Bible Discussion Replies PAGE 43

Jn.1.1-2 "In the beginning"-1

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.'The same was in the beginning with God."

Here we have ordinance of heaven so we shall answer the questions God asks Job."Out of whose womb came the ice? Analogy of water shall explain the womb where time and space is zero. Thy Word of truth is the womb so Word shall cause 'the dayspring to know his place;"( Job 38.12,29) We shall apply the quote from John where the Word was with God, the Word was God means the same thing:truth.

In the opening chapter we have this line, 'And the evening and the morning were' and is repeated at the end of each day shall lead to the dayspring' and it is the womb where thy truth dwells. Ao John in v.2 'The same was in the beginning with God.

Thy word of truth shall explain the doctrine of God we heard on the mount. 'Blessed are...' did not come from man but from the first begotten, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." So the womb shall explain why the word is eternally settled in heaven.(Ps.119.89)What secures in heaven but the spirits? "These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth."(Zech.6.7)

In the vision of John we see seven spirits which explain the Law of the Spirit attendent on the Word become flesh." stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth."(Rev.5.6)

This has a direct bearing upon the decree of God and in framing the everlasting Covenant Seven days are not going their different ways but follows God's decree."Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,/That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?". The womb is where the Father of lights dwell. "the same was with God, the true Light.

Just noticed an error in my sentence (at paragraph 4). The line should read, "The only problem with that, is that if our bodies were uncorrupted by sin, then that body will not perish for no sin can enter into Heaven". Apologies.

Gen.1.1 "In the beginning"

The Holy Spirit in organising the narrative of the fellowship of God with Man gives us ordinances of heaven. So in order to understand the first verse we shall look at this verse from the book of Job. "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" Here we have a standard with which we may relate the joy we experience in our hearts. We call it joy of salvation. Harmony of sons with their Father in heaven is one. Similarly peace first had found place in heaven surely?

In the vision of Zechariah we have four chariots to which the prophets asks an angel and "And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth." (Zech.6.5) God appoints four spirits to patrol His kingdom and on receivng their report God refers to Zion, "Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.

What is special about mount Zion? "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King."Psa.48.2-3;Isa.28.16). The writer to the Hebrews refers to it,"But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels," So God has made Zion as synonymous with peace, so heavenly Jerusalem we are to look for.

Another point is in the horses colour-coded here but they are to walk them and not ride them. Besides significance of colours are not what are assigned to the four horsemen in the book of the Revelation. ch.6."The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country."(vv6-7) Law of the Spirit assures how to enter the God's rest, "Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

Page 2. Ronald.

And on the other matter of the eternal fate of the unsaved dead, whether forever dead or going into an eternal fire of damnation, we would have to also put this one into the same basket with what we have now been discussing now, and include the Deity of Christ as well. Maybe someone with a working knowledge of classical Greek and the later koine Greek, would help us understand these texts better. Again, I appreciate your time and thoughts on this subject. Every blessing to you brother as we continue to search and understand God's Holy Word together.

Thanks again brother for your input. My first thought was to agree with you that there was no point in dragging this exchange out any further; but then felt that I should respond to you, as I hate leaving matters hanging without giving a response.

I agree with you that quite often at funeral services we hear that "Bob is with Jesus in heaven", whether or not he was truly saved & made new through Christ's Blood. But in these discussions, I hope that we have gone beyond such ill-considered remarks and dealing with what the biblical texts actually state, or at least, leading us to form a valid understanding.

You wrote (in connection to Ecclesiastes 9:5 & Psalm 115:17), "I believe that if our spirit were alive in heaven, we would be praising the LORD". If indeed our spirits were not in heaven but somehow are floating around or settled down in the grave, then yes, there would be no praising the LORD. But if our spirits are in Heaven, then we could do no less than be exulting the LORD & His Son in praise.

I believe that in part, you are correct that "if we all have an immortal spirit, there is no death and no true gift of eternal life because we already possess it." The only problem with that, is that if our bodies were uncorrupted by sin, then that body must needs perish for no sin can enter into Heaven. As such, Adam and Eve were in such a pure state, physically and spiritually, and would have lived eternally on Earth, in their Eden, constantly communing with their Creator. But sin entered, they fell spiritually, & their bodies began the process of deterioration until death overtook them. And so the promises you quoted from John's Gospel are relevant, not to the body that perishes, but to the real aspect of man, the spirit that can never die but given eternal life with the One Who purchased them. Onto Page 2.

An interesting subject to say the least !

I would say God is the judge on this subject . Here are a few verses to consider. Hebrew 11.5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death ; and was not found , because God had translated him ; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God . ( notice he did not die like Jesus did and was raised up by God , calling Jesus his first born , after his resurrection. ) Enoch walked with God as we all know .

A very good chapter to read is 2Corrinthians ch 5 v 9 is interesting, Wherefore we labour , that weather present or absent , we may be accepted of him . This was apostle Paul speaking . Hebrews 12 v14 Follow peace with all men , and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord . ( our state needs to be holy , and our walk as well , that's the way I understand it , God is the Judge of us all but has a high calling to be over comers )

Hey Chris,

Thanks for your reply. I understand many see this as comfort, similar to what you hear at a funeral when the preacher says Bob is with Jesus in heaven. Am I going to tell that loved one No, he is not? NO, but what is the actual truth?

Ecclesiastes 9:5, if we die, we know nothing. Psalms 115:17 I believe that if our spirit were alive in heaven, we would be praising the LORD. Our only hope of eternal life is in Jesus; this comes when we are resurrected, not before, 1 Corinthians 15:52-54.

Not to drag this out, I will say, if we all have an immortal spirit, there is no death and no true gift of eternal life because we already possess it. John 3:15, John 10:28, Romans 2:7, Romans 6:23, 1 John 2:25. This is our promise. The others receive death; they will perish, John 3:16, 2 Thessalonians 2:10, 2 Peter 2:12. The word perish is to destroy fully, permanent, absolute destruction. Revelation 21:8 their part, their punishment, and death will fit their sins, not burn for eternity.

Death is not a separation, as Greek philosophy puts it, which has influenced today's understanding.

Thanks again, brother,

God bless,

RLW

God's apparent contradictions (continued)

We see one such case of man's accusation of God not being fair when we read Ezekiel 18. This whole chapter merely focuses on man's perverted concepts of family guilt or a curse as some like to present it and ignoring the fact that everyone who loves God breaks the curses (as Deuteronomy explains); and that each individual either justifies themselves or condemns themselves based on their own actions. There are many scriptures that present the concept of judgment being worse for those who once followed at least externally God's laws than those who never knew the truth. I won't elaborate further in this posting.

Anyway; before we go any further the obvious "elephant in the room" so to speak is the fact that God can do whatever He pleases. ( Psalm 115:3 and a plethora of other references in the Bible). What is predestined and determined to come to pass may seem to contradict God changing His mind or "repenting" as some passages indicate; most often if not ALWAYS due to the intercession of individuals (such as Abraham and Moses during rebellious episodes in the wilderness). Christ; of course ever intercedes for our prayers in heaven as Hebrews indicates.

There IS a certainly that God's plans for salvation are only through the atonement of Christ; whether one calls themselves a "Calvanist" or "Arminian" that point would be in agreement; the contention being how much our own volition plays a part in salvation. The fact that we aren't the arbitrators of our own destiny on our terms should be abundantly clear from scripture.

After death; of course it is too late as Hebrews 9:27 makes perfectly clear. We truly MUST believe in the heart and of course from the abundance of the heart the "mouth speakest". A "decision" for the Lord that doesn't involve the heart but is merely mental asset is something I have already alluded to with my previous posts today. But God grants repentance involving reverence for Holiness.

The way I understand blasphemy is that you cannot blasphem against the Holy Ghost until you know him. Is this the way you see it?

Apparent contradictions in the character of God and the Godhead (continued).

We may as well admit that the actions alone of God and how what truly was a Theocracy in ancient Israel are vastly different if not diametrically opposed to how they are in what dispensationalists would call the "church age" of now. There is no use pretending that these present at the very least an unpleasant reality to what we are conditioned to react to; or what seems "normal" today.

The atheist would love to trap us on this subject and I fear that many are not Biblically literate enough or wise enough for a decent exegesis on this subject. As with any other topic we can go to extremes; today in the USA at least until recently all sorts of heinous exploits have gone on without punishment enacted as it was in the O.T. and whatever laws did exist on the subject are being eroded away s basically people can live like (we'll say heck) without any seeming consequences beyond a slap on the wrist.

Men say God is contrary; volatile or unhinged; meantime we have terms that describe "freedom" to terminate countless lives in the womb and that allow certain radical political groups to act with impunity causing all sorts of vandalism or worse while being offended at anything said that is considered unfriendly and what is most recently being accepted; that anything besides wholeheartedly embracing all sorts of abominations is a penalty worthy of severe retribution.

Not accepting chastisement of course is a red flag of an unregenerate soul. This of course was fueled by the rearing of a spoiled generation that preceded this one perpetuating rebellion in general. The only thing that has changed is the popularity of being a churchgoing citizen and proud American post WW2 when of course things like racism abounded to where all good things God has bestowed in our sacrifices and heritage is thrown out the window. We may be headed back to nationalism but without God it is another vain hope of man

Comparison of Hosea 5:3 and 11:8

"I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, O Ephraim, you commit whoredom, and Israel is defiled." - Hosea 5:3

Hosea 11:8

"How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart churns within me; my sympathy is stirred." - Hosea 11:8

In this admittedly bizarre story of the prophet Hosea God starts out commanding him to marry someone who came from a life of whoredom. As some may claim "Doth he not protest?" After all a Jew would take a virgin; especially in regard to the conduct of a prophet. Ezekiel 44:22 states And they shall not marry a widow or a divorced woman, but must marry a virgin of the descendants of the house of Israel, or a widow of a priest.

They must not marry widows or divorced women; they may marry only virgins of Israelite descent or widows of priests.

Part of being a prophet at that time was pretty much being alone as the nation had at this point; by and large sidelined much respect for them. In this case God had an object lesson for the prophet personally; no doubt along with the symbolic meanings and prophetic implications He was drawing out of the situation.

I'll let the reader study the details of the tribe of Ephriam here; but in the context of Hosea there are clearly judgments that are coming to pass due to the track record of false gods being worshipped. The concept of redemption is seen here as well with the prophet being compelled to buy her back after her infidelities; again on a personal note as no doubt forgiveness on his part had to be part of the equation although it is not discussed. It demonstrates the permanent aspects of God's covenants with His people; and also there are no doubt implications regarding a marriage covenant as well.

The central theme here no doubt is Christ; as God's love is demonstrated in His death for His people; a sordid and evil group of whom we all belonged

Comparison of Hosea 5:3 and 11:8

"I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, O Ephraim, you commit whoredom, and Israel is defiled." - Hosea 5:3

Hosea 11:8

"How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart churns within me; my sympathy is stirred." - Hosea 11:8

In this admittedly bizarre story of the prophet Hosea God starts out commanding him to marry someone who came from a life of whoredom. As some may claim "Doth he not protest?" After all a Jew would take a virgin; especially in regard to the conduct of a prophet. Ezekiel 44:22 states And they shall not marry a widow or a divorced woman, but must marry a virgin of the descendants of the house of Israel, or a widow of a priest.

They must not marry widows or divorced women; they may marry only virgins of Israelite descent or widows of priests.

Part of being a prophet at that time was pretty much being alone as the nation had at this point; by and large sidelined much respect for them. In this case God had an object lesson for the prophet personally; no doubt along with the symbolic meanings and prophetic implications He was drawing out of the situation.

I'll let the reader study the details of the tribe of Ephriam here; but in the context of Hosea there are clearly judgments that are coming to pass due to the track record of false gods being worshipped. The concept of redemption is seen here as well with the prophet being compelled to buy her back after her infidelities; again on a personal note as no doubt forgiveness on his part had to be part of the equation although it is not discussed. It demonstrates the permanent aspects of God's covenants with His people; and also there are no doubt implications regarding a marriage covenant as well.

The central theme here no doubt is Christ; as God's love is demonstrated in His death for His people; a sordid and evil group of whom we all belonged

More thoughts on Christ asking to forgive those who took part in His humiliation on the cross.

An atheist admittedly could look at the wrath of God based on many instances in the O.T. and compare it with Christ asking for those who literally were taking a part in His execution for forgiveness and make a case for God or the Godhead being schizophrenic or at least inconsistent. The same God who cursed the serpent in Eden would place the image of a serpent on a pole as a prefigure for Christ's atoning sacrifice (see Numbers 21:5-7).

Now it may seem sacrilege or at least disrespectful of God for me to even offer such a viewpoint as to the mystery of the council of God ( Deut. 29:29). It almost reminds me of some who in helping a person who say is suicidal by talking points related to such actions. My point is that in either case avoiding touchy subjects isn't going to help us to understand what we should as kings and priests have the concept of ( Proverbs 25:2 but also reflected in many parables told by Christ to that affect).

I pray that this series of postings is edifying; as I don't wish to enter something controversial merely to draw attention to something as a point of fascination.

In this section I am starting with exploring forgiveness as to what it is and what it is NOT. We recall what Jesus stated in regard to blaspheme of the Holy Spirit

Luke 12:10: "And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

In ignorance those who didn't know that Jesus was God in flesh could hurl all sorts of accusations including sarcastically stating to them to get down from the cross. The fact is they all thought that He was the victim of circumstances that were beyond His control rather than a deliberate laying down His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. They also in this thought process couldn't grasp that Jesus would do nothing the Father hadn't instructed.

Luke 23:34

" Then said Iesus, Father, forgiue them, for they know not what they doe: And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."

(Sorry 1611 version copied-you get the point)

Acts 7:59-60

59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.

There is a similar event here regarding the death of Stephen and Jesus as to their asking for God to forgive their enemies.

Could we say in some sense Jesus was not only invoking in prayer for the forgiveness of those actually present but all of those whose sin He was going to take on? Food for thought...

We are reminded in this of past times when God in His wrath would destroy nations through great signs; or destroyed the sons of Korah for another example. Elijah and the contest with the prophets of Baal is yet another incident where those who continued in pagan practices even though they acknowledged He was God were killed; this warning certainly is pertinent to those in the Revelation 6 conundrum largely of their own making who hide from God's wrath which they no doubt were largely responsible for in the death of the martyrs of the 5th Seal worldwide and continuing to attempt to find solace in the governments and system of this world.

Christ died for His enemies; and as there is not room for middle ground here we all have to decide what to do with this fact.

Unbelief dictates that we aren't broken over this act of sacrificial love beyond comprehension; but we find some substitution; some attempt to save face as it were to make ourselves acceptable to God some other way. The reason why God sometimes destroys someone for acknowledgment that He is God can be seen with Judas Iscariot; He could only see a righteous man in Christ not that He was God the Son. Not accepting God's free gift because it offends our sensibilities is a way o whitewashing our own sin.

Ps.68.6 "Solitary"

"God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land."

A child of God may be solitary but is never abandoned. Abding in Christ means he has the Son as well as his Father. In the night vision of Daniel the Spirit of God presents us a family which are angels ministering for heirs of salvation and the cloud of witnesses surrounding the child adopted into the household of God.(Dan.7.10;Heb.12.1) As a sign the Covenant gives an innerman as the pledge that we shall be a building of God fitly framed together, It is to which the Son of man in his glory refers in the Parable."Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."(Mt.25.34)

"when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?"The question comes under the department of works and the man child requires constant attention as the virtuous woman who bringeth choicest viands and wine from the word of God is wisely investing in the eternity,"She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar/She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens/She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard/She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms./She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night."(Pro.31.14-18) Her industry is running on faith from which she never takes off her feet. It is this glorifies her Lord and master. "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."(Mt.25.40)

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Hello Tanae7852 and welcome to these pages. That's really great that you are keen to start reading and studying God's Holy Word. As you prayerfully read its sacred pages, waiting on Him to open your understanding and applying its Truths, you will truly be enriched in your life and faith - faith in a never-failing God.

To answer your question about the first disciple to follow Jesus, you can read that account in John 1:35-40, the day after Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. And that disciple was Andrew, who in turn searched out his brother Simon, telling him to come with him as he had found the Messiah. Now there is another account in Matthew 4:18-20 which also states that Andrew & Simon were seen by Jesus, as they were mending their fishing nets. In this account, they left everything and followed Jesus.

But in respect of the chronology of events, it seems that the John chap 1 reference is the first meeting, as Jesus had first been baptized by John the Baptist & met Andrew & Simon, then after Jesus' temptation by Satan in the wilderness, He saw Andrew & Simon by the Sea of Galilee with their nets and now they followed Him ( Matthew 4:18-20). It was at this point that Andrew & Simon left all for Jesus. I hope that brings things into perspective.

If, after reading through all the Gospels, you want to re-read them in chronological order (i.e. events according to the order they occurred), then you could get hold of a "Harmony of the Gospels". If your Bible doesn't have one, then do a web search for that phrase and I would recommend the one that Blue Letter Bible produces; a different way of going through the Life and times of Jesus. Blessings.

Thanks brother Ronald for those thoughts and your understanding on this matter. Just to give a slight, yet important, correction to your quotation of my post: I wrote of the "SPIRITS of the deceased believers were already in Heaven, etc". So, my understanding (to answer your question) is that we are essentially spirit beings living in mortal bodies. Our spirits can never die ( Acts 7:59; Luke 16:20-23; Matthew 17:1-3) but our bodies certainly will die and perish into the earth ( Ecclesiastes 9:5,10; Psalm 6:5; Psalm 115:17) and awaiting resurrection. So, because of these perishing bodies, we are mortal beings, but with an immortal spirit that gives us life and one day returns to God.

Your quoting 2 Corinthians 5:6-9 is particularly clear. You have shared that these verses apply to the time of the resurrection of our dead bodies. But as I read it, Paul is essentially telling us that if we are alive ("at home in the body"), we are not in the Lord's presence ("absent from the Lord"). We can only be alive or dead; if alive, our spirit within us gives us life; if dead, our spirit departs our bodies that causes death.

So Paul is "groaning" over this matter, longing for departure from this life that he might be with his Lord. There isn't any intermediate state or any length of time in Paul's writing between death and life - it speaks of one or the other: either we are alive with our spirit or dead without the spirit. We can't be dead with our spirit in-house, and awaiting the resurrection. Or, we could even ask, 'why would Paul even want to depart this life and then remain in the grave for an indeterminate length of time?' His longing was to be with Jesus immediately upon his death, thus he looked forward to it.

To your answer to your question: "when will we be absent from this body?" this is at the resurrection; my understanding (as given above) is 'our absence from this body is at our death'. Every blessing.

Rev.12.14 "The wilderness" (4 of 4)

"And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, "

As soon as the man child is caught up to the throne what is left of the soul but a wilderness. As with the Jewish nation so shall be with the church left behind. "And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days."(12.6)

Soul of man with Christ is a well watered garden and without him a wilderness. God is just and shows no partiality. With Jews, Gentiles and with the Pagans soul cannot stand by itself. The Parable of the Five foolish virgins show the result of quenching the Spirit. Their souls were as dry as can be. The number Five indicate ithe parable is is all about soul. Look at the passage from the book of the Revelation. "And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man."(9.5-6)

Torment of five months is of the soul. It is also called 'great' tribulation. "And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them."

Only when soul is removed shall the wicked know what torment really is. Remember Samson how we was broght low by flouting his vow and his calling. "And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him."( Judges 16.20)

Instead of asking hypothetical questions wise up, man 'rapture is not COD but delayed payment for sluggards. They chased culture wars and slimy sleazebag in high offices and finds they have lost their most precious article freely given. They are like the Rich Man in the Parable of Lazarus. Faith was there and over it howmuch breath they wasted instead of making their talents to profit and for glory?

The Song.4.12,15 "Enclosed Garden" (3 of 4)

What is our soul? God made us a living soul so our substance is not in mere abstract aspect of the Spirit; we are formed of the dust of the ground but Christ Jesus our mediator, 'Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;'. In his triumph do not not belong to this natural world either. We are betwixt and between. It is like my signature and it is valid even after I am gone. My legal heirs can lay claim to my possessions since I attested my will by signing it.

In the Song of Solomon he refers to soul as an enclosed garden."A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed." Christ sees me as the bride so the substance, a glorious body is prepared for me in heaven as was for the Son whose house are we by faith. In the vision of Daniel we see the body prepared for the Son of man, " and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." Our names are written in the books which Jesus also attest."but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."( Lk. 10.20)

We are an enclosed garden so each soul has equal access to the living waters from the abundant mercies of the Father. "A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon." This being the case what does the field of a sluggard indicate? "And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down."(Prov.24.30-31) In marriage breaks up mental cruelty is a case that partners give as a reason. What one does to the soul, these little ones are worse than spiritual cruelty. "It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones."(Lk.17.2) We broke the pledge, and covenant breakers are cast into outer darkness.

Not a problem brother. These things do happen, though I have to admit that replies/notifications to me have been more consistent in these past months than before. And since we have only one page of discussions presented, I usually start at the bottom and work to the top to ensure that I don't miss any, even if I did not receive a reply email. I guess we just have to live with it or work around it. Thanks for letting us know. GBU.

Thanks again Meek and seek for those final thoughts. May the Lord bless you richly.

Christian Greetings brother Spencer and Brother Chris. Again, thank you for your encouragements in the Lord!

I am not sure why, but neither of your replies to the last reply of my own were notified to me. I think I even checked this morning by signing in and still saw no replies. Sorry for my late thank you!

Carleton

Modification in the last para. Here is the modified version:

"What does the Parable of Goats and Sheep teach you?"Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."(Mt.25.40) The soul is same as your heart fashioned of God, equal. God however tries your works. A watered garden is different from the field of a sluggard. You have locked in your little one and call it activism, Bah!"

Isa.66.7" Soul of man"( 2 of 4)

God breathed into the nostrils of man made him a living soul. God separated light from darkness and children of darkness are those who hate light. By the same rationale we have Zion as the Mother of all consolations, "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem." On the other hand sinners in Zion are afraid because they as,"Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"(33.14). Hypocrites have no place there. Isaiah counsels them thus, "And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday." (Ps.58.7-10 From your soul if you shall not learn who else will can you teach?

Your soul is a pledge from God with regards to your substance reserved for you in heaven. Your soul is a child so inner man is there to warn you. Your soul is hungry whom you shall feed in time. The word of God is sweeter than honey. Israel in the wilderness lusted meat and loathed the angel's food. So what did God do? "And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul." (Ps.106.15)

God warns," and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh" Charity begins at home and it is how you shine as lights in this wicked and perverse generation. First let your soul be lit being obedient to God as his Son made it manifest. "And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not."

What does the Parable of Goats and Sheep teach you?"Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."(Mt.25.40) The soul is same as your heart fashioned of God equal. A watered garden is different from the field of a sluggard. You have mocked in your little one and call it activism, Bah!

Hey Chris,

Just something to consider about your post on what Paul was teaching, "deceased believers were already in Heaven and that at His Coming, Jesus would bring them with Him and their bodies buried in the earth would join with their spirits. So, the believers should be assured that God had not forgotten those who were in their graves at His Coming, since they were very much alive with Him & together would join with those living believers on Earth".

I would ask, are we mortal beings or immortal beings? Saying that believers are in heaven and very much alive is saying we are eternal beings, or that our spirit or soul is immortal. If we look at Ecclesiastes 12:7, this applies to all of mankind, whether they are believers or the evilest person who has ever lived. All spirits return to God.

James 2:26 says, "the body without the spirit is dead". Adam was not a living soul/being until God breathed into him the breath of life, Genesis 2:7. This is the spirit of life that God gives to all living, and the part of us that God communicates with us, Proverbs 20:27, 2 Corinthians 2:13, and when we die, there is no more communication; we wait for resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:53-54, Paul clearly says we are mortal; it is we who are resurrected, not our bodies, our bodies return to dust.

Some use 2 Corinthians 5:6-9 as saying it means when we die, we are absent from the body and present with the Lord. The question we should ask is when we will be absent from this body. If we are open, the Scriptures tell us that it is when we are resurrected, that happens when Jesus returns, we will be gathered unto Jesus here on earth, and we shall ever be with our Lord. We meet Him in the air, welcoming Him back. The Greek word translated meet is apantesis, meaning a going-out to greet an arriving, emphasizing their importance, stressing welcome, honor, and accompaniment.

Thanks, brother,

God bless,

RLW

KJVJohn 17:5-

Just wanted to share these precious scriptures with you as a reminder of the "Mighty God We Serve!"

2As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. 6I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 7Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 8For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

John 14:15

"If ye love me, keep my commandments."

1 John 5:2

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments."

Amen! To God be the Glory!

Isa.66.7 Man child (1 of 4)

" Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child"

Soul is helpless as a child and signifies the Man component in the fellowship of God with Man. Evocative of the woman clothed with the Sun what travail has Zion to do with the labour. Zion is a destination which translating from the world unseen into the light the question of darkness has to be dealt with, and the emblem of the Lamb slain has to prepare a body which shall honour the Son as precious as he is in His sight. As Zechariah says his Son is his soul. "For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye." Israel is first conceived in his mind. So Law of the Spirit is not what is plucked out of thin air but the rest in which He takes delight. "Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.(Zec.2.6; Isa.33.20)

Jerusalem referred in the context is to them, "your brethren that hated you out and cast you out" refers to the darkness and Isaiah is defending apple of His eye so headdresses them in these words,"Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.(66.5). Isaiah refers to the enemies to Christ,'And they shall be ashamed.'

It is thus Zion becomes the bone of contention between generation of Jesus Christ against the wicked and adulterous generation.

"Before the pain came' explains the role faith has played. By the word of God the worlds were framed so the Covenant in seven days groups His tabernacle in heaven. The Man component in a believer signifies his soul, God's gift

Amen Brothers Chris and Carleton!

Greeting's

Isaiah 58:13

"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:"

Isaiah 58:14

"Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it."

Hebrews 4:10

"For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his."

Blessings

Dan.8.8 "Four winds of heaven"

"the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven."

The Spirit sets this narrative under the tag of the third year of Balshazzar as he sets the night vision in the preceding chapter in the first year of Balshazzar the king of Babylon. He tags ch.7 to indicate the four beasts emerging into the world stage according to the will of God the Father. So the four winds are whipping up an insubstantial similacrum, full of sound and fury signifying nothing.. Tag over chapter referred to the Father and the historical context of Hellenic culture beginning with Alexander the great is set in direct frame of refernce to the Son. The significance of the number Three never changes as in the case of four signifying the word of God is same east west ,north or south.

The spheres of authority divided among four of his generals has a bearing on the times of Jesus. Herod whom he qualified as the fox ('Go ye, and tell that fox,-Lk.13.32) whose authority came from Rome. Greece gives way to Rome and it is thus nations play as with the nursery rhyme, ring a ring o'roses, we all fall down'. This scenario has never changed and the wicked shall make a circus of their pomp and circumstance as in our time while their feet are in mire like the Epstein files and chicanery. God shall show for what they are. In order to see it proper context we shall turn to Rev.13.1, to which we shall come anon.

As with four winds we have God setting four angels charge over the waters.(Rev.9.13-14)

Four refers to the word become flesh and five is Christ abiding in giving the soul of man. Now shall interprest what Jesus meant by 'great' tribulation.(Mt.24.21) The abiding presence from the wicked shall removed so "And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them." (9.5-6) The sign of Immanuel indicates soul of a believer. 'God among us'. Tabernacle of God Rev. 21.3