You are correct, Mark 8:28 calls the angels holy. And I meant to give 1 Tim. 5:21 as the verse that calls them elect.
Matt. 25:41 says that God created the lake of fire (hell) for the devil and his angles. In Genesis, it says that God rested from His creating. I believe that all things in the universe were created in Genesis, so God created the lake of fire (hell) at that time.
It is true that cosmic clouds of elements have been producing stars since the beginning of creation, but the process and physics to do this was created by God in the beginning.
I can understand your point concerning interjecting theology upon Scripture is one that is held by some believers who disparage theology because it is not verbatum Scripture. But I will say that most doctrines people hold to are derived from Scripture but are not direct Scriptural quotes. I think it is important for us all to admit that this is true of our own beliefs (which the Bible calls "doctrines").
The Bible is not written in a way that systematically explains the primary doctrines of the Christian faith, but Paul does speak of holding fast to the faith passed down by the apostles to the church, which means that there was a set of doctrines and teachings that expounded upon what is revealed in the New Testament, especially in Paul's epistles and in his preaching to the churches as he visited them on his travels. There was a lot of teaching that occurred by Paul, the apostles, and the pastors as they preached weekly in the churches and these teachings were not preserved for us in the canon of Scripture. But they were equally as authorative as what was written and accepted as God inspired in the letters that became our New Testament. The believers in the times of the apostles would take what they heard preached as being from God just as they did the letters Paul and other apostles wrote.
You are correct, Mark 8:28 calls the angels holy. And I meant to give 1 Tim. 5:21 as the verse that calls them elect.
Matt. 25:41 says that God created the lake of fire (hell) for the devil and his angles. In Genesis, it says that God rested from His creating. I believe that all things in the universe were created in Genesis, so God created the lake of fire (hell) at that time.
It is true that cosmic clouds of elements have been producing stars since the beginning of creation, but the process and physics to do this was created by God in the beginning.
I can understand your point concerning interjecting theology upon Scripture is one that is held by some believers who disparage theology because it is not verbatum Scripture. But I will say that most doctrines people hold to are derived from Scripture but are not direct Scriptural quotes. I think it is important for us all to admit that this is true of our own beliefs (which the Bible calls "doctrines").
The Bible is not written in a way that systematically explains the primary doctrines of the Christian faith, but Paul does speak of holding fast to the faith passed down by the apostles to the church, which means that there was a set of doctrines and teachings that expounded upon what is revealed in the New Testament, especially in Paul's epistles and in his preaching to the churches as he visited them on his travels. There was a lot of teaching that occurred by Paul, the apostles, and the pastors as they preached weekly in the churches and these teachings were not preserved for us in the canon of Scripture. But they were equally as authorative as what was written and accepted as God inspired in the letters that became our New Testament. The believers in the times of the apostles would take what they heard preached as being from God just as they did the letters Paul and other apostles wrote.
Mark 8:38 - Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Jesus said, Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me, and the word ashamed in Greek means to withdraw. It doesn't mean you are embarrassed. It means you draw back from the things of Christ. Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, I'll withdraw from you (when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels). If you don't identify with me here, when you face me on Judgment Day, I am not going to identify with you!
Mark 9:2 - And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
The word transfigure is where we get our English word metamorphosis from. Metamorphosis, METAMORPHEO, means that Jesus didn't just change His exterior appearance, but He literally changed in form. He was no longer in His physical form. He was in His glorified state or resurrected body as some people like to think of it. He was transfigured and transformed before them.
Mark 9:11 - And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
The King James says Elias. That is transliteration of the Greek word. He is talking about Elijah. Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first? The prophecy comes from Malachi 4:5-6.
Mark 9:17 - And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
Somebody from the crowd answers and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; that is, the demonic spirit keeps him from speaking.
Mark 8:10 - And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
We have no idea where Dalmanutha was. Some believe it was on the western side near the city of Magdala. Mary Magdalene came from Magdala. But they have never been able to find the city.
Mark 8:29 - And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
The word Christ is from the Greek word CHRISTOS, which is the Greek equivalent to MESHIACH in Hebrew that means Messiah. Both CHRISTOS and MESHIACH mean Messiah. You are the Messiah. And then in Matthew, he also said the Son of the living God, which is an expression of deity. He was saying that you are God in the flesh!
Mark 8:33 - But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
Please notice the position, and this is something from here on in that the Lord is going to emphasize because this is the heart of discipleship. The ONLY relationship to have with Jesus, if you are His disciple, is behind Him. Jesus says follow behind me, OPESOMOU. OPESO is the Greek word, very emphatic! There is only one place, and that is behind Jesus, following him. Not alongside of Him, not in front of Him, but behind Him!
I agree with you and with what S Spencer said, it is like Paul said we are fed milk before we are fed meat and we must pray and let the Holy Spirit show us the truth. The love for each other and the love of the truth should be the basis of all discussions. I love it when truth outshines the understanding I may have of something, I would rather be shown the truth than be wrong, we are to be humble.
Our minds and preconceived ideas are one of our enemies from within we must do our best to block them out when we study and approach Scripture like we know nothing. We function probably 90 percent with our subconscious mind with little to no thought at all. Our subconscious mind can override our conscious mind when we are reading. We have preconceived ideas imprinted in our minds, and when we read or study the preconceptions override our understanding of what we are reading.
Regardless of how many times we have read the Scriptures, something as simple as the animals that went into the ark, you can ask that question and some will say two of each, male and female but Scripture says something different. Is that very important? Not really, but it shows how easy it is to read and study something far more important and not see the truth.
If we rely on our mind and do not open our eyes and ears to the Holy Spirit we are as Mark 8:18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember.
I agree we cannot count on what we have been taught, if we have access to the Scriptures we are responsible.
Mark 7:31 - And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
Again, Decapolis is referring to the 10 Greek cities around the Sea of Galilee.
Mark 8:2 - I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
The word compassion in Greek is the word SPLUNKNOSE, which is the Greek word for the intestines, the viscera. And what the Greeks would do in order to show a deep love, or a deep passion for something, they would use the inner organs of the body.
That's where we got term heart from, like "evil comes out of the heart." It is not talking about the muscle that pumps blood, it is talking about the spirit of man. And so, the Greeks would use the internal organs to identify, and SPLUNKNOSE, the viscera, or intestines had to do with genuine compassion.
Mark 8:8 - So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.
Now here is something you're not going to catch in any English bible about this word "basket." In Mark Chapter 6, when He fed the 5000, they took up baskets, KHOPHANOS. The KHOPHANOS, taking up 12 baskets, it was like a carrying bag. And it is what people would take on trips to carry food in.
But here in Mark 8:8, we have a different word for baskets. It is the word SPURIDAS, and they are like the hamper baskets. These are huge things, so the disciples definitely are not taking these baskets. And we know from Mark 8:14 that they didn't take anything with them because they said "Hey, we don't have any bread. We forgot to take bread!" So obviously the multitudes got this food for their migration home.
Difference between God and His angels and Satan and his legion: Miracles
In MacBeth Shakespeare says in a famous quote "It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." That is the basic view of meaninglessness much as Solomon states in Ecclesiastes of all the pleasures of the world apart from God.
When viewing Christ and His early miracles before He was to be revealed to the world and the ensuing factors that would essentially speed up the events leading to the crucifixion many times people were to tell no one who He was ( Mark 8:30; Matt. 16:20). The Pharisees were asking Him for a sign; which was not granted. The many miracles He performed were not accepted as from God and they were well aware of this; fearing that they would lose their position and nation ( John 11:48). He weeded out would be disciples with hard sayings (see John 6:66). Jesus knew that no man could even know who He was without Divine intervention ( John 6:44).
The enemy uses the opposite approach; Revelation 13 in particular shows how false signs and wonders deceive the masses. The enemy never holds back unless God Himself restricts him. We see many phenomenon which to an undiscerning mind cannot be differentiated from the truth; namely fire that appears to come down from heaven; a miraculous healing of a deadly wound; and a false prophet that no doubt uses whatever religion a person adheres to to convince someone that they are the ultimate fulfillment-hence their messiah.
Only the Lord can create anything from nothing; and that is seen in His miracles when on earth. He will continue as well with the new heaven and earth and our resurrection bodies. One could argue that the elements burning up in Peter merely means a reconfiguration of already existing matter; nonetheless our old world is destroyed and anew one commences. Exactly how our new bodies are made is a mystery but they will be immortal and incorruptible.
Since God made man a living soul, the world of the Spirit is set in his direct line of vision. Jesus healed a blind man at Bethsaida. He made him look up signifying what makes man truly see which is different than looking. Leading him away out of the town holds significance. First his inner man has to be properly oriented vis-a-vis God. It is called single eye. "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light./ But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! "(Matt.6:22-23)
Jesus 'asked him if he saw ought./And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking." It is not what he required but physical healing. Nevertheless he sees angels as trees' Finally when fully restored ' he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town." It was for him alone and in healing his blindness he was set in a correct alignment with the world of the Spirit. It was for him to get on with his life as he ought to lead.
Another occasion we have from the life of Prophet Elisha. "And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.
20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. "And, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria."(2 Ki.6:17-20)
Allow me to share an article with you on Biblical hermeneutics.
Biblical hermeneutics is the study of the principles and methods of interpreting the text of the Bible. Second Timothy 2:15 commands believers to be involved in hermeneutics; "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who correctly handles the word of truth.
The most important law of biblical hermeneutics is that the Bible should be interpreted literally. We are to understand the Bible in its normal or plain meaning, unless the passage is obviously intended to be symbolic or if figures of speech are employed. The Bible says what it means and means what it says. For example, when Jesus speaks of having fed "the five thousand" in Mark 8:19, the law of hermeneutics says we should understand five thousand literally-there was a crowd of hungry people that numbered five thousand who were fed with real bread and fish by a miracle-working Savior.
Any attempt to "spiritualize" the number or to deny a literal miracle is to do injustice to the text and ignore the purpose of language, which is to communicate. Some interpreters make the mistake of trying to read between the lines of Scripture to come up with esoteric meanings that are not truly in the text, as if every passage has a hidden spiritual truth that we should seek to decrypt.
Avoid this type of teaching!
A second crucial law of biblical hermeneutics is that passages must be interpreted historically, grammatically, and contextually. Interpreting a passage historically means we must seek to understand the culture, background, and situation that prompted the text.
A third law of biblical hermeneutics is that Scripture is always the best interpreter of Scripture.
We always compare Scripture with Scripture when trying to determine the meaning of a passage.
The purpose of biblical hermeneutics is to protect us from misapplying Scripture.
In fact,there are two types of famine occurring in the world at this time,material famine is figure of spiritual famine,both are signs of JESUS's coming.
Your post suggests two interestings scenaries for us to meditate.The description below gives us two different aspects of the famine's scenaries.
So,speaking of famine,we can compare how our GOD provides a solution for this terrible event,and how Satan and his partners suggest a solution being them demonic governments,devilish religious guides,idolaters,spiritist/esoterics,among others.
How does our GOD provide the solution for this problem of hunger of bread? Mark 8:11-21:
11The Pharisees came forth and question with JESUS, seeking of him a sign from heaven,tempting Him.
12He sighed deeply in His spirit,and saith,Why doth this generation seek after a sign?verily I say unto you,There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
13And he left them,...
14The disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.
15JESUS said:Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees,and of the leaven of Herod.
16And they reasoned among themselves,saying,It is because we have no bread.
17JESUS knew it and saith unto them,Why reason ye,because ye have no bread?perceive ye not yet,neither understand?have ye your heart yet hardened?
18Having eyes,see ye not?and having ears,hear ye not?and do ye not remember?
19I brake five loaves among five thousand,how many baskets full of fragments took ye up?They say unto Him,Twelve.
20And the seven among four thousand,how many baskets full of fragments took ye up?they said,Seven.
21JESUS said,How is it that ye do not understand?
ITOH, how does Satan and his partners provide solution for this problem of hunger of bread?
They simply say:Command that stones be made bread.The heart of demonic men are like stone,the world of Devil is full of stones,they suggest for asking for alms,they create beggars. James 5:1-6 combined with Matthew 19:23.
"And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town."
Jesus laid his hand upon the blind man second time and his answer establishes that he was the Christ, the Son of God. His laying hand is very similar to the shadow, an example we have seen in the Acts of the Apostles.(5:15) The shadow of Peter doubling for ' under the shadow of the Almighty." By sending him away Jesus was commanding to live by faith in God who as the Psalmist confesses, "in him will I trust."(Ps.91:1-2).In other words he was ordained to live serving Him so he was to seek fellowship elsewhere and not with the unbelievers. "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure./...Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after."(1 Ti.5:22,24)
Calling was universal as the Marriage of the King's Son tells us. "Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage./ So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests."(Matt.22:9-10). But without righteousness no one will be admitted.
Kingdom of God is not about quantity but of life everlasting. "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost./For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men."(Ro.14:17-18)
Jesus at the end of the parable said,"For many are called, but few are chosen."(Matt.22:14). God knows who are his which has no expiry date. In his Son God has foreseen them and the word of God shall see it is fulfilled "But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land."( Luke 4:25) See the tag of Three and a half?
"Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?/ Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
God breathed into the nostrils of man and made him a living soul. The Gospel of St Mark sets his sights on the Gospel with the Son of man in the glory of his Father with his holy angels.So emphasis is on nations, of light and of the darkness. Nation of Israel and of the Gentiles are besides the point.
The healing of the blind was a case in point. He would be taken apart from Bethsaida, a disbelieving town as Jesus joining his disciples in the ship was a signal to calm the seas. Similarly as with the symbolism of the house, the vessel was separate from the boisterous sea, a metaphor for the wicked world. The blindness of the man shall be only cleared when he saw the holy angels as men set apart in the world of the Spirit. Breath of God is the expression of the eternal word so his divine will is a sign for the truth set in his inward parts. Soul is the inner man for which he is accountable to Him.
In the night vision of Daniel the Spirit refers to the Son"and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven." One like the Son of man considering it was a night vision we can be certain that we are looking at the everlasting covenant when "the judgment was set, and the books were opened."(Dan.7:11,13). The Gospel sets with the generation of Jesus Christ those who are his and those who rejected it as belonging 'in this adulterous and sinful generation'. So predestination merely refers to the calling and we who are his, are warned to make our calling and election sure.
Jesus would yet preach in Bethesda so his obedience to the Word overrode everything else. "woe unto thee, Bethsaida!,"(Matt.11:21-22)
"And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him./ And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town"
In Ch.6 :45 we find that after Feeding the Five Thousand Jesus sent his disciples by a ship on the sea of Galilee while he took time out to pray. The miracle of walking on water occurs here. Bethsaida may be the epitome of wicked and adulterous generation Jesus refers to in Ch.8:11-13 "And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him./ And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation." This also happens about the same lake. St Mark uses the stilling of the boisterous sea by Jesus for a purpose. "And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased." (6:51) The troubled sea refers to the wicked world and Bethsaida was condemned for their rejection of the Son. For this reason Jesus laid the blind man out of the town.
So what lesson do we take from the healing of the blind? He looks up and saw men walking as trees; isn't this how false teachers declare prosperity and their active faith the means to make them richer? "And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod."(8:15). Man of flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. So Christ lays his hand again upon him,"After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly." When we see Christian nationalism and culture wars about us be certain their blindness is no less.
Bethsaida was renamed as Julia as a sop to the Imperial Rome by the grandson of Herod but it's was condemned to be wiped off from the face of the earth. It is just another name for the cities so judged and named in Re.11:8.
The town Bethsaida in Galilee plays an important role in the ministry of Jesus. A number of miracles have been attributed to him either there or in its environs. This is also happens to be a place Jesus had earmarked for condemnation. "Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes./But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you."(Matt.11:22-23)
Healing of a blind man here as narrated by Mark is unique in that in order to cure him he had to look up, and not about him but straight up. Jesus asks him to look up, "And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking./After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up." (8:24-25)In order to understand its uniqueness we need compare the healing of man with palsy as given by St John. "For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had./And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years." ( John 5:4-8)
God sent his word and healed them and from their destructions.(Ps.107:20). So the angel came from above and he represents the cloud of witnesses primarily to see that the word sent out shall prosper in its circuit and never return to him in void. They are also an army as Elisha showed his servant on the eve of a clear and present danger. "And Elisha prayed, "Open his eyes,Lord, so that he may see." Then theLordopened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariotsof fire all around Elisha."(2 Ki.6:17).
Jesus would draw the blind man away from the town already under condemnation as mentioned above. The Spirit gives this as a key to the "angel" mentioned in Re.1:1;22:9. He belongs to the world of the Spirit.
How Jesus presented the loaves in the Feeding of Five Thousand is different than in the Four Thousand. Mark presents the Son of man, "And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed" (6:41). His humanity is revealed here. He looks up to heaven so when he gathers the 12 baskets of broken loaves it is the testimony of the word become flesh. Compare it with the Four Thousand,-"And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people."(8:6-7) As the Son he gave thanks or blessed them. He does not look up to heaven as in other case. The Spirit is very particular as draw a distinction between the Son (the heaven) and the Son of man (the earth). In short the body of the scriptures revolve about two loci, from his deity and from his humanity respectively.
It is also noteworthy that the Spirit has given us this short colloquy in order to instruct us the point we make in these posts:
"When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve./ And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.? And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?" (8:19-21) For those who approach his word superficially the Spirit asks ,"How is it that ye do not understand?"
Feeding of the Thousand is given in all four of the gospels but second 'miracle' is reported by Evangelist Matthew and Mark. The former presents, "and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way."(Matt.15:32). It is identical with Mark's version. Both treat the multiplying loaves of bread as distinct from the other where the number Three and Seven establish it as the testimony of the Son.
Four Thousand who were filled signifies the body, so the quote from the Hebrews apply to them. "Behold I and the children which God hath given me." Isaiah applied it in his own case,"Behold, I and the children whom theLordhath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from theLordof hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.:(Is.8:18). The narrative mode of Min and Max mode is a variation of the kangaroo word. God set his sons as a sign before Israel so both their names specifically signified the will of God. It shall be fulfilled in entirety in the end times.(4x1000) where one thousand refers to latter days. Thus Isaiah and the writer to the Hebrews are setting total direction of mankind in term of the word of God.
Jesus was concerned for the multitude and did not want to send them away fasting lest they should faint on the way. Isaiah annotate his concern, "And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him."(59:13). The number Three nails this messianic prophecy on the Son.
The command numbers fix the role of the Son and the Son of man accordingly so the word of God is inerrant. Consequently seven loaves and seven baskets seven pillars, seven days have their niche in the salvation saga.
As a teacher of the Word the Spirit exhorts anyone who does interpreting the word to keep note of the thrust of his argument. "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." Comparing apples with pears are for the glory of man and not for God."Instruction in righteousness" is fighting according to the rules. 2 Ti.3:16
"All things were created by him, and for him:/And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Col.1:16-19)
Here is another example. Jesus Christ warns the Laodicean church,"And anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see".(Re.3:18) Ministry reconciliation of Jesus we have in this healing at Bethsaida, of a blind man,"And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking./After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly." ( Mark 8:24-25). If foolish shepherds use the word of God to bilk their congregation we can appreciate this comparison spiritual with spiritual. Christ's warning to the church holds true even now.
Coming back to Jesus as the Good shepherd we have "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones."(Ze.13:7). What reconciles it to Jesus is the preceding verse. "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." These wounds did not make him retaliate but he cried at the cross. "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."( Luke 23:34). The word of reconciliation does its perfect work with word of his grace which as St Paul says, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."(Ac.20:32)
Mark 8:30 is one of several verses indicating Christ told people including the Disciples NOT to tell anyone who He was (namely; the Son of God). He spoke in Parables to hide things from all except those called and chosen (see Matthew 13:10).
When we survey the narrative of the Gospels it leaves us dumbfounded as to how anyone could not realize who Christ was. After all John the Baptist after baptizing a large amount of the entire population including the Pharisees warning them of who was to come identified Christ ( John 1:32 and recorded in Luke 3:22 as being accompanied by a voice from heaven). Only the Spirit could reveal this truth as we see in Matthew 16:17.
There are several reasons for this blindness. One is the god of this world who is mentioned as blinding men to the truth as illustrated in 2 Corinthians 4:4. The second was in the hidden counsels of God more than likely (See Deut. 29:29). If the wicked knew who He was they would have stopped it because it would have led to their guilt in the act and He would inevitably be Resurrected. Satan also may have not been involved because it would mean His defeat as prophesied in Genesis 3:15 (although he is insane enough to ignore what he probably should have known). Israel should have recognized that the suffering servant would also come back as conquering king. They would have waited until He established that Kingdom on earth without having a heart to truly worship Him; reminiscent of the group who finally rebels at the end of the Millennium period.
We need to squarely face this fact in terms of how the unregenerate view Christ. Any affinity one may have for Jesus apart from the grace of God bringing repentance is from a false Christ in our imaginations which inevitably brings a works based attempt at salvation or considering Him a great teacher or Prophet as was the case of those in Matthew 16:14. Church is the congregation of the Holy not a social club for comfort.
As humans He created, we cannot attain to His infinite and boundless Holiness, but in Christ we will become perfected in the life to come to have perfect holy humanity without sin any longer. The angels are also holy and without sin, but they are creatures and thus not holy in the sense of being separate
Friend, its not God's holiness that in dispute here, but our inheritance in Christ, now in this life.
The holy, innocent, pure, blameless, unreproachable life of Christ is our inheritance Rom 8:29 becoming partakers of His Divine Nature, the Fruits of His Spirit which against such there is no law, In Christ, the Father withholds nothing of Himself from us, for Luke 12:32
Its is a perfection of holiness that can be added too, as one grows in knowledge & understanding through the appearance of Grace in our hearts 2Cor 4:6,7
It's known, felt, consummated & possess in this life & is rewarded in the next. 2 Timothy 4:7,8
Christ prayer is answered John 17:21-24
Holiness is none other than being engrafted into God, union & oneness with Him in heart, mind & soul, for He along is Holy
This is the greatness of the salvation Christ purchase, that Hebrews declares "ought not to be neglected".
For 1Thessalonians 4:72Thessalonians 2:13,14
G4047 Obtaining: acquisition, possession (the act or the thing); by extension, preservation, peculiar, purchased, possession, saving.
Concerning angels Mark 8:28
G40- most holy, consecrated
They are separated, Rev 19:10 "I am thy fellowservant, & of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus, worship God"
Your quote is unscriptural,
you are advocating a life of continuous in sin & repentance for life term, there's no fellowship, union or knowing Him in this state according to Scriptures, this teaching becomes a stumbling block to the babes in Christ, Whom God is leading in the Way of holiness, your directly contradicting the teaching of Christ who says deny self & "sin not" & put on the Lord Jesus Christ.
These are but a tiny sampling of what God declares about His WORD, the BIBLE.
Psalms 78:1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the WORDS of my mouth.
Psalms 119:151,152 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are TRUTH. Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the WORDS that I speak unto you, they are SPIRIT, and they are LIFE.
Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my WORDS shall not pass away.
Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my WORDS in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Luke 1:1,2 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the WORD;
Luke 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the WORD of God, and keep it.
John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the WORDS of eternal life.
Acts 19:20 So mightily grew the WORD of God and prevailed.
Acts 12:24 But the WORD of God grew and multiplied.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the WORD of God.
It is clear from Mark 8 and numerous other passages that Christ had crowds following Him everywhere. This; no doubt was a large part of the reason He couldn't rest His head any place.
24 And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.
Mistry to the crowds: Healings; feedings and Parables
What is noteworthy in Christ's ministry is His technique of aligning men's thoughts to the proper focus; that being Christ's purpose. The Parables acted as teaching of who Christ was; in a manner that would only reveal it to those who God draws to Him. Mark 8:30 is one example of Christ admonishing Peter on that subject. In God's Providence; when the truth WAS revealed it would either be to those who God drew; OR it would be given to those who clearly were rejecting Him (Pharisees); which would only elicit hatred and attempted assassinations (which would no doubt fit into His destiny of being captured; rejected and crucified). This is a very sobering thought to ponder; namely that information about who Christ is is never sufficient for conversion without God drawing a man. Jesus escaped man's attempts to kill Him until the proper hour; but also He didn't want to be worshipped as King of the Jews to be a conquering hero because His own people couldn't see the suffering servant prophecy that needed to be fulfilled first. We see how this worked when the crowds shouted "Hosanna" the beginning of His last week on earth; then before it was over were shouting "crucify Him." ( John 19:6). Also as we see a few verses later ( Mark 8:33) Satan was working in Peter to try to stop Him from going to the cross. The cross is an offense to man; and we should look at it's beauty and horror in one picture of this event as it pertains to our atonement and justification by crushing God's son ( Isaiah 53:10).
When looking at the life of Paul ( 2 Cor. 12:17) or that of Job (focusing on chapter 1 and 2 with ramifications through the rest of the book) we see how Satan was actively interfering with and causing suffering for two great men of God. As we know Peter also was given thoughts from Satan ( Mark 8:33); and I recently brought up how that was very soon after something was revealed directly from the Holy Spirit; namely Christ's Divinity ( Matt. 16:17).
These verses give us two major concepts to ponder; first that those who are truly serving the Lord are going to be attacked; and secondly that in a way as a part of the suffering promised to us ( 2 Timothy 3:12) we can be assured that we are one of His own.
That ties into the series I am planning to put forth on assurance of salvation; but I am going to focus on this theme for a moment. I believe that it is fundamental in understanding Ephesians 6:12 and in general to how spiritual oppression and attacks shouldn't be ignored as what we will experience. In fact; all those who oppose us are more or less in league with the god of this world ( 2 Cor. 4:4; 1 Peter 4:12-19).
Okay; I am going to pursue this one avenue (I prevaricated above). Satan is the accuser of the brethren ( Rev. 12:10). Since He often begins with the mind dangling the carrot of temptations and the like; then accusing us when we succumb to it brings thoughts that we have of being lost; unworthy; or an overall fear as a result of his minions affecting us. We need to differentiate between a Holy Spirit conviction of John 16:8 and that of our accuser. Also; when we sin and don't seek forgiveness Satan acts as a usurper with the legal authority we have opened up and this is allowed by the Lord oftentimes to buffet us. There is a difference between embracing a lifestyle of sin and momentary lapses. Remember that worldly sin brings death; Godly sorrow leads to repentance. ( 2 Cor. 7:10).
Thanks for asking that good question David0920 concerning our understanding & use of correct biblical hermeneutics.
Biblical hermeneutics then, is the study of the principles and methods of correctly interpreting the text of the Bible. In 2 Timothy 2:15 we see this instruction to properly read & understand the Bible & this is the sole purpose of biblical hermeneutics.
1. The most important rule of biblical hermeneutics is that the Bible should be interpreted literally. We are to understand the Bible in its normal or plain meaning, UNLESS the passage is obviously intended to be symbolic or if figures of speech are used (as you shared about several accounts in The Revelation). The Bible says what it means and means what it says. For e.g., when Jesus spoke of having fed "the five thousand" ( Mark 8:19), the law of hermeneutics says we should understand five thousand literally: there was a crowd of hungry people that numbered five thousand who were fed with real bread and fish by a miracle-working Savior. Any attempt to "spiritualize" the number or to deny a literal miracle is to do injustice to the text and ignore the purpose of language, which is to communicate. Of course, there are lessons to be learned from that event, lessons which you mentioned, but before we arrive at those personal lessons & applications, we must ensure we actually understand what the Bible is saying & not replace words with other words, e.g. the fish or people to mean something else that God wants to tell us.
Some make the mistake of trying to read between the lines of Scripture to come up with esoteric meanings (i.e. only a special few are blessed to understand it), that are not really found in the text, as if every passage has a hidden spiritual truth that we should seek to decipher & then connect the dots. Biblical hermeneutics keeps us faithful to the intended meaning of Scripture and prohibits our allegorizing Bible verses that ought to be understood literally.
Lemme just ramble a bit.... Mark 8:22....Remember the blind man cd not see clearly under the 1st anointing....The blindman is the Church that cannot see clearly under early Church Doctrine...Thats y there are so many different Churches on every corner....None of them cd see clearly under early Church doctrine...Even Paul says we see like thru a glass darkly....The early Church was the same they cd not see clearly...Paul writes i hear there are divisions among you....Simply b/c they cd not see clearly UNDER EARLY Church Doctrine....We all need that 2 nd anointing....My lil Children of whom i travail IN BIRTH AGAIN A 2ND TIME....in birth til Christ is formed in you...It was not till the 2 nd coming when the woman gives birth to THE MANCHILD the Kingdom Gal 4 :19 ....Thats y there is so much confusion in this room no body can see clearly under the written word....The lesser light....The H.G. as the manchild that is gonna rule all nations is the living word the greater light...Remember the 2 nd wine was the best wine on the 3 rd day...But the blindman saw clearly under the 2 nd anointing....The 2 nd coming...When God will pour out of his spirit on ALL FLESH....The gift of the H.G....Which is that lil Child that is gonna rule all nations....The Kingdom does not come till the woman births the Children... Micah 5:3...The Kingdom does not come till the woman births the manchld.. REV 12 :5
Even Bathsheba had to travail a 2 nd time b/f...The great king Solomon was born...The Granson who God wanted to build the temple...Not David the son but Solomon the Granson...Which is the H.G. The 3 rd person that is gonna build his temple in our hearts and minds....As our bodies are the temple of God under the H.G. this New Covenant. in his blood ...And Jesus tells us a greater then Solomon is here..Impling a greater temple will be built under this new covenant in our hearts and minds ...via the H.G. That Child of Promise...Our new hearts and new spirits are the New Heaven n Earth.
No, I don't believe we're supposed to wear crosses. Leviticus 26:1, nowhere does it say wear a cross, as jewelry. However it does say not to make idols.
Recently I thought, if a person had a friend that was killed by gunshot & had a miraculous recovery. How would he feel, if when he returned to his friends & family, they had an image of the gun or bullet around their neck, to honor him. I would think it would be upsetting to say the least. Wouldn't he say, "your missing the main point." isn't it the life lived?Jesus himself being the example of a loving life, helping others in need? & the hope & promise of resurrection. John 5:21-29, 1Corinthians 15:42-58, John 11:25, Ecclesiastes 5:15, 1Timothy 6:7,
Bare your cross: Luke 14, looking at context, whole chapter Jesus in doing the better thing by healing, suffered rejection, hate, wrongful judgement.
A cross is painful, it's obvious, on view for everyone to see, not something we can hide in our pocket. It causes ridicule & even division. Luke 14:11, Luke 14:12-14, Luke 14:17-20,24, Luke 14:26,27, also Matthew 10, note Matthew 10:36, Matthew 10:17,18, Matthew 10:21, Matthew 10:22, please read in context Matthew 10, Matthew 10:32-42, & Luke 9:22-26, also Matthew 16:21-28, Mark 8:29-38, Mark 10:14-52,
A relationship with Jesus is ALL we need No matter what you believe or who you are. For He said "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world & loose his soul?" Mark 8:36. More helpful verses..
John 3:11-21, 5:24, 10:28, Isaiah 49:15&16, 53:10, Luke 18:14 & 17 and so many more yet I have studying to do. God bless & be with each & everyone of you.
"Stress makes you believe everything has to happen right now. Faith Reassures you that everything will happen in Gods timing.!
I agree. It sure seems like Christians are eager to disobey Jesus and what He spoke in Matthew 28:19. Coming up with every possible rationalization to not follow Jesus's words while at the same time claiming to be a Jesus follower. God is the judge and sure He is big and powerful enough to make exceptions and allow anyone in paradise He wants, like the thief on a cross, maybe someone on their death bed who decides to follow Jesus. But why would someone whose goal is to follow Jesus work so hard to NOT follow Jesus? Ashamed? Embarrassed? Mark 8:38Matthew 10:32-33 It seems like a Christian that just doesn't agree with THAT part of Christianity, but the rest of it? Seems like an enormous risk to take in my opinion, almost like a heart of pride and rebellion has something to do with this resistance.
Acts 2:38 - some silently add a "Do NOT..." in front of this verse. Could satan be involved in this? He sure likes deceiving Christians into doing the opposite of what Jesus tells them.
John 14:15 - Jesus said if you love me keep my commandments. Does someone who doesn't obey Jesus truly love Jesus then?
The cross is an upright stake, hence a cross (the Rom. instrument of crucifixion)
[The "cross" Mark 8:34 is not a symbol for suffering in general. Rather it refers to withstanding persecution (difficult times), by the Lord's power, as He directs the circumstances of life. As Christ's disciples, believers are to hold true - even when attacked by the ungodly.]
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27
The cross is a symbol for Christ followers , used figuratively for the (sacrifice) each believer bears to be a true follower .
Bible has the final authority in all manner of faith and practice. I encourage everyone to read only what God says, which is forever settled-The Bible is the finish revelation of God. Maybe you need to memorize the Bible then read whatever book you want to read to know they are in line with the word of God. The Bible is complete to show you current circumstances and listen only to saved fellow believers' advices.
2 Peter 1:19-21
Jeremiah 23:29-31
Jeremiah 14:14-15
1 Corinthians 13:9-10
2 Corinthians 5:7
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) If you want to see 20/20 vision, it is all written in the Bible.
Titus 1:9-11
Beware:
Matthew 16:6
Matthew 16:11-12
Mark 8:15
Luke 12:1
Colossians 2:8
2 Timothy 3:13
Revelation 20:10
Glory to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
You are correct, Mark 8:28 calls the angels holy. And I meant to give 1 Tim. 5:21 as the verse that calls them elect.
Matt. 25:41 says that God created the lake of fire (hell) for the devil and his angles. In Genesis, it says that God rested from His creating. I believe that all things in the universe were created in Genesis, so God created the lake of fire (hell) at that time.
It is true that cosmic clouds of elements have been producing stars since the beginning of creation, but the process and physics to do this was created by God in the beginning.
I can understand your point concerning interjecting theology upon Scripture is one that is held by some believers who disparage theology because it is not verbatum Scripture. But I will say that most doctrines people hold to are derived from Scripture but are not direct Scriptural quotes. I think it is important for us all to admit that this is true of our own beliefs (which the Bible calls "doctrines").
The Bible is not written in a way that systematically explains the primary doctrines of the Christian faith, but Paul does speak of holding fast to the faith passed down by the apostles to the church, which means that there was a set of doctrines and teachings that expounded upon what is revealed in the New Testament, especially in Paul's epistles and in his preaching to the churches as he visited them on his travels. There was a lot of teaching that occurred by Paul, the apostles, and the pastors as they preached weekly in the churches and these teachings were not preserved for us in the canon of Scripture. But they were equally as authorative as what was written and accepted as God inspired in the letters that became our New Testament. The believers in the times of the apostles would take what they heard preached as being from God just as they did the letters Paul and other apostles wrote.
See pt. 2
You are correct, Mark 8:28 calls the angels holy. And I meant to give 1 Tim. 5:21 as the verse that calls them elect.
Matt. 25:41 says that God created the lake of fire (hell) for the devil and his angles. In Genesis, it says that God rested from His creating. I believe that all things in the universe were created in Genesis, so God created the lake of fire (hell) at that time.
It is true that cosmic clouds of elements have been producing stars since the beginning of creation, but the process and physics to do this was created by God in the beginning.
I can understand your point concerning interjecting theology upon Scripture is one that is held by some believers who disparage theology because it is not verbatum Scripture. But I will say that most doctrines people hold to are derived from Scripture but are not direct Scriptural quotes. I think it is important for us all to admit that this is true of our own beliefs (which the Bible calls "doctrines").
The Bible is not written in a way that systematically explains the primary doctrines of the Christian faith, but Paul does speak of holding fast to the faith passed down by the apostles to the church, which means that there was a set of doctrines and teachings that expounded upon what is revealed in the New Testament, especially in Paul's epistles and in his preaching to the churches as he visited them on his travels. There was a lot of teaching that occurred by Paul, the apostles, and the pastors as they preached weekly in the churches and these teachings were not preserved for us in the canon of Scripture. But they were equally as authorative as what was written and accepted as God inspired in the letters that became our New Testament. The believers in the times of the apostles would take what they heard preached as being from God just as they did the letters Paul and other apostles wrote.
See pt. 2
Mark 8:38 - Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Jesus said, Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me, and the word ashamed in Greek means to withdraw. It doesn't mean you are embarrassed. It means you draw back from the things of Christ. Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, I'll withdraw from you (when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels). If you don't identify with me here, when you face me on Judgment Day, I am not going to identify with you!
Mark 9:2 - And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
The word transfigure is where we get our English word metamorphosis from. Metamorphosis, METAMORPHEO, means that Jesus didn't just change His exterior appearance, but He literally changed in form. He was no longer in His physical form. He was in His glorified state or resurrected body as some people like to think of it. He was transfigured and transformed before them.
Mark 9:11 - And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
The King James says Elias. That is transliteration of the Greek word. He is talking about Elijah. Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first? The prophecy comes from Malachi 4:5-6.
Mark 9:17 - And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
Somebody from the crowd answers and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; that is, the demonic spirit keeps him from speaking.
Mark 8:10 - And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
We have no idea where Dalmanutha was. Some believe it was on the western side near the city of Magdala. Mary Magdalene came from Magdala. But they have never been able to find the city.
Mark 8:29 - And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
The word Christ is from the Greek word CHRISTOS, which is the Greek equivalent to MESHIACH in Hebrew that means Messiah. Both CHRISTOS and MESHIACH mean Messiah. You are the Messiah. And then in Matthew, he also said the Son of the living God, which is an expression of deity. He was saying that you are God in the flesh!
Mark 8:33 - But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
Please notice the position, and this is something from here on in that the Lord is going to emphasize because this is the heart of discipleship. The ONLY relationship to have with Jesus, if you are His disciple, is behind Him. Jesus says follow behind me, OPESOMOU. OPESO is the Greek word, very emphatic! There is only one place, and that is behind Jesus, following him. Not alongside of Him, not in front of Him, but behind Him!
I agree with you and with what S Spencer said, it is like Paul said we are fed milk before we are fed meat and we must pray and let the Holy Spirit show us the truth. The love for each other and the love of the truth should be the basis of all discussions. I love it when truth outshines the understanding I may have of something, I would rather be shown the truth than be wrong, we are to be humble.
Our minds and preconceived ideas are one of our enemies from within we must do our best to block them out when we study and approach Scripture like we know nothing. We function probably 90 percent with our subconscious mind with little to no thought at all. Our subconscious mind can override our conscious mind when we are reading. We have preconceived ideas imprinted in our minds, and when we read or study the preconceptions override our understanding of what we are reading.
Regardless of how many times we have read the Scriptures, something as simple as the animals that went into the ark, you can ask that question and some will say two of each, male and female but Scripture says something different. Is that very important? Not really, but it shows how easy it is to read and study something far more important and not see the truth.
If we rely on our mind and do not open our eyes and ears to the Holy Spirit we are as Mark 8:18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember.
I agree we cannot count on what we have been taught, if we have access to the Scriptures we are responsible.
God bless,
RLW
Mark 7:31 - And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
Again, Decapolis is referring to the 10 Greek cities around the Sea of Galilee.
Mark 8:2 - I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
The word compassion in Greek is the word SPLUNKNOSE, which is the Greek word for the intestines, the viscera. And what the Greeks would do in order to show a deep love, or a deep passion for something, they would use the inner organs of the body.
That's where we got term heart from, like "evil comes out of the heart." It is not talking about the muscle that pumps blood, it is talking about the spirit of man. And so, the Greeks would use the internal organs to identify, and SPLUNKNOSE, the viscera, or intestines had to do with genuine compassion.
Mark 8:8 - So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.
Now here is something you're not going to catch in any English bible about this word "basket." In Mark Chapter 6, when He fed the 5000, they took up baskets, KHOPHANOS. The KHOPHANOS, taking up 12 baskets, it was like a carrying bag. And it is what people would take on trips to carry food in.
But here in Mark 8:8, we have a different word for baskets. It is the word SPURIDAS, and they are like the hamper baskets. These are huge things, so the disciples definitely are not taking these baskets. And we know from Mark 8:14 that they didn't take anything with them because they said "Hey, we don't have any bread. We forgot to take bread!" So obviously the multitudes got this food for their migration home.
In MacBeth Shakespeare says in a famous quote "It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." That is the basic view of meaninglessness much as Solomon states in Ecclesiastes of all the pleasures of the world apart from God.
When viewing Christ and His early miracles before He was to be revealed to the world and the ensuing factors that would essentially speed up the events leading to the crucifixion many times people were to tell no one who He was ( Mark 8:30; Matt. 16:20). The Pharisees were asking Him for a sign; which was not granted. The many miracles He performed were not accepted as from God and they were well aware of this; fearing that they would lose their position and nation ( John 11:48). He weeded out would be disciples with hard sayings (see John 6:66). Jesus knew that no man could even know who He was without Divine intervention ( John 6:44).
The enemy uses the opposite approach; Revelation 13 in particular shows how false signs and wonders deceive the masses. The enemy never holds back unless God Himself restricts him. We see many phenomenon which to an undiscerning mind cannot be differentiated from the truth; namely fire that appears to come down from heaven; a miraculous healing of a deadly wound; and a false prophet that no doubt uses whatever religion a person adheres to to convince someone that they are the ultimate fulfillment-hence their messiah.
Only the Lord can create anything from nothing; and that is seen in His miracles when on earth. He will continue as well with the new heaven and earth and our resurrection bodies. One could argue that the elements burning up in Peter merely means a reconfiguration of already existing matter; nonetheless our old world is destroyed and anew one commences. Exactly how our new bodies are made is a mystery but they will be immortal and incorruptible.
Since God made man a living soul, the world of the Spirit is set in his direct line of vision. Jesus healed a blind man at Bethsaida. He made him look up signifying what makes man truly see which is different than looking. Leading him away out of the town holds significance. First his inner man has to be properly oriented vis-a-vis God. It is called single eye. "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light./ But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! "(Matt.6:22-23)
Jesus 'asked him if he saw ought./And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking." It is not what he required but physical healing. Nevertheless he sees angels as trees' Finally when fully restored ' he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town." It was for him alone and in healing his blindness he was set in a correct alignment with the world of the Spirit. It was for him to get on with his life as he ought to lead.
Another occasion we have from the life of Prophet Elisha. "And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.
20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. "And, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria."(2 Ki.6:17-20)
Allow me to share an article with you on Biblical hermeneutics.
Biblical hermeneutics is the study of the principles and methods of interpreting the text of the Bible. Second Timothy 2:15 commands believers to be involved in hermeneutics; "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who correctly handles the word of truth.
The most important law of biblical hermeneutics is that the Bible should be interpreted literally. We are to understand the Bible in its normal or plain meaning, unless the passage is obviously intended to be symbolic or if figures of speech are employed. The Bible says what it means and means what it says. For example, when Jesus speaks of having fed "the five thousand" in Mark 8:19, the law of hermeneutics says we should understand five thousand literally-there was a crowd of hungry people that numbered five thousand who were fed with real bread and fish by a miracle-working Savior.
Any attempt to "spiritualize" the number or to deny a literal miracle is to do injustice to the text and ignore the purpose of language, which is to communicate. Some interpreters make the mistake of trying to read between the lines of Scripture to come up with esoteric meanings that are not truly in the text, as if every passage has a hidden spiritual truth that we should seek to decrypt.
Avoid this type of teaching!
A second crucial law of biblical hermeneutics is that passages must be interpreted historically, grammatically, and contextually. Interpreting a passage historically means we must seek to understand the culture, background, and situation that prompted the text.
A third law of biblical hermeneutics is that Scripture is always the best interpreter of Scripture.
We always compare Scripture with Scripture when trying to determine the meaning of a passage.
The purpose of biblical hermeneutics is to protect us from misapplying Scripture.
God bless.
In fact,there are two types of famine occurring in the world at this time,material famine is figure of spiritual famine,both are signs of JESUS's coming.
Your post suggests two interestings scenaries for us to meditate.The description below gives us two different aspects of the famine's scenaries.
So,speaking of famine,we can compare how our GOD provides a solution for this terrible event,and how Satan and his partners suggest a solution being them demonic governments,devilish religious guides,idolaters,spiritist/esoterics,among others.
How does our GOD provide the solution for this problem of hunger of bread? Mark 8:11-21:
11The Pharisees came forth and question with JESUS, seeking of him a sign from heaven,tempting Him.
12He sighed deeply in His spirit,and saith,Why doth this generation seek after a sign?verily I say unto you,There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
13And he left them,...
14The disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.
15JESUS said:Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees,and of the leaven of Herod.
16And they reasoned among themselves,saying,It is because we have no bread.
17JESUS knew it and saith unto them,Why reason ye,because ye have no bread?perceive ye not yet,neither understand?have ye your heart yet hardened?
18Having eyes,see ye not?and having ears,hear ye not?and do ye not remember?
19I brake five loaves among five thousand,how many baskets full of fragments took ye up?They say unto Him,Twelve.
20And the seven among four thousand,how many baskets full of fragments took ye up?they said,Seven.
21JESUS said,How is it that ye do not understand?
ITOH, how does Satan and his partners provide solution for this problem of hunger of bread?
They simply say:Command that stones be made bread.The heart of demonic men are like stone,the world of Devil is full of stones,they suggest for asking for alms,they create beggars. James 5:1-6 combined with Matthew 19:23.
"And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town."
Jesus laid his hand upon the blind man second time and his answer establishes that he was the Christ, the Son of God. His laying hand is very similar to the shadow, an example we have seen in the Acts of the Apostles.(5:15) The shadow of Peter doubling for ' under the shadow of the Almighty." By sending him away Jesus was commanding to live by faith in God who as the Psalmist confesses, "in him will I trust."(Ps.91:1-2).In other words he was ordained to live serving Him so he was to seek fellowship elsewhere and not with the unbelievers. "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure./...Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after."(1 Ti.5:22,24)
Calling was universal as the Marriage of the King's Son tells us. "Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage./ So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests."(Matt.22:9-10). But without righteousness no one will be admitted.
Kingdom of God is not about quantity but of life everlasting. "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost./For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men."(Ro.14:17-18)
Jesus at the end of the parable said,"For many are called, but few are chosen."(Matt.22:14). God knows who are his which has no expiry date. In his Son God has foreseen them and the word of God shall see it is fulfilled "But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land."( Luke 4:25) See the tag of Three and a half?
"Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?/ Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
God breathed into the nostrils of man and made him a living soul. The Gospel of St Mark sets his sights on the Gospel with the Son of man in the glory of his Father with his holy angels.So emphasis is on nations, of light and of the darkness. Nation of Israel and of the Gentiles are besides the point.
The healing of the blind was a case in point. He would be taken apart from Bethsaida, a disbelieving town as Jesus joining his disciples in the ship was a signal to calm the seas. Similarly as with the symbolism of the house, the vessel was separate from the boisterous sea, a metaphor for the wicked world. The blindness of the man shall be only cleared when he saw the holy angels as men set apart in the world of the Spirit. Breath of God is the expression of the eternal word so his divine will is a sign for the truth set in his inward parts. Soul is the inner man for which he is accountable to Him.
In the night vision of Daniel the Spirit refers to the Son"and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven." One like the Son of man considering it was a night vision we can be certain that we are looking at the everlasting covenant when "the judgment was set, and the books were opened."(Dan.7:11,13). The Gospel sets with the generation of Jesus Christ those who are his and those who rejected it as belonging 'in this adulterous and sinful generation'. So predestination merely refers to the calling and we who are his, are warned to make our calling and election sure.
Jesus would yet preach in Bethesda so his obedience to the Word overrode everything else. "woe unto thee, Bethsaida!,"(Matt.11:21-22)
"And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him./ And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town"
In Ch.6 :45 we find that after Feeding the Five Thousand Jesus sent his disciples by a ship on the sea of Galilee while he took time out to pray. The miracle of walking on water occurs here. Bethsaida may be the epitome of wicked and adulterous generation Jesus refers to in Ch.8:11-13 "And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him./ And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation." This also happens about the same lake. St Mark uses the stilling of the boisterous sea by Jesus for a purpose. "And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased." (6:51) The troubled sea refers to the wicked world and Bethsaida was condemned for their rejection of the Son. For this reason Jesus laid the blind man out of the town.
So what lesson do we take from the healing of the blind? He looks up and saw men walking as trees; isn't this how false teachers declare prosperity and their active faith the means to make them richer? "And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod."(8:15). Man of flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. So Christ lays his hand again upon him,"After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly." When we see Christian nationalism and culture wars about us be certain their blindness is no less.
Bethsaida was renamed as Julia as a sop to the Imperial Rome by the grandson of Herod but it's was condemned to be wiped off from the face of the earth. It is just another name for the cities so judged and named in Re.11:8.
The town Bethsaida in Galilee plays an important role in the ministry of Jesus. A number of miracles have been attributed to him either there or in its environs. This is also happens to be a place Jesus had earmarked for condemnation. "Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes./But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you."(Matt.11:22-23)
Healing of a blind man here as narrated by Mark is unique in that in order to cure him he had to look up, and not about him but straight up. Jesus asks him to look up, "And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking./After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up." (8:24-25)In order to understand its uniqueness we need compare the healing of man with palsy as given by St John. "For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had./And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years." ( John 5:4-8)
God sent his word and healed them and from their destructions.(Ps.107:20). So the angel came from above and he represents the cloud of witnesses primarily to see that the word sent out shall prosper in its circuit and never return to him in void. They are also an army as Elisha showed his servant on the eve of a clear and present danger. "And Elisha prayed, "Open his eyes,Lord, so that he may see." Then theLordopened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariotsof fire all around Elisha."(2 Ki.6:17).
Jesus would draw the blind man away from the town already under condemnation as mentioned above. The Spirit gives this as a key to the "angel" mentioned in Re.1:1;22:9. He belongs to the world of the Spirit.
How Jesus presented the loaves in the Feeding of Five Thousand is different than in the Four Thousand. Mark presents the Son of man, "And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed" (6:41). His humanity is revealed here. He looks up to heaven so when he gathers the 12 baskets of broken loaves it is the testimony of the word become flesh. Compare it with the Four Thousand,-"And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people."(8:6-7) As the Son he gave thanks or blessed them. He does not look up to heaven as in other case. The Spirit is very particular as draw a distinction between the Son (the heaven) and the Son of man (the earth). In short the body of the scriptures revolve about two loci, from his deity and from his humanity respectively.
It is also noteworthy that the Spirit has given us this short colloquy in order to instruct us the point we make in these posts:
"When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve./ And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.? And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?" (8:19-21) For those who approach his word superficially the Spirit asks ,"How is it that ye do not understand?"
Feeding of the Thousand is given in all four of the gospels but second 'miracle' is reported by Evangelist Matthew and Mark. The former presents, "and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way."(Matt.15:32). It is identical with Mark's version. Both treat the multiplying loaves of bread as distinct from the other where the number Three and Seven establish it as the testimony of the Son.
Four Thousand who were filled signifies the body, so the quote from the Hebrews apply to them. "Behold I and the children which God hath given me." Isaiah applied it in his own case,"Behold, I and the children whom theLordhath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from theLordof hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.:(Is.8:18). The narrative mode of Min and Max mode is a variation of the kangaroo word. God set his sons as a sign before Israel so both their names specifically signified the will of God. It shall be fulfilled in entirety in the end times.(4x1000) where one thousand refers to latter days. Thus Isaiah and the writer to the Hebrews are setting total direction of mankind in term of the word of God.
Jesus was concerned for the multitude and did not want to send them away fasting lest they should faint on the way. Isaiah annotate his concern, "And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him."(59:13). The number Three nails this messianic prophecy on the Son.
The command numbers fix the role of the Son and the Son of man accordingly so the word of God is inerrant. Consequently seven loaves and seven baskets seven pillars, seven days have their niche in the salvation saga.
As a teacher of the Word the Spirit exhorts anyone who does interpreting the word to keep note of the thrust of his argument. "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." Comparing apples with pears are for the glory of man and not for God."Instruction in righteousness" is fighting according to the rules. 2 Ti.3:16
"All things were created by him, and for him:/And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Col.1:16-19)
Here is another example. Jesus Christ warns the Laodicean church,"And anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see".(Re.3:18) Ministry reconciliation of Jesus we have in this healing at Bethsaida, of a blind man,"And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking./After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly." ( Mark 8:24-25). If foolish shepherds use the word of God to bilk their congregation we can appreciate this comparison spiritual with spiritual. Christ's warning to the church holds true even now.
Coming back to Jesus as the Good shepherd we have "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones."(Ze.13:7). What reconciles it to Jesus is the preceding verse. "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." These wounds did not make him retaliate but he cried at the cross. "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."( Luke 23:34). The word of reconciliation does its perfect work with word of his grace which as St Paul says, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."(Ac.20:32)
Mark 8:30 is one of several verses indicating Christ told people including the Disciples NOT to tell anyone who He was (namely; the Son of God). He spoke in Parables to hide things from all except those called and chosen (see Matthew 13:10).
When we survey the narrative of the Gospels it leaves us dumbfounded as to how anyone could not realize who Christ was. After all John the Baptist after baptizing a large amount of the entire population including the Pharisees warning them of who was to come identified Christ ( John 1:32 and recorded in Luke 3:22 as being accompanied by a voice from heaven). Only the Spirit could reveal this truth as we see in Matthew 16:17.
There are several reasons for this blindness. One is the god of this world who is mentioned as blinding men to the truth as illustrated in 2 Corinthians 4:4. The second was in the hidden counsels of God more than likely (See Deut. 29:29). If the wicked knew who He was they would have stopped it because it would have led to their guilt in the act and He would inevitably be Resurrected. Satan also may have not been involved because it would mean His defeat as prophesied in Genesis 3:15 (although he is insane enough to ignore what he probably should have known). Israel should have recognized that the suffering servant would also come back as conquering king. They would have waited until He established that Kingdom on earth without having a heart to truly worship Him; reminiscent of the group who finally rebels at the end of the Millennium period.
We need to squarely face this fact in terms of how the unregenerate view Christ. Any affinity one may have for Jesus apart from the grace of God bringing repentance is from a false Christ in our imaginations which inevitably brings a works based attempt at salvation or considering Him a great teacher or Prophet as was the case of those in Matthew 16:14. Church is the congregation of the Holy not a social club for comfort.
As humans He created, we cannot attain to His infinite and boundless Holiness, but in Christ we will become perfected in the life to come to have perfect holy humanity without sin any longer. The angels are also holy and without sin, but they are creatures and thus not holy in the sense of being separate
Friend, its not God's holiness that in dispute here, but our inheritance in Christ, now in this life.
The holy, innocent, pure, blameless, unreproachable life of Christ is our inheritance Rom 8:29 becoming partakers of His Divine Nature, the Fruits of His Spirit which against such there is no law, In Christ, the Father withholds nothing of Himself from us, for Luke 12:32
Its is a perfection of holiness that can be added too, as one grows in knowledge & understanding through the appearance of Grace in our hearts 2Cor 4:6,7
It's known, felt, consummated & possess in this life & is rewarded in the next. 2 Timothy 4:7,8
Christ prayer is answered John 17:21-24
Holiness is none other than being engrafted into God, union & oneness with Him in heart, mind & soul, for He along is Holy
This is the greatness of the salvation Christ purchase, that Hebrews declares "ought not to be neglected".
For 1Thessalonians 4:7 2Thessalonians 2:13,14
G4047 Obtaining: acquisition, possession (the act or the thing); by extension, preservation, peculiar, purchased, possession, saving.
Concerning angels Mark 8:28
G40- most holy, consecrated
They are separated, Rev 19:10 "I am thy fellowservant, & of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus, worship God"
Your quote is unscriptural,
you are advocating a life of continuous in sin & repentance for life term, there's no fellowship, union or knowing Him in this state according to Scriptures, this teaching becomes a stumbling block to the babes in Christ, Whom God is leading in the Way of holiness, your directly contradicting the teaching of Christ who says deny self & "sin not" & put on the Lord Jesus Christ.
These are but a tiny sampling of what God declares about His WORD, the BIBLE.
Psalms 78:1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the WORDS of my mouth.
Psalms 119:151,152 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are TRUTH. Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the WORDS that I speak unto you, they are SPIRIT, and they are LIFE.
Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my WORDS shall not pass away.
Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my WORDS in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Luke 1:1,2 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the WORD;
Luke 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the WORD of God, and keep it.
John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the WORDS of eternal life.
Acts 19:20 So mightily grew the WORD of God and prevailed.
Acts 12:24 But the WORD of God grew and multiplied.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the WORD of God.
It is clear from Mark 8 and numerous other passages that Christ had crowds following Him everywhere. This; no doubt was a large part of the reason He couldn't rest His head any place.
24 And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.
Mistry to the crowds: Healings; feedings and Parables
What is noteworthy in Christ's ministry is His technique of aligning men's thoughts to the proper focus; that being Christ's purpose. The Parables acted as teaching of who Christ was; in a manner that would only reveal it to those who God draws to Him. Mark 8:30 is one example of Christ admonishing Peter on that subject. In God's Providence; when the truth WAS revealed it would either be to those who God drew; OR it would be given to those who clearly were rejecting Him (Pharisees); which would only elicit hatred and attempted assassinations (which would no doubt fit into His destiny of being captured; rejected and crucified). This is a very sobering thought to ponder; namely that information about who Christ is is never sufficient for conversion without God drawing a man. Jesus escaped man's attempts to kill Him until the proper hour; but also He didn't want to be worshipped as King of the Jews to be a conquering hero because His own people couldn't see the suffering servant prophecy that needed to be fulfilled first. We see how this worked when the crowds shouted "Hosanna" the beginning of His last week on earth; then before it was over were shouting "crucify Him." ( John 19:6). Also as we see a few verses later ( Mark 8:33) Satan was working in Peter to try to stop Him from going to the cross. The cross is an offense to man; and we should look at it's beauty and horror in one picture of this event as it pertains to our atonement and justification by crushing God's son ( Isaiah 53:10).
When looking at the life of Paul ( 2 Cor. 12:17) or that of Job (focusing on chapter 1 and 2 with ramifications through the rest of the book) we see how Satan was actively interfering with and causing suffering for two great men of God. As we know Peter also was given thoughts from Satan ( Mark 8:33); and I recently brought up how that was very soon after something was revealed directly from the Holy Spirit; namely Christ's Divinity ( Matt. 16:17).
These verses give us two major concepts to ponder; first that those who are truly serving the Lord are going to be attacked; and secondly that in a way as a part of the suffering promised to us ( 2 Timothy 3:12) we can be assured that we are one of His own.
That ties into the series I am planning to put forth on assurance of salvation; but I am going to focus on this theme for a moment. I believe that it is fundamental in understanding Ephesians 6:12 and in general to how spiritual oppression and attacks shouldn't be ignored as what we will experience. In fact; all those who oppose us are more or less in league with the god of this world ( 2 Cor. 4:4; 1 Peter 4:12-19).
Okay; I am going to pursue this one avenue (I prevaricated above). Satan is the accuser of the brethren ( Rev. 12:10). Since He often begins with the mind dangling the carrot of temptations and the like; then accusing us when we succumb to it brings thoughts that we have of being lost; unworthy; or an overall fear as a result of his minions affecting us. We need to differentiate between a Holy Spirit conviction of John 16:8 and that of our accuser. Also; when we sin and don't seek forgiveness Satan acts as a usurper with the legal authority we have opened up and this is allowed by the Lord oftentimes to buffet us. There is a difference between embracing a lifestyle of sin and momentary lapses. Remember that worldly sin brings death; Godly sorrow leads to repentance. ( 2 Cor. 7:10).
Thanks for asking that good question David0920 concerning our understanding & use of correct biblical hermeneutics.
Biblical hermeneutics then, is the study of the principles and methods of correctly interpreting the text of the Bible. In 2 Timothy 2:15 we see this instruction to properly read & understand the Bible & this is the sole purpose of biblical hermeneutics.
1. The most important rule of biblical hermeneutics is that the Bible should be interpreted literally. We are to understand the Bible in its normal or plain meaning, UNLESS the passage is obviously intended to be symbolic or if figures of speech are used (as you shared about several accounts in The Revelation). The Bible says what it means and means what it says. For e.g., when Jesus spoke of having fed "the five thousand" ( Mark 8:19), the law of hermeneutics says we should understand five thousand literally: there was a crowd of hungry people that numbered five thousand who were fed with real bread and fish by a miracle-working Savior. Any attempt to "spiritualize" the number or to deny a literal miracle is to do injustice to the text and ignore the purpose of language, which is to communicate. Of course, there are lessons to be learned from that event, lessons which you mentioned, but before we arrive at those personal lessons & applications, we must ensure we actually understand what the Bible is saying & not replace words with other words, e.g. the fish or people to mean something else that God wants to tell us.
Some make the mistake of trying to read between the lines of Scripture to come up with esoteric meanings (i.e. only a special few are blessed to understand it), that are not really found in the text, as if every passage has a hidden spiritual truth that we should seek to decipher & then connect the dots. Biblical hermeneutics keeps us faithful to the intended meaning of Scripture and prohibits our allegorizing Bible verses that ought to be understood literally.
Even Bathsheba had to travail a 2 nd time b/f...The great king Solomon was born...The Granson who God wanted to build the temple...Not David the son but Solomon the Granson...Which is the H.G. The 3 rd person that is gonna build his temple in our hearts and minds....As our bodies are the temple of God under the H.G. this New Covenant. in his blood ...And Jesus tells us a greater then Solomon is here..Impling a greater temple will be built under this new covenant in our hearts and minds ...via the H.G. That Child of Promise...Our new hearts and new spirits are the New Heaven n Earth.
No, I don't believe we're supposed to wear crosses. Leviticus 26:1, nowhere does it say wear a cross, as jewelry. However it does say not to make idols.
Recently I thought, if a person had a friend that was killed by gunshot & had a miraculous recovery. How would he feel, if when he returned to his friends & family, they had an image of the gun or bullet around their neck, to honor him. I would think it would be upsetting to say the least. Wouldn't he say, "your missing the main point." isn't it the life lived?Jesus himself being the example of a loving life, helping others in need? & the hope & promise of resurrection. John 5:21-29, 1Corinthians 15:42-58, John 11:25, Ecclesiastes 5:15, 1Timothy 6:7,
Bare your cross: Luke 14, looking at context, whole chapter Jesus in doing the better thing by healing, suffered rejection, hate, wrongful judgement.
A cross is painful, it's obvious, on view for everyone to see, not something we can hide in our pocket. It causes ridicule & even division. Luke 14:11, Luke 14:12-14, Luke 14:17-20,24, Luke 14:26,27, also Matthew 10, note Matthew 10:36, Matthew 10:17,18, Matthew 10:21, Matthew 10:22, please read in context Matthew 10, Matthew 10:32-42, & Luke 9:22-26, also Matthew 16:21-28, Mark 8:29-38, Mark 10:14-52,
Philippians 2:1-15, Colossians 1:10-29 ,
Matthew 25:31-46, James 1:5,
Hopefully these are helpful
John 3:11-21, 5:24, 10:28, Isaiah 49:15&16, 53:10, Luke 18:14 & 17 and so many more yet I have studying to do. God bless & be with each & everyone of you.
"Stress makes you believe everything has to happen right now. Faith Reassures you that everything will happen in Gods timing.!
Acts 2:38 - some silently add a "Do NOT..." in front of this verse. Could satan be involved in this? He sure likes deceiving Christians into doing the opposite of what Jesus tells them.
John 14:15 - Jesus said if you love me keep my commandments. Does someone who doesn't obey Jesus truly love Jesus then?
The cross is an upright stake, hence a cross (the Rom. instrument of crucifixion)
[The "cross" Mark 8:34 is not a symbol for suffering in general. Rather it refers to withstanding persecution (difficult times), by the Lord's power, as He directs the circumstances of life. As Christ's disciples, believers are to hold true - even when attacked by the ungodly.]
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27
The cross is a symbol for Christ followers , used figuratively for the (sacrifice) each believer bears to be a true follower .
If your referring to New Jerusalem Revelation 21,
But it's not a day nor hour we, nor the angels know Matthew 24:34-36,
Hopefully this is helpful
2 Peter 1:19-21
Jeremiah 23:29-31
Jeremiah 14:14-15
1 Corinthians 13:9-10
2 Corinthians 5:7
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) If you want to see 20/20 vision, it is all written in the Bible.
Titus 1:9-11
Beware:
Matthew 16:6
Matthew 16:11-12
Mark 8:15
Luke 12:1
Colossians 2:8
2 Timothy 3:13
Revelation 20:10
Glory to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.