The Lord has provided the means to fight the lust of the flesh.
-- Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Stop letting the flesh and its lust drive the bus. When the flesh rises up, take back control of your thoughts, quote a verse. I have found for me all that is needed is to repeat a few times: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.
-- Revelation 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
-- Isaiah 6:3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
(I do not suppose that there is anyway of applying BOLD or Italic text in the comments and responses?)
The Key Verses for Revelation 4:8 would be Isaiah 6:2-3, which reads, "Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
So, they are mentioned as seraphims in Isaiah 6:2. Hope this helps.
The profound mystery is that all men are born once into this world but not all are born again by the Spirit of God.
Jesus said to the Pharisees what is also found in Isaiah 6:10 and numerous other scriptures namely:
Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed."
Now what we do interpret with our five senses our minds can accept with sound impartial reasoning. Hebrews 11:1 says Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In John 10:38 Jesus responds to the Pharisees thusly:
But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
This rationale apparently wasn't sufficient for those who would accuse Christ of blasphemy since only God could forgive sins; and this was the unforgiveable sin as the power Christ wielded such as healing the blind no man had been able to do even with God's power in the Old Testament. This is tantamount to Satan himself for he is going to seek worship of the whole world through his Antichrist beast and that has always been his ultimate goal. The enemy of our souls probably gets a perverse pleasure in damning other souls (although his oaths and bondage aren't sufficent to trap anyone God doesn't allow or is predestined for salvation). Since he's going to be suffering and only thinking of his own misery in judgment to come his real joy is seeing further rebellion against God and establishing his own kingdom with his powers and principalities working under him.
We might compare a tare; for instance to an AI of someone. Let me point out in the verse you shall know them by their fruits ( Matthew 7:16-20) means we should exhort one another. In general someone uninterested in challenges or suggestions for growth isn't producing fruit; and vice versa.
On the subject of falling on our faces; we see Isaiah after He is undone in that manner say "Lord send me" ( Isaiah 6:8).
A similar scene occurs with Ezekiel and Jeremiah to some extent challenged to go to an obstinate generation. The fact that they were rebellious is repeated again and again. Thus; the validity of the messenger is attributed to the experience of their commission. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble ( James 4:6). He had to break Saul of Tarsus of course
and show him how much he would have to suffer for His Name's sake ( Acts 9:16). This certainly could be a side effect of his earlier murderous ways which were forgiven; and God used a determined individual who was totally sold out; obsessive as he was to do God's will. Paul certainly could never be faulted for lukewarmness.
There are some of us; as I have indicated in recent posts who need to take a step forward with boldness and avoid false humility in being polite and silent. It isn't easy on my part either and I prefer to hang out with those more gifted in evangelism; something I recommend for others as well. If we can't speak we can pray; for those witnessing with us; and for the needs we see everywhere with broken people. The best way to start is make every day an opportunity as we interact with people and ask God for those situations where we can share. I know it is hard especially when people are nasty these days.
We need to be obsessive to a certain extent; as we meditate on the Word. After a certain point of saturation we can hold steadfast during our routines until the next opportunity to end our work or other things needing to get done. We start to sense His protection around us and eventually that becomes unnerving to those who are observing us from the world because they sense who is in us and begin to fear themselves if we have that input of His Spirit. If we don't start off right in prayer our words seem shallow and empty.
The concept of total depravity; of course is an attempt to find a definition that fits best the admittedly appalling condition of the human heart as seen in Jeremiah 17:9. Whether we banter about decrying our hopeless condition because of a doctrinal assent of the situation or it is because the love of God constrains us ( 2 Corinthians 5:14) may sound the same on the outside; but it makes all the difference in reaching lost souls in the inside. One only needs to grasp Isaiah 6:5 and other verses on those prophets that saw God's presence and glory to see that this is a default reaction for all men to have. The world at large; of course scanters off in fear; or as Revelation 6:15-17.
Many today are shielded and have a temporary reprieve; as it were who hang around Christians; whether professing faith or not.
The going may be good for now; not to mention having people around who can help out in a pinch; but once the Bride of Christ is raptured; no such protection will continue to exist.
Another concept I'd like to hammer home is that in regard to Predestination (and I have said this before) it is not so much what we do but the reasons for doing it. The world no doubt is enamored with those who give a lot to the poor; and who are influential and everyone seems to live by their own standards but conforms to what is acceptable which reminds us of the Pharisees in Luke 16:15. The Lord did say they would praise God for our good works ( Matthew 5:16). Since He also mentions in the beatitudes blessing those who curse us in the same chapter in verse 44 as well as in Luke's rendition we certainly don't expect praise for the reason we do things but for external actions by some; although in theory those in the body of Christ should recognize such attributes but those who are Godly usually aren't the prominent ones in the Church even genuine works. There are many who make a sideshow for greedy gain ( 1 Tim. 6:10)
Gigi, I believe Israel was "to be" blinded before the ministry of Christ For a lack of a better way to put it.
Here's why.
If Israel would have received Christ, then we would be still under the Levitical priesthood.
There would be no redemption from the curse of the law.
There would be no baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The list goes on. You would have to rewrite every page in the Bible, especially Hebrews!
There would be no rebirth by the death and resurrection of Christ.
The Jews didn't kill Christ! The love of the father to a lost world did!
And that's the WHOLE WORLD!!
John 12:23-24 READS
"And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but FOR THIS CAUSE CAME I UNTO THIS HOUR.
IF THE JEWS WOULD HAVE ACCEPTED CHRIST THIS HOUR WOULD NOT HAVE COME.
This is why I say you should word it the way Paul penned it. It is Paul's Kinsman in the flesh that was blinded. I believe it is easier to understand it worded as such rather than saying he blinded the Jews." Meaning Israel blinded under "THAT" ministry in regards to salvation. in that manner they have been blinded. There's a difference Gigi!
I believe Israel blindness was prophetic but yet preordained. Paul is quoting Isaiah 6:9-10 in Romans.
If you look at any other kind of way, it looks like Israel blindness was a plan B.
Thanks bro. Giannis for these further thoughts for contemplation. I fully understand what you're saying here, in respect to how one should look to God as our heavenly Father Who reached down to us, emptying Himself to demonstrate to us & effect His great love for us. So then it would seem incongruous to accept that such a loving God could also instil a 'fear' of Him in us. In regards to Jesus coming to Earth as a Man, we know that He laid aside His Glory for that to happen & become a Sacrifice for us; and as a Man, His disciples saw Him, touched Him, & spoke to Him, and probably only much later realizing that His Words were true, that He was indeed the One sent by the Father, from Heaven and Divine. That knowledge in itself should have prompted a special reverence towards Jesus that may not have been there before.
As Isaiah 6:1-7 reveals what Isaiah saw & experienced, even though we don't consider him to have that same salvation experience nor the Father-child relationship as we have, yet we do get a glimpse of how he was struck by this vision. So I sense that type of fear that was beyond a holy reverence, yet certainly not a fear of One Whom he should be fearful of & flee away from. From my understanding of the Word & my approach to it & before the Father, I cannot perceive Him as equivalent to my earthly father (deceased). Elements of such a relationship are similar, as we have discussed previously, but there needs to be something much greater & deeper than the earthly perspective. Onto Page 2.
I have been considering your questions and praying how I can respond to help you. First of all, I will say that you can receive thoughtful responses on this forum. You can also find good answers to these two questions by searching the internet with these questions. The responses there may be as good if not better than what I or others have done so here on this forum. Not all internet sources are equally sound from a biblical perspective just as not all responses to your questions here are such. I would recommend the Got Question site as a start. They give a fairly concise explanation to your questions.
As I was thinking on your questions, I came to these responses:
1) Does Scripture speak of Jesus existing prior to His conception in Mary?
The first Scripture I will cite is John chapter 1. It does tell us that Jesus is the Word of God, who also is God, who was with God from the beginning. Jesus is said by John to have created all that has been created. And that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
John 8:56: Jesus says that He existed before Abraham existed. He used the term "I AM" in this verse which is a specific reference to the name God gave to Moses in Exodus 3, which means "I self-exist" or "I exist because I exist".
In many verses Jesus states that He came from heaven to earth, from the Father, being sent from the Father, that He is from above. The Gospel of John is replete with verses that state this.
John 8:23; John 1:18; John 3:1,17; John 6:38; John 17:21; John 3:34; John 18:36; John 1:15; John 3:12-13, 31-36; John 16: 27-28.
John 12:41refers back to Isaiah 6:5 where Isaiah saw the LORD seated on the throne and all the angels said "Holy, Holy, Holy".
John here says that Isaiah saw the glory of Jesus on the throne because he was speaking of Jesus is verses 37-40.
The New Testament states explicitly in many places that Jesus is the Christ (Jewish Messiah). In Micah 5:2 states that the Messiah existed for all eternity past.
I know when we hear heaven we think of where God is but there are three. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands, Psalm 19:1. The first heaven is the sky, the atmosphere the air we breathe, and where the clouds float so beautifully.
The second heaven is the galaxy where God placed the lights in heaven for signs and seasons, as we see in Genesis 1:14-19. The place of the sun moon and all the planets and stars we call space.
The third is where God and all the angelic beings are. This is the heaven we see King Uzziah saw in Isaiah 6:1, which Stephen saw when they stoned him in Acts 7:55-56, Paul spoke of in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, and we see all that John saw in Revelation.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 KJV: Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
We see similar references to God's creation of man such as in Psalm 139 and it seems clear that there is nothing wrong with God's design at least in how it was originally intended. Therefore even with the fallen nature due to Adam's sin that we all inherit even unregenerate man is responsible for his actions which are contrary to a nature in which "God has set eternity in their hearts." ( Ecclesiastes 3:11). Man originally was made in the image of God; now it may be argued that we bear some resemblance to what we were originally but now we are also in the image of man; that is of the physical appearance of our parents.
Another thing we must consider is how the great prophets all responded in the presence of God. We can examine Isaiah 6:5 as well as the Prophet Ezekiel and Daniel and John in Revelation 1. Even John recognized he wasn't worthy to open the seals and wept ( Revelation 5:4). Keep in mind that this was the Disciple closest to our Lord when He was physically on earth but he realized that only Christ was worthy. We therefore have value because of Him; it is His righteousness that gives us that.
That is why I prefer to view His righteousness as coming from the inside out; not as some cloak over us. There is indeed His perfection in a believer but also the vesiges of who we were even if in actuality not who we still are in light of the promised glorification. Again; only a TRUE believer can claim these promises; or more accurately can have Christ claim to be His own.
I get the sense that some who claim never to sin again think that they can be in God's presence without being flat on their faces. Going boldly into His presence still involves humility and is expressed by an intimate communication and fellowship between BOTH parties.
I am sure to start a fire on this one; praying these conversations can be edifying.
This life, which had been the tomb of his virtue and of his honour, is but a walking shadow; a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
(MacBeth; William Shakesphere 5th Act).
This quote is in the play regards the death of MacBeth's wife. There are shades of Ecclesiastes here of vanity and life passing as a vapor; but also the idea of the second part of this verse in 2 Corinthians 7:10...
"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." This verse shows the futility of those who; like Judas Iscariot regret the consequences of their sin; whether on themselves ultimately or how it affects others (in his case leading to suicide). We can see the same sort of mindset with Pilate who in John 19:11 was told that others had greater sin but nonetheless his attempts to release him were not out of reverence for His holiness but attempts to quell extremes of rebellion from both the Jews and the Romans in making a wrong decision. Ultimately; both these cases show cowardice which is one reason people will go to hell according to Revelation 21:8.
We shouldn't assume that emotion shouldn't accompany true repentence leading to salvation but that it is the Spirit which takes over and the emotions are part of a cleansing process. When given a new heart we are transformed from the inside out and can't help but cry out to God; as Isaiah did "woe is me" ( Isaiah 6:5). This shows the humble and contrite spirit David describes in Psalm 51 and elsewhere. Penitence from any other method assuming some goodness we have in ourselves apart from Christ is meaningless. This is what makes those from a Christian family background have to test themselves to see if they are in the faith ( 2 Cor. 13:5). We can't change our hearts from mere assent of doctrinal statements or scripture. More to come.
The problem with the question of eternal security lies in having NO KNOWLEDGE of God's WORD.
If one deeply studies the PROPHECIES, one will see that at some point in the ages to come all the tribes of Israel are going to once again exit.
BUT, in this AGE he is ONLY calling out the PREISTHOOD, the house of David, the kind of firstfruits as is the tribe of Judah, lawgivers that will rule and reign and serve him when he resurrects all the DEAD back to there bodies of flesh and blood.
If one studies under the spirit of truth, you find these prophecies in the blessings of Israel to his twelve sons, from the beginning the tribe of Judah was CHOSEN to be God's lawgiver. The blessing on the remaining tribes will be fulfilled after all the lawgivers are put in place.
Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zachariah, and Revelation all prophesy ONLY a PART will be save in this age, one third (probably symbolic) since other prophecies seem to say ONE TENTH, the tithe to God, those without blemish being sacrificed with Christ on HIS CROSS.
You find this in the blessings of Jacob and Esau.
Hebrews 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau CONCERNING THINGS TO COME.
There are TWO DEATHS, TWO RESURRECTION and TWO JUDGEMENTS,
The first death and resurrection is those SAVED in this AGE, the ones Christ CAUSES TO BELIEVE in this AGE, they are being judged by the words of God.
1 Timothy 4:10 ... who is the SAVIOUR of ALL MEN (not necessarily in this AGE), especially THOSE (in this AGE) that BELIEVE.
Isaiah 6:13 But yet in it (the land) shall be a tenth, and it (the tenth) shall be eaten (same as Christ is eaten, eat the words and digest them) as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance (CHRIST) IS IN THEM, when they cast their leaves (administer judgement), so the HOLY SEED shall be the substance thereof.
Obadiah 1:21 And SAVIOURS (those conformed to the image of Christ) SHALL COME upon Mt, Zion to JUDGE the house of ESAU
In my last post; I talked about Peter. He was revealed who Christ was which could only have come from the Father ( Matt. 16:17).
The HOLINESS of God is talked about frequently; perhaps easiest remembered in Revelation 4:8-11 (also found in Isaiah 6:3).
When the Bible describes judgment; and hell viewed on earth such as in Isaiah 66 there is no appreciation of the wicked for His Holiness or any other attributes. Our life as believers is hidden in Christ ( Colossians 3:3) and the verse also talks about how we must be "crucified with Christ". Those who believe have truly "passed from death to life" ( John 5:24 with further insights in 1 John as well). So that is the difference; we have either the eternal state of our spiritual condition to be in our fallen sin which is totally blind to His glory and only focused on self; or we are new creations which are now able to glorify God in heaven (and we start now by being seated in heavenly places ( Eph. 2:6). Therefore we begin now; to rule and reign with Him in a sense-it is a done deal as Romans 8:30; and Ephesians 1:13 states.
Isaiah 53:11 states that He will see the travail of His soul and be satisfied; quoting a verse from an entire CHAPTER on Christ which is the famous chapter Jews like to ignore because of clear Messianic descriptions matching that of Christ. His satisfaction therefore will be in ruling and reigning WITH us; with the sons of glory (sort of combining Hebrews 2:10 with the concept of Romans 8:17.) He did it to please the Father first and foremost; but also of course has been given all authority on heaven and earth. ( Matt. 28:18). It is strange to conceive ourselves in a similar way; but nonetheless being part of the firstfruits we also suffer for a time then are glorified and rewarded ( 1 Peter 5:10).
Obviously; as we look to the concept of varying amounts of rewards for either the wicked (punishment) we have the same idea in regard to the saved. ( 1 Cor. 3:15). more in part3
I disagree that we will meet him in the air ..Its the H.G. that is spirit the gift of God where we will meet him...As the H.G. is the very Kingdom of God... Romans 14:17....The Kingdom of God is not in meat or drink but in joy and peace in the H.G.
.....Air is just symbolic language for the spirit the H.G. THE KINGDOM...Clouds are just symbolic language for folks that have the living water the gift of God the H.G....That latter rain doctrine
We will meet him in his kingdom the new birth of Christ in us....Thats y he is saying unless you receive the Kingdom of God as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in...The woman that birth the manchild was caught up to God and to his throne but she was still on the earth....As Rev 12:10 tells now is come salvation and the power of his christ and the Kingdom of our God ....But plz note the Kingdom does not come till the woman births the manchild that is gonna rule all nations.
The kingdom comes to us via his good seed right here on this earth....As Rev.11:15 says the Kingdoms of this WORLD have become the Kingdoms of OUR LORD and his CHRIST And he shall reign for ever and ever...This 1 lil scripture makes void any any kind of a physical literal rapture....The kingdoms of THIS WORLD have become the Kingdoms of our lord and his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever...ty Jesus....THIS WORLD....Not in literal clouds which is just symbolic language....Not here nor there but with in you...Abide in me and i in you....If any man hears my words and keep them my Father and I will COME and take our abode with him...Holy Holy Holy the whole earth is full of his GLory Isaiah 6:3....Thus there is no physical or literal rapture its just symbolic language...As God is spirit and them that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth for the father seeketh such to worship him...Thy Kingdom come thy will be done is right here on this earth...As Jesus said the field is the world where that good seed will be sown..n our hearts
From your posts, please forgive me if I have misunderstood, you do not believe in a pre-trib. rapture, but you believe in a post-trib. rapture. Both views believe the Church will be taken to heaven just at different times. My understanding of scripture is when Jesus returns, He does not go back up to heaven, the first resurrection, the gathering of the saints/elect will be here on earth, in and around Jerusalem not in heaven, Zech. 14:4.
My understanding is this will be after the 3.5 years of the tribulation of Satan, the beast from the bottomless pit, and the false prophet. In my understanding, Rev. 11:15-19 is the trumpet sounding for Rev.19:11-15. That is why I understand Matt. 24:311 Thess. 4:161 Cor. 15:52 or Rev. 11:15 and Rev. 19:11-15 as the same event.
In Rev. 15 it starts with another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, the same wording as Rev. 12:1. A vision, and as the woman was not physically in heaven my understanding of Rev. 15 we cannot assume this is in heaven. We see the judgment of those who will be reigning with Jesus for the 1000 years described the same way as those in Rev. 15.
In Rev. 15:4 my understanding is God's judgments are made manifest, apparent as we see next the angels going out to pour them out. This will not happen until after Jesus returns and the first resurrection. Rev. 14 my understanding is a dropping of the sword, what I mean is the army is prepared and ready to proceed and the general drops the sword to go and we see the results of the battle in vs. 20, Isaiah 6:3Rev. 19:15-18
Those who are in the first resurrection will be changed into their incorruptible bodies when Jesus returns, 1 Cor. 15:51-54. This will happen when Jesus returns but they are not taken to heaven they will reign here on earth with Jesus for 1000 years the rest of the dead will be judged, Rev. 20:11-15.
I know we differ; we do agree on no pre-trib., but I still do not see people being taken to heaven.
Jimbob no offence to you but also fire is just symbolic language....As Rev. 11:5 tells us if any man hurts any of these fire comes out of their mouths and destroys ( kills their enemies )....But its not a literal fire but a spiritual fire which is the H.G. AS OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.. Hebrews 12:29 kjv....That is gonna consume mans evil and adamic nature ....If ya don't understand symbolic language you will not see that the Kingdoms of this world are gonna become the kingdoms of our lord and his Christ...Thus the clouds are just symbolic language for folks that have that living water..That latter rain doctrine which is spirit...That is gonna flood this earth with his spirit....I will pour out of my spirit on all flesh... Joel 2:28..And Isaiah 11..Of course this knowledge he saw covering this earth was an intimacy....Resulting in a birth of Christ in us....As Jeremiah 30:6 ...he saw all men in travail and birth pains...Thats y he has to know us that the good seed of the sower will be sown in our hearts....And she brought forth a man child that is gona rule all nations....Now y wd we need to be caught up to to the literal clouds when the kingdoms of this world are gona become the Kingdoms of our lord and his Christ...And the manchild which is the H.G.is gonna rule all nations....And jesus tells us of that spirit of truth that is gonna reprove this whole world of sin and judgement and righteousness....Thus a literal rapture wd kill all these scriptures of the earth at rest and becoming full of his Glory....Seed time and harvest for ever .... Isaiah 6:3 The angels are saying Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty for the whole earth is full of his GLORY....Jimbob yes truth is important but if we took your doctrine of a literal rapture in literal clouds we wd have to eliminate 90% of the bible....And there wd be no need for the manchild to Rule all nations....Or for the angel to preach the everlasting Gospel to all that dwell on the earth... Rev 14:6...ok lemme go...Jim GBU.
Why do you assume the ones teaching on this forum; and those teaching, refute the doctrine of the church, are in error, and not the church being in error.
That's a stretch:
Isaiah 6:8 And I (Christ, he is the WORD(s) that are written) heard the voice of the LORD (my Father) saying, Whom shall I (the Father) SEND? and who will go for us? Then said I (Christ), here am I, SEND ME.
Isaiah 6:9 And he (the father) said, Go (Christ), and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, BUT UNDERSTAND NOT, and see ye indeed, and PERCEIVE.
Matthew 13:13 Therefore I speak to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they UNDERSTAND.
Most in the church will tell you the WORD is not a parable, nor believe it is a parable, so why do you think their doctrines are correct, when they don't believe the WORDS OF GOD.
God sent Jesus to be the saviour of the world, and his RESURRECTION saved the world, the church doesn't believe this, you have said yourself most go to hell,:there is going to be a kingdom, back on this earth, when God raises the UNBELIEVERS (even Satan believes there is a God, he just doesn't believe the WORDS of GOD) back to their flesh, and they will bow and confess GOD'S WORDS ARE TRUTH.
You don't believe you fall into this pigeon hole, because you believe the DOCTRINES of man instead of God's words, Revelation SAYS: Satan who deceives the WHOLE WORLD; this includes his church, you don't believe the church is deceive, can you point to the time God caused you to SEE this deception. Until you AGREE with God, that you and I and everyone one else has been deceive, and ASK God to open your eyes and HIM CAUSE you to see, you will be among those spoken of in John:
John 9:41 Jesus is saying unto YOU: If you were blind you would have NO SIN: but now you say I SEE (you day, I haven't been deceived) therefore YOUR SIN REMAINETH.
Matthew 24, The fig tree in leaf: is speaking of the NEW ISRAEL, the born again, Christ is the TREE, we are the leaves, NOT national Israel.
PROPHECY:
Isaiah 6:13 But ye in it (the land) shall be a TENTH (the tithe to God, the FIRSTBORNE of the flock), and it (the Priest and Judges of the earth) SHALL RETURN, and shall be eaten; as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is IN THEM (Christ IN YOU), when they cast their leaves: so the HOLY SEED (the word of God, Christ IN YOU) shall be the substance thereof.
Revelation 22:2 And in the midst of the street of it (new Jerusalem), and on either side of the river (of LIFE: Christ), was there the tree of LIFE (Christ), which bear twelve manner of fruit (new Israel), and yielded her fruit every month (continual rebirth into new Israel): and the LEAVES were for the HEALING OF THE NATIONS.
Isaiah 59:21 And this is my covenant with them (the firstborne), saith the Lord, MY SPIRIT (the SEED) that is poured out on THEE (Christ, the firstborne SEED, of many SEED), and my words which I PUT in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of THY SEED, or out of the mouth of THY SEED'S SEED, from henceforth and evermore.
The fruit of the TREE (CHRIST) is the children of Christ; and are HIS IMAGE, the NEW Israel.
Conclusion. My last posting basically was stating that we need to see things with "spiritual eyes". The Spirit is the Comforter; for instance but we should never be too comfortable not to recognize His distinct Holiness and how inadequate we are to even speak as the Prophet Isaiah and Ezekiel as well as John the "revelator" experienced when they got a glimpse of His full glory.
This distinguishes Him from Satan who "appears as an angel of light" ( 2 Cor. 11:14). When we get a true vision of God; therefore there is no messing about; we are "made willing" (Phillipians 2:13). As we see with Isaiah 6:8 there is no hesitation on God's part to send out those who are qualified to proclaim the truth. He has equipped us for what is needed; but sadly the "harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few" ( Matt. 9:37).
Your first question; is there anywhere in the heavens or the earth that God cannot be, Psalm 139:7-10Proverbs 15:3Jeremiah 23:23-24Hebrews 4:13Isaiah 6:3. But is the universe, the earth, and everything on the earth a manifestation of God? NO that is Pantheism and is forbidden in the Bible as idol worship, if everything is God it can be worshiped.
His dwelling place is in heaven that is above heaven (universe) and earth, beyond and outside of the physical universe, 1 Kings 8:301 Kings 8:432 Chr. 20:6Psalm 11:4Daniel 2:28Matt. 5:16Matt. 6:9. God gave His only begotten Son to die for us, John 3:16 God by the Holy Spirit can dwell in us if we accept Jesus as our savior we are cleansed by His blood, Romans 8:9-111 Cor. 3:16
God can see everything and take action anywhere, Prov. 15:3Heb. 4:13 but God is everywhere at once? He is in that he is aware of everything in the physical universe both past, present, and future, and he can turn his attention to anyone or anything at any time.
Has anyone seen God? Moses came the closest, God showed him His backside, Exodus 33:12-23. No man in the flesh can see God's face and live, John 1:18John 4:121 Tim. 6:16. We will see His face after the resurrection in our immortal and incorruptible body, Rev 22:4.
How can one Know that God exists? The Bible: He has revealed things to us, and the evidence is convincing if anyone is willing to consider the evidence. History also confirms many things that were prophesied in the Bible long before they happened. The word of God is the truth, and the Holy Spirit will reveal it to those with an open mind and open heart who honestly want the truth.
This is my understanding in love may it help, search and pray for yours.
We therefore have all possibilities. We could have an illness leading to death which according to scripture may be due to sin in certain cases. As with any other prayers if someone is harboring sin then God may be attempting to use their afflictions to drive them to repentance; or it may have nothing to do with anything but a body living in a fallen world.
So God can choose to heal; and the cause of the illness may be physiological; or spiritual (often intertwined). I would venture to say that most things publicized are not true healings; but also would say that we are called to pray for such things as I outlined in my last piece. What is important is that the person is open to trusting God in faith AND the person praying isn't harboring sin and under a subsequent curse as a result of an ongoing lifestyle of sin. THAT is often neglected; and we need to insure that a "blessing" isn't a demonic curse put on us by the practitioner. Thus we should RUN from those people as we don't want to be infected as they are. This is serious business. We need to be as little children sensing when His presence is in someone; as well as sensing wolves out there.
True repentance produces joy but it never appeals to the flesh. This is how we can see what is true revival (hard to find today in this country). A vision of God is as Isaiah 6:5 it makes us undone.
That gets us into part three: Money and having a balanced perspective.
"For when he saw the Lord he saw also himself and in the light of the Lord said " woe is me for I am undone .."
Many claim to see the Lord or have visions but are not changed for the better but rather only boast in their visions and revelations .Isiah felt unclean unholy and unfit " a man of unclean lips "
Isiah though indeed a true prophet of God changed considerably when in " the year king huziah died he saw the Lord high and lifted up and his train filled the temple"
For when he saw the Lord he saw also himself and in the light of the Lord said " woe is me for I am undone .."
Many claim to see the Lord or have visions but are not changed for the better but rather only boast in their visions and revelations .Isiah felt unclean unholy and unfit " a man of unclean lips "
Who needed a burning coal from off the altar to cleanse them . The lips are very tender think on that.
He confessed his sin ,was contrite and only then commissioned .
His messages after that radically changed .
You cannot be sent by God unless you have been to or encountered God .
For you no longer go in your own name but in the name who sent you .
Not to do your will but the will of Him who sent you .
This is not self appointed nor is it imposed .
For how can the list be saved? Unless they hear the message? And how will they hear the message unless it is preached?
Who then will go for us?
Confession ,contrition commission .
"Send me "
"Go in this Thy might "" you might say .
I came not to do my will but the will of Hom that sent me".
He that seeks his own glory is unrighteous but he that seeks the glory of him that sent him.."
Yep, and a special commission at that ; without going into great detail , Isaiah volunteered for this commission upon hearing the Lords voice from the temple . when being cleansed, purified , purged and atoned from all his iniquity/sins he was to tell or inform the people of Judah and Israel who have and have not the eyes to see and ears to hear of the coming of the false messiah, his deception and it's desolation . those who are blinded to the truth , their hearts will remain or grow duller to it , a slumber so to speak . many are put their by God for their protection but ultimately come out of it in the end when the elect as you read in verse 13 a tenth of who's leaves are cast upon us that remain , the holy seed shall be the substance thereof. fascinating
REVELATION 13:18 STUDY HELPS - In Reply - 3 years ago
What does Revelation 13:18 mean? [ See verse text ]
Speculation about the meaning of the number 666, the number of the beast, has been intriguing but futile. Some individuals have assigned a numeric value to the letters of the alphabet and applied the values to names. Political figures, popes, and dictators have been subject to such a numeric system. It's important to remember that there are only so many numerals-only ten, in fact-and only so many letters in any given alphabet. Given enough time and creativity, almost any name can be connected or manipulated into some connection with 666.
Other possibilities abound. Some are more obscure, and unlikely, than others. Ezra 2:13 gives the number of descendants of Adonikam as 666. Because "Adonikam" means "the lord who rises up" or "lord of the enemy," a few interpreters suggest the beast who rises from the earth will bear the name Adonikam. The mathematical value of 6x6x6 is 216, leading some to believe that this number, not "six hundred and sixty six" will be the "number of the name" of the beast.
In reality, no one knows exactly what 666 means. We can only draw on basic concepts to understand some of its implications. For example, 6 is one short of 7, which is the biblical number of perfection. The number 6 represents imperfection and is therefore man's number. God is perfectly holy-thrice holy-as the seraphim of Isaiah's vision proclaim. They called to one another, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts" ( Isaiah 6:3). Repeating this three times emphasizes its absolute nature. By contrast, imperfect man is unholy, unholy, unholy: 6-6-6.
You can Google search other COMMENTARIES. Type: " REVELATION 13:18, Commentary".
Choose a link that has BIBLE in it. Like biblehub, bibleref.
Even if I say Giannis has explained it very well, if you not "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter 1:20-1. I can only perceived by reading "Nats if Jesus is God" you are still searching if Jesus Christ is God. I would be happy to show you how to be saved and obtain the Holy Spirit. Only then the verses you have inquired about will make sense to you because the Holy Spirit will guide you to the truth.
In John 10:36 Jesus Christ himself said He is the Son of God. If you read the entire conversation between the unbelieving Jews and Jesus Christ they will not believe no matter how anybody explained it to them. It is already prophesied in Isaiah 6:9-10, Isaiah 42:20; Jeremiah 5:21; Acts 28:27; Roman's 11.8
In John 14:28 the situation was that Jesus was about to fulfill another prophesy and that was to die on the cross for the sins of the world 1 John 2:2. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Colossians 2:2-3. When Jesus was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures, Jesus fulfilled what God the Father sent Jesus to do on earth. The mystery is that God the Father is greater than Jesus the Son of God. Remember Jesus came to Virgin Mary from God the Father. Then Jesus has to go unto the Father after Jesus rose the third day so the Comforter (i.e. Holy Spirit) will be fulfilled. John 14:16; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7. There is only one God. Romans 3:30; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; James 2:19. Hope this helps and that you be saved soon. Good question.
The Lord has provided the means to fight the lust of the flesh.
-- Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Stop letting the flesh and its lust drive the bus. When the flesh rises up, take back control of your thoughts, quote a verse. I have found for me all that is needed is to repeat a few times: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.
-- Revelation 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
-- Isaiah 6:3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
(I do not suppose that there is anyway of applying BOLD or Italic text in the comments and responses?)
The Key Verses for Revelation 4:8 would be Isaiah 6:2-3, which reads, "Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
So, they are mentioned as seraphims in Isaiah 6:2. Hope this helps.
Blessings!
The profound mystery is that all men are born once into this world but not all are born again by the Spirit of God.
Jesus said to the Pharisees what is also found in Isaiah 6:10 and numerous other scriptures namely:
Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed."
Now what we do interpret with our five senses our minds can accept with sound impartial reasoning. Hebrews 11:1 says Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In John 10:38 Jesus responds to the Pharisees thusly:
But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
This rationale apparently wasn't sufficient for those who would accuse Christ of blasphemy since only God could forgive sins; and this was the unforgiveable sin as the power Christ wielded such as healing the blind no man had been able to do even with God's power in the Old Testament. This is tantamount to Satan himself for he is going to seek worship of the whole world through his Antichrist beast and that has always been his ultimate goal. The enemy of our souls probably gets a perverse pleasure in damning other souls (although his oaths and bondage aren't sufficent to trap anyone God doesn't allow or is predestined for salvation). Since he's going to be suffering and only thinking of his own misery in judgment to come his real joy is seeing further rebellion against God and establishing his own kingdom with his powers and principalities working under him.
We might compare a tare; for instance to an AI of someone. Let me point out in the verse you shall know them by their fruits ( Matthew 7:16-20) means we should exhort one another. In general someone uninterested in challenges or suggestions for growth isn't producing fruit; and vice versa.
On the subject of falling on our faces; we see Isaiah after He is undone in that manner say "Lord send me" ( Isaiah 6:8).
A similar scene occurs with Ezekiel and Jeremiah to some extent challenged to go to an obstinate generation. The fact that they were rebellious is repeated again and again. Thus; the validity of the messenger is attributed to the experience of their commission. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble ( James 4:6). He had to break Saul of Tarsus of course
and show him how much he would have to suffer for His Name's sake ( Acts 9:16). This certainly could be a side effect of his earlier murderous ways which were forgiven; and God used a determined individual who was totally sold out; obsessive as he was to do God's will. Paul certainly could never be faulted for lukewarmness.
There are some of us; as I have indicated in recent posts who need to take a step forward with boldness and avoid false humility in being polite and silent. It isn't easy on my part either and I prefer to hang out with those more gifted in evangelism; something I recommend for others as well. If we can't speak we can pray; for those witnessing with us; and for the needs we see everywhere with broken people. The best way to start is make every day an opportunity as we interact with people and ask God for those situations where we can share. I know it is hard especially when people are nasty these days.
We need to be obsessive to a certain extent; as we meditate on the Word. After a certain point of saturation we can hold steadfast during our routines until the next opportunity to end our work or other things needing to get done. We start to sense His protection around us and eventually that becomes unnerving to those who are observing us from the world because they sense who is in us and begin to fear themselves if we have that input of His Spirit. If we don't start off right in prayer our words seem shallow and empty.
The concept of total depravity; of course is an attempt to find a definition that fits best the admittedly appalling condition of the human heart as seen in Jeremiah 17:9. Whether we banter about decrying our hopeless condition because of a doctrinal assent of the situation or it is because the love of God constrains us ( 2 Corinthians 5:14) may sound the same on the outside; but it makes all the difference in reaching lost souls in the inside. One only needs to grasp Isaiah 6:5 and other verses on those prophets that saw God's presence and glory to see that this is a default reaction for all men to have. The world at large; of course scanters off in fear; or as Revelation 6:15-17.
Many today are shielded and have a temporary reprieve; as it were who hang around Christians; whether professing faith or not.
The going may be good for now; not to mention having people around who can help out in a pinch; but once the Bride of Christ is raptured; no such protection will continue to exist.
Another concept I'd like to hammer home is that in regard to Predestination (and I have said this before) it is not so much what we do but the reasons for doing it. The world no doubt is enamored with those who give a lot to the poor; and who are influential and everyone seems to live by their own standards but conforms to what is acceptable which reminds us of the Pharisees in Luke 16:15. The Lord did say they would praise God for our good works ( Matthew 5:16). Since He also mentions in the beatitudes blessing those who curse us in the same chapter in verse 44 as well as in Luke's rendition we certainly don't expect praise for the reason we do things but for external actions by some; although in theory those in the body of Christ should recognize such attributes but those who are Godly usually aren't the prominent ones in the Church even genuine works. There are many who make a sideshow for greedy gain ( 1 Tim. 6:10)
Part 2.
Romans 11:25
Gigi, I believe Israel was "to be" blinded before the ministry of Christ For a lack of a better way to put it.
Here's why.
If Israel would have received Christ, then we would be still under the Levitical priesthood.
There would be no redemption from the curse of the law.
There would be no baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The list goes on. You would have to rewrite every page in the Bible, especially Hebrews!
There would be no rebirth by the death and resurrection of Christ.
The Jews didn't kill Christ! The love of the father to a lost world did!
And that's the WHOLE WORLD!!
John 12:23-24 READS
"And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but FOR THIS CAUSE CAME I UNTO THIS HOUR.
IF THE JEWS WOULD HAVE ACCEPTED CHRIST THIS HOUR WOULD NOT HAVE COME.
This is why I say you should word it the way Paul penned it. It is Paul's Kinsman in the flesh that was blinded. I believe it is easier to understand it worded as such rather than saying he blinded the Jews." Meaning Israel blinded under "THAT" ministry in regards to salvation. in that manner they have been blinded. There's a difference Gigi!
I believe Israel blindness was prophetic but yet preordained. Paul is quoting Isaiah 6:9-10 in Romans.
If you look at any other kind of way, it looks like Israel blindness was a plan B.
See Part 3.
Thanks bro. Giannis for these further thoughts for contemplation. I fully understand what you're saying here, in respect to how one should look to God as our heavenly Father Who reached down to us, emptying Himself to demonstrate to us & effect His great love for us. So then it would seem incongruous to accept that such a loving God could also instil a 'fear' of Him in us. In regards to Jesus coming to Earth as a Man, we know that He laid aside His Glory for that to happen & become a Sacrifice for us; and as a Man, His disciples saw Him, touched Him, & spoke to Him, and probably only much later realizing that His Words were true, that He was indeed the One sent by the Father, from Heaven and Divine. That knowledge in itself should have prompted a special reverence towards Jesus that may not have been there before.
As Isaiah 6:1-7 reveals what Isaiah saw & experienced, even though we don't consider him to have that same salvation experience nor the Father-child relationship as we have, yet we do get a glimpse of how he was struck by this vision. So I sense that type of fear that was beyond a holy reverence, yet certainly not a fear of One Whom he should be fearful of & flee away from. From my understanding of the Word & my approach to it & before the Father, I cannot perceive Him as equivalent to my earthly father (deceased). Elements of such a relationship are similar, as we have discussed previously, but there needs to be something much greater & deeper than the earthly perspective. Onto Page 2.
I have been considering your questions and praying how I can respond to help you. First of all, I will say that you can receive thoughtful responses on this forum. You can also find good answers to these two questions by searching the internet with these questions. The responses there may be as good if not better than what I or others have done so here on this forum. Not all internet sources are equally sound from a biblical perspective just as not all responses to your questions here are such. I would recommend the Got Question site as a start. They give a fairly concise explanation to your questions.
As I was thinking on your questions, I came to these responses:
1) Does Scripture speak of Jesus existing prior to His conception in Mary?
The first Scripture I will cite is John chapter 1. It does tell us that Jesus is the Word of God, who also is God, who was with God from the beginning. Jesus is said by John to have created all that has been created. And that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
John 8:56: Jesus says that He existed before Abraham existed. He used the term "I AM" in this verse which is a specific reference to the name God gave to Moses in Exodus 3, which means "I self-exist" or "I exist because I exist".
In many verses Jesus states that He came from heaven to earth, from the Father, being sent from the Father, that He is from above. The Gospel of John is replete with verses that state this.
John 8:23; John 1:18; John 3:1,17; John 6:38; John 17:21; John 3:34; John 18:36; John 1:15; John 3:12-13, 31-36; John 16: 27-28.
John 12:41refers back to Isaiah 6:5 where Isaiah saw the LORD seated on the throne and all the angels said "Holy, Holy, Holy".
John here says that Isaiah saw the glory of Jesus on the throne because he was speaking of Jesus is verses 37-40.
The New Testament states explicitly in many places that Jesus is the Christ (Jewish Messiah). In Micah 5:2 states that the Messiah existed for all eternity past.
I know when we hear heaven we think of where God is but there are three. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands, Psalm 19:1. The first heaven is the sky, the atmosphere the air we breathe, and where the clouds float so beautifully.
The second heaven is the galaxy where God placed the lights in heaven for signs and seasons, as we see in Genesis 1:14-19. The place of the sun moon and all the planets and stars we call space.
The third is where God and all the angelic beings are. This is the heaven we see King Uzziah saw in Isaiah 6:1, which Stephen saw when they stoned him in Acts 7:55-56, Paul spoke of in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, and we see all that John saw in Revelation.
I hope this helps,
God bless,
RLW
When "Lord" occurs in the Old Testament, referring to God, it is usually a rendering of "Adonai," a name/title of God that emphasizes His lordship.
In Isaiah 6:3 YEHOVAH is used, "The Jewish national name of God" The self Existent or eternal;
When Isaiah stated LORD of hosts he didn't use Adonai as to emphasis Lord ship over the hosts (Plural)
He emphasizes plurality in singleness!!
Notice how he combines the two into one in the next phrase. ( the whole earth is full of "HIS" glory)
This is who John ascribes to Jesus in John 12.
God bless.
We see similar references to God's creation of man such as in Psalm 139 and it seems clear that there is nothing wrong with God's design at least in how it was originally intended. Therefore even with the fallen nature due to Adam's sin that we all inherit even unregenerate man is responsible for his actions which are contrary to a nature in which "God has set eternity in their hearts." ( Ecclesiastes 3:11). Man originally was made in the image of God; now it may be argued that we bear some resemblance to what we were originally but now we are also in the image of man; that is of the physical appearance of our parents.
Another thing we must consider is how the great prophets all responded in the presence of God. We can examine Isaiah 6:5 as well as the Prophet Ezekiel and Daniel and John in Revelation 1. Even John recognized he wasn't worthy to open the seals and wept ( Revelation 5:4). Keep in mind that this was the Disciple closest to our Lord when He was physically on earth but he realized that only Christ was worthy. We therefore have value because of Him; it is His righteousness that gives us that.
That is why I prefer to view His righteousness as coming from the inside out; not as some cloak over us. There is indeed His perfection in a believer but also the vesiges of who we were even if in actuality not who we still are in light of the promised glorification. Again; only a TRUE believer can claim these promises; or more accurately can have Christ claim to be His own.
I get the sense that some who claim never to sin again think that they can be in God's presence without being flat on their faces. Going boldly into His presence still involves humility and is expressed by an intimate communication and fellowship between BOTH parties.
I am sure to start a fire on this one; praying these conversations can be edifying.
(MacBeth; William Shakesphere 5th Act).
This quote is in the play regards the death of MacBeth's wife. There are shades of Ecclesiastes here of vanity and life passing as a vapor; but also the idea of the second part of this verse in 2 Corinthians 7:10...
"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." This verse shows the futility of those who; like Judas Iscariot regret the consequences of their sin; whether on themselves ultimately or how it affects others (in his case leading to suicide). We can see the same sort of mindset with Pilate who in John 19:11 was told that others had greater sin but nonetheless his attempts to release him were not out of reverence for His holiness but attempts to quell extremes of rebellion from both the Jews and the Romans in making a wrong decision. Ultimately; both these cases show cowardice which is one reason people will go to hell according to Revelation 21:8.
We shouldn't assume that emotion shouldn't accompany true repentence leading to salvation but that it is the Spirit which takes over and the emotions are part of a cleansing process. When given a new heart we are transformed from the inside out and can't help but cry out to God; as Isaiah did "woe is me" ( Isaiah 6:5). This shows the humble and contrite spirit David describes in Psalm 51 and elsewhere. Penitence from any other method assuming some goodness we have in ourselves apart from Christ is meaningless. This is what makes those from a Christian family background have to test themselves to see if they are in the faith ( 2 Cor. 13:5). We can't change our hearts from mere assent of doctrinal statements or scripture. More to come.
The problem with the question of eternal security lies in having NO KNOWLEDGE of God's WORD.
If one deeply studies the PROPHECIES, one will see that at some point in the ages to come all the tribes of Israel are going to once again exit.
BUT, in this AGE he is ONLY calling out the PREISTHOOD, the house of David, the kind of firstfruits as is the tribe of Judah, lawgivers that will rule and reign and serve him when he resurrects all the DEAD back to there bodies of flesh and blood.
If one studies under the spirit of truth, you find these prophecies in the blessings of Israel to his twelve sons, from the beginning the tribe of Judah was CHOSEN to be God's lawgiver. The blessing on the remaining tribes will be fulfilled after all the lawgivers are put in place.
Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zachariah, and Revelation all prophesy ONLY a PART will be save in this age, one third (probably symbolic) since other prophecies seem to say ONE TENTH, the tithe to God, those without blemish being sacrificed with Christ on HIS CROSS.
You find this in the blessings of Jacob and Esau.
Hebrews 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau CONCERNING THINGS TO COME.
There are TWO DEATHS, TWO RESURRECTION and TWO JUDGEMENTS,
The first death and resurrection is those SAVED in this AGE, the ones Christ CAUSES TO BELIEVE in this AGE, they are being judged by the words of God.
1 Timothy 4:10 ... who is the SAVIOUR of ALL MEN (not necessarily in this AGE), especially THOSE (in this AGE) that BELIEVE.
Isaiah 6:13 But yet in it (the land) shall be a tenth, and it (the tenth) shall be eaten (same as Christ is eaten, eat the words and digest them) as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance (CHRIST) IS IN THEM, when they cast their leaves (administer judgement), so the HOLY SEED shall be the substance thereof.
Obadiah 1:21 And SAVIOURS (those conformed to the image of Christ) SHALL COME upon Mt, Zion to JUDGE the house of ESAU
and the Kingdom shall be the LORDS.
In my last post; I talked about Peter. He was revealed who Christ was which could only have come from the Father ( Matt. 16:17).
The HOLINESS of God is talked about frequently; perhaps easiest remembered in Revelation 4:8-11 (also found in Isaiah 6:3).
When the Bible describes judgment; and hell viewed on earth such as in Isaiah 66 there is no appreciation of the wicked for His Holiness or any other attributes. Our life as believers is hidden in Christ ( Colossians 3:3) and the verse also talks about how we must be "crucified with Christ". Those who believe have truly "passed from death to life" ( John 5:24 with further insights in 1 John as well). So that is the difference; we have either the eternal state of our spiritual condition to be in our fallen sin which is totally blind to His glory and only focused on self; or we are new creations which are now able to glorify God in heaven (and we start now by being seated in heavenly places ( Eph. 2:6). Therefore we begin now; to rule and reign with Him in a sense-it is a done deal as Romans 8:30; and Ephesians 1:13 states.
Isaiah 53:11 states that He will see the travail of His soul and be satisfied; quoting a verse from an entire CHAPTER on Christ which is the famous chapter Jews like to ignore because of clear Messianic descriptions matching that of Christ. His satisfaction therefore will be in ruling and reigning WITH us; with the sons of glory (sort of combining Hebrews 2:10 with the concept of Romans 8:17.) He did it to please the Father first and foremost; but also of course has been given all authority on heaven and earth. ( Matt. 28:18). It is strange to conceive ourselves in a similar way; but nonetheless being part of the firstfruits we also suffer for a time then are glorified and rewarded ( 1 Peter 5:10).
Obviously; as we look to the concept of varying amounts of rewards for either the wicked (punishment) we have the same idea in regard to the saved. ( 1 Cor. 3:15). more in part3
.....Air is just symbolic language for the spirit the H.G. THE KINGDOM...Clouds are just symbolic language for folks that have the living water the gift of God the H.G....That latter rain doctrine
We will meet him in his kingdom the new birth of Christ in us....Thats y he is saying unless you receive the Kingdom of God as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in...The woman that birth the manchild was caught up to God and to his throne but she was still on the earth....As Rev 12:10 tells now is come salvation and the power of his christ and the Kingdom of our God ....But plz note the Kingdom does not come till the woman births the manchild that is gonna rule all nations.
The kingdom comes to us via his good seed right here on this earth....As Rev.11:15 says the Kingdoms of this WORLD have become the Kingdoms of OUR LORD and his CHRIST And he shall reign for ever and ever...This 1 lil scripture makes void any any kind of a physical literal rapture....The kingdoms of THIS WORLD have become the Kingdoms of our lord and his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever...ty Jesus....THIS WORLD....Not in literal clouds which is just symbolic language....Not here nor there but with in you...Abide in me and i in you....If any man hears my words and keep them my Father and I will COME and take our abode with him...Holy Holy Holy the whole earth is full of his GLory Isaiah 6:3....Thus there is no physical or literal rapture its just symbolic language...As God is spirit and them that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth for the father seeketh such to worship him...Thy Kingdom come thy will be done is right here on this earth...As Jesus said the field is the world where that good seed will be sown..n our hearts
From your posts, please forgive me if I have misunderstood, you do not believe in a pre-trib. rapture, but you believe in a post-trib. rapture. Both views believe the Church will be taken to heaven just at different times. My understanding of scripture is when Jesus returns, He does not go back up to heaven, the first resurrection, the gathering of the saints/elect will be here on earth, in and around Jerusalem not in heaven, Zech. 14:4.
My understanding is this will be after the 3.5 years of the tribulation of Satan, the beast from the bottomless pit, and the false prophet. In my understanding, Rev. 11:15-19 is the trumpet sounding for Rev.19:11-15. That is why I understand Matt. 24:31 1 Thess. 4:16 1 Cor. 15:52 or Rev. 11:15 and Rev. 19:11-15 as the same event.
In Rev. 15 it starts with another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, the same wording as Rev. 12:1. A vision, and as the woman was not physically in heaven my understanding of Rev. 15 we cannot assume this is in heaven. We see the judgment of those who will be reigning with Jesus for the 1000 years described the same way as those in Rev. 15.
In Rev. 15:4 my understanding is God's judgments are made manifest, apparent as we see next the angels going out to pour them out. This will not happen until after Jesus returns and the first resurrection. Rev. 14 my understanding is a dropping of the sword, what I mean is the army is prepared and ready to proceed and the general drops the sword to go and we see the results of the battle in vs. 20, Isaiah 6:3 Rev. 19:15-18
Those who are in the first resurrection will be changed into their incorruptible bodies when Jesus returns, 1 Cor. 15:51-54. This will happen when Jesus returns but they are not taken to heaven they will reign here on earth with Jesus for 1000 years the rest of the dead will be judged, Rev. 20:11-15.
I know we differ; we do agree on no pre-trib., but I still do not see people being taken to heaven.
God bless,
RLW
Why do you assume the ones teaching on this forum; and those teaching, refute the doctrine of the church, are in error, and not the church being in error.
That's a stretch:
Isaiah 6:8 And I (Christ, he is the WORD(s) that are written) heard the voice of the LORD (my Father) saying, Whom shall I (the Father) SEND? and who will go for us? Then said I (Christ), here am I, SEND ME.
Isaiah 6:9 And he (the father) said, Go (Christ), and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, BUT UNDERSTAND NOT, and see ye indeed, and PERCEIVE.
Matthew 13:13 Therefore I speak to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they UNDERSTAND.
Most in the church will tell you the WORD is not a parable, nor believe it is a parable, so why do you think their doctrines are correct, when they don't believe the WORDS OF GOD.
God sent Jesus to be the saviour of the world, and his RESURRECTION saved the world, the church doesn't believe this, you have said yourself most go to hell,:there is going to be a kingdom, back on this earth, when God raises the UNBELIEVERS (even Satan believes there is a God, he just doesn't believe the WORDS of GOD) back to their flesh, and they will bow and confess GOD'S WORDS ARE TRUTH.
You don't believe you fall into this pigeon hole, because you believe the DOCTRINES of man instead of God's words, Revelation SAYS: Satan who deceives the WHOLE WORLD; this includes his church, you don't believe the church is deceive, can you point to the time God caused you to SEE this deception. Until you AGREE with God, that you and I and everyone one else has been deceive, and ASK God to open your eyes and HIM CAUSE you to see, you will be among those spoken of in John:
John 9:41 Jesus is saying unto YOU: If you were blind you would have NO SIN: but now you say I SEE (you day, I haven't been deceived) therefore YOUR SIN REMAINETH.
This is written in LOVE:
God bless YOU!
And
Matthew 24, The fig tree in leaf: is speaking of the NEW ISRAEL, the born again, Christ is the TREE, we are the leaves, NOT national Israel.
PROPHECY:
Isaiah 6:13 But ye in it (the land) shall be a TENTH (the tithe to God, the FIRSTBORNE of the flock), and it (the Priest and Judges of the earth) SHALL RETURN, and shall be eaten; as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is IN THEM (Christ IN YOU), when they cast their leaves: so the HOLY SEED (the word of God, Christ IN YOU) shall be the substance thereof.
Revelation 22:2 And in the midst of the street of it (new Jerusalem), and on either side of the river (of LIFE: Christ), was there the tree of LIFE (Christ), which bear twelve manner of fruit (new Israel), and yielded her fruit every month (continual rebirth into new Israel): and the LEAVES were for the HEALING OF THE NATIONS.
Isaiah 59:21 And this is my covenant with them (the firstborne), saith the Lord, MY SPIRIT (the SEED) that is poured out on THEE (Christ, the firstborne SEED, of many SEED), and my words which I PUT in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of THY SEED, or out of the mouth of THY SEED'S SEED, from henceforth and evermore.
The fruit of the TREE (CHRIST) is the children of Christ; and are HIS IMAGE, the NEW Israel.
God Bless YOU!
This distinguishes Him from Satan who "appears as an angel of light" ( 2 Cor. 11:14). When we get a true vision of God; therefore there is no messing about; we are "made willing" (Phillipians 2:13). As we see with Isaiah 6:8 there is no hesitation on God's part to send out those who are qualified to proclaim the truth. He has equipped us for what is needed; but sadly the "harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few" ( Matt. 9:37).
Agape; Rich P
I will give my understanding,
Your first question; is there anywhere in the heavens or the earth that God cannot be, Psalm 139:7-10 Proverbs 15:3 Jeremiah 23:23-24 Hebrews 4:13 Isaiah 6:3. But is the universe, the earth, and everything on the earth a manifestation of God? NO that is Pantheism and is forbidden in the Bible as idol worship, if everything is God it can be worshiped.
His dwelling place is in heaven that is above heaven (universe) and earth, beyond and outside of the physical universe, 1 Kings 8:30 1 Kings 8:43 2 Chr. 20:6 Psalm 11:4 Daniel 2:28 Matt. 5:16 Matt. 6:9. God gave His only begotten Son to die for us, John 3:16 God by the Holy Spirit can dwell in us if we accept Jesus as our savior we are cleansed by His blood, Romans 8:9-11 1 Cor. 3:16
God can see everything and take action anywhere, Prov. 15:3 Heb. 4:13 but God is everywhere at once? He is in that he is aware of everything in the physical universe both past, present, and future, and he can turn his attention to anyone or anything at any time.
Has anyone seen God? Moses came the closest, God showed him His backside, Exodus 33:12-23. No man in the flesh can see God's face and live, John 1:18 John 4:12 1 Tim. 6:16. We will see His face after the resurrection in our immortal and incorruptible body, Rev 22:4.
How can one Know that God exists? The Bible: He has revealed things to us, and the evidence is convincing if anyone is willing to consider the evidence. History also confirms many things that were prophesied in the Bible long before they happened. The word of God is the truth, and the Holy Spirit will reveal it to those with an open mind and open heart who honestly want the truth.
This is my understanding in love may it help, search and pray for yours.
God bless,
RLW
We therefore have all possibilities. We could have an illness leading to death which according to scripture may be due to sin in certain cases. As with any other prayers if someone is harboring sin then God may be attempting to use their afflictions to drive them to repentance; or it may have nothing to do with anything but a body living in a fallen world.
So God can choose to heal; and the cause of the illness may be physiological; or spiritual (often intertwined). I would venture to say that most things publicized are not true healings; but also would say that we are called to pray for such things as I outlined in my last piece. What is important is that the person is open to trusting God in faith AND the person praying isn't harboring sin and under a subsequent curse as a result of an ongoing lifestyle of sin. THAT is often neglected; and we need to insure that a "blessing" isn't a demonic curse put on us by the practitioner. Thus we should RUN from those people as we don't want to be infected as they are. This is serious business. We need to be as little children sensing when His presence is in someone; as well as sensing wolves out there.
True repentance produces joy but it never appeals to the flesh. This is how we can see what is true revival (hard to find today in this country). A vision of God is as Isaiah 6:5 it makes us undone.
That gets us into part three: Money and having a balanced perspective.
More on that later.
"For when he saw the Lord he saw also himself and in the light of the Lord said " woe is me for I am undone .."
Many claim to see the Lord or have visions but are not changed for the better but rather only boast in their visions and revelations .Isiah felt unclean unholy and unfit " a man of unclean lips "
Great reply.
For when he saw the Lord he saw also himself and in the light of the Lord said " woe is me for I am undone .."
Many claim to see the Lord or have visions but are not changed for the better but rather only boast in their visions and revelations .Isiah felt unclean unholy and unfit " a man of unclean lips "
Who needed a burning coal from off the altar to cleanse them . The lips are very tender think on that.
He confessed his sin ,was contrite and only then commissioned .
His messages after that radically changed .
You cannot be sent by God unless you have been to or encountered God .
For you no longer go in your own name but in the name who sent you .
Not to do your will but the will of Him who sent you .
This is not self appointed nor is it imposed .
For how can the list be saved? Unless they hear the message? And how will they hear the message unless it is preached?
Who then will go for us?
Confession ,contrition commission .
"Send me "
"Go in this Thy might "" you might say .
I came not to do my will but the will of Hom that sent me".
He that seeks his own glory is unrighteous but he that seeks the glory of him that sent him.."
Here in Ch 6, after King Uzziah died you have the call and commission of Isaiah to the office of the prophets.
In verse 8 he answers the call. "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I,
(Here am I; send me.)
GBU.
Speculation about the meaning of the number 666, the number of the beast, has been intriguing but futile. Some individuals have assigned a numeric value to the letters of the alphabet and applied the values to names. Political figures, popes, and dictators have been subject to such a numeric system. It's important to remember that there are only so many numerals-only ten, in fact-and only so many letters in any given alphabet. Given enough time and creativity, almost any name can be connected or manipulated into some connection with 666.
Other possibilities abound. Some are more obscure, and unlikely, than others. Ezra 2:13 gives the number of descendants of Adonikam as 666. Because "Adonikam" means "the lord who rises up" or "lord of the enemy," a few interpreters suggest the beast who rises from the earth will bear the name Adonikam. The mathematical value of 6x6x6 is 216, leading some to believe that this number, not "six hundred and sixty six" will be the "number of the name" of the beast.
In reality, no one knows exactly what 666 means. We can only draw on basic concepts to understand some of its implications. For example, 6 is one short of 7, which is the biblical number of perfection. The number 6 represents imperfection and is therefore man's number. God is perfectly holy-thrice holy-as the seraphim of Isaiah's vision proclaim. They called to one another, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts" ( Isaiah 6:3). Repeating this three times emphasizes its absolute nature. By contrast, imperfect man is unholy, unholy, unholy: 6-6-6.
You can Google search other COMMENTARIES. Type: " REVELATION 13:18, Commentary".
Choose a link that has BIBLE in it. Like biblehub, bibleref.
Even if I say Giannis has explained it very well, if you not "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter 1:20-1. I can only perceived by reading "Nats if Jesus is God" you are still searching if Jesus Christ is God. I would be happy to show you how to be saved and obtain the Holy Spirit. Only then the verses you have inquired about will make sense to you because the Holy Spirit will guide you to the truth.
In John 10:36 Jesus Christ himself said He is the Son of God. If you read the entire conversation between the unbelieving Jews and Jesus Christ they will not believe no matter how anybody explained it to them. It is already prophesied in Isaiah 6:9-10, Isaiah 42:20; Jeremiah 5:21; Acts 28:27; Roman's 11.8
In John 14:28 the situation was that Jesus was about to fulfill another prophesy and that was to die on the cross for the sins of the world 1 John 2:2. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Colossians 2:2-3. When Jesus was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures, Jesus fulfilled what God the Father sent Jesus to do on earth. The mystery is that God the Father is greater than Jesus the Son of God. Remember Jesus came to Virgin Mary from God the Father. Then Jesus has to go unto the Father after Jesus rose the third day so the Comforter (i.e. Holy Spirit) will be fulfilled. John 14:16; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7. There is only one God. Romans 3:30; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; James 2:19. Hope this helps and that you be saved soon. Good question.