The TRUE GOD is an All-Powerful God. Psalm 82 says, "GOD STANDS in the Assembly of gods. HE STANDS as JUDGE among the Judges. HE says, 'How long will you judge unfairly and show special favors to the wicked? (1-2)
Romans 2 says, "You ARE NOT A TRUE JEW if you are only a Jew in your Physical Body. True circumcision is not only in the Outside of the Body. A TRU JEW is one who IS A JEW INSIDE. The circumcision is done IN THE HEART. It is DONE BY THE SPIRIT, not by the written Law. And anyone who is circumcised in the Heart by the Spirit GETS PRAISE FROM GOD, not from People.
(28-29)"
Deuteronomy 6 says, "These are the Commands, the Laws, and the Rules that the Lord your God told me (Moses) to teach you. Obey these Laws in the Land that you are entering to live in. You and your descendants MUST RESPECT the Lord your God as long as you live. You MUST OBEY all His Laws and Commands that I (Moses) give you. If you do this, you will have a long life in that New Land. Israelites, LISTEN CAREFULLY and OBEY these Laws. Then everything will be fine with you. You will have many children, and you will get the Land filled with many good things -just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, PROMISED. LISTEN, PEOPLE of Israel! The Lord is OUR GOD. The Lord is One. You MUST LOVE the Lord your God WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, and WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH." Deuteronomy 6: 1-5.
Romans 3 says, "What the Law says is for THOSE PEOPLE who ARE UNDER the Law. The Law stops anyone from making excuses and it brings the WHOLE WORLD UNDER GOD's Judgment, because NO ONE can be made RIGHT WITH GOD BY FOLLOWING THE LAW. The Law only shows us our sin. (19-20)"
Anything worshiped can be termed a god, inasmuch as the worshiper attributes to it a force much greater than his own and venerates it as such, letting it be a governing entity towards him.
Ancient Nations taught that EL (meaning God) and the other gods met together to decide what to do with the PEOPLE ON EARTH. But many times Kings and Leaders were also called "gods."
Psalm 83 says, "God, your enemies are getting ready to do something. Those who HATE YOU will soon attack. They are making secret plans against Your PEOPLE. Your enemies are discussing plans against the PEOPLE YOU LOVE. They say, 'Come, let us DESTROY THEM completely. Then no one will ever again remember the Name Israel.' God THEY have ALL joined TOGETHER. They have united AGAINST YOU. Their army includes the Edomites, Ishmaelites, Moabites, and Hagar's descendants, - the People of Byblos, Ammon, and Amalek, - the Philistines, and the People of Tyre. Even the Assyrians have joined them. They have made Lot's descendants very powerful." (2-8)
"God says, 'They don't know what is happening. They don't understand! They don't know what they are doing. Their world is falling down around them.' I, God Most High, say, 'You are gods, my own sons. But you will die as all PEOPLE must die. Your life will end like that of any Ruler.' "
(Psalm 82: 5-7)
The Psalmist in Psalm 83 says, "God defeat them just as you defeated Midian. DO What You Did to Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon River. YOU DESTROYED the enemy at Endor, and their bodies rotted on the Ground. Punish their Leaders as You Did Oreb and Zeeb. DO What You Did to Zebah and Zalmunna. They said, 'Let's make this Land our own -these Fields of grass that BELONG TO GOD!'
MAKE them like weeds blown by the Wind. Scatter them, like the Wind scatters straw. BE like FIRE that destroys a Forest or like a FLAME that sets Hills on Fire. CHASE them away with Your Blasts of Wind; FRIGHTEN them with Your Storms. LORD, Cover them with Shame until they come to you for help. May they be forever ashamed and afraid. DISGRACE and DEFEAT them. Then they will know THAT YOUR NAME IS YAHWEH - that YOU ALONE ARE THE LORD. They will know that YOU ARE GOD MOST HIGH, Ruler over all the Earth." (9-18)
Monday, 11 February 2019
Sunday, 20 January 2019
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EVENING FESTIVALS.
The 7th New Moon of each year (corresponding with the 1st day of the month of Ethaninm or Tishri) was sabbatical, and the Law covenant decreed it to be a time of complete rest.
Leviticus 23: 1-36 says: "The Lord said to Moses,'Tell the Israelites:You will announce the Lord's chosen Festivals as Holy meetings. These are my special Festivals:
-Sabbath: Work for 6 days, but the 7th day, the Sabbath, will be a special day of rest, a Holy meeting. You must not do any work. It is a day of rest to Honor the Lord in all your homes.
-You will announce the Holy meetings at the times chosen for them. The Lord's Passover is on the 14th Day of the 1st Month just before dark.
-The Festival of Unleavened Bread is on the 15th Day of the same Month. You will eat unleavened bread for 7 days. On the 1st day of this Festival, you will have a special meeting. You must not do any work on that day. For 7 days you will bring sacrifices offered as gifts to the Lord. Then there will be another special meeting on the 7th day. You must not do any work on that day.
-Festival of the First Harvests: The Lord said to Moses, Tell the Israelites: You will enter the land that I will give you and real its harvest. At that time you must bring the first sheaf of your harvest to the priest.
The priest will lift the sheaf to show it was offered before the Lord. Then you will be accepted. The priest will present the sheaf on Sunday morning. On the day when you present the sheaf, you will offer a one-year-old lamb. There must be nothing wrong with that lamb. That lamb will be a Burnt Offering to the Lord. You must also offer a Grain Offering of 16 cups of fine flour mixed with olive oil. You must also offer 1 quart of wine. The smell of that offering will please the Lord. You must not eat any of the new grain, or fruit, or bread made from the new grain until you bring that Offering to your God. This Law will always continue through your generations, wherever you live.
-Festival of Harvest: From that Sunday morning (the day you bring the sheaf to be presented to God), count 7 weeks. On the Sunday following the 7th week (that is 50 days later), you will bring a new Grain Offering to the Lord. On that day, bring 2 loaves of bread from your homes. The bread will be lifted up to show it was offered to God. Use yeast and 16 cups of flour to make those loaves of bread. That will be your gift to the Lord from your first harvest. One bull, one ram, and 7 one-year-old male lambs will be offered with the Grain Offering from the people. There must be nothing wrong with these animals. They will be a Burnt Offering offered as a sweet-smelling gift to the Lord. You will also offer one male goat for a Sin Offering and 2 one-year-old male lambs as a Fellowship Offering. The priest will lift them up with the bread from the first harvest to show they were offered with the 2 lambs before the Lord. They will belong to the priest. On that same day, you will call a Holy meeting. You must not do any work. This Law continues forever in all your homes. Also, when you harvest your crops on your land, do not cut all the way to the corners of your field. Do not pick up the grain that falls on the ground. Leave it for poor people and for foreigners traveling through your country. I Am the Lord your God.
-Festival of Trumpets: Again the Lord said to Moses: Tell the Israelites: On the 1st day of the 7th month you must have a special day of rest. Blow the trumpet to remind the people that this is a Holy meeting. You must not do any work. You must bring an Offering as a gift to the Lord.
-Day of Atonement: The Lord said to Moses: The Day of Atonement will be on the 10th day of the 7th month. There will be a Holy meeting. You must not eat food, and you must bring an Offering as a gift to the Lord.You must not do any work on that day because it is the Day of Atonement. On that day the priests will go before the Lord and perform the ceremony that makes you pure. Anyone who refuses to fast on this day must be separated from their people. If anyone does any work on this day I will destroy that person from among the people. You must not do any work at all . This is a Law that continues forever for you, wherever you live. It will be a special day of rest for you. You must not eat food. You will star this special day of rest on the evening following the 9th day of the month. This special day of rest continues from that evening until the next evening.
-Festival of Shelters: Again the Lord said to Moses: Tell the Israelites: On the 15th day of the 7th month is the Festival of Shelters. This Festival to the Lord will continue for 7 days. There will be a Holy meeting on the 1st day. You must not do any work. You will bring offerings as gifts to the Lord for 7 days. On the 8th day you will have another Holy meeting. You must not do any work. You will bring an Offering as a gift to the Lord.
Leviticus 23: 37- 44 also says: "These are the Lord's special Festivals. There will be Holy meetings during these Festivals. You will bring offerings as gifts to the Lord -Burnt Offerings, -Grain Offerings,
-Sacrifices, and -Drink Offerings. You will bring these gifts at the right time,"
"You will celebrate these Festivals in addition to remembering the Lord's Sabbath days. You will offer these gifts in addition to your other gifts to the Lord. You will offer these things in addition to any offerings you give as payment for your special promises. They will be in addition to any special offerings you want to give to the Lord."
"On the 15th day of the 7th month, when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you will celebrate the Lord's Festival for 7 days. The 1st day will be a special day of rest, and then the 8th day will also be a special day of rest. On the1st day you will take good fruit from fruit trees. And you will take branches
from palm trees, poplar trees, and willow trees by the brook."
"You will celebrate before the Lord your God for 7 days. You will celebrate this festival to the Lord for 7 days each year. This Law will continue forever."
"You will celebrate this Festival in the 7th month. You will live in temporary shelters for 7 days. All the people born in Israel will live in them. Why? So all your descendants will know that I made the Israelites live in temporary shelters during the time I brought them out of Egypt. I Am the Lord your God."
Leviticus 23: 1-36 says: "The Lord said to Moses,'Tell the Israelites:You will announce the Lord's chosen Festivals as Holy meetings. These are my special Festivals:
-Sabbath: Work for 6 days, but the 7th day, the Sabbath, will be a special day of rest, a Holy meeting. You must not do any work. It is a day of rest to Honor the Lord in all your homes.
-You will announce the Holy meetings at the times chosen for them. The Lord's Passover is on the 14th Day of the 1st Month just before dark.
-The Festival of Unleavened Bread is on the 15th Day of the same Month. You will eat unleavened bread for 7 days. On the 1st day of this Festival, you will have a special meeting. You must not do any work on that day. For 7 days you will bring sacrifices offered as gifts to the Lord. Then there will be another special meeting on the 7th day. You must not do any work on that day.
-Festival of the First Harvests: The Lord said to Moses, Tell the Israelites: You will enter the land that I will give you and real its harvest. At that time you must bring the first sheaf of your harvest to the priest.
The priest will lift the sheaf to show it was offered before the Lord. Then you will be accepted. The priest will present the sheaf on Sunday morning. On the day when you present the sheaf, you will offer a one-year-old lamb. There must be nothing wrong with that lamb. That lamb will be a Burnt Offering to the Lord. You must also offer a Grain Offering of 16 cups of fine flour mixed with olive oil. You must also offer 1 quart of wine. The smell of that offering will please the Lord. You must not eat any of the new grain, or fruit, or bread made from the new grain until you bring that Offering to your God. This Law will always continue through your generations, wherever you live.
-Festival of Harvest: From that Sunday morning (the day you bring the sheaf to be presented to God), count 7 weeks. On the Sunday following the 7th week (that is 50 days later), you will bring a new Grain Offering to the Lord. On that day, bring 2 loaves of bread from your homes. The bread will be lifted up to show it was offered to God. Use yeast and 16 cups of flour to make those loaves of bread. That will be your gift to the Lord from your first harvest. One bull, one ram, and 7 one-year-old male lambs will be offered with the Grain Offering from the people. There must be nothing wrong with these animals. They will be a Burnt Offering offered as a sweet-smelling gift to the Lord. You will also offer one male goat for a Sin Offering and 2 one-year-old male lambs as a Fellowship Offering. The priest will lift them up with the bread from the first harvest to show they were offered with the 2 lambs before the Lord. They will belong to the priest. On that same day, you will call a Holy meeting. You must not do any work. This Law continues forever in all your homes. Also, when you harvest your crops on your land, do not cut all the way to the corners of your field. Do not pick up the grain that falls on the ground. Leave it for poor people and for foreigners traveling through your country. I Am the Lord your God.
-Festival of Trumpets: Again the Lord said to Moses: Tell the Israelites: On the 1st day of the 7th month you must have a special day of rest. Blow the trumpet to remind the people that this is a Holy meeting. You must not do any work. You must bring an Offering as a gift to the Lord.
-Day of Atonement: The Lord said to Moses: The Day of Atonement will be on the 10th day of the 7th month. There will be a Holy meeting. You must not eat food, and you must bring an Offering as a gift to the Lord.You must not do any work on that day because it is the Day of Atonement. On that day the priests will go before the Lord and perform the ceremony that makes you pure. Anyone who refuses to fast on this day must be separated from their people. If anyone does any work on this day I will destroy that person from among the people. You must not do any work at all . This is a Law that continues forever for you, wherever you live. It will be a special day of rest for you. You must not eat food. You will star this special day of rest on the evening following the 9th day of the month. This special day of rest continues from that evening until the next evening.
-Festival of Shelters: Again the Lord said to Moses: Tell the Israelites: On the 15th day of the 7th month is the Festival of Shelters. This Festival to the Lord will continue for 7 days. There will be a Holy meeting on the 1st day. You must not do any work. You will bring offerings as gifts to the Lord for 7 days. On the 8th day you will have another Holy meeting. You must not do any work. You will bring an Offering as a gift to the Lord.
Leviticus 23: 37- 44 also says: "These are the Lord's special Festivals. There will be Holy meetings during these Festivals. You will bring offerings as gifts to the Lord -Burnt Offerings, -Grain Offerings,
-Sacrifices, and -Drink Offerings. You will bring these gifts at the right time,"
"You will celebrate these Festivals in addition to remembering the Lord's Sabbath days. You will offer these gifts in addition to your other gifts to the Lord. You will offer these things in addition to any offerings you give as payment for your special promises. They will be in addition to any special offerings you want to give to the Lord."
"On the 15th day of the 7th month, when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you will celebrate the Lord's Festival for 7 days. The 1st day will be a special day of rest, and then the 8th day will also be a special day of rest. On the1st day you will take good fruit from fruit trees. And you will take branches
from palm trees, poplar trees, and willow trees by the brook."
"You will celebrate before the Lord your God for 7 days. You will celebrate this festival to the Lord for 7 days each year. This Law will continue forever."
"You will celebrate this Festival in the 7th month. You will live in temporary shelters for 7 days. All the people born in Israel will live in them. Why? So all your descendants will know that I made the Israelites live in temporary shelters during the time I brought them out of Egypt. I Am the Lord your God."
Saturday, 19 January 2019
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MOON.
The Hebrew word for Moon is "Ye'Rahh", meaning "lunar month." Since the lunar month always began with the appearing of the New Moon, the term "new moon" also came to mean "month."
Genesis 7:11 says:"On the 17th day of the 2nd month (New Moon), when Noah was 600 years old, the springs under the Earth broke through the ground, and Water flowed out everywhere. The Sky also opened like windows and Rain poured down." Exodus 12:1-4 says:"While Moses and Aaron were still in Egypt, the Lord spoke to them. He said,'This month will be the 1st month (New Moon) of the year for you. This command is for the whole community of Israel. On the 10th day of this month (New Moon) each man must get one lamb for the people in his house. If there are not enough people in his house to eat a whole lamb, then he should invite some of his neighbors to share the meal." Isaiah 66:22-24 says:"I will make a New World -New Heavens and a new Earth that will last forever. In the same way, your names and your children will always be with Me. Everyone will come to worship Me on every worship day; they will come every Sabbath and every first day of the month (New Moon)."
As the "lesser luminary for dominating the night," God provided the Moon as a means for marking "appointed times." Genesis 1:16 says:"So God made the 2 large lights. He made the larger light to rule during the day and the smaller light to rule during the night." Psalm 104:19 says:"Lord, You made the Moon to show us when the Festivals begin, and the Sun always know when to set."Jeremiah 31:35 says:"The Lord makes the Sun shine in the day, and He makes the Moon and the Stars shine at night."1 Corinthians 15:41 says:"The Sun has one kind of beauty, the Moon has another kind, and the Stars have another. And each Star is different in its beauty."
The Hebrew wrod "l'Va.Nah," meaning "white," occurs 3 times in the Hebrew text describing the white brilliance of the Full Moon that is particularly evident only in the Scriptural lands, since the shadow formed during a total eclipse is marked down only in that part of the world. Song of Songs 6:10 says:"Who is that young woman? She shines out like the dawn. She is as pretty as the Moon. She is as bright as the Sun. She is as awesome as the stars in the sky." Isaiah 24:23 says:"The Lord will rule as king on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. His Glory will be shown to the city leaders with such brightness that the Moon will be embarrassed and the Sun will be ashamed." Isaiah 30: 26 says:"At that time the light from the Moon will be as bright as the Sun, and the light from the Sun will be 7 times brighter than it is now. One day of sunlight will be like a whole week's worth. This will happen when the Lord bandages His broken people and heals the hurts from their beatings."
The Hebrew word "Ke'Seh," meaning "fullness,"also appears twice and is translated "Full Moon."
Psalm 81 says:"Be happy and sing to God, our strength. Shout with joy to the God of Jacob. Begin the music. Play the tambourines. Play the pleasant harps and lyres. Blow the ram's horn at the time of the New Moon and at the time of the Full Moon, when our Festival begins. This is the Law for the people of Israel. The God of Jacob gave the command. God made this agreement with Joseph's people, when He led them out of Egypt. In a language we did not understand, God said, 'I took the load from your shoulders. I let you drop the worker's basket. When you were in trouble, you called for help, and I set you free. I was hidden in the storm clouds, and I answered you. I tested you by the Water at Meribah.'"
Proverbs 7:6-10 says:"One day Wisdom was looking out by her window at some foolish teenagers and noticed one who had no sense at all. He was walking through the marketplace and came to the corner where a certain woman lived. He then turned up the road that goes by her house. The day was ending. The Sun had set, and it was almost dark (fullness of darkness). Suddenly, there she was in front of him, dressed like a prostitute. She had plans for him. She was a wild and rebellious woman who would not stay at home."
Among the Israelites each New Moon marked the occasion for the blowing of trumpets and the offering up of sacrifices according to the Law covenant. The Offerings prescribed were even greater than those normally offered on the regular sabbath days. While nothing is stated specifically as to the New Moon's marking a day of rest , the text at Amos 8:5- indicates a cessation of labor.
Numbers 10: 9-10 says:" If you are fighting an enemy in your own land, blow loudly on the trumpets before you go to fight them. The Lord your God will hear you, and He will save you from your enemies. Also blow these trumpets for your special meetings, New Moon' celebrations, and all your happy times together. Blow the trumpets when you give your Burnt Offerings and Fellowship Offerings. This will be a special way for the Lord your God to remember you. I command you to do this; I Am the Lord Your God." 2 Chronicles 2:1-5 says:"Solomon planned to build a Temple to give honor to the Lord's Name. He also planned to build a palace for himself. He got 70,000 laborers and 80,000 stonemasons to cut stones in the mountains. He chose 3,600 foremen to supervise the workers. Then Solomon sent this message to King Hiram of Tyre:'Help me as you helped my father David. You sent him cedar logs so that he could build a palace for himself to live in. I will build a Temple to honor the Name of the Lord my God. At the Temple we will burn incense in front of Him, and we will always put the Holy Bread on the special table. We will offer Burnt Offerings every morning and evening, on the Sabbath's days, during New Moon' celebration, and on the other special meeting days that the Lord our God has commanded us to celebrate. This is a rule for the people of Israel to obey forever." Isaiah 1:8-14 says:"The City of Jerusalem is now like an empty shed left in a vineyard. It is like an old straw hut abandoned in a field of cucumbers or like a city surrounded by enemies. If the Lord All-Powerful had not allowed a few people to live, we would have been destroyed completely like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. And that almost happened! You officers of Sodom, listen to the Lord's message. You people of Gomorrah, listen to God's teaching. The Lord says, 'Why do you continue giving Me all these sacrifices? I have had enough of your sacrifices of rams and the fat from well-fed animals. I do not want the blood of those bulls, sheep, and goats. When you people come to meet with Me, you trample everything in My yard. Who told you to do this? Do not keep bringing Me those worthless sacrifices. I hate the incense you give Me. I cannot stand your Festivals for the New Moon, the Sabbath, and other special meeting days. I hate the evil you do during those Holy times together. I hate your monthly meetings and councils. They have become like heavy weights to Me, and I Am tired of carrying them.'"
Amos 8:1-10 says: "This is what the Lord showed me: I saw a basket of summer fruit. He said to me: 'Amos, what do you see?' I said: 'A basket of summer fruit.'Then the Lord said to me: 'The end has come to My people Israel. I will not ignore their sins anymore. Their Temple songs will become funeral songs. There will be dead bodies everywhere. In silence, people will take out the dead bodies and throw them onto the pile. Listen to Me, you who trample on helpless people. You are trying to destroy the poor of this country.' You merchants say, 'When will the New Moon be over so that we can sell grain? When will the Sabbath be over so that we can bring out more wheat to sell? We can raise the price and make the measure smaller. We can fix the scales and cheat the people. The poor cannot pay their loans, so we will buy them as slaves. We will buy those helpless people for the price of a pair of sandals. Oh and we can sell the wheat that was spilled on the floor.' The Lord made a promise. He used His Name, "Pride of Jacob,"and made this promise: 'I will never forget what those people did.There will be an earthquake
that will shake the whole land because of what they did. Everyone living there will cry for those who died. the land will be tossed around. The whole land will rise and fall like the Nile River in Egypt. At that time I will make the Sun set at noon and make the land dark on a clear day. I will change your Festivals into days of crying for the dead. All your songs will be songs of sadness for those who are dead. I will put mourning clothes on every body and baldness on every head. I will cause mourning everywhere, like that for an only son who has died. It will be a very bitter end.' "
Genesis 7:11 says:"On the 17th day of the 2nd month (New Moon), when Noah was 600 years old, the springs under the Earth broke through the ground, and Water flowed out everywhere. The Sky also opened like windows and Rain poured down." Exodus 12:1-4 says:"While Moses and Aaron were still in Egypt, the Lord spoke to them. He said,'This month will be the 1st month (New Moon) of the year for you. This command is for the whole community of Israel. On the 10th day of this month (New Moon) each man must get one lamb for the people in his house. If there are not enough people in his house to eat a whole lamb, then he should invite some of his neighbors to share the meal." Isaiah 66:22-24 says:"I will make a New World -New Heavens and a new Earth that will last forever. In the same way, your names and your children will always be with Me. Everyone will come to worship Me on every worship day; they will come every Sabbath and every first day of the month (New Moon)."
As the "lesser luminary for dominating the night," God provided the Moon as a means for marking "appointed times." Genesis 1:16 says:"So God made the 2 large lights. He made the larger light to rule during the day and the smaller light to rule during the night." Psalm 104:19 says:"Lord, You made the Moon to show us when the Festivals begin, and the Sun always know when to set."Jeremiah 31:35 says:"The Lord makes the Sun shine in the day, and He makes the Moon and the Stars shine at night."1 Corinthians 15:41 says:"The Sun has one kind of beauty, the Moon has another kind, and the Stars have another. And each Star is different in its beauty."
The Hebrew wrod "l'Va.Nah," meaning "white," occurs 3 times in the Hebrew text describing the white brilliance of the Full Moon that is particularly evident only in the Scriptural lands, since the shadow formed during a total eclipse is marked down only in that part of the world. Song of Songs 6:10 says:"Who is that young woman? She shines out like the dawn. She is as pretty as the Moon. She is as bright as the Sun. She is as awesome as the stars in the sky." Isaiah 24:23 says:"The Lord will rule as king on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. His Glory will be shown to the city leaders with such brightness that the Moon will be embarrassed and the Sun will be ashamed." Isaiah 30: 26 says:"At that time the light from the Moon will be as bright as the Sun, and the light from the Sun will be 7 times brighter than it is now. One day of sunlight will be like a whole week's worth. This will happen when the Lord bandages His broken people and heals the hurts from their beatings."
The Hebrew word "Ke'Seh," meaning "fullness,"also appears twice and is translated "Full Moon."
Psalm 81 says:"Be happy and sing to God, our strength. Shout with joy to the God of Jacob. Begin the music. Play the tambourines. Play the pleasant harps and lyres. Blow the ram's horn at the time of the New Moon and at the time of the Full Moon, when our Festival begins. This is the Law for the people of Israel. The God of Jacob gave the command. God made this agreement with Joseph's people, when He led them out of Egypt. In a language we did not understand, God said, 'I took the load from your shoulders. I let you drop the worker's basket. When you were in trouble, you called for help, and I set you free. I was hidden in the storm clouds, and I answered you. I tested you by the Water at Meribah.'"
Proverbs 7:6-10 says:"One day Wisdom was looking out by her window at some foolish teenagers and noticed one who had no sense at all. He was walking through the marketplace and came to the corner where a certain woman lived. He then turned up the road that goes by her house. The day was ending. The Sun had set, and it was almost dark (fullness of darkness). Suddenly, there she was in front of him, dressed like a prostitute. She had plans for him. She was a wild and rebellious woman who would not stay at home."
Among the Israelites each New Moon marked the occasion for the blowing of trumpets and the offering up of sacrifices according to the Law covenant. The Offerings prescribed were even greater than those normally offered on the regular sabbath days. While nothing is stated specifically as to the New Moon's marking a day of rest , the text at Amos 8:5- indicates a cessation of labor.
Numbers 10: 9-10 says:" If you are fighting an enemy in your own land, blow loudly on the trumpets before you go to fight them. The Lord your God will hear you, and He will save you from your enemies. Also blow these trumpets for your special meetings, New Moon' celebrations, and all your happy times together. Blow the trumpets when you give your Burnt Offerings and Fellowship Offerings. This will be a special way for the Lord your God to remember you. I command you to do this; I Am the Lord Your God." 2 Chronicles 2:1-5 says:"Solomon planned to build a Temple to give honor to the Lord's Name. He also planned to build a palace for himself. He got 70,000 laborers and 80,000 stonemasons to cut stones in the mountains. He chose 3,600 foremen to supervise the workers. Then Solomon sent this message to King Hiram of Tyre:'Help me as you helped my father David. You sent him cedar logs so that he could build a palace for himself to live in. I will build a Temple to honor the Name of the Lord my God. At the Temple we will burn incense in front of Him, and we will always put the Holy Bread on the special table. We will offer Burnt Offerings every morning and evening, on the Sabbath's days, during New Moon' celebration, and on the other special meeting days that the Lord our God has commanded us to celebrate. This is a rule for the people of Israel to obey forever." Isaiah 1:8-14 says:"The City of Jerusalem is now like an empty shed left in a vineyard. It is like an old straw hut abandoned in a field of cucumbers or like a city surrounded by enemies. If the Lord All-Powerful had not allowed a few people to live, we would have been destroyed completely like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. And that almost happened! You officers of Sodom, listen to the Lord's message. You people of Gomorrah, listen to God's teaching. The Lord says, 'Why do you continue giving Me all these sacrifices? I have had enough of your sacrifices of rams and the fat from well-fed animals. I do not want the blood of those bulls, sheep, and goats. When you people come to meet with Me, you trample everything in My yard. Who told you to do this? Do not keep bringing Me those worthless sacrifices. I hate the incense you give Me. I cannot stand your Festivals for the New Moon, the Sabbath, and other special meeting days. I hate the evil you do during those Holy times together. I hate your monthly meetings and councils. They have become like heavy weights to Me, and I Am tired of carrying them.'"
Amos 8:1-10 says: "This is what the Lord showed me: I saw a basket of summer fruit. He said to me: 'Amos, what do you see?' I said: 'A basket of summer fruit.'Then the Lord said to me: 'The end has come to My people Israel. I will not ignore their sins anymore. Their Temple songs will become funeral songs. There will be dead bodies everywhere. In silence, people will take out the dead bodies and throw them onto the pile. Listen to Me, you who trample on helpless people. You are trying to destroy the poor of this country.' You merchants say, 'When will the New Moon be over so that we can sell grain? When will the Sabbath be over so that we can bring out more wheat to sell? We can raise the price and make the measure smaller. We can fix the scales and cheat the people. The poor cannot pay their loans, so we will buy them as slaves. We will buy those helpless people for the price of a pair of sandals. Oh and we can sell the wheat that was spilled on the floor.' The Lord made a promise. He used His Name, "Pride of Jacob,"and made this promise: 'I will never forget what those people did.There will be an earthquake
that will shake the whole land because of what they did. Everyone living there will cry for those who died. the land will be tossed around. The whole land will rise and fall like the Nile River in Egypt. At that time I will make the Sun set at noon and make the land dark on a clear day. I will change your Festivals into days of crying for the dead. All your songs will be songs of sadness for those who are dead. I will put mourning clothes on every body and baldness on every head. I will cause mourning everywhere, like that for an only son who has died. It will be a very bitter end.' "
Tuesday, 15 January 2019
THE TEMPLE BUILT BY SOLOMON.
King David had a strong desire to build a House for God, to contain the Ark of the Covenant, which at that time was dwelling in the middle of tent cloths. God was pleased with David's proposal, but told him that, due to the fact that he had shed much blood in warfare, his son Solomon would be privileged to do the building. The Temple was to be built in peace by a man of peace.
2 Chronicles 3:1 says, "King David, Solomon's father, had already prepared a place for the Temple. It was in Jerusalem, on Mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared to David, at the place which Araunah the Jebusite had used as a threshing place."
King Solomon took a census of all the foreigners living in the Land of Israel, similar to the census his father David had taken. There were 153,600 resident foreigners. Solomon assigned 70,000 of them to transport materials and 80,000 to cut stones in the mountains, and appointed 3,600 supervisors to make sure the work was done. 2 Chronicles 2: 17-18
The Temple which King Solomon built was 90 ft long and 30 ft wide. The entrance room was the full width of the Temple (30 ft), and was 180 ft high. The inside of the room was overlaid with pure gold.
The main room was paneled with cedar and overlaid with fine gold, in which were worked designs of palm trees and chain patterns. The king decorated the Temple with beautiful precious stones and with gold imported from the Land of Parvaim. He used the gold to overlay the Temple walls, the rafters, the entryways, and the doors. On the walls the workers carved designs of winged creatures. The inner room, called the Most Holy Place, was 30 ft long and 30 ft wide, which was the full width of the Temple. 25 tons of gold were used to cover the walls of the Most Holy Place; 20 ounces of gold were used for making nails, and the walls of the upper rooms were also covered with gold. 2 Chron. 3: 3-9
The king also had his workers make 2 winged creatures out of metal, cover them with gold, and place them in the Most Holy Place, where they stood side by side facing the entrance. Each had 2 wings, each wing 7 1/2 ft long, which were spread out so that they touched each other in the center of the room and reached to the wall on either side of the room, stretching across the full width of 30 ft.
A curtain for the Most Holy Place was made of linen and of other material, which was dyed blue, purple, and red, with designs of the winged creatures worked into it. 2 Chronicles 3: 10-14
The king had 2 columns made, each one 52 ft tall, and placed them in front of the Temple. Each one had a capital 7 1/2 ft tall. The tops of the columns were decorated with a design of interwoven chains and 100 bronze pomegranates. The columns were set at the sides of the Temple entrance: the one on the South side was named "Jachin" and the one the North side was named "Boaz." 2 Chron 3 15-17
God blessed Solomon with wisdom, glory and riches as long as he remained firm for true worship and the nation of Israel likewise enjoyed God's favor.
2 Chronicles 9 says, "Every year King Solomon received over 25 tons of gold, in addition to the taxes paid by the traders and merchants. The kings of Arabia and the governors of the Israelite districts also brought him silver and gold." (13-14) "King Solomon was richer and wiser than any other king in the world. They all consulted him, to hear the wisdom that God had given him."(22-23) "He was supreme ruler of all the kings in the territory from the Euphrates River to Philistia and the Egyptian border." (26)
Solomon Proverbs and the Books of Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon and at least one of the Psalms, namely, Psalm 127, were written during this period of faithful service to God.
However, Solomon began to disregard God's Law. and his heart did not prove to be completely with God like the heart of David his father. It was then that Solomon proceeded to build a high place to Chemosh, the chief deity of Moab (people of Chemoch) on the mountain that was in front of Jerusalem and to Molech, the god of the Ammonites. God's Law prescribed the death penalty for anyone,even an allien resident, who would give his offspring to Molech. (Leviticus 20)
The Prophet Jeremiah, in foretelling calamity for Moab, indicated that her principal god Chemosh as well as his priests and princes would go into exile. The Moabites would become ashamed of their god because of his impotence, just as the Israelites of the 10-Tribe Kingdom had become ashamed of Bethel. (Jeremiah 48)
As long as king Solomon maintained an obedient heart, he had God's favor and prosperity. But his bad outcome demonstrate that knowledge, great ability, or power, riches and fame are not the things that prevail over the things of the spirit and that turning away from God is to forsake His wisdom.
Solomon's own counsel proved true: "More than all else that is to be guarded, safeguard your heart, for out of it are the sources of life." (Proverbs 4: 23)
Solomon case illustrates the treacherousness and desperateness of the heart that belongs to a sinful man and the best of hearts can be vulnerable and enticed if constant vigilance is not kept. Loving what God loves and hating what God hates, constantly seeking His guidance and the doing of what pleases Him, are a sure protection. (Jeremiah 17; Proverbs 8; Hebrews 1; John 8)
2 Chronicles 3:1 says, "King David, Solomon's father, had already prepared a place for the Temple. It was in Jerusalem, on Mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared to David, at the place which Araunah the Jebusite had used as a threshing place."
King Solomon took a census of all the foreigners living in the Land of Israel, similar to the census his father David had taken. There were 153,600 resident foreigners. Solomon assigned 70,000 of them to transport materials and 80,000 to cut stones in the mountains, and appointed 3,600 supervisors to make sure the work was done. 2 Chronicles 2: 17-18
The Temple which King Solomon built was 90 ft long and 30 ft wide. The entrance room was the full width of the Temple (30 ft), and was 180 ft high. The inside of the room was overlaid with pure gold.
The main room was paneled with cedar and overlaid with fine gold, in which were worked designs of palm trees and chain patterns. The king decorated the Temple with beautiful precious stones and with gold imported from the Land of Parvaim. He used the gold to overlay the Temple walls, the rafters, the entryways, and the doors. On the walls the workers carved designs of winged creatures. The inner room, called the Most Holy Place, was 30 ft long and 30 ft wide, which was the full width of the Temple. 25 tons of gold were used to cover the walls of the Most Holy Place; 20 ounces of gold were used for making nails, and the walls of the upper rooms were also covered with gold. 2 Chron. 3: 3-9
The king also had his workers make 2 winged creatures out of metal, cover them with gold, and place them in the Most Holy Place, where they stood side by side facing the entrance. Each had 2 wings, each wing 7 1/2 ft long, which were spread out so that they touched each other in the center of the room and reached to the wall on either side of the room, stretching across the full width of 30 ft.
A curtain for the Most Holy Place was made of linen and of other material, which was dyed blue, purple, and red, with designs of the winged creatures worked into it. 2 Chronicles 3: 10-14
The king had 2 columns made, each one 52 ft tall, and placed them in front of the Temple. Each one had a capital 7 1/2 ft tall. The tops of the columns were decorated with a design of interwoven chains and 100 bronze pomegranates. The columns were set at the sides of the Temple entrance: the one on the South side was named "Jachin" and the one the North side was named "Boaz." 2 Chron 3 15-17
God blessed Solomon with wisdom, glory and riches as long as he remained firm for true worship and the nation of Israel likewise enjoyed God's favor.
2 Chronicles 9 says, "Every year King Solomon received over 25 tons of gold, in addition to the taxes paid by the traders and merchants. The kings of Arabia and the governors of the Israelite districts also brought him silver and gold." (13-14) "King Solomon was richer and wiser than any other king in the world. They all consulted him, to hear the wisdom that God had given him."(22-23) "He was supreme ruler of all the kings in the territory from the Euphrates River to Philistia and the Egyptian border." (26)
Solomon Proverbs and the Books of Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon and at least one of the Psalms, namely, Psalm 127, were written during this period of faithful service to God.
However, Solomon began to disregard God's Law. and his heart did not prove to be completely with God like the heart of David his father. It was then that Solomon proceeded to build a high place to Chemosh, the chief deity of Moab (people of Chemoch) on the mountain that was in front of Jerusalem and to Molech, the god of the Ammonites. God's Law prescribed the death penalty for anyone,even an allien resident, who would give his offspring to Molech. (Leviticus 20)
The Prophet Jeremiah, in foretelling calamity for Moab, indicated that her principal god Chemosh as well as his priests and princes would go into exile. The Moabites would become ashamed of their god because of his impotence, just as the Israelites of the 10-Tribe Kingdom had become ashamed of Bethel. (Jeremiah 48)
As long as king Solomon maintained an obedient heart, he had God's favor and prosperity. But his bad outcome demonstrate that knowledge, great ability, or power, riches and fame are not the things that prevail over the things of the spirit and that turning away from God is to forsake His wisdom.
Solomon's own counsel proved true: "More than all else that is to be guarded, safeguard your heart, for out of it are the sources of life." (Proverbs 4: 23)
Solomon case illustrates the treacherousness and desperateness of the heart that belongs to a sinful man and the best of hearts can be vulnerable and enticed if constant vigilance is not kept. Loving what God loves and hating what God hates, constantly seeking His guidance and the doing of what pleases Him, are a sure protection. (Jeremiah 17; Proverbs 8; Hebrews 1; John 8)
Sunday, 13 January 2019
EZEKIEL AND HIS SYMBOLIC ACTS.
Ezekiel 4: 1-3 says, "Mortal man, get A BRICK, put the brick IN FRONT OF YOU, and SCRATCH LINES on the brick REPRESENTING the city of JERUSALEM. Then to REPRESENT a SIEGE, PUT TRENCHES, EARTHWORKS, CAMPS, and BATTERING RAMS all AROUND it. Take an IRON PAN and SET the iron pan UP LIKE a WALL between you and the city. Face the city. The CITY IS UNDER SIEGE, and you are the one besieging. This will be a sign to the Nation of Israel."
Ezekiel 5: 1-4 says, "Mortal man, take a sharp SWORD and use the sharp sword to SHAVE off your BEARD and all your HAIR. Then WEIGHT the hair ON SCALES and DIVIDE it into 3 PARTS.
BURN UP a 1/3 of it IN the CITY when the SIEGE is OVER. Take ANOTHER 1/3 and CHOP it up WITH your SWORD as you move around OUTSIDE the CITY. SCATTER the remaining 1/3 to THE WINDS, and I WILL PURSUE it WITH MY SWORD. Keep back a FEW HAIRS and WRAP them IN THE HEM OF YOUR CLOTHES. Then take A FEW of them OUT AGAIN, THROW them IN THE FIRE, and let them BURN UP. From them FIRE will SPREAD TO the whole nation of ISRAEL."
Ezekiel 5: 11-17 then says, "Therefore, as I AM THE LIVING GOD -this is THE WORD OF THE SOVEREIGN LORD -because YOU DEFILED MY TEMPLE with all the evil, disgusting things you did, I WILL CUT YOU DOWN WITHOUT MERCY. A 1/3 of your people will DIE from sickness and hunger IN the CITY (burn up 1/3 in the city when the siege is over), a 1/3 will be CUT down BY SWORDS (as you move around) OUTSIDE the CITY, and I WILL SCATTER the last 1/3 TO the WINDS and PURSUE them WITH a SWORD. You will feel ALL THE FORCE OF MY ANGER and RAGE until I AM SATISFIED. When all this happens, you will be convinced that I, the LORD, HAVE SPOKEN to you because I AM OUTRAGED AT YOUR UNFAITHFULNESS. Everyone from the nations around you who passes by will sneer at you and keep their distance. When I AM ANGRY and FURIOUS with you and PUNISH YOU, all the nations around you will be terrified. They will look at you with disgust and make fun of you. I WILL CUT off your SUPPLY of FOOD and LET YOU STARVE. You will feel the pains of hunger like sharp arrows sent to destroy you. I will send hunger and wild animals to kill your children, and will send sickness, violence, and war to kill you. I, the LORD, HAVE SPOKEN. "
Ezekiel 5: 1-4 says, "Mortal man, take a sharp SWORD and use the sharp sword to SHAVE off your BEARD and all your HAIR. Then WEIGHT the hair ON SCALES and DIVIDE it into 3 PARTS.
BURN UP a 1/3 of it IN the CITY when the SIEGE is OVER. Take ANOTHER 1/3 and CHOP it up WITH your SWORD as you move around OUTSIDE the CITY. SCATTER the remaining 1/3 to THE WINDS, and I WILL PURSUE it WITH MY SWORD. Keep back a FEW HAIRS and WRAP them IN THE HEM OF YOUR CLOTHES. Then take A FEW of them OUT AGAIN, THROW them IN THE FIRE, and let them BURN UP. From them FIRE will SPREAD TO the whole nation of ISRAEL."
Ezekiel 5: 11-17 then says, "Therefore, as I AM THE LIVING GOD -this is THE WORD OF THE SOVEREIGN LORD -because YOU DEFILED MY TEMPLE with all the evil, disgusting things you did, I WILL CUT YOU DOWN WITHOUT MERCY. A 1/3 of your people will DIE from sickness and hunger IN the CITY (burn up 1/3 in the city when the siege is over), a 1/3 will be CUT down BY SWORDS (as you move around) OUTSIDE the CITY, and I WILL SCATTER the last 1/3 TO the WINDS and PURSUE them WITH a SWORD. You will feel ALL THE FORCE OF MY ANGER and RAGE until I AM SATISFIED. When all this happens, you will be convinced that I, the LORD, HAVE SPOKEN to you because I AM OUTRAGED AT YOUR UNFAITHFULNESS. Everyone from the nations around you who passes by will sneer at you and keep their distance. When I AM ANGRY and FURIOUS with you and PUNISH YOU, all the nations around you will be terrified. They will look at you with disgust and make fun of you. I WILL CUT off your SUPPLY of FOOD and LET YOU STARVE. You will feel the pains of hunger like sharp arrows sent to destroy you. I will send hunger and wild animals to kill your children, and will send sickness, violence, and war to kill you. I, the LORD, HAVE SPOKEN. "
Friday, 4 January 2019
A WOMAN CLOTHED IN THE SUN.
The Woman clothed in the sun is a symbolic figure described in Chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation. The Woman gives birth to a male child who is threatened by a dragon identified as the Devil and Satan, who intends to devour the child as soon as he is born. When the child is taken to heaven, the Woman flees into the wilderness leading to a War in heaven in which the angels cast out the dragon.
The dragon attacks the Woman, who is given eagle wings to escape and then attacks her again with a Flood of Water from his mouth, which is subsequently swallowed by the earth. Frustrated, the Devil initiates War on the remnant of the Woman's seed, identified as the righteous followers of Christ.
The Woman adorned with the sun, moon and stars are images taken from Genesis 37 that says:
"Jacob stayed and lived in the Land of Canaan. This is the same Land where his father had lived.....
Joseph was a young man, 17 years old. His job was to take care of the sheep and the goats of his father Jacob. Joseph did this work with his brothers, the Sons of Bilhah and Zilpah (his father's wives). Joseph told his father about the bad things that his brothers did." Genesis 37: 1-2
Joseph was born at a time when his father Israel (the nation) was very old (Jesus came to the world in the same sense), so Israel (the true God's people) loved him more than he loved his other sons. His father gave him a special coat, which was long and very beautiful. When Joseph's brothers saw that their father loved him more than he loved them, they hated their brother because of this. They refused to say nice things to him. Then Joseph had a special dream. Later, he told his brothers about this dream and after that his brothers hated him even more."Gen:37:3-6 He said, "I had a dream. We were all working in the Field, tying stacks of wheat together. Then my stack got up. It stood there while all of your stacks of wheat made a circle around mine and bowed down to it.' His brothers said, 'Do you think this means that you will be a king and rule over us?' His brothers hated him more now because of the dreams he had about them. Genesis 37: 7-8 Then Joseph had another dream, ans he told his brothers about it. He said, "I had another dream. I saw the sun, the moon, and 11 stars bowing down to me." Joseph also told his father about this dream, but his father criticized him. His father said, "What kind of dream is this? Do you believe that your mother, your brothers, and I will bow down to you?" Joseph's brothers continued to be jealous of him, but his father thought about all these things and wondered what they could mean." Genesis 37: 9-11
The story symbolizes God's people (Israel) in the Old and New Testament. The Israel of old gave birth to the Messiah and then became the new Israel, the Church of Christ, which suffered by the attacks of the dragon, the Devil. The Old Israel became stubborn and instead of following the Lord, they rebelled against Him. God sent the Prophet Ezekiel to warn the rebels about the siege of Jerusalem.
The Sovereign Lord said,"Look at Jerusalem. I put her at the center of the World, with other countries all around her. But Jerusalem rebelled against My Commands and showed that she was more wicked than the other nations, more disobedient than the countries around her. Jerusalem rejected My Commands and refused to keep My Laws. Now listen, Jerusalem to what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying. By not obeying My Laws or keeping My Commands, you have caused more trouble than the nations around you. You have followed the customs of other nations. And so I, the Sovereign Lord, am telling you that I Am your enemy. I will pass judgment on you where all the nations can see it. Because of all the things you do that I hate, I will punish Jerusalem as I have never done before and i will never do again." Ezekiel 4: 5-9
Deuteronomy 20 says to the true followers of God's Laws and Commands: "When you go out to battle against your enemies, and you see horses, chariots, and many more people than you have, you must not be afraid of them. The Lord your God is with you and remember that He was the One Who brought you out of Egypt." 20: 1 "When you go to the battle, the priest must go to the soldiers and speak to them. The priest will say, 'Men of true Israel, listen to me! Today you are going against your enemies in battle. DO NOT LOSE YOUR COURAGE. DO NOT BE TROUBLE OR UPSET. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THE ENEMY. The Lord your God is going with you to help you fight against your enemies. HE WILL HELP YOU WIN!' " Deuteronomy 20 2-4
Revelation 21 says, "Then I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth. The first heaven and the first earth disappeared, and the Sea vanished. And i saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared and ready, like a bride dressed to meet her husband. I heard a loud Voice speaking from the Throne: 'Now God's Home is with people!. He will live with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them, and he will be their God. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain. The old things have disappeared.' " Revelation 21: 1-4
The dragon attacks the Woman, who is given eagle wings to escape and then attacks her again with a Flood of Water from his mouth, which is subsequently swallowed by the earth. Frustrated, the Devil initiates War on the remnant of the Woman's seed, identified as the righteous followers of Christ.
The Woman adorned with the sun, moon and stars are images taken from Genesis 37 that says:
"Jacob stayed and lived in the Land of Canaan. This is the same Land where his father had lived.....
Joseph was a young man, 17 years old. His job was to take care of the sheep and the goats of his father Jacob. Joseph did this work with his brothers, the Sons of Bilhah and Zilpah (his father's wives). Joseph told his father about the bad things that his brothers did." Genesis 37: 1-2
Joseph was born at a time when his father Israel (the nation) was very old (Jesus came to the world in the same sense), so Israel (the true God's people) loved him more than he loved his other sons. His father gave him a special coat, which was long and very beautiful. When Joseph's brothers saw that their father loved him more than he loved them, they hated their brother because of this. They refused to say nice things to him. Then Joseph had a special dream. Later, he told his brothers about this dream and after that his brothers hated him even more."Gen:37:3-6 He said, "I had a dream. We were all working in the Field, tying stacks of wheat together. Then my stack got up. It stood there while all of your stacks of wheat made a circle around mine and bowed down to it.' His brothers said, 'Do you think this means that you will be a king and rule over us?' His brothers hated him more now because of the dreams he had about them. Genesis 37: 7-8 Then Joseph had another dream, ans he told his brothers about it. He said, "I had another dream. I saw the sun, the moon, and 11 stars bowing down to me." Joseph also told his father about this dream, but his father criticized him. His father said, "What kind of dream is this? Do you believe that your mother, your brothers, and I will bow down to you?" Joseph's brothers continued to be jealous of him, but his father thought about all these things and wondered what they could mean." Genesis 37: 9-11
The story symbolizes God's people (Israel) in the Old and New Testament. The Israel of old gave birth to the Messiah and then became the new Israel, the Church of Christ, which suffered by the attacks of the dragon, the Devil. The Old Israel became stubborn and instead of following the Lord, they rebelled against Him. God sent the Prophet Ezekiel to warn the rebels about the siege of Jerusalem.
The Sovereign Lord said,"Look at Jerusalem. I put her at the center of the World, with other countries all around her. But Jerusalem rebelled against My Commands and showed that she was more wicked than the other nations, more disobedient than the countries around her. Jerusalem rejected My Commands and refused to keep My Laws. Now listen, Jerusalem to what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying. By not obeying My Laws or keeping My Commands, you have caused more trouble than the nations around you. You have followed the customs of other nations. And so I, the Sovereign Lord, am telling you that I Am your enemy. I will pass judgment on you where all the nations can see it. Because of all the things you do that I hate, I will punish Jerusalem as I have never done before and i will never do again." Ezekiel 4: 5-9
Deuteronomy 20 says to the true followers of God's Laws and Commands: "When you go out to battle against your enemies, and you see horses, chariots, and many more people than you have, you must not be afraid of them. The Lord your God is with you and remember that He was the One Who brought you out of Egypt." 20: 1 "When you go to the battle, the priest must go to the soldiers and speak to them. The priest will say, 'Men of true Israel, listen to me! Today you are going against your enemies in battle. DO NOT LOSE YOUR COURAGE. DO NOT BE TROUBLE OR UPSET. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THE ENEMY. The Lord your God is going with you to help you fight against your enemies. HE WILL HELP YOU WIN!' " Deuteronomy 20 2-4
Revelation 21 says, "Then I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth. The first heaven and the first earth disappeared, and the Sea vanished. And i saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared and ready, like a bride dressed to meet her husband. I heard a loud Voice speaking from the Throne: 'Now God's Home is with people!. He will live with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them, and he will be their God. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain. The old things have disappeared.' " Revelation 21: 1-4
Saturday, 15 December 2018
THE JAPANESE BOOK OF ANCIENT MATTERS.
The Japanese Book of ancient matters (Kojiki) is the oldest chronicle dating from the early 8th century CE .
The Book was compiled and edited by O No Yasumaro (died August 15, 723). The Empress Genmei (707-721) charged him with the duty of writing the Book using the differing clan chronicles, myths, early legends, songs, genealogies, oral traditions and semi-historical accounts concerning the origin of the Japanese archipelago.
The primary purpose of the Book was to erase falsehoods and establish truth furthering in this way the imperial agenda.
The historical narrative in the Book is clearly broken into the Age of Gods and the Age of Human Emperors, wherein the myth of the Gods which gave birth to the land is told and transitioned in a chronological fashion to the reign of the emperors, who descend from these same gods.
The story of the creation of heaven and earth is described first-hand at the beginning of the Book. It says that at the beginning the universe was immerse in a beaten and shapeless kind of matter (chaos), sunk in silence. Later there were sounds indicating the movement of particles. With this movement, the light and the lightest particles rose but the particles were not as fast as the light and could not go higher.
Thus, the light was at the top of the universe, and below it, the particles formed first the clouds and then Heaven, which was to be called "High Plain of Heaven" (Takamagahara). The rest of the particles that had not risen formed a huge mass, dense and dark, to be called Earth.
The Seven Generations of the Age of the Gods is called "Kamiyonanayo" and emerged after the formation of heaven and earth. They were born in the World of Heaven (Takamagahara) and unlike the later gods, these deities were born without any procreation.
The 3 deities that first came into being alone without any procreation, as opposed to those who came into being as male-female pairs, were: -Central Master (Amenominakanushi); -High Creator (Takamimusubi); -Divine Creator (Kamimusubi). Later, 2 more gods came into existence: -Energy (Umashiashikabihikoji); and -Heaven (Amenotoko-tachi).
The next 7 generations of gods born in the world of heaven that followed the previous gods were the Kamiyonanayo, which included the patriarch and matriarch of all other Japanese gods, respectively.
Amaterasu is the Japanese expression of the solar goddess. The name Amaterasu is derived from Amateru and means "shining in heaven" and the meaning of her whole name is "the great august deity who shines in heaven." The Emperors of Japan are considered to be direct descendants of Amaterasu.
The oldest records of Amaterasu (712 CE) presents her as the sister of the god of storms and the sea (Susanoo), and of the god of the moon (Tsukuyomi). Amaterasu painted the Japanese landscape with her siblings while she created ancient Japan. She was said to have been created by the divine couple Izanagi and Izanami, who were themselves created by, or grew from, the originator of the Universe, Amenominakanushi.
The World of the Dead (Yomi) or the World of Darkness is located beneath the earth. Once one has eaten at the heart of Yomi it is impossible to return to the land of the living. In there all the deceased carry on a gloomy shadowy existence.
The Book was compiled and edited by O No Yasumaro (died August 15, 723). The Empress Genmei (707-721) charged him with the duty of writing the Book using the differing clan chronicles, myths, early legends, songs, genealogies, oral traditions and semi-historical accounts concerning the origin of the Japanese archipelago.
The primary purpose of the Book was to erase falsehoods and establish truth furthering in this way the imperial agenda.
The historical narrative in the Book is clearly broken into the Age of Gods and the Age of Human Emperors, wherein the myth of the Gods which gave birth to the land is told and transitioned in a chronological fashion to the reign of the emperors, who descend from these same gods.
The story of the creation of heaven and earth is described first-hand at the beginning of the Book. It says that at the beginning the universe was immerse in a beaten and shapeless kind of matter (chaos), sunk in silence. Later there were sounds indicating the movement of particles. With this movement, the light and the lightest particles rose but the particles were not as fast as the light and could not go higher.
Thus, the light was at the top of the universe, and below it, the particles formed first the clouds and then Heaven, which was to be called "High Plain of Heaven" (Takamagahara). The rest of the particles that had not risen formed a huge mass, dense and dark, to be called Earth.
The Seven Generations of the Age of the Gods is called "Kamiyonanayo" and emerged after the formation of heaven and earth. They were born in the World of Heaven (Takamagahara) and unlike the later gods, these deities were born without any procreation.
The 3 deities that first came into being alone without any procreation, as opposed to those who came into being as male-female pairs, were: -Central Master (Amenominakanushi); -High Creator (Takamimusubi); -Divine Creator (Kamimusubi). Later, 2 more gods came into existence: -Energy (Umashiashikabihikoji); and -Heaven (Amenotoko-tachi).
The next 7 generations of gods born in the world of heaven that followed the previous gods were the Kamiyonanayo, which included the patriarch and matriarch of all other Japanese gods, respectively.
Amaterasu is the Japanese expression of the solar goddess. The name Amaterasu is derived from Amateru and means "shining in heaven" and the meaning of her whole name is "the great august deity who shines in heaven." The Emperors of Japan are considered to be direct descendants of Amaterasu.
The oldest records of Amaterasu (712 CE) presents her as the sister of the god of storms and the sea (Susanoo), and of the god of the moon (Tsukuyomi). Amaterasu painted the Japanese landscape with her siblings while she created ancient Japan. She was said to have been created by the divine couple Izanagi and Izanami, who were themselves created by, or grew from, the originator of the Universe, Amenominakanushi.
The World of the Dead (Yomi) or the World of Darkness is located beneath the earth. Once one has eaten at the heart of Yomi it is impossible to return to the land of the living. In there all the deceased carry on a gloomy shadowy existence.
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