“The chapter was like a description of all that we found ourselves doing, lending focus to our prayers for Zion and for a broken generation. It’s a passage that’s become a calling card for many prayer rooms since:
1 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet,
till her righteousness shines out like the dawn,
her salvation like a blazing torch.
6 I have posted watchmen on your walls,
O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the LORD,
give yourselves no rest,
7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem
and makes her the praise of the earth.”
Ouote from page 70 of the book: Red Moon Rising
by Pete Greig and Dave Roberts
This is a great prayer to add to my prayers,
I’m sure some of you have seen this but I didn’t think it’d hurt to post it.
Marcie
Friday, June 29, 2007
The Kingdom of Heaven is like.....
The Kingdom of Heaven is like…
Matthew 13:31-32
He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
Jesus taught many times with the phrase “The kingdom of heaven…” In order to know these truths we need to know His Word. We need to read the Bible. I love to read the last two chapters of Revelation to see the New Heaven and the New Earth described in those glorious details because we know the present heaven and earth are passing away. He gives us hope.
Here He is saying that faith gives birth to faith. As an exampel Paul, and all the apostles’ faith led others to faith. Just one seed of faith will produce an untold harvest.
Lord, help me to be as a mustard seed, help me to live by faith and die in Christ. Help me to give each day to You and follow your teachings.
Matthew 13:31-32
He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
Jesus taught many times with the phrase “The kingdom of heaven…” In order to know these truths we need to know His Word. We need to read the Bible. I love to read the last two chapters of Revelation to see the New Heaven and the New Earth described in those glorious details because we know the present heaven and earth are passing away. He gives us hope.
Here He is saying that faith gives birth to faith. As an exampel Paul, and all the apostles’ faith led others to faith. Just one seed of faith will produce an untold harvest.
Lord, help me to be as a mustard seed, help me to live by faith and die in Christ. Help me to give each day to You and follow your teachings.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
The ax is already at the root of the trees...
Matthew 3:10
John said in this passage
The following posting is follow-up to this passage of Scripture.
John said in this passage
The ax is already at the root of the trees,
and every tree that does not produce good fruit
will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance
Matthew 3:7-10 (or Luke 3:7-9) John the Baptist’s teachings
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them:
"You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
And do not think you can say to yourselves,
'We have Abraham as our father.'
I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
Luke 1:17 Regarding John the Baptist
And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
Matthew 17:12-13 John the Baptist was Elijah
Jesus said to them, “But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
Romans 11:19-24
You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in."
Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.
And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
Hebrews 3:12-19
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.
As has just been said:
Who were they who heard and rebelled?
Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?
And with whom was he angry for forty years?
Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert?
And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed?
So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them:
"You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
And do not think you can say to yourselves,
'We have Abraham as our father.'
I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
Luke 1:17 Regarding John the Baptist
And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
Matthew 17:12-13 John the Baptist was Elijah
Jesus said to them, “But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
Romans 11:19-24
You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in."
Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.
And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
Hebrews 3:12-19
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.
As has just been said:
"Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion."
Who were they who heard and rebelled?
Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?
And with whom was he angry for forty years?
Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert?
And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed?
So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks
Luke 6:43-45
"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.
For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God
"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.
For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Two Eagles and a Vine A parable
Two Eagles and a Vine
The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, set forth an allegory and tell the house of Israel a parable. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: A great eagle with powerful wings, long feathers and full plumage of varied colors came to Lebanon. Taking hold of the top of a cedar, he broke off its topmost shoot and carried it away to a land of merchants, where he planted it in a city of traders.
" 'He took some of the seed of your land and put it in fertile soil. He planted it like a willow by abundant water, and it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine. Its branches turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and produced branches and put out leafy boughs.
" 'But there was another great eagle with powerful wings and full plumage. The vine now sent out its roots toward him from the plot where it was planted and stretched out its branches to him for water. It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce branches, bear fruit and become a splendid vine.'
"Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Will it thrive? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it withers? All its new growth will wither. It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by the roots. Even if it is transplanted, will it thrive? Will it not wither completely when the east wind strikes it—wither away in the plot where it grew?' "
Then the word of the LORD came to me: "Say to this rebellious house, 'Do you not know what these things mean?' Say to them: 'The king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and carried off her king and her nobles, bringing them back with him to Babylon. Then he took a member of the royal family and made a treaty with him, putting him under oath. He also carried away the leading men of the land, so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to rise again, surviving only by keeping his treaty. But the king rebelled against him by sending his envoys to Egypt to get horses and a large army. Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape?
Will he break the treaty and yet escape?
" 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, he shall die in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose treaty he broke. Pharaoh with his mighty army and great horde will be of no help to him in war, when ramps are built and siege works erected to destroy many lives. He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Because he had given his hand in pledge and yet did all these things, he shall not escape.
" 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: As surely as I live, I will bring down on his head my oath that he despised and my covenant that he broke. I will spread my net for him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment upon him there because he was unfaithful to me. All his fleeing troops will fall by the sword, and the survivors will be scattered to the winds. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken.
" 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. All the trees of the field will know that I the LORD bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.
" 'I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.' "
Ezkiel Chapter 17
The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, set forth an allegory and tell the house of Israel a parable. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: A great eagle with powerful wings, long feathers and full plumage of varied colors came to Lebanon. Taking hold of the top of a cedar, he broke off its topmost shoot and carried it away to a land of merchants, where he planted it in a city of traders.
" 'He took some of the seed of your land and put it in fertile soil. He planted it like a willow by abundant water, and it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine. Its branches turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and produced branches and put out leafy boughs.
" 'But there was another great eagle with powerful wings and full plumage. The vine now sent out its roots toward him from the plot where it was planted and stretched out its branches to him for water. It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce branches, bear fruit and become a splendid vine.'
"Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Will it thrive? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it withers? All its new growth will wither. It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by the roots. Even if it is transplanted, will it thrive? Will it not wither completely when the east wind strikes it—wither away in the plot where it grew?' "
Then the word of the LORD came to me: "Say to this rebellious house, 'Do you not know what these things mean?' Say to them: 'The king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and carried off her king and her nobles, bringing them back with him to Babylon. Then he took a member of the royal family and made a treaty with him, putting him under oath. He also carried away the leading men of the land, so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to rise again, surviving only by keeping his treaty. But the king rebelled against him by sending his envoys to Egypt to get horses and a large army. Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape?
Will he break the treaty and yet escape?
" 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, he shall die in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose treaty he broke. Pharaoh with his mighty army and great horde will be of no help to him in war, when ramps are built and siege works erected to destroy many lives. He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Because he had given his hand in pledge and yet did all these things, he shall not escape.
" 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: As surely as I live, I will bring down on his head my oath that he despised and my covenant that he broke. I will spread my net for him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment upon him there because he was unfaithful to me. All his fleeing troops will fall by the sword, and the survivors will be scattered to the winds. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken.
" 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. All the trees of the field will know that I the LORD bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.
" 'I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.' "
The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11:3,4
I believe the TWO WITNESS spoken of here in Revelaton may be Elijah and Paul because I think these passages in Scripture show one is from the Cultivated Olive Tree (the Jews) and one is from the Wild Olive Tree (the Christians).
The Two Olive Trees of Revelation 11:3-4
“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.”
Zechariah Chapter 3
Zech. 3:8 " 'Listen, O high priest Joshua and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.
Zech 4:2,3 I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left."
I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?"
Zech 4:11-14
Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?"
Again I asked him, "What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?"
He replied, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I said.
So he said, "These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth."
Paul said in Romans 10:16-20
If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, "I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding." (Deut.32:21)
And Isaiah boldly says, "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."( Isaiah 65:1)
But concerning Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people." (Isaiah 65:2)
Paul said in Romans Chapter 11: 1-29
I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me" (1 Kings 19:10,14)?
And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 1 Kings 19:18
So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day." (Deut. 29:4; Isaiah 29:10)
And David says: "May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever."( Psalm 69:22,23 1 Kings 19:10,14)
Ingrafted Branches
Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
All Israel Will Be Saved
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
"The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins." (Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9; Jer. 31:33,34)
As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
Isaiah 59:20,21
"The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins," declares the LORD.
"As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 31:33,34
"The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to [a] them, [b] " declares the LORD.
"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
The Two Olive Trees of Revelation 11:3-4
“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.”
Zechariah Chapter 3
Zech. 3:8 " 'Listen, O high priest Joshua and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.
Zech 4:2,3 I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left."
I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?"
Zech 4:11-14
Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?"
Again I asked him, "What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?"
He replied, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I said.
So he said, "These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth."
Paul said in Romans 10:16-20
If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, "I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding." (Deut.32:21)
And Isaiah boldly says, "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."( Isaiah 65:1)
But concerning Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people." (Isaiah 65:2)
Paul said in Romans Chapter 11: 1-29
I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me" (1 Kings 19:10,14)?
And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 1 Kings 19:18
So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day." (Deut. 29:4; Isaiah 29:10)
And David says: "May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever."( Psalm 69:22,23 1 Kings 19:10,14)
Ingrafted Branches
Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
All Israel Will Be Saved
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
"The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins." (Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9; Jer. 31:33,34)
As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
Isaiah 59:20,21
"The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins," declares the LORD.
"As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 31:33,34
"The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to [a] them, [b] " declares the LORD.
"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
Monday, June 25, 2007
The Cultivated Olive Tree and Wild Olive Tree
Two Olive Trees
Zechariah Chapter 3
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?"
Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you."
Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by.
The angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua: "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.
" 'Listen, O high priest Joshua and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.
See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,' says the LORD Almighty, 'and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.
" 'In that day each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree,' declares the LORD Almighty."
Zechariah Chapter 4
Then the angel who talked with me returned and wakened me, as a man is wakened from his sleep. He asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left."
I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?"
He answered, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I replied.
So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.
"What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!' "
Then the word of the LORD came to me: "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.
"Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. "(These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range throughout the earth.)"
Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?"
Again I asked him, "What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?"
He replied, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I said.
So he said, "These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth."
Romans 10:16-20
If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, "I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding." (Deut.32:21)
And Isaiah boldly says, "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."( Isaiah 65:1)
But concerning Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people." (Isaiah 65:2)
Romans Chapter 11: 1-29
I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me" (1 Kings 19:10,14)?
And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 1 Kings 19:18
So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day." (Deut. 29:4; Isaiah 29:10)
And David says: "May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever."( Psalm 69:22,23 1 Kings 19:10,14)
Ingrafted Branches
Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.
But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
All Israel Will Be Saved
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
"The deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins." (Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9; Jer. 31:33,34)
As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
Isaiah 59:20,21
"The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins," declares the LORD.
"As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 31:33,34
"The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, " declares the LORD.
"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD.
"I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,"declares the LORD.
"For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
Zechariah Chapter 3
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?"
Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you."
Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by.
The angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua: "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.
" 'Listen, O high priest Joshua and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.
See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,' says the LORD Almighty, 'and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.
" 'In that day each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree,' declares the LORD Almighty."
Zechariah Chapter 4
Then the angel who talked with me returned and wakened me, as a man is wakened from his sleep. He asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left."
I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?"
He answered, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I replied.
So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.
"What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!' "
Then the word of the LORD came to me: "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.
"Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. "(These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range throughout the earth.)"
Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?"
Again I asked him, "What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?"
He replied, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I said.
So he said, "These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth."
Romans 10:16-20
If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, "I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding." (Deut.32:21)
And Isaiah boldly says, "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."( Isaiah 65:1)
But concerning Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people." (Isaiah 65:2)
Romans Chapter 11: 1-29
I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me" (1 Kings 19:10,14)?
And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 1 Kings 19:18
So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day." (Deut. 29:4; Isaiah 29:10)
And David says: "May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever."( Psalm 69:22,23 1 Kings 19:10,14)
Ingrafted Branches
Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.
But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
All Israel Will Be Saved
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
"The deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins." (Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9; Jer. 31:33,34)
As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
Isaiah 59:20,21
"The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins," declares the LORD.
"As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 31:33,34
"The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, " declares the LORD.
"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD.
"I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,"declares the LORD.
"For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
The Lord''s portion is His people, Jacob His allotted Inheritance
Today Monday June 25, 2007
We read, see, feel, claim and pray these words of Deuteronomy 30 because they are an inheritance for the people of Israel yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Praise God and Glory be to God for the words spoken here in Deuteronomy, they are everlasting words spoken by our Everlasting Father who is The Beginning and the End.
Deuteronomy 32:9
"For the LORD's portion is His people, Jacob His allotted inheritance."
Deuteronomy 32:43
"Rejoice, O nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants; he will take vengeance on his enemies and make atonement for his land and people."
Deuteronomy 33:26-29
"There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, 'Destroy him!' So Israel will live in safety alone; Jacob's spring is secure in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens drop dew.
Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD ?
He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places."
Hebrews 3:13
"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today"
In Jesus name we rejoice and claim these words for Israel in prayer and thanksgiving.
We read, see, feel, claim and pray these words of Deuteronomy 30 because they are an inheritance for the people of Israel yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Praise God and Glory be to God for the words spoken here in Deuteronomy, they are everlasting words spoken by our Everlasting Father who is The Beginning and the End.
Deuteronomy 32:9
"For the LORD's portion is His people, Jacob His allotted inheritance."
Deuteronomy 32:43
"Rejoice, O nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants; he will take vengeance on his enemies and make atonement for his land and people."
Deuteronomy 33:26-29
"There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, 'Destroy him!' So Israel will live in safety alone; Jacob's spring is secure in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens drop dew.
Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD ?
He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places."
Hebrews 3:13
"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today"
In Jesus name we rejoice and claim these words for Israel in prayer and thanksgiving.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Deuteronomy Chapter 30
My prayers for Israel today is that the words of Deuteronomy 30 come alive for the Jewish Nation and they may love the LORD their God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him today and forever.
Deuteronomy 30
" When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever the LORD your God disperses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.
Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the LORD your God will gather you and bring you back.
He will bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers.
The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.
The LORD your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you.
You will again obey the LORD and follow all his commands I am giving you today.
Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land.
The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers, if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
The Offer of Life or Death
Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.
It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?"
No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.
Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."
Deuteronomy 30
" When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever the LORD your God disperses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.
Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the LORD your God will gather you and bring you back.
He will bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers.
The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.
The LORD your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you.
You will again obey the LORD and follow all his commands I am giving you today.
Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land.
The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers, if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
The Offer of Life or Death
Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.
It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?"
No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.
Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."
Jotham's Trees
Jesus said, Luke 21:29 "He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees."
Are we to study all the parables, dreams and speeches in the Bible regarding trees?
I wonder if in looking at this speech by Jotham that he is a prophet? Could Jotham’s comment about trees ruling over Israel indicate the digression of leadership until it reaches the lowest ebb?
Background:
King Abimelech was evil; he killed 70 of his brothers by deceit and usurped the throne of Israel. Jotham was one brother he did not kill.
This is what Jotham, that brother said in Judges 9:7-15.
It shows that sometimes a thornbush wants to be a tree and it shows that sometimes the trees are so desprate for leadership that they’ll accept a thornbush.
Judges 9:7-15
When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, "Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king.'
"But the olive tree answered, 'Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and men are honored, to hold sway over the trees?'
"Next, the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and be our king.'
"But the fig tree replied, 'Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?'
"Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come and be our king.'
"But the vine answered, 'Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and men, to hold sway over the trees?'
"Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, 'Come and be our king.'
"The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!'
Are we to study all the parables, dreams and speeches in the Bible regarding trees?
I wonder if in looking at this speech by Jotham that he is a prophet? Could Jotham’s comment about trees ruling over Israel indicate the digression of leadership until it reaches the lowest ebb?
Background:
King Abimelech was evil; he killed 70 of his brothers by deceit and usurped the throne of Israel. Jotham was one brother he did not kill.
This is what Jotham, that brother said in Judges 9:7-15.
It shows that sometimes a thornbush wants to be a tree and it shows that sometimes the trees are so desprate for leadership that they’ll accept a thornbush.
Judges 9:7-15
When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, "Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king.'
"But the olive tree answered, 'Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and men are honored, to hold sway over the trees?'
"Next, the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and be our king.'
"But the fig tree replied, 'Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?'
"Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come and be our king.'
"But the vine answered, 'Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and men, to hold sway over the trees?'
"Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, 'Come and be our king.'
"The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!'
Saturday, June 23, 2007
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem"
Jesus' Sorrow for Jerusalem
At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, "Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you."
He replied, "Go tell that fox, 'I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.' In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, "Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you."
He replied, "Go tell that fox, 'I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.' In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Luke 21:29 "He told them this parable: ...
Luke 21:29
"He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
Truly, I say to you this generation will not pass away till all has taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. "
"He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
Truly, I say to you this generation will not pass away till all has taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. "
Promises to Christians
If you have the indwelling Christ, these promises are for you.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy
Psalms 33:18 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
Psalms 34:7 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.
Psalms 34:9 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Psalms 46:2 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.
Psalms 31:24 1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”
Philippians 4:19:"...my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
(This list of promises from the Bible is a list from A Child of the King, and John from the Joel Rosenberg Blog posted today. It was too good not to repost here on my Bible Study Blog.)I think that just about covers everything, including "Acts of War", "Natural (and unnatural) Disasters", "Attacks by Wild Animals", Sickness, Loss of Job, House, Car, and anything else the insurance adjusters can think of to not pay up when you make a claim!
Also posted today is a list I found from one of my Pastor's Sermons. This is a partial list of the Names of Jesus Christ. It does not include names like: Son of Man, or Angel of the Lord which are Old Testament terms. I'll have to dig to find some of those lists.
Partial list of the names of the ONE to call upon for Help in case of "CASASTROPHIC ATTACK":
Advocate (1 John 2:1)
Almighty (Rev. 1:8; Mt. 28:18)
Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:13)
Amen (Rev. 3:14)
Apostle of our Profession (Heb. 3:1)
Atoning Sacrifice for our Sins (1 John 2:2)
Author of Life (Acts 3:15)
Author and Perfecter of our Faith (Heb. 12:2)
Author of Salvation (Heb. 2:10)
Beginning and End (Rev. 22:13)
Blessed and only Ruler (1 Tim. 6:15)
Bread of God (John 6:33)
Bread of Life (John 6:35; 6:48)
Bridegroom (Mt. 9:15)
Capstone (Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7)
Chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20)
Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4)
Christ (1 John 2:22)
Creator (John 1:3)
Deliverer (Rom. 11:26)
Eternal Life (1 John 1:2; 5:20)
Gate (John 10:9)
Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11)
Faithful Witness (Rev. 1:5)
Faith and True Witness (Rev. 3:14)
First and Last (Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13)
Firstborn From the Dead (Rev. 1:5)
Firstborn over all creation (Col. 1:15)
Gate (John 10:9)
God (John 1:1; 20:28; Heb. 1:8; Rom. 9:5; 2 Pet. 1:1;1 John 5:20; etc.)
Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)
Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20)
Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14)
Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23)
Heir of all things (Heb. 1:2)
High Priest (Heb. 2:17)
Holy and True (Rev. 3:7)
Holy One (Acts 3:14)
Hope (1 Tim. 1:1)
Hope of Glory (Col. 1:27)
Horn of Salvation (Luke 1:69)
I Am (John 8:58)
Image of God (2 Cor. 4:4)
Immanuel (Mt. 1:23)
Judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42)
King Eternal (1 Tim. 1:17)
King of Israel (John 1:49)
King of the Jews (Mt. 27:11)
King of kings (1 Tim 6:15; Rev. 19:16)
King of the Ages (Rev. 15:3)
Lamb (Rev. 13:8)
Lamb of God (John 1:29)
Lamb Without Blemish (1 Pet. 1:19)
Last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45)
Life (John 14:6; Col. 3:4)
Light of the World (John 8:12)
Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5)
Living One (Rev. 1:18)
Living Stone (1 Pet. 2:4)
Lord (2 Pet. 2:20)
Lord of All (Acts 10:36)
Lord of Glory (1 Cor. 2:8)
Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16)
Man from Heaven (1 Cor. 15:48)
Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15)
Mighty God (Isa. 9:6)
The Bright Morning Star (Rev. 22:16)
Offspring of David (Rev. 22:16)
Only Begotten Son of God (John 1:18; 1 John 4:9)
Our Great God and Savior (Titus 2:13)
Our Holiness (1 Cor. 1:30)
Our Husband (2 Cor. 11:2)
Our Protection (2 Thess. 3:3)
Our Redemption (1 Cor. 1:30)
Our Righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30)
Our Sacrificed Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7)
Power of God (1 Cor. 1:24)
Precious Cornerstone (1 Pet. 2:6)
Prophet (Acts 3:22)
Rabbi (Mt. 26:25)
Resurrection and Life (John 11:25)
Righteous Branch (Jer. 23:5)
Righteous One (Acts 7:52; 1 John 2:1)
Rock (1 Cor. 10:4)
Root of David (Rev. 5:5; 22:16)
Ruler of God’s Creation (Rev. 3:14)
Ruler of the Kings of the Earth (Rev. 1:5)
Savior (Eph. 5:23; Titus 1:4; 3:6; 2 Pet. 2:20)
Son of David (Lk. 18:39)
Son of God (John 1:49; Heb. 4:14)
Son of Man (Mt. 8:20)
Son of the Most High God (Lk. 1:32)
Source of Eternal Salvation for all who obey him (Heb. 5:9)
The One Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5)
The Stone the builders rejected (Acts 4:11)
True Bread (John 6:32)
True Light (John 1:9)
True Vine (John 15:1)
Truth (John 1:14; 14:6)
Way (John 14:6)
Wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24)
Word (John 1:1)
Word of God (Rev. 19:13)
Actually the time to call upon the ONE mentioned above is ASAP. Call out to Him in faith- believing, a simple prayer like;
"Oh Lord, I believe, please come into my heart".
You will then be a Christian.Then read the Gospel John, and Romans 10:9-10
God will lead, follow Him closely everyday
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy
Psalms 33:18 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
Psalms 34:7 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.
Psalms 34:9 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Psalms 46:2 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.
Psalms 31:24 1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”
Philippians 4:19:"...my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
(This list of promises from the Bible is a list from A Child of the King, and John from the Joel Rosenberg Blog posted today. It was too good not to repost here on my Bible Study Blog.)I think that just about covers everything, including "Acts of War", "Natural (and unnatural) Disasters", "Attacks by Wild Animals", Sickness, Loss of Job, House, Car, and anything else the insurance adjusters can think of to not pay up when you make a claim!
Also posted today is a list I found from one of my Pastor's Sermons. This is a partial list of the Names of Jesus Christ. It does not include names like: Son of Man, or Angel of the Lord which are Old Testament terms. I'll have to dig to find some of those lists.
Partial list of the names of the ONE to call upon for Help in case of "CASASTROPHIC ATTACK":
Advocate (1 John 2:1)
Almighty (Rev. 1:8; Mt. 28:18)
Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:13)
Amen (Rev. 3:14)
Apostle of our Profession (Heb. 3:1)
Atoning Sacrifice for our Sins (1 John 2:2)
Author of Life (Acts 3:15)
Author and Perfecter of our Faith (Heb. 12:2)
Author of Salvation (Heb. 2:10)
Beginning and End (Rev. 22:13)
Blessed and only Ruler (1 Tim. 6:15)
Bread of God (John 6:33)
Bread of Life (John 6:35; 6:48)
Bridegroom (Mt. 9:15)
Capstone (Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7)
Chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20)
Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4)
Christ (1 John 2:22)
Creator (John 1:3)
Deliverer (Rom. 11:26)
Eternal Life (1 John 1:2; 5:20)
Gate (John 10:9)
Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11)
Faithful Witness (Rev. 1:5)
Faith and True Witness (Rev. 3:14)
First and Last (Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13)
Firstborn From the Dead (Rev. 1:5)
Firstborn over all creation (Col. 1:15)
Gate (John 10:9)
God (John 1:1; 20:28; Heb. 1:8; Rom. 9:5; 2 Pet. 1:1;1 John 5:20; etc.)
Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)
Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20)
Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14)
Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23)
Heir of all things (Heb. 1:2)
High Priest (Heb. 2:17)
Holy and True (Rev. 3:7)
Holy One (Acts 3:14)
Hope (1 Tim. 1:1)
Hope of Glory (Col. 1:27)
Horn of Salvation (Luke 1:69)
I Am (John 8:58)
Image of God (2 Cor. 4:4)
Immanuel (Mt. 1:23)
Judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42)
King Eternal (1 Tim. 1:17)
King of Israel (John 1:49)
King of the Jews (Mt. 27:11)
King of kings (1 Tim 6:15; Rev. 19:16)
King of the Ages (Rev. 15:3)
Lamb (Rev. 13:8)
Lamb of God (John 1:29)
Lamb Without Blemish (1 Pet. 1:19)
Last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45)
Life (John 14:6; Col. 3:4)
Light of the World (John 8:12)
Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5)
Living One (Rev. 1:18)
Living Stone (1 Pet. 2:4)
Lord (2 Pet. 2:20)
Lord of All (Acts 10:36)
Lord of Glory (1 Cor. 2:8)
Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16)
Man from Heaven (1 Cor. 15:48)
Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15)
Mighty God (Isa. 9:6)
The Bright Morning Star (Rev. 22:16)
Offspring of David (Rev. 22:16)
Only Begotten Son of God (John 1:18; 1 John 4:9)
Our Great God and Savior (Titus 2:13)
Our Holiness (1 Cor. 1:30)
Our Husband (2 Cor. 11:2)
Our Protection (2 Thess. 3:3)
Our Redemption (1 Cor. 1:30)
Our Righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30)
Our Sacrificed Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7)
Power of God (1 Cor. 1:24)
Precious Cornerstone (1 Pet. 2:6)
Prophet (Acts 3:22)
Rabbi (Mt. 26:25)
Resurrection and Life (John 11:25)
Righteous Branch (Jer. 23:5)
Righteous One (Acts 7:52; 1 John 2:1)
Rock (1 Cor. 10:4)
Root of David (Rev. 5:5; 22:16)
Ruler of God’s Creation (Rev. 3:14)
Ruler of the Kings of the Earth (Rev. 1:5)
Savior (Eph. 5:23; Titus 1:4; 3:6; 2 Pet. 2:20)
Son of David (Lk. 18:39)
Son of God (John 1:49; Heb. 4:14)
Son of Man (Mt. 8:20)
Son of the Most High God (Lk. 1:32)
Source of Eternal Salvation for all who obey him (Heb. 5:9)
The One Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5)
The Stone the builders rejected (Acts 4:11)
True Bread (John 6:32)
True Light (John 1:9)
True Vine (John 15:1)
Truth (John 1:14; 14:6)
Way (John 14:6)
Wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24)
Word (John 1:1)
Word of God (Rev. 19:13)
Actually the time to call upon the ONE mentioned above is ASAP. Call out to Him in faith- believing, a simple prayer like;
"Oh Lord, I believe, please come into my heart".
You will then be a Christian.Then read the Gospel John, and Romans 10:9-10
God will lead, follow Him closely everyday
King Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of a Tree
We can learn about God’s Sovereignty from King Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream about a Tree that was interpreted by Daniel. There may be more to this dream than meets the eye. Is it also talking about the fact that Babylon is cut down, and yet it shows down again in Revelation 18.
Daniel Chapter 4
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of a Tree
King Nebuchadnezzar, To the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world: May you prosper greatly!
It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in my bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. 8 Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)
I said, "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. These are the visions I saw while lying in my bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, and the birds of the air lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.
"In the visions I saw while lying in my bed, I looked, and there before me was a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven. He called in a loud voice: 'Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.
" 'Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him.
" 'The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.'
"This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."
Daniel Interprets the Dream
Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you."
Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the beasts of the field, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds of the air- you, O king, are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.
"You, O king, saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live like the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.'
"This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue."
The Dream Is Fulfilled
All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?"
The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes."
Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion; His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him:
"What have you done?"
At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before.
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything He does is right and all His ways are just. And those who walk in pride He is able to humble.
Daniel Chapter 4
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of a Tree
King Nebuchadnezzar, To the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world: May you prosper greatly!
It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in my bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. 8 Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)
I said, "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. These are the visions I saw while lying in my bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, and the birds of the air lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.
"In the visions I saw while lying in my bed, I looked, and there before me was a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven. He called in a loud voice: 'Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.
" 'Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him.
" 'The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.'
"This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."
Daniel Interprets the Dream
Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you."
Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the beasts of the field, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds of the air- you, O king, are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.
"You, O king, saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live like the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.'
"This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue."
The Dream Is Fulfilled
All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?"
The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes."
Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion; His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him:
"What have you done?"
At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before.
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything He does is right and all His ways are just. And those who walk in pride He is able to humble.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Trail of Trees
Trail of Trees
Let me explain the reason I am going for all the trees in the Bible. I believe the trees are sort of like a powerpoint presentation. God shows us the importance of the entire Bible and the Trees are a Thread of Truth or a trail.
So I am calling this study the Trail of Trees.
In mentioning the curse of those who hang from a tree, and the Cross of Christ I am getting ahead of myself so lets go back to the beginning.
Here we start with Genesis. The first reference of trees in the Bible. The Fall of man is vital to understanding the truths in the Bible. The rest of today's postings are quotes from Genesis with no added commentary from me. The Bible is so powerful it needs no commentary from me. The reason I am posting this is because God's glory is seen in His Word, it is so beautiful and complete. Feast on it richly.
Also intoduced here is the "Tree of Life" and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil". So you can see, trees are very important in the study of the Word of God.
It is important to note the events that happen around the trees in this study of the Trail of Trees.
Genesis 1:11-12
Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so.
The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 2:9
And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2:16-17
And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
The Fall of Man
Genesis Chapter 3
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "
"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."
Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living. The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life."
Let me explain the reason I am going for all the trees in the Bible. I believe the trees are sort of like a powerpoint presentation. God shows us the importance of the entire Bible and the Trees are a Thread of Truth or a trail.
So I am calling this study the Trail of Trees.
In mentioning the curse of those who hang from a tree, and the Cross of Christ I am getting ahead of myself so lets go back to the beginning.
Here we start with Genesis. The first reference of trees in the Bible. The Fall of man is vital to understanding the truths in the Bible. The rest of today's postings are quotes from Genesis with no added commentary from me. The Bible is so powerful it needs no commentary from me. The reason I am posting this is because God's glory is seen in His Word, it is so beautiful and complete. Feast on it richly.
Also intoduced here is the "Tree of Life" and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil". So you can see, trees are very important in the study of the Word of God.
It is important to note the events that happen around the trees in this study of the Trail of Trees.
Genesis 1:11-12
Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so.
The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 2:9
And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2:16-17
And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
The Fall of Man
Genesis Chapter 3
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "
"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."
Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living. The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life."
The Curse of the tree fell on HIM for us.
Jesus was sinless, but He came under the curse of God when He hung from the wooden cross to bear our sins.
Begin Quotes from the Bible (NIV)
Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 21:23b
because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Paul wrote in Galatians 3:10-14
“All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written:
"Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."
Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because,
"The righteous will live by faith."
The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them."
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."
He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by FAITH we might receive the promise of the SPIRIT.”
End Quote.
Begin Quotes from the Bible (NIV)
Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 21:23b
because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Paul wrote in Galatians 3:10-14
“All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written:
"Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."
Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because,
"The righteous will live by faith."
The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them."
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."
He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by FAITH we might receive the promise of the SPIRIT.”
End Quote.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
What I mean concerning Ezekiel 37: 1-14 is that,The House of Israel will be regathered to the physical land of Israel, not partially, or symbolically but actually.
Genesis 18:14 "Is anything too hard for the Lord God?"
After all Sarah was old and beyond the physical ability to give birth, but God enabled her to give birth in her old age. I believe she was an example for a time such as this. If God wants them there, they will be there.
Genesis 18:14 "Is anything too hard for the Lord God?"
After all Sarah was old and beyond the physical ability to give birth, but God enabled her to give birth in her old age. I believe she was an example for a time such as this. If God wants them there, they will be there.
June 20, 2007
Beth Moore Study The Beloved Disciple (page 73)
A New Fire
Today’s Treasure “Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:17
What was the rift (Acts 4:13-20)? They could not deny the miracle/but they wanted them to be silent about Jesus. Their response: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than God, you judge. For we cannot but speak of what we have see and heard.”
Read Acts 8-1-4. How could verse 4 change the way you pray about the persecution of Christians today?
How has God allowed something to push down your fence so that He could expand your horizons?
Now read Acts 8:4-25 giving attention to the role John played. Where did the apostles in Jerusalem send Peter and John and why?
What was the situation at the time of the disciples’ ministry (see John 4:9)?
Take a good look at Luke 9:51-56
What did James and John suggest?
To hope someone burns in hell is profoundly offensive to God and proves we lack His heart (see Ezekiel 33:11; Peter 2:9) James and John didn’t volunteer to call fire down from heaven to save Jesus the trouble. They wanted to wield that kind of power. They wanted to be the hosts of a fireworks spectacular.
Luke 9:54 They asked Jesus a question: “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to consume them?”
Scripture tells us Jesus looks on the heart.
Beth Moore says: “Earlier I mentioned our naiveté’ to think that followers of Christ are automatically void of prejudices.” “Whether our preferred prejudices are toward other denominations, world religions, colors, or economics, they are usually so deeply engrained that we refuse to see them as sin.”
Why is it so much easier to hate from a distance? Acts 8:15 tells us that Peter and John prayed for the Samaritans. Persistent prayer is a prejudice-buster every time if we’ll let it be. Then something really amazing happened. Take another look at 8:17. Then Peter and John laid hands on them and they received the Holy Sprit. Well, well, well. They got their wish after all. They called down fire on them, all right. The kind of fire that destroys things like hatred, meanness, and prejudice for those who let this Holy Fire consume them.
Beth Moore says; “I want to say something simple but very profound to me; how I praise God that we sinful, selfish, ignorant mortals can change. John wasn’t stuck with his old prejudices.”
How has God dramatically changed your attitude toward some target of your personal prejudice?
Marcie’s answer: “To me it’s the Ken Ham Answers in Genesis science that shows the truth of the Bible and that we’re all one people, one blood separated by different cultures and beliefs. Forget evolution.”
Furthermore, I believe the Bible should be taken literal when it comes to prophecy. If God said He created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th, then He did.
If God said He will regather the Jewish Nation as it says in Ezekiel 37, then He will, no problem.
Beth Moore Study The Beloved Disciple (page 73)
A New Fire
Today’s Treasure “Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:17
What was the rift (Acts 4:13-20)? They could not deny the miracle/but they wanted them to be silent about Jesus. Their response: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than God, you judge. For we cannot but speak of what we have see and heard.”
Read Acts 8-1-4. How could verse 4 change the way you pray about the persecution of Christians today?
How has God allowed something to push down your fence so that He could expand your horizons?
Now read Acts 8:4-25 giving attention to the role John played. Where did the apostles in Jerusalem send Peter and John and why?
What was the situation at the time of the disciples’ ministry (see John 4:9)?
Take a good look at Luke 9:51-56
What did James and John suggest?
To hope someone burns in hell is profoundly offensive to God and proves we lack His heart (see Ezekiel 33:11; Peter 2:9) James and John didn’t volunteer to call fire down from heaven to save Jesus the trouble. They wanted to wield that kind of power. They wanted to be the hosts of a fireworks spectacular.
Luke 9:54 They asked Jesus a question: “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to consume them?”
Scripture tells us Jesus looks on the heart.
Beth Moore says: “Earlier I mentioned our naiveté’ to think that followers of Christ are automatically void of prejudices.” “Whether our preferred prejudices are toward other denominations, world religions, colors, or economics, they are usually so deeply engrained that we refuse to see them as sin.”
Why is it so much easier to hate from a distance? Acts 8:15 tells us that Peter and John prayed for the Samaritans. Persistent prayer is a prejudice-buster every time if we’ll let it be. Then something really amazing happened. Take another look at 8:17. Then Peter and John laid hands on them and they received the Holy Sprit. Well, well, well. They got their wish after all. They called down fire on them, all right. The kind of fire that destroys things like hatred, meanness, and prejudice for those who let this Holy Fire consume them.
Beth Moore says; “I want to say something simple but very profound to me; how I praise God that we sinful, selfish, ignorant mortals can change. John wasn’t stuck with his old prejudices.”
How has God dramatically changed your attitude toward some target of your personal prejudice?
Marcie’s answer: “To me it’s the Ken Ham Answers in Genesis science that shows the truth of the Bible and that we’re all one people, one blood separated by different cultures and beliefs. Forget evolution.”
Furthermore, I believe the Bible should be taken literal when it comes to prophecy. If God said He created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th, then He did.
If God said He will regather the Jewish Nation as it says in Ezekiel 37, then He will, no problem.
wjm wrote a nice piece ending with:
" One again, it is a heart thing and we have to decide where we stand and what we are willing to do. I pray for the real Peace of Jerusalem but I know we have a ways to go before He is summoned back for God's wife, Israel. In the meantime, I am looking up and listening."Yes, we do need to follow our hearts in this matter. My heart tells me that our God will do what He says literally in Ezekiel 37 not symbolically.So I respectfully disagree with the Good
Dr. Fruchtenbaum.
Blessings,Marcie
" One again, it is a heart thing and we have to decide where we stand and what we are willing to do. I pray for the real Peace of Jerusalem but I know we have a ways to go before He is summoned back for God's wife, Israel. In the meantime, I am looking up and listening."Yes, we do need to follow our hearts in this matter. My heart tells me that our God will do what He says literally in Ezekiel 37 not symbolically.So I respectfully disagree with the Good
Dr. Fruchtenbaum.
Blessings,Marcie
Quoted from Joel Rosenberg's blog by wjm
"I am sorry that I didn't respond yesterday but I totally missed it. I read your original post again and then your last one and you have some great points made. I used to believe that the establishment of the nation of Israel again was the beginning of the fulfillment of Ez. 37 but I have really been doing some studying lately and I am not at all sure anymore. A while back, Nate Lewis conducted a poll on this blog with two questions asked. One of them was "Do you think Ez. 37 has been fulfilled?" I answered yes without hesitation. Then a discussion ensued and more opinions and comments were added along the way. All of that got me to examine some of the long held beliefs I had in this regard. I have a bulldog determination to hold on to what I have been taught until proved otherwise. Point in question: has the 37th chapter of Ezekiel been fulfilled as I believe? I decided to ask someone that I trust greatly and he is not only a Christian but he is also a very learned authority on the Hebrew language and history.Then today I received a letter from him and I feel compelled to share it here. I hope I am not out of line doing so but I share it in the hopes of illumination for true biblical interpretation.Here is that message:Email letter from Dr. Fruchtenbaum regarding Ez. 37 Dear Wilma Thank you for your e-mail letter of May 27, 2007.Your observation about Ezekiel 37 is correct. The passage is not dealing with the actual physical resurrection of the dead at the Second Coming, since the passage on the dry bones is obviously symbolic. For example, the bones themselves represent “the whole House of Israel” and yet the whole House of Israel is hardly comprised of dead bones. Furthermore, the bones are speaking to each other as well which bones do not do literally. So it is obviously symbolic.So the actual point of the passage is that it is teaching on the eventual regathering of Israel in unbelief and eventually the nation coming to faith. That is when they finally get the Spirit and that is when they will have a national salvation and that is when the Second Coming will occur.With this e-mail letter in PDF form I will be sending you a copy of our manuscript that covers the vision of the dry bones of Ezekiel 37 which will give you a bit more detail than I can cover within the confines of this e-mail letter. I hope you will find it helpful.Yours for the salvation of Israel,Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, DirectorThe PDF article is titled "The Valley of the Dry Bones: Ezekiel 37:1 thru 14. If you would care to access this same manuscript, it is available on www.ariel.org. It will be under the subtitle of "Fruit" and that link is located at the bottom of the home page.I thought I was too old to learn anymore but I have truly been blessed by Dr. Fruchtenbaum's ministry and feel it is a voice of truth in so much confusion today.I too agree that war in Israel is right now happening, first in little battles but then fully involved. I truly believe we are not to set dates and times but we are to know the seasons. This is the season of God's timing. If it is indeed His judgment, without repentance it cannot be changed. One again, it is a heart thing and we have to decide where we stand and what we are willing to do. I pray for the real Peace of Jerusalem but I know we have a ways to go before He is summoned back for God's wife, Israel. In the meantime, I am looking up and listening ."(from Joel Rosenberg's Blog by wjm)
"I am sorry that I didn't respond yesterday but I totally missed it. I read your original post again and then your last one and you have some great points made. I used to believe that the establishment of the nation of Israel again was the beginning of the fulfillment of Ez. 37 but I have really been doing some studying lately and I am not at all sure anymore. A while back, Nate Lewis conducted a poll on this blog with two questions asked. One of them was "Do you think Ez. 37 has been fulfilled?" I answered yes without hesitation. Then a discussion ensued and more opinions and comments were added along the way. All of that got me to examine some of the long held beliefs I had in this regard. I have a bulldog determination to hold on to what I have been taught until proved otherwise. Point in question: has the 37th chapter of Ezekiel been fulfilled as I believe? I decided to ask someone that I trust greatly and he is not only a Christian but he is also a very learned authority on the Hebrew language and history.Then today I received a letter from him and I feel compelled to share it here. I hope I am not out of line doing so but I share it in the hopes of illumination for true biblical interpretation.Here is that message:Email letter from Dr. Fruchtenbaum regarding Ez. 37 Dear Wilma Thank you for your e-mail letter of May 27, 2007.Your observation about Ezekiel 37 is correct. The passage is not dealing with the actual physical resurrection of the dead at the Second Coming, since the passage on the dry bones is obviously symbolic. For example, the bones themselves represent “the whole House of Israel” and yet the whole House of Israel is hardly comprised of dead bones. Furthermore, the bones are speaking to each other as well which bones do not do literally. So it is obviously symbolic.So the actual point of the passage is that it is teaching on the eventual regathering of Israel in unbelief and eventually the nation coming to faith. That is when they finally get the Spirit and that is when they will have a national salvation and that is when the Second Coming will occur.With this e-mail letter in PDF form I will be sending you a copy of our manuscript that covers the vision of the dry bones of Ezekiel 37 which will give you a bit more detail than I can cover within the confines of this e-mail letter. I hope you will find it helpful.Yours for the salvation of Israel,Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, DirectorThe PDF article is titled "The Valley of the Dry Bones: Ezekiel 37:1 thru 14. If you would care to access this same manuscript, it is available on www.ariel.org. It will be under the subtitle of "Fruit" and that link is located at the bottom of the home page.I thought I was too old to learn anymore but I have truly been blessed by Dr. Fruchtenbaum's ministry and feel it is a voice of truth in so much confusion today.I too agree that war in Israel is right now happening, first in little battles but then fully involved. I truly believe we are not to set dates and times but we are to know the seasons. This is the season of God's timing. If it is indeed His judgment, without repentance it cannot be changed. One again, it is a heart thing and we have to decide where we stand and what we are willing to do. I pray for the real Peace of Jerusalem but I know we have a ways to go before He is summoned back for God's wife, Israel. In the meantime, I am looking up and listening ."(from Joel Rosenberg's Blog by wjm)
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Thoughts on Ezekiel 37, and Big Satan Little Satan
Dear Joel,I finally listened to the DVD Radio discussion (2hr) with Skip and Peter and youself. It was excellent. I was enthralled.But it did raise the question of Ezekiel 37 again. Pardon me but I just can't get my mind to accept that the "Dry Bones" aspect is completed until ALL the Jews are back to Israel. I believe the start of Jacob's Trouble is when the world, due to a total shakedown causes all peoples to return to their roots. To me the only way that seems possible (using my Bible 3d glasses) is that the melting pot works in reverse and all the peoples of America have to return to the home of their origins. What I'm saying is that I believe the terrorits will strike America so forcefully that America is taken out of the "end time" as a world nation. This is due to the alliance you spoke of Iran and Russia. Russia is capable of sneaking WMD into this country, and the Iranian President is capable of setting up trigger men who don't care for their lives.So that to me is the beginning of Jacob's Trouble and they will be saved out of it by the Lord Himself, not man. They will cross the SEA of Trouble, in tears asking the way to Zion.As you can see, I'm no Pollyanna.But it's not that I "hate" this country or am not patriotic. I love this country. But I still believe that the sins of this nation are "Piled High"; abortion, pornography, atheism, and most insidius materialism, security in this world is false. We need God's will. Be in the world but not "Of It".I think the miracle of getting the Jews to return home to Israel will be the "gift" of Isaiah 18:7"At that time gifts will be brought to the Lord of hosts from a people tall and smooth, from a people fearted near and far, a nation mighty and conquering, whose land the rivers divide, to Mount Zion, the place of the name of the Lord of hosts."The only gift we could give is His Inheritance, The Chosen People.I think the message here is the same one "John the Baptist" preached"Repent for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand!"I feel like the guy standing on the corner with the sign:"The End is Near"I'm looking forward to reading your new book "Dead Heat" I suppose the race in your "Dead Heat" is between religions coming to an end of the world. Paul wrote for us to keep racing, keep running, we don't have to "win" all we have to do is finish with Christ.God Bless your witness Joel,
MarcieBig Satan, Little SatanIt seems to me that the folks who hate Israel will go after the Big Satan first to avoid attack when they go after Little Satan.By the way, for those who call Israel "Little Satan" they better repent because if you read II Kings 19:6-7 those who Blaspheme God and His Chosen People will face the same fate as what Isaiah said to them who Blasphemed God and His People:Isaiah said,"Tell your master 'This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard-those words with which the underlings of the King of Assyria have blsphemed me. Listen! I am going to put such a spirit in him that when he hears a certain report, he will return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword.'"I have no doubt that God will do the same to the President of Iran due to all the things he has said against the God of Israel.God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven, God Bless Jerusalem.Our God Reigns, Marcie
MarcieBig Satan, Little SatanIt seems to me that the folks who hate Israel will go after the Big Satan first to avoid attack when they go after Little Satan.By the way, for those who call Israel "Little Satan" they better repent because if you read II Kings 19:6-7 those who Blaspheme God and His Chosen People will face the same fate as what Isaiah said to them who Blasphemed God and His People:Isaiah said,"Tell your master 'This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard-those words with which the underlings of the King of Assyria have blsphemed me. Listen! I am going to put such a spirit in him that when he hears a certain report, he will return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword.'"I have no doubt that God will do the same to the President of Iran due to all the things he has said against the God of Israel.God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven, God Bless Jerusalem.Our God Reigns, Marcie
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