Bible Discussion Replies PAGE 128

Hello Azzan77,

1 John 5:10-21"he who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself" a call there to integrity, not just of belief, but of conduct. i thought: what are the holy and the profane if not two fields in which our affections can grow?

If someone wants to guide me beyond these first emotions - with patience, not haste - then let them teach me what constant love is. Perhaps a teacher. But a teacher whose own life is his lesson.

I've learned that there is a grace - silent, firm - that sustains us, like a lot of grass, growing constantly; it doesn't demand attention, but acts profoundly. .L It is this grace that God makes abound, not in luxury, but in sufficiency. And in sufficiency, there is peace.

I thought of the final verse - "Little children, keep yourselves from idols" - and found it most striking in its simplicity.

When John concludes with "Little children, keep yourselves from idols", I no longer think of distant statues or alien religions. I think of the idols that I have sometimes created in silence: a memory, a vanity, a sadness so cherished that it almost seemed like virtue. And I ask myself: how many times have I loved the idea of a happy ending more than the God who sustains the soul even when everything falls apart? God has given us understanding - and even if we each arrive on different paths, we are in the One who is true. We said little more after that. I believe each of us carried the weight of the words in her own way.

God bless you!!!

Blessings to you also brother Spencer. My prayers go out to you and your family for a safe vacation to and from Alaska!

If there's any of the studies you miss, just let me know when you get back and I will be happy to re-post!

Safe travels!

Hello jesse brother in Christ,

I am understanding the task you have undertaken - to go through, with diligence and faith, the sacred books in John's final visions on the Isle of Patmos. For the Word is not lost, but flourishes in every attentive heart. I understand the limitations of time and strength. The disciple's journey, as we know from Matthew chapter 5, is not measured by speed, but by hunger and thirst for justice. The important thing is that the Word continues to be a light. Save our remembrance of Acts for after Revelation. We'll be here, reading with you, so that together we can rejoice in the account of the birth of the Church. There is comfort, I believe, in sharing such intentions; although I am in the first chapters of Matthew - where the light begins to dawn with the genealogy of the Messiah - even though I am at the beginning, in Matthew, I feel that the promise of 'Immanuel, God with us' runs through all the books. From Matthew to Revelation, it is the same God who walks with us - in the manger and among the lampstands."

May God grant him perseverance in the solemn glories yet to come, and grant me insight as I linger at the beginning. will guide us both-whether at chapter one or at chapter fifty-two in the work of understanding and of grace.

Dear Sharifa,

I will keep you in prayer. You are facing a hardship that not many of us face when our children are younger and die tragically. God only knows the why's and how come's.

May God give you strength and peace and happy memories of your daughter. May God replace your deep sorrow with great joy because you know Him and are in Him and He in you. May God allow you opportunities to uplift and help others who grieve as you do. And may God show you each day the abundance of His love and care for you.

In other words Brother Jesse, The complaint seems to be about the tolerance of the Churches.

They/We allowed these doctrines to creep in.

Blessings

In other words Brother Jesse, The complaint seems to be about the tolerance of the Churches.

They/We allowed these doctrines to creep in.

Blessings

Hi Bennymkje.



How i wish i could say to you, "Come again to S'pore...". My advice is "Don't". The country which you last visited in the 80's and 90's, is no longer the down to earth, small island in the sun. It had turned out to be very expensive, materialistic, crowded, heartless and a washing machine to launder illegal gains. Den of thieves.

The price we pay for turning 3rd world to 1st world. There isn't any love, grace nor compassion, unlike the days when we lived in villages( kampongs) when, every one keep a look out and watch each others back. Now, we live in pre-fabricated, enclosed concrete structures without an iota of humanity. Selfish, arrogant and full of greed and malice.

Anyway, it is like in 1 Kings 19:10 to 19:18. There are still 7000 who have not bended their knees. Have a blessed day .

Amen Brother Jesse my thoughts indeed!

My further thoughts are that it seems it wasn't all of them in that church that held those doctrines as it's not all that hold them today, but the Lord is condemning them for suffering it.

He says to Pergamos "because thou HAST THERE THEM that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock ect.ect... and So hast thou also THEM that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

and to Thyatira "because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, Now in verse 24 he says But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, AS MANY AS HAVE NOT THIS DOCTRINE, AND WHICH HAVE NOT KNOWN THE DEPTHS OF SATAN, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

By the way I will be on vacation leaving tomorrow for Alaska, I will be periodically sending a short text here and there to store and save your postings to my account until I get back home to save them in my Docs.

Thanks again Brother Jesse.

Blessings.

Part 2:

In Verse 20, we see the correction to the church in Thyatira. Some key verses to go along with Revelation 2:20 would be 1 Kings 16:30-32; 21:25-26; 2 Kings 8:18; Isaiah 47:10; and Nahum 3:4-5.

King Ahab fell to the seductions of Jezebel, and she got him to convert the various places of worship over to pagan worship.

She had 850 prophets available to her at any time. And she seduced the people to join her little private religious movement to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

We know from Verse 21 that she was given the opportunity to repent but did not repent.

So, were they expected to do something about it? My thoughts are that if the Lord had something against their church, they had better take heed and get themselves in line!

Again, thanks for bringing in those verses.

God Bless!!!

Brother Spencer,

Part 1:

Thanks for bringing up those verses as I sort of skipped over those ones. Concerning the Nicolaitans, the Lord pointed out those who were in a position of leadership that were Lording or ruling over the flock, and that's what He says He hates. This, they should have taken heed to but continued to hold on to their authoritative ways instead of recognizing Christ as being the only authority and head over the church.

They had these two doctrines, the doctrine of Balaam, and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. What is interesting about the doctrine of Balaam, is that it is referring to when someone puts a stumblingblock in front of God's people for either monetary or worldly purposes.

What happened was Balac, the king of Moab, he came to Balaam because Balaam was a prophet. And he said would you put a curse on this group of people that are heading our way because we've heard about them.

This is the children of Israel, so would you put a curse on them? We know that eventually Balaam had to come and say you can't put a curse on them because they're blessed by God. But I'll tell you what you can do. You can bring God's judgment on them if you send the Moabite women out to seduce them and cause them to commit sexual immorality. For that, God will judge them.

And so that's exactly what he did. Balaam gave him council as to what to do. Balaam says I can't do anything because God has blessed these people. And the reason why he did it was because he wanted the money that was offered to him to put a curse on the children of Israel.

So Balac gave him some money. And he emerged as a false prophet, and he wanted to do things for money. I think we have some of that going on in our day also!

So, a stumblingblock was cast before the children of Israel to get them to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. And also, the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which again, is lording it over the people, which thing the Lord hates.

Hi Free

Parenting has its own problem. Isaac loved his firstborn who was sporting and an outdoor type. Jacob was more introspective and indoor type-,less advantaged whom mothers shall find one to fuss over and protective. Women also are sensitive in understanding siient signals and supportive of the underdog. Rebekah compensated for Isaac's preferential treatment to his older brother. But domestic fault lines and how she tried to help Jacob shall haunt Jacob. In Laban's house what he experienced was like jumping from the pan to the fire.

God set Rachael in order to compensate Jacob who had to learn some home truths in the house of Laban.

" And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her."(Gen.29.20) Love for Rachael made his life there a-winging. I have had always an especial love for the line and also identify with it. God always provides what is just needful for His children in their difficulties especially of their own making. In the end it is doing the will of God that determines the outcome.

Gen.28.17 "The house of God"

"How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God,"

When God blesses Jacob he says, "and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." Jacob is on a journey and it has its spiritual corollary, "and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed" and "and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of."(vv.14-15) He shall indeed come back to his father's house."And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned."(Gen.35.29). The House of God in his dream is yet another. Jesus coming to the temple and ihe refers to the house of God. "And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." (Mt.21.13). The heaven as a sign sets his cleansing the temple as foreordained. Isaiah refers to it as the house of prayer for all nations.(Isa.56.7) The spiritual plane carries a throne as well so we find the souls praying to God."And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:/ And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?"(Rev.6.9-11) In the visions of St John we find this same throne doubling for the temple. "And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe."(Rev.14.15-20)

Here we have cleansing of the temple in its true sense."by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs."(v.20) Multiples of Four tells that it was in accordance with the Word.

Just one point: heaven

In the dream of Jacob the Lord occupies the right hand of God, a position and the Spirit in Acts 7.55 adds that same position for emphasis him as standing: here it is from the POV of a martyr, namely St Stephen. The right hand of the most High tells us the same position of Jesus Christ whether standing or as seated. "when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:" (Heb.1.3) These have thrones so the throne of God and of the Lamb is telling us the same under the new heaven and the earth.

God called the firmament Heaven which is to declare the handiwork of God. (Ps.19.1; " And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day" Gen.1.8 The firmament serves as a sign. It is thus the Spirit has incorporated the signs in the Bible. (Mt.12.38-39) The Vision of Jacob gives us a spiritual plane which is past understanding by carnal wisdom.

What can be said with certainty that the Garden was set in this spiritual plane and the four river heads or the angel were set in change before it divided (Gen.2.10) This four is the command number for Four. The hheaven thus declare the glory of Jesus Christ the word become flesh.

Hebrews 11:1

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Blessings

2 Corinthians 9:8

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:"

Blessings

Gen.22.17-18 "Gate of your enemies"

"And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;/ And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice."

Obedience of Jacob was not by the will of man but how Jacob responded to the will of God. It was revealed to Isaac as was to Abraham. So we see this heir of promise is not understood by carnal wisdom. Had Esaua any inkling of it he would not have sold his birthright with scant reverence to the Word. So this spirit of disobedience persist in his choice of wive sas well."And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father;/Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael." (28.8-9). The Spirit laid down this spiritual criteria.Fulness of God in Jesus Christ is expressed, 'he is before all things and by him all things consist'. So the Spirit shows us the gate of heaven. Though a dream it connects us to the divine Will establishing the Covenant. It ought to explain in what sense God's promise is to be taken. Jesus also refers to it when Simon Peter answered well. " and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."(Mt.16.18) Jesus refers to a spiritual rock, this rock' and rascals go on whitewashing the sepulchre of a pagan empire. How many layers are added but it is still the same rotting place? It clearly put the finger on the nation of Israel. God the Father says,The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool./ The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies."(Jn1.12-13). The just shall live by faith.

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name./Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ( Jn 1.12-13)

Gen.28.12-15 "Mid-heaven"

"And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it./And, behold, the Lord stood above it, "

Let us visualize the dream in terms of Jacob who is asleep. The ladder is placed aslant as different from climbing. Mind you this point. 'Behold, the Lord stood above it.'

In the new heaven and new earth we have this, "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Rev.21.3-5)

Notice the level where new Jerusalem was positioned? It was on the plane where the Lord stood. Above the gate of heaven. Jesus Christ stood on the right hand of God. He is the Lord referred here.. The Spirit has left clear signpost for us to follow. Here St Stephen sees him, "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God," It is heaven and not in plural sense.(Acts7.55) Once again the Spirit has left it for our spiritual instruction. The tag 'behold' connects this was according to the Word which was God.

The sons of God are those who walk according to the Law of the Spirit or who are elected in the everlasting Covenant of seven days.(Rom.8.14) Similarly descends angels of God. This illustrates the single measurement given in Rev.21.17-21 " And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel."(144 is made up of multiples of 12) The Spirit connects the entire narrative thread upon the word of God. "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."(2 Cor.4.3-4)

The 12 bejewelled foundations are meant to be seen from the earth.

Peace "Bennymkje" It is good because the word never changes. And the preaching. When you mention Jacob I would also appreciate your version.

My impression is that Rebekah loved Jacob, and she helped Jacob at the end of this story. She let him go in disguise to his father Isak, Gen 27:13.29 (Isaac thought he was blessing Esau), he had a willing heart for Esau. So in fact Esau was deceived and got the inheritance and did not get the right as the firstborn. It is always talked about that Esau, who came home tired from the fields one day, simply didn't care when Jacob said he wanted Esau to give him his right. What is your information?

Gen.28.10-17 "Gate of heaven"

"And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not./And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."

What is this promised Land? Jacob realizes waking out of his sleep. The same we shall apply to Adam who waking from his sleep " And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh:."(2.23) The Spirit did not require to tell everytime how foreknowledge works, and here the vision explains to us it is revealed by God. By the same token Jesus Christ commends Simon Peter " Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."(Mt.16.17). With literalism and applying carnal wisdom what you get? Heresies. Cast not your pearls that Jesus applied precisely tell you what went wrong these two millennia with Christianity. Out of a pagan empire, instead from the spiritual rock that was Christ what you see is what you get.

In the obedience of Jacob, the heir of promise we find the same faith of his fathers. What is the core value in their faith with works? It pleased the Father that in him (Jesus Christ) all his fullness should dwell.The Spirit sets the world of Jaco who need rest as all humans do so he settles for a certain place. Waking up he knows. What miracle is that? God revealed to him as simple as we came to surrender our lives at some point of time and place to Jesus Christ. This is foreknowledge whether you believe it or not. Faith with works consequently is obedience even as the Son made manifest. This is house of God, where your eye of faith shows the gate. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:/ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."(Mt.7.13-14)

Thank you "Chris" i am not upset, you wright always nice and fine word, love u in Christ Jesus.

Revelation 21:1-8

Gen.28.1-7 "Obedience"

"And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan."

The Spirit here onwards is creating a narrative thread to explain, the truth behind "and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."God blesses Abraham and his seed, including Ishmael and Isaac. The compound number 12 is a tag, so where Jacob is going to, shall ultimately set up the same number. Laban's trickery in palming a whole troop wives and concubines on to Jacob is besides the point. The main thrust is to keep this number synonymous with God's promise to the world.

In v.4 " And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham."

Continuity of the promise is in 'give thee the blessing of Abraham' and his inheritance is same as promised to Abraham. So whether Abraham is dead and buried in the cave bought with his own money is not what is the point. God who promised it is the living God and in His sight Abraham is alive. Does it not clearly indicate that this promised land is a living place called the land of the Living? It straddled in Isaac old and blind as he is and reached before His throne. God is the God of Abraham and Isaac and now Isaac is extending it to Jacob.

On his part Jacob has to have faith which is the one language and speech It is called the works establishing the will of God that he is the heir of promise. Jacob obeyed his father. On the other hand Esau did just the opposite. He though the firstborn had scant respect for godliness. "And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram."(v.7)

Amen. God Blessed Us All.

Thanks Brother Jesse.

The letter to Pergamos

I would like to touch on a couple of things in verses 14 and 15.

Revelation 2:14-15.

But I have a few things against thee, BECAUSE THOU HAST THERE THEM that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

SO HAST THOU ALSO THEM that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

It seems the deeds of the Nicolaitanes has progressed to doctrine.

But the what I would also like to point out is that the Lord is contending with them because because of "some" of them within the group holds these doctrines.

He says "BECAUSE THOU HAST THERE THEM that hold the doctrine of Balaam, and "SO HAST THOU ALSO THEM that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

It seems that the Lord upset that they were allowing or suffering these false doctrines to coexist along with the truth!

Likewise to the Church of Thyatira Vs 20.

"Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, (BECAUSE THOU SUFFEREST THAT WOMAN JEZEBEL, WHICH CALLETH HERSELF A PROPHETESS, TO TEACH AND TO SEDUCE MY SERVANTS) to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

It seems that they are expected to do something about it but they are allowing it!

What do you think?

Blessings.

(Revelation Part 24):

Revelation 2:19 - I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

I know your works, and love. That's AGAPE, and your service, DIAKANOS, which is where we get our word Deacon from. And your faith, and your patience, which is the word endurance. And your works; the last more than the first.

They were a progressive church. They were busy laboring and working more at this point than at the beginning.

Revelation 2:23 - And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

As we read through the book of Revelation, we will find the great harlot who is an emblem of the false religious church, which has a woman as the head who seduces people into her beliefs.

Revelation 2:24 - But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

But I say unto you, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak;

One of the doctrines of Jezebel was "How do you know what sin is unless you experience it?" They put great emphasis on going out and committing sin, so you know what it is. And she says there's no harm in that because God will forgive us.

So as many as have this doctrine, and have not known the depths of Satan, as they say; I will put upon you no other burden.

(Revelation Part 23b):

Revelation 2:17 Continued

It says here, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it.

Now, I thought this would be something good to share. There was a movement several years ago where people would go around to the churches and say, "You know that God has a new name for you, and I have the special ministry to know what your new name is!"

And so, people would line up in these churches and some guy would stand up front and each person that came up, he would put his hand on them and tell them what their new name was. He would tell them that throughout eternity, this is what your new name is going to be. Can you imagine somebody having a ministry like that?

God says that the new name that He puts on His people is His name. So, if you read a little further, you'll save some money, plus some heartache. You stand before God and you say "Well, they told me that my names going to be Harry." No, it isn't. You're going to have God's name.

(Revelation Part 23a):

Revelation 2:17 - He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches, again plural.

The exhortation to this church:

To the one who is overcoming, again, this is a Present Participle. It's not a challenge. It's a description. To the one who is overcoming, will I give to eat of the hidden manna. In John Chapter 6, Jesus presented Himself as the hidden manna. The Jews knew about the literal manna in the wilderness. This is the spiritual manna.

And I will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows except the one who is receiving it. Now the white stone in the Old Testament, in the judicial system, was a sign of not guilty, or innocent. In Luke Chapter 1, they used the same system. You remember Elisabeth and Zacharias; the lot fell on Zacharias to burn incense in the temple.

What they did is they took what looked like dark marbles, but one of them was white. And out of the thousands of priests that were in Jerusalem at the time, you would only serve two one-week sessions. And so, all the priests would gather around this bag and draw the marbles out, and the one who drew the white marble got to burn the incense before the altar. And a priest would be fortunate if he got to do it once in his lifetime. And of course, Zacharias, in Luke Chapter 1, he chose that white stone.

(Revelation Part 22):

Revelation 2:12 - And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

Here is just some "gee-whiz" information I would like to share. We saw this back in Verse 16 of Chapter 1, and we'll see it again at His second coming. This is the large Thracian Sword that is used for cutting off the heads of opposing armies as the last event of winning a war. It was a common practice at the end of each war to take the opposing general and have his head cut off by this huge sword. You had to hold it with two hands because it was so big, and it was sharp on both edges.

Revelation 2:13 - I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

He says I know your works, and I know where you dwell, even where Satan's seat is. You see, Pergamos was the great religious seat of the old Babylonian system.

And that you hold firm my name. That was very important back then. When they came through and asked everyone who's Lord, Caesar or Jesus? And as a Christian, if you said Jesus, your life was taken, and if you said Caesar, you were spared. But they said we hold firm to the Lord's name, even in the midst of this headquarters of the old Babylonian system.

And you have not denied my faith. Notice what it says. It's in the Possessive Pronoun. The Lord says it's my faith. That's the Lord speaking. You have not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas, and we know nothing about him, other than then fact that he died a martyr's death.

Wherein Antipas, was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells.

(Revelation Part 21):

Revelation 2:11 - He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches;

And by the way, that is a command. Even Jesus, when He used it in the Parable of the Sower, He says he that has ears to hear, let him hear. That's a command for people who have the heart to hear and want to listen. It's a command for them to hear.

The exhortation for the church:

He that overcometh, and again, that's not a challenge. It's a Present Participle. To the one who is overcoming, shall not be hurt of the second death. Later on, in the book of Revelation, we will learn that there is a death called the second death which is when people are cast into the lake of fire. That is the second death because all non-believers who have died are going to stand before the judgment of God, and they will be sent into the lake of fire.

There's an old saying that says "A believer is born twice but dies once!" I'm born physically, and I'm born spiritually. I will die once, and then I will live with Christ throughout eternity. A non-believer is born once but dies twice. They're born physically; that's it! They die physically, and then they have to stand before the throne of God and experience what the bible calls the second death.

Here, the promise is to the one who is overcoming, shall not be hurt of the second death.

It was not in noise that He came. No procession announced Him, nor did a crown of laurels adorn His brow. He walked among men as a servant, and yet no king could be more worthy. He spoke with a gentle voice, and yet His gaze pierced through the centuries. He did not seek applause, but found the afflicted; He did not impose Himself, but healed with a touch.

This kind of love - it has always moved me. The one who sees the broken heart, and even without being called, draws near.

The one who waited for me, even when my faith was shy and my voice silent. He did not resent my silence.

He did not charge me for giving up too soon, nor rushed me to understand.

He loved - with constancy.

He endured rejection without returning offense.

He forgave even before He was understood.

I know this kind of love. Or at least, I long for it.

Because in the end, it is not the glitter of the world that sustains a soul,

but the quiet faithfulness of a Savior who never turned away.

Who, with grace, persuaded me to believe again.

Hi Teddy45. The Bible does not tell us about the appearance of Jesus, nor for that matter, of others. But we can assume that the seed that God had placed in Mary, to be born into the world as Jesus the Son of God, would not be so different or standing out from others of His day. He probably had the appearance, skin tone, & wore clothing similar to others of the Middle East. A little glimpse however, is seen in Isaiah 53:2, "For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him." We know this verse/chapter is prophetical about the coming One, Jesus; and it tells us that His appearance would be as a normal Man in that day, not exceptionally handsome or outstanding that anyone should be drawn to Him for that reason. Rather, that all would & should be drawn to Him for His Words of Truth, His sinless impeccable Life, & of course His sacrificial death for all.