Bible Discussion Replies PAGE 159

Isa.2.2 "It shall come to pass"

And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it."

Prophet Isaiah is giving us the will of God and how the Son shall fulfill it. Wisdom referred to it in this verse," Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:/While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world./When he prepared the heavens, I was there." (Prov.8.25-27)On this basis we have the earth made to appear to which the firmament is the sign to show the handiwork of God.(Ps.19.1) Mountain of God and Mount Sion are mountains and the open valley to which the vision of Ezekiel refers in Ch.37 are to be spiritually understood. In the new heaven and new earth these shall be set up as the throne of God and of the lamb respectively.

Jesus did not jest when he warned his audience of the outer darkness. In the Parable of the Goats and Sheep, "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."(Mt.25.41)

Coming back to the mountain of God, the covering cherub also was there. "thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire./Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." (Ezek.28.14-15) Sin of disobedience affects the heart. "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully." (Ps.24.3-4) God fashioned all hearts alike and tries their works. God also called them to virtue but sinful mansets out to do mischief."The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies."(Ps.58.3)

Thanks brother Jesse for those very useful notes for both Hebrews and James. They all help to better understand the meaning of those verses and what the writers were wanting to communicate to their readers. Sometimes the differences in our various Bible translations are relatively minor, but at other times, with the help from the original languages, our understanding becomes more fruitful as we read what the original receivers of those epistles, read and understood. So thanks for your efforts once again.

Just a side note, and a clarification which I didn't want to raise in someone else's request for prayer for his suffering grand daughter (which wouldn't be appropriate for me to include there): the brother who raised that prayer need was not me, but another of the same name. Thought to mention this to you & the others who responded to him, so you all might know it was someone else's prayer request & if there would be any further comments to/from him, they might seem misleading or inappropriate if applied to me. I remember, you Jesse, had a similar problem arise a long while ago, which you needed to clarify your name as well. Maybe, if this Site only allowed a dedicated User Name for each contributor, this would help alleviate any confusion. Blessings.

What does it mean to glorify God?

(James Part 24):

James 5:16 - Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Confess your transgressions one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. This has to do with our interactions with one another, the heavy hand of God being upon us until we say "I'm too weak. Call for the brethren to come over. I give up. I need their prayers. I need restoration!"

So, he says confess your transgressions. That's the word faults in the King James. Confess your faults one to another and pray for one another. That is, when I sin against you, I come, and I confess my sin against you.

It's the same as in Matthew Chapter 18. If someone sins against you, you go to that brother and you tell them their sin against you, and if he refuses to repent, you go and you take two or three elders with you and you establish the matter. And if he still refuses to repent, you take him before the church. And if he still doesn't repent, you treat him as a tax collector and a sinner. In other words, just treat him as if he wasn't saved because if he refuses to repent of the sin that he committed against you, then he's to be dis-fellowshipped.

Here's the main clause for this whole thing: The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Effectual fervent is one word in the Greek text. It is a Present Passive Participle, and it's the word for energy, ENERGOUMENE, continually energizing. The prayer that is being continually energized of a righteous man availeth much. That is, it is very effective.

Next, Lord willing, I will begin 1 Peter. 1 Peter is Peter's ministry to these same groups of people, the Diaspora, the Jews. 1 Peter is written to the believing Jews about the threat from the world on the outside, the outside world. 2 Peter was written to warn the believers about the threat from within the church, false teachers, false teaching.

Blessings!

(James Part 23):

James 5:13 - Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

Is any among you afflicted? And this is the word KAKOPATHIA, and it has to do with suffering adversity in your circumstances. Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Straight up answer! Is any merry, or cheerful? That is, you're not going through the afflictions right now. You got some relief.

Is any among you cheerful? Let him sing psalms. It's kind of interesting that the term "sing psalms" means to pluck a stringed instrument. So, sing the psalms with a stringed instrument. It's kind of interesting that singing wasn't prescribed or suggested to people who were in affliction.

It's like "start singing to get out of affliction and in a better mood." No, pray! And when you find relief, sing psalms, sing praises to God.

(James Part 22):

James 5:10 - Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

First of all, he says take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, KAKOPATHEIS is the Greek word, and it means to suffer under the adversities in this life.

They are examples of suffering affliction, and of patience, MAKROTHUMIA, slow in reaction. The prophets didn't get mad at people. In fact, they killed the prophets. What did the prophets do back? They didn't resist them. they suffered for it.

James 5:11 - Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Behold, we count them happy which endure. And again, the word happy means to experience the fullness of something. A person who is blessed is somebody who is not distracted and caught up with the material things of the world, and can experience the fullness of Christ.

We count them blessed who endure. Here's our other word HUPOMENO which means remaining under circumstances. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and again it's HUPOMENO, remain under, and you have seen the end of the Lord; how God wound up blessing him with double what he had before, whatever he lost, that the Lord is very pitiful, in the sense of compassionate, and of tender mercy.

(James Part 21):

James 5:8 - Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

He says be ye also patient, MAKROTHUMIA, slow in human reaction; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws near. We know what patience means. It means slow in human reaction. He's repeating it. But also establish, or stablish your hearts. Be slow in human reaction in your impulses toward the world, but you should be busy continuously establishing your hearts. This word for stablish, or establish, means determined. It means to be resolved, to be fixed in the heart.

James 5:9 - Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

Grudge not against one another, and that literally means stop complaining. So, it's a Present Imperative, and it means stop complaining against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned:

Now when he uses the word condemned, that's a legal term to be judged. We are going to be judged, not at the Great White Throne Judgement, but at the Bema Seat Judgment. We will not be judged between heaven and hell. We're already guaranteed heaven. But we will be judged as to how we lived and walked with Christ. It's found in Romans 14:12, and 1 Corinthians 3:15.

So, he's saying the Lord is going to judge us by how we treat one another. And the only reason that we complain is because we don't get our way. And the only reason we don't get our way is because we're lusting for something that somebody else has. But he says behold, the judge stands before the door. Well, He's not on His way. He's on the other side of the door!

(James Part 20b):

James 5:7 Continued

The early rain is October/November, planting season, so that after they plant, the rains come and push the seed into the ground, and waters the ground. The latter rain is March/April. And that's the last rain before harvest. That's the rain farmers look for there at the end for their crops to survive. So, to be patient and wait for the coming of the Lord is like the early and latter rain.



And for a Jewish person, it is interesting how they would take this as God telling them literally the beginning and ending rain for harvest seasons. But the Messianic Jews take the early and latter rain to be symbols of the first coming and the second coming of Christ.

Christ came the first time. He planted the seed. The seed fell into the ground and died just like He said in John Chapter 12. But the harvest is now being produced, and at His second coming there will be the harvesting of the fruit. But waiting for the Lord to come means to be slow in our human reaction toward the world and keeping our human impulses in check. Don't get caught in the trap of going after the things of the world.

(James Part 20a):

James 5:7 - Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Obviously using the word brethren, used 21 times in this letter, is indication for us that he's talking to believers.

Now the word patience:

There are two words for patience in scripture. One is literally longsuffering, and that's the word used most of the time. That's also the word used here, but it's used patience instead of longsuffering. This is MAKROTHUMIA, which means slow in human reaction. Slow in human reaction is called longsuffering, and it's usually used in application to our response to people.

Patience, HUPOMENO, means to remain under. And that word is used for circumstances. So literally, patience is to remain under, and longsuffering is to be slow in human reaction. But it's interesting that James in a command form says be patient, or literally longsuffering therefore brethren unto the coming of the Lord.

Be slow in your human reaction to the world, opposite of being impulsive, opposite of the things in the world, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life that the world beckons to. Be slow in your human reaction towards the world until the coming of the Lord. Be patient.

And he gives an example here:

Behold, the husbandman, that's the farmer, he waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience, MAKROTHUMIA for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. Now God promised the Jews, His people, in Deuteronomy 11:14, He says I will give you the rain of your land in its due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in thy corn, and your wine and your oil.

Yes, Jesse.

Adam is another person I miss, too, along with Bro. Dan and T. Levis. I wish they would continue on with us as they contribute to our growth here in their own way and style.

Momsage is one who staunchly adheres to the idea that the KJV is perfect, along with Jim Bob and others who have come on here to press this point that they stand by even in the face of evidences such as what you are presenting. It is sad that those who believe extra biblical doctrines such as King James Onlyism disparage other translations and the slander the translators, speaking evil of these while claiming that other translations and translators are evil and intended to corrupt the Biblical text. This is patently not true.

People on this site, myself included, have spoken how many of the recent translations used manuscripts that have been discovered since the KJV was written which are in fact older. It has also been pointed out that the Textus Receptus was a translation made from a Greek translation made by Erasmus a century or so before the King James Bible was made. The KJV made use of English translations that preceded it such as the Great Bible, Bishop's Bible, and others that were made just a few centuries before the KJV. The manuscripts used for the KJV do not date too far back from 1600.

Pointing these things out is not disparaging the KJV. It just shows that KJV is just wat it is-a 16th century English translation that is subject to the same kind of errors that any other translation would have. We are wise to have a reasoned approach to this. KJV Onlyism is a recent development in church history dating only back to the late 1800's and into the 19th century. It is not a position held by the KJV translators or those across the church spectrum from the time of it's translation up to the time that those who would not accept any newer translation because they were brought up with the KJV and were wanting to preserve its use in the church. Sad that this can be so divisive.

Amen Brother Jesse.

Adam came to mind when Gigi mentioned those who left the site.

He certainly was zealous for what he believed in. I hope he's doing well.

God bless you.

GiGi,

Thank you! I do miss the conversations I had with Momsage, and I also pray that she is well. I think our conversations were always friendly and sometimes humorous. She left off early on in Matthew. Yes, she did ask me to show her, after I had said that I have found differences between what the Greek text says and what we read in our English translations, mainly focusing on the KJB. I did make it clear from the very beginning that my intent was not to discredit the KJB other translation, but to show why I believe there is no perfect English translation. Even though my bible of choice is the KJB, I know it is not perfect as some believe, and that is why I agreed to share these things.

You, along with a few others have been an encouragement to me and I thank you so much for that. Yes, I hope Momsage is well and that she will return again to this forum. I also think about Adam. It has been a long time since he has posted here. I miss reading the things he had to share. His love for the Lord was quite evident, and what zeal he had. Hopefully he comes back too!

Thanks again and may the Lord continue to bless you!

Ecclesiastes 9:8-9

8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

9Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

This verse gives us two interesting insights; the first in verse 8 which we also see mentioned in the New Testament in Revelation as well as other places such as Isaiah in the Old Testament. We are also reminded of Ephesians 5:27 on unspotted and unwrinkled garments of purity.

Verse 9 is interesting in light of Solomon's vast array of wives and concubines. There is some uncertainty apparently in different articles regarding who Solomon's first wife was. At this stage in life perhaps he realized it would have been better not to stray from the covenant that God had intended originally in regard to that subject.

Moving along we see the general sentiment in verse 13 regarding death coming suddenly without warning to everyone. Verses 14-17 talk about the virtue of wisdom in securing a city but how such is forgotten in time; and verse 18 concludes that

"Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good." This shows how; in terms similar to Galatians 5:9 a "little leaven leaveneth the whole lump."

Ecclesiastes 10

The somber tone of the book isn't seen this chapter; and many adages about not being foolish in particular and several other subject matters are covered. Proper etiquette toward kings and rulers is shown in verse 4; which reminds us of Esther with the King and David appealing to the King for more time when Nebuchadnezzar was ready to kill him along with all of his magicians when some couldn't interpret his dream. ( Daniel 2:16). The last verse reads Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice-wisely put.

Ecclesiastes 8: Concluding thoughts.

When we read part of verse 15 we read:

"Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry.

Knowing God's wisdom is unattainable is what the end verse seems to suggest; and we see the consideration of the state of man deteriorate further in the next chapter.

Ecclesiastes 9

Verse 3-6

3This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

4For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

5For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

6Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

For unregenerate men things go from bad to worse and they are indeed as verse 3 claims full of madness. However the concept in verses 5 to 6 seem on the surface to validate the "soul sleep" concept of nonexistance after death; as some say happens before the general resurrection. Clearly this is not the case and there are two ways I can see explaining this apparent paradox.

First of all the idea that Solomon was looking at things from a worldly perspective in seeking wisdom and truth is one idea. The other as I can see it is verses that describe the state of the body after death rather than the soul; which earlier passages in this text indicate leaves the body at death ( Ecclesiastes 3:21). Such a study must determine if the original verbage speaks of the body (qeber) or the soul (Sheol) as the subject matter. Verse 5 saying they no longer have a reward reminds us of Luke 6:24 where Jesus says the rich already have their reward.

Eccl.11.1-2 "Lost and found"

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days./Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth." Here the Spirit sets a parable where the Will of the Father desires the Son to find out for himself how the lost shall be found. There is joy in heaven over it. " Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." ( Lk 15.7-10) The parable of Jesus of the lost sheep would find the truth of it while he was hung up on a cross,"And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us./ But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss./ And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom./And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise."(Lk.23.39-43)

In v.5 the Preacher admits of not knowing the way of the Spirit, 'thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit' he makes his own conclusions The Spirit is however instructing us, a simple example is with the numbers used in the key verse. The command number Seven refers to the saints called under the everlasting Covenant. The number 8 however refers to the souls in prison after death or slain under law of sin and death, it is besides the point. Jesus did not die in vain but he had to take the gospel of his Father to the lower parts as well. The Four and twenty elders are set before the throne of God as a memorial by the Word. 24 is made up of 3x8 and God had foreseen in his perfect and complete will and only by his obedience and faith Jesus of Nazareth received a name above all. (Phi.2.9-11)"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name."

Hi there,

Knowledge shall increase and do you not see the fruit of the tree of knowledge is working overtime. Without tree of life ("I am the truth") only knowledge does not add up. It just hits the dark web: how much disinformation one can swallow or spew forth? Man speaks of a brave new world and its just what living in a cesspool of one's own 'miracles'. "For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." Whether you like it or not one is moving towards an end. Think it over,

Hello!

The Word of God is perfect, and there is no way to escape it.

His protection is as near as the very breath of life Genesis 2:7.I'm grateful for being able to share Bible studies, I also have a blog-it's not about Bible reflections, it's more of a personal hobby, but there is a verse inspira in my profession, that directly relates to it and always comes to my mind: "There is no speech nor language where His voice is not heard."I enjoy learning new words and texts, but as you mentioned (systematically), I must not get lost in philosophies.Yesterday, for example, I learned the word metaresiophobia.

It comes from Greek roots: Meta = change; Aresio from the verb "aresk" = to please, to adjust; Phobos = fear.In the Bible, we see that God does not change Malachi 3:6, but we must be continually transformed to be shaped into the image of Christ Romans 12:2.

Sometimes, I need to admonish myself and ask: am I really talking to an AI?Now, in my native language, I make a personal analogy with the word "admoestao" admonition, dividing it phonetically as: "admo" like "admonition" + "estacao" which means "season" or "station" in English.

This division is not technical, but phonetic and symbolic.To me, it's as if an "admoestacao" is a warning that comes in the right season - in other words, at the right time 2 Timothy 4:2.

I know, deep down, sometimes my fear isn't about change itself, but about accepting what is new - like learning a new language or facing situations that take me out of my comfort zone.But God is sovereign, and Daniel already warned us about the days when knowledge would increase rapidly Daniel 12:4.

Ps.46.4 "The river" 2of 2)

Because of man's disobedience the course of the river from Eden is still the same but the blessing of man under the everlasting Covenant is Across from which the disobedient are excluded. For them curse is according to the provisions of the Law. It is how the Spirit sets the 10 plagues inflicted upon the land of Egypt as a petri dish for God's displeasure. Out of the river blood and frogs came and the dust of the ground produced lice upon man and beast. 'so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.' (8.18)

"the east wind brought the locusts."(Exod.10.13) Here we have the east direction as source of blessing because the river symbolises throne of God.

The river in the book of the Revelation is shown flowing between the Throne of God and of the Lamb. "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb."(Rev.22.1)

Coming back to the four river heads symbolising four angels the judgment over Egypt came Up and Down. Over sodom it was same. "Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven." Jerusalem and Babylon it cannot be otherwise. (Rev.11.8) Of Babylon the angel did as was commanded.(Rev.18.1,21) "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all."

Ps.46.4 "There is a river" (1 of 2)

Origin of this river is from Eden in the direction of the east. Its end is the city of God so this river can be called the river of time. In the book of Genesis we read: " And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads." ( Gen. 2.10). The Spirit gives a parallel course after the fall of man which is set under four angels and it indicates these angels as spirits bear responsibility over the sinful world. Their purpose however is to bring this world also to the city prepared for man. "Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared./ Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him."

Because of man's disobedience the course of the river is still the same for the blessing of man under the everlasting Covenant is Across where the will of the Father is taken to the city of God by the Son. And it is straight as an arrow. Every believer is like a stream flowing into the river.

The four angels see to the Law is set to work over the disobedient. We see in the ten plagues over Egypt how. "Thus saith the Lord, In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood."(Exod.7.17) and " for they could not drink of the water of the river./And seven days were fulfilled, after that the Lord had smitten the river." The command number tells that The Word or the Law worked. The river Nile is interchangeable with every other river in the disobedient world. Next the frogs move landwards. "And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt."(8.6) Out of the land came the next. "And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth,"

Luke 15:7

"I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."

Blessings

Reply to GiGi

As I follow the discussions here, I am helped by all I read. I remember Momsage, and hope she is well. I would certainly enjoy hearing from her also.

Let prayer continue.

Col.1 20 "Ministry of reconciliation"

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."

'Reconcile all things unto himself' is the fulfilment of the will of the Father of the worlds framed by faith. (Heb.11.3) Unity of the Spirit bring ultimately into oneness where 'God may be all in all.'. So the kingdom of the dear Son is part of the will of God, "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:/ Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." (vv.12-13.This translation where saints are brought to the light occurs is as read as we all shall die once. We walk on account of it, not by sight but by faith.

The firmament is a sign for the ministry of reconciliation. In the new heaven and new earth the tabernacle of God among men descends from heaven to the mid-air. (Rev.21.3)

The firmament is often characterised in terms of crystal or stones. "And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above."(Ezek.1.22).And "And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness."(Exod.24.10). This shall be in the kingdom of his dear Son shall be called the light of the Lamb. "And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass./And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones." (Rev.21.18-21) These are to be for the nations saved and they shall walk under the light of it. It is how the Spirit explains the day of regeneration. "when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones,"(Mt.19.28)

Mt.14.19-21 "And took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude." Christ is the word become flesh. He is a sign for the Word that was God. The sound has already gone forth. (2 Cor.4.6) Now the certainty is this: In feeding the multitude he proved the word of God is indeed heard. The five thousand,"And they did all eat, and were filled" What is the significance of the 12 baskets full? In v.20 we have this detail? "And they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full." As a man he testified that the Gospel of God he put to work by faith. The command number Five is a sign for the soul of man. 5x1000 tells us that this faith with works is the foundation of man's Association with God in his Son. "And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children." The same principle as in Mt.10.40. The same blessing in the everlasting Covenant and it is distributed through disciples to the multitude. Principle of Association for Adam as the steward 'in our image' was to be a blessing to all creation.

In Mt.15.36-38 Seven baskets full is a tag for the Son that he was the word become flesh and not just a man but as a sign for the 'word that was with God' in heaven. There is a difference. So the number of 4x1000 is indicative of the Gospel of Christ and seven baskets full serves as the testimony for the Law of the Spirit.

The Spirit draws our attention to the number of baskets the disciples took up. It is significant. "O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?/Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?/Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?"(Mt.16.8-10) Whosoever in Christ serves must have faith with works according to the Law of the Spirit.

Hello Fellow Christian,

I will pray for you and your needs. May the Lord bless you as you enter retirement. May He remove from you the anxiety and depression that brings you so much grief. May your mind be renewed by His holy Word and be made wholesome in every way.

Jesse,

Again, thanks for all the fine studies on the NT books so far. I have found them to be helpful and the many insights you brig forth cause me to think more intently at the verses you highlight.

May you be richly blessed for this work and may the Holy Spirit use what you have done here to help many. I was thinking of Momsage and how you began this study due to your conversation with her. We have not heard from her since that conversation. I do hope she is doing well and will return to this forum. I keep her and many others who we have not heard from for a while in my prayers along with you and others who contribute here regularly.

End of Ecclesiasties 7

26 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:

28 Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Verse 26 shows a repeated theme from Proverbs on the adulterous woman and it shows that those in the Lord will escape from such situations which reminds us of 1 Corinthians 10:13. Obviously his experience with insane numbers of wives and concubines which God warned him would lead him astray lends to the attitude in the verses 27 and 28.

The last verse shows that original sin still cannot excuse man's deliberate attempts to sow discord and find ways to disobey God.

We could surmise this is a reference to the original creation of man; but since the word "they" is used it seems to extend to mankind afterwards in all history.

Ecclesiastes 8

The first 5 verses focus on the merits of foilowing the king properly.

Verse 8 states the first important theme in this chapter: There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

This passage shows how the spirit leaves the body at death and we can't hold it back. For the wicked they are forever weak in hell as Isaiah 14:10 states of the inhabitants there when the Antichrist is thrown down there.

Verse 11 says: Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Verse 12 shows how 2 millennia would be nothing compared to eternity without God.

GiGi,

I am glad to hear that you are enjoying the James study. And thank you for what you've just shared. I have nothing to add.

God Bless!!!

Chris,

You got it brother. I will be joining others in prayer for your granddaughter.

People today live like a king would've lived in Jesus time that would mean that everyone is the rich man today.

You said I me and my 33 times that's all I'm gonna say.