It is thus the Word of God shall deal with nations. "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron." (Re.19:15) The key verse referred to the heathen and the nations are consequently of the heathen. Their rage and enmity we have in 2:1-3. The word of God is set in the 'similitude of the Lord'. In the inaugural vision in Re. Ch.1 read," And out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword."(1:16) The same emblem we have here," For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,"(He.4:12)
The conclusion is simple: without accepting the everlasting covenant as the basis for God's fellowship with man in his Son belies the professions of faith. The significance of the Word, must be set forth "after our image" and "after our likeness" so the fulness of Christ shall set the believer in terms of his likeness. It is thus Moses and other heroes of faith have served as his double and our inheritance set in context of the rock of salvation, trees of righteousness, the living waters, the bread from heaven etc.," He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith."
"Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion."
We shall focus on the blessings the covenant has promised to the saints as against the heathen for whom the significance of the word of God has altogether a different emphasis. The name of the Lord is on their lips but their works are different. "Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up."(Ps.28:5) The saints on the other hand have put their trust, "Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong" and "Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.:(2:12;30:7a)
Similitude of the Lord we looked in an earlier post where the tree planted by the waters deposit blessing from the river of time. While the wicked are like the chaff the saints trusting in Jesus Christ shall go from strength to strength. In the key verse the Psalmist declares where he has put his trust, and it is the similitude of the Lord, so it is holy and bears the name Zion. The very stone which as the Prophet predicts, "Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste./ Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies." (Is.28:16-17) When God has set judgment to the line it means that we are firstly sized and polished smooth so we are ready to be fitted in its place as the Lord deems fit. "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."(Ps.119:71) Isaiah refers to "he that believeth shall not make haste" and we learn to trust him completely. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" is demanded of us since Christ in us spells the fullness of God. Blessing that the everlasting covenant promised is ours if we would onlu learn to trust in him. (Matt.5:49)
"The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away." The first sentence refers to what is planted by God and the chaff refers to the work of man's hands. The ungodly and his handiwork are interchangeable. The examples of Theudas and Judas come to mind. They think of themselves to be somebody and create a base; in the end they prove to be chaff and their movements come to nothing. In the WWII era we saw the Moral Re-Armament movement gaining popularity but it simply sank as a stone in the water and the present times show the foolishness of people to stymie the plan of God to show of what worth their ideas and work are. News today for example, has this: Fear has set in on Wall Street, the Dow tumbled more than 1,000 points, and the broader market plunged 3% Monday. All of that comes amid a global market selloff. This panic makes chaff and the greater fool theory on which man wants to amass fortune by playing at stocks, instead creates more fools. Has bailouts in the past sobered up the Hedge fund market? No since it is the mantra of Satan who would "and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;/And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. "(Matt.4:8-9)
Between showing and possessing what the ungodly promises there is a great credibility gap. Only the damed will take that route.
On the other hand we have the tree planted by the waters. The River of time brings everything needful for our lives and godliness and what one wants more than peace and contentment it instals within the volume of the blessed is greed. Remember Gehazi.
We are face to face with the great congregation in that volume being planted by God. We are the branches to the true Vine. Our witnessing is what his grace and done so in the day of Regeneration we are seated on the seat of Judgment and not before the White Throne. In patience we need possess our souls while the vile are about.
"Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous."
In order to explain the significance of the congregation we shall look at this passage," I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest./I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation."(Ps.40:9-10) The psalmist refers to the similitude of the Lord which is what the word establishes so we speak as Christ in us did speak. It is not our righteousness but that of Christ. "but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also"(Matt.5:39). So turning the other cheek is an indication that he is indeed fellow-sufferer with Christ. Same principle as in the double portion that Elisha requested from his mentor.. The Spirit of Elisha was doubled as 'after our likeness' of the Son.
From the great congregation refers to the cloud of witnesses. The volume of a Christian is from the fulness of Christ. He refers to the legion at his disposal and these are in multiples of 12? "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?:(Matt.26x53) A Roman legion consisted of 4000 to 6000 men. These are saints who followed the word of God,"And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean."(Re.19:14). The angels are part of that volume, "that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into."(1 Pe.1:12). St Paul refers to judgment, "Know ye not that we shall judge angels?" The sinners shall not stand in judgment along the righteous because our glorious body is spiritual body where the single measurment has angels incorporated with man component.
Jesus gave a definition, "because my word hath no place in you." ( John 8:37) He is a fool who rather cancel God from his calculations so he has a free hand to do evil. "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works,"(Ps.14:1). In Ps.119 we read, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."(v.11) The word of God is not simply word but the similitude of the Lord as God referred to Moses. It is abiding in Christ. Moses wanted to see the face of God which was not appropriate for him. Moses shall only see the back parts which from several other examples refers to the Advent of his Son. "And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by." (Ex.33:22) The slain Lamb is worthy to open the book "a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals."(Re.5:1).This glory of God that was to follow already was in his heart. "to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Moses was well aware of it." But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it."(De.30:11-14). Coming back to the key verse the ungodly simply set the glory of God to nought.
Instead he preferred to sit with the babblers idling their time whose words would not even peel an onion; ungodly has counsel how to make his nation great but if you come anywhere near his orbit you may end up doing jail time, that is for sure; do not even stand among those who have plans to rid the 'vermins' rapists and undesirables from the border and little do they know they themselves will be knocking at the borders of the lands of others sooner or later." The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men."(Ps.11:4) The ungodly are the chaff, which the wind driveth away.'
"
A difference between Adam and Christ.
Part 2a.
Here's one of many examples of how Nakedness is used in scripture.
Ezekiel 23:29, "And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare: and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be discovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.
To be continued.
God bless.
Luke 9:60 - Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
I want to point something out here because Luke 9:59 in our English text would lead us to believe that this man's father had died, which is not the case
And then we get to this verse, and Jesus wouldn't even let him bury his father. That is kind of tough! Well, we know from the scriptures, in Deuteronomy 21:23, it tells us that once a person died, they had to be buried before sunset, on the day of the death.
So, if this man's father had already died, he would not be out listening to the teachings of Jesus. He would be attending the funeral and burying his father.
But rather, as Matthew's account tells us, that the phrase itself in the Greek text represents the Hebraism, that basically says "let me go back until my father dies so I get my inheritance."
You see, in those days you stayed around the house. And when the father died, then you took over the business, and you took over the estate.
And what he what he saying is "I'm really not free to leave. I have got some financial interests that I cannot leave. You see if I leave now, I leave all my inheritance, and so I can't do that!"
Do you understand what's happening here? Jesus is fixed towards Jerusalem. He is telling the disciples that you get fixed on Jesus and you follow Him.
But look at all the things that challenge that relationship. You have got conveniences. You've got, "Gee, I have waited my whole life to get the inheritance from my father, and now Jesus is asking me to follow Him, and if I do, I am going to lose all that inheritance." Yup! Let the spiritual dead bury their own dead. You go preach the Kingdom!
Luke 9:31 - Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
Literally, the Greek word for decease is the word exodus. It's the word death. It's the same word used in Hebrews 11:20 to talk about the children of Israel and their exodus out of Egypt. That's exactly what this word is supposed to make a reference to. The Lord's exodus is the fulfillment of the exodus in the Old Testament.
Luke 9:51 - And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
He steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem! The word steadfastly in the Greek means a fixed established position. When it was time to go and die, Jesus was fixed to go to Jerusalem. You couldn't get Him off track.
Luke 9:3 - And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
The word staves mean walking sticks. And scrip means money bag.
Luke 9:26 - For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
The word ashamed in Greek means to withdraw. That is what people do when they are ashamed or embarrassed, they kind of withdraw. So, Jesus says you withdraw from me and my word, when you stand before me in judgment, I will withdraw from you.
Luke 9:29 - And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
Now here's where the Greek text really brings out the meaning of this verse:
And as he was praying, the fashion, (literally outward appearance), of his countenance, or face, was altered. Here in the Greek text, it just uses the word HETEROS. His face became different.
But even with the Greek word HETEROS, meaning different in kind than He was before. It wasn't a physical change. It was a physical change into a Spiritual change.
Matthew uses the word METAMORPHOSIS, meaning completely transformed. So, he went from the physical to the Spiritual. And then it says about His clothing, it says that His raiment, or His clothing was white and glistering.
The Greek word for glistering represents emitting a light, not reflecting but emitting. The light was actually coming out from Him. And it is the word that is used to describe lightening.
So, you can imagine what the scene was like. It was not reflected light. It was not a spotlight coming out of heaven to shine on Jesus. He was literally transformed into His body of glory in front of them.
The usage of the word "NAKEDNESS" in the Bible.
I have shared this before, perhaps a few years ago. This is a view I hold and is open for correction so please offer your "Scriptural" take on this perhaps you can bring more light on the subject.
Naked in the Bible often means uncovered "Spiritually"
When we read Genesis 2:25 "And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
And then Genesis 3:7 "And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (This happens after they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.)
It's reasonable to think this is beyond being destitute of clothing.
Naked in the Bible often means uncovered Spiritually.
The word for naked is "erom", which means more than just unclothed, can also carry the idea of being guilty, exposed, and vulnerable to God's judgment.
So the question is, When did Adam become uncovered according to scripture?
When he sinned or when he was he born?
Note; I'm not asking when did he disobey God's commandment not to eat of the fruit, that was in Genesis 3. He was declared naked in chapter 2.
What did the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil do the Adam and Eve in declaring their eyes where opened?
Notice God's immediate response to their dilemma in Verses 3:10-11
"And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, BECAUSE I WAS NAKED; and I hid myself.
And he said, WHO TOLD THEE THAT THOU WAST NAKED? HAST THOU EATEN OF THE TREE, WHEREOF I COMMANDED THEE THAT THOU SHOULDEST NOT EAT?
God asked, "Who told thee that thou was naked?
That answer is, that got Knowledge of that from eating of the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
So is this "unclothed state" something they were in previously?
Please read over your Scriptural answers carefully.
Thanks and God bless.
Luke 8:19 - Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.
This word "press" is not talking about newspaper reporters. But of course, you already know that! This is the word OCHLON which means the throng of the crowd.
Luke 8:23 - But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
There came down a storm of wind on the lake; It's called a LAILOPS, which is hurricane force, hurricane force that sits almost 600 ft. below sea level, the Sea of Galilee.
Luke 8:27 - And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
The word devils is literally the word demons. He wore no clothes. That is one of the characteristics in the bible of demonized people. They don't like to keep their clothes on.
That doesn't mean that all people that don't want to keep their clothes on are demonized! He had devils or demons for a long time. He didn't wear any clothes, and he didn't live in any house. He lived in the tombs, the cemetery, where dead people are buried.
Luke 8:29 - (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
This word "fetters" in the Greek means shackles.
Luke 8:30 - And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
Legion means 6,000.
Luke 8:31 - And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
And they, (the demons), besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. That is the abyss where the demons are going to wind up as we know from the book of Revelation, the ABUSSO, the bottomless pit.
Luke 8:8 - And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
The term "let him hear" is not an invitation or a challenge. In the Greek text, it is a command. The one having ears to hear, and He says, hear! And what Jesus is doing is activating people's hearing, the ones who have a heart or an ear to hear, He is actually giving them the ability to do so.
Luke 8:14 - And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
The word "cares" is the word MERIMNA. It is usually translated anxiety or worry. MERIMNA, just as the general definition, means "to occupy the attention of the mind." Not to occupy the mind, but to occupy the attention of the mind. That is Satan's only weapon against a believer. That is what the Bible presents. Once you become a Christian, once you know Christ, Satan can't take your soul away from Jesus Christ. All he can do is keep our minds occupied and distracted from the things of the Lord in order to keeps us from growing spiritually.
Luke 8:16 - No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.
In the King James text, every time you see the word candle, it is the literally the word lamp in all of its uses. And a candle stick is a lamp stand. It wasn't a candle.
No one when he has lighted a lamp, covers it with a vessel, or puts it under his bed; (that is pretty comical), but he sets it on a lamp stand, in order that those who enter in may see the light. I mean that is what it is for, so that you can see.
Luke 8:2 - And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
Secondly in Verse 2, it tells us that there were certain women who were also part of this ministry caravan campaigning from city to city. It also gives us their condition, that they were healed of evil spirits and infirmities. Infirmities is usually translated sicknesses in the scripture.
But whenever it says devils or demons and sickness, Luke the physician is linking the two together, some kind of physical condition that has been brought about by demonic activity. Not all physical illness is from demons, or from sin. Well, actually the fallen nature, yes. But not all sickness is because of sin.
But Luke is linking these two together for us to tell us that these are people who were demonically affected, if not possessed, and they were healed of evil spirits and infirmities. The word infirmity literally means to be without strength. It is not the word for disease. It is the word for sickness, and it just means to be without strength.
Luke 8:4 - And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
A parable (PARA BOLE) is a commonly known event, known to man or in the community like farming, and other stories that are common to the everyday person, and taking a spiritual truth and putting it alongside of a common everyday story.
Not everything in the stories pertain to spiritual truth, but the heart of the stories does, and Jesus often used farming terms to express His truths.
In my assessment therefore the scriptures used whether in a false or true prophecy bring an element of truth of something that ultimately will be fulfilled; hence as I say the poison always is most effective with something good mixed in. With all the similar manifestations in the last days such as fire coming out of the sky mimicking the work of the 2 Prophets; as well as the apparent "resurrection" of Antichrist we see how Satan both imitates or is a substitute for Christ but his character is totally against it.
In the spiritual dimension demons can be involved with nations; institutions or individuals and thus cause an apparent "self fulfilling" prophecy as God permits to delude men. The Lord in His Word has prophecies which often have more than one phase of fulfillment before the end and general things which characterize the end of the age in the birth pang timeframe. Such things are predicted by true and false prophets themselves. I would also say that until the end of the church age the Lord is holding back very definite things which may begin to show up as a foreshadowing of the Tribulation (such as plagues; warfare; etc.) People have debated for instance the prophecy of Agabus and how much church preparation avoided a crisis. We could legitimately have insight in a conditional sort of thing which is of course also scriptural as a general TENET. I often warn people that certain sins cause us to reap what we so which in a way is prophetic; perhaps more like a word of knowledge.
With all the proven falsehoods of almost all the so called popular prophets I lean closer to a cessationist mindset; but will not have the audacity to say God can't do something.
So, when we consider what someone might say, "The Father is not the Son", I wonder how are they interpreting 'the One God now revealed in His Son'? We believe that the Son is the coming of God in the flesh to fulfil the Father's Will in Salvation, but to another, the Son is still distinct from the Father (by position & material) and by virtue of Him being on Earth while the Father is in Heaven - therefore in this belief, the Father is not the Son. So even this can be correct, though the core of it is still that God was fully in Jesus His Son. Or, Jesus only became Divine after His God-generated Birth - which certainly makes distinction between the God in Heaven & the Jesus on Earth. And yet another belief: that if the Son is truly God come in the flesh, then God must be absent in Heaven, that Jesus is now the only God by His coming. But then the question to refute this belief, to Whom then is Jesus talking, praying & crying to during His Earthly sojourn? To Himself? So, I mention all this, so that through discussion on these pages, anyone who believes things that differ to our belief might through discussion, & using the Word, come to a better understanding of the Truth.
And I am sorry, unlike you, I tend to be a 'wordy person', simply so that I can better express my beliefs or answers given to another, without misunderstanding, or hopefully to minimize it. Thank you again for your input Everett & every blessing.
Thanks again Everett for those many Scriptures showing the fullness of God in Christ Jesus - the Man Jesus is indeed the Immanuel of God. Yet, when I read of beliefs of others on this important doctrine that God cannot take on human flesh or even your quote of "The Father is not the Son, etc", I always try to understand exactly what is being said/believed by that person & how that belief is supported. Sometimes the way we express ourselves may not be quite the same in another's hearing.
Invariably, those who do actually use the Scriptures to support their belief, will either read those verses in a different way to support their position, or some might even twist them to force them to reveal something not intended in the verses. So, when you say that you're "in the right place", you should be aware that not all who come here interpret the Scriptures in the same way. I always keep this in the back of my mind when reading the Bible: correct biblical hermeneutics is a primary (major) issue in reading & understanding Scripture, because what mechanisms we use to correctly understand the Word will form the basis of what we believe. And at the very core of this is that Scripture must be read as it is given, without adding our own interpretations/biases/hidden meanings to it (and knowing the original languages of course greatly helps). Only when the Word is giving us types or shadows, or even further clarification as we read in Jesus' parables, can we diverge from our simple reading of it & embrace the fuller meaning.
Onto Page 2.
Welcome to the site!
You asked;
"Are there prophets that exist in today's world aside from having the gift of prophecy? Or are they one in the same?
I believe if one "must" have the gift of prophecy to be a Prophet.
No the question is, are Prophets around today.
I would say No.
Here's what Paul in Ephesians 2:20 says about the Church of God.
"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Before the Canon of scripture was completed the prophet proclaimed a message from the Lord in the OT and to the early believers.
Today we have the completed revelation from God in the Bible.
Does God reveal truth to someone in a way and enable that person to deliver that message to others? Yes! He does this to all of us.
However, That doesn't make us a foretelling Prophet.
Compare what is said to what the Word of God says. If it contradicts the Bible, throw it out. If it agrees with the Bible then it us written before hand and it's not a foretelling supernatural message.
Hebrews 1:1-2 reads, " God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,
I hope this helps.
God bless.
As you know, Luke is fairly long. I am about three quarters of the way through but thought I would go ahead and post as I go. Thanks again for the encouragement.
Blessings to you also!