The RAVEN is considered to be ONE OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT, ADAPTABLE and RE-SOURCEFUL of all birds.
In view of this and its FLYING STRENGTH and ABILITY to SURVIVE on a WIDE VARIETY of
FOOD, including carrion, the RAVEN was an apt candidate for being the FIRST CREATURE TO BE SENT OUTSIDE the ARK by NOAH at the time THE WATERS of the FLOOD had begun to
RECEDE. The text in the Scriptures, Genesis 8 : 5-7, indicates that the RAVEN thereafter remained outside the ark, using it only as a resting place.
The RAVEN, unlike the crow, is a bird of the WILDERNESS, inhabiting mountainous regions and even deserts. Ravens nest on cliffs or rocky headlands, as well as in tall trees; they MATE FOR LIFE and are DEVOTED PARENTS.
In the Scriptures, the Song of Solomon illustrates the beauty of ENDURANCE and constant LOVE.
Christ awoke the church with his calling. The church (Shulammite girl) having a taste of Christ's love is sick of love. A description of Christ by his graces.
The lock of the door or gate, mentioned in the biblical passage, was fastened with a device consisted of a bolt of wood that could slide sideways through a groove in a wooden upright attached to the door.
The socket or hollow into which the bolt was inserted is referred to by the Shulammite girl (Christ's
bride) in recounting A DREAM she had in which her shepherd lover (heavenly bridegroom) was
kept away from her by means of a locked door.
Solomon's Song 5 : 4 My beloved slipped his hand through the latch-hole of the door, my heart turned
over.
11 My beloved is white (fair) and ruddy (desirable), the chief of the chiefs among
Ten Thousand.
12 His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy and black as a raven.
Tuesday, 30 April 2013
Monday, 29 April 2013
LEMURES, what do you know about them?
LEMURES, in Roman mythology, LEMURES (singular LEMUR) were SHADES OF RESTLESS or MALIGNANT DEAD, and are cognate, with an extended sense of LARVAE (singular LARVA =
MASK), as disturbing or frightening.
LEMURES is the MORE COMMON LITERARY TERM but even this it is rare. LEMURE is used by the Augustian Poets HORACE and OVID, the latter in his Fasti, the six book calendar poem on Roman holidays and religion customs.
LEMURES represent the WANDERING and VENGEFUL SPIRITS of those not afforded proper burial, funeral rites, or affectionate cult by the living. They are not attested by tomb or inscriptions.
OVID interprets them as VAGRANT, WITHOUT SATIATION and potentially VENGEFUL.
He interprets them as ancestral gods or spirits of the UNDERWORLD.
ST. AUGUSTINE describes both the LEMURES and the LARVAE as EVIL and RESTLESS SPIRITS that TORMENT and TERRIFY the living.
LEMURES were FORMLESS associated with DARKNESS and its dread. In Republican and Imperial ROME, May 9, 11, and 13 were dedicated to THEIR PLACATION in the HOUSEHOLD
PRACTICES of LEMURALIA or LEMURIA.
The head of the household (pater families) would rise AT MIDNIGHT and CAST BLACK BEANS
behind him with adverted gaze; the LEMURES WERE PRESUMED TO FEAST ON THEM.
The LEMURES THEMSELVES were both FEARSOME and FEARFUL : any malevolent spirit dissatisfied with the offering of the pater families could be force to leave the place by the loud banging
of bronze pots.
MASK), as disturbing or frightening.
LEMURES is the MORE COMMON LITERARY TERM but even this it is rare. LEMURE is used by the Augustian Poets HORACE and OVID, the latter in his Fasti, the six book calendar poem on Roman holidays and religion customs.
LEMURES represent the WANDERING and VENGEFUL SPIRITS of those not afforded proper burial, funeral rites, or affectionate cult by the living. They are not attested by tomb or inscriptions.
OVID interprets them as VAGRANT, WITHOUT SATIATION and potentially VENGEFUL.
He interprets them as ancestral gods or spirits of the UNDERWORLD.
ST. AUGUSTINE describes both the LEMURES and the LARVAE as EVIL and RESTLESS SPIRITS that TORMENT and TERRIFY the living.
LEMURES were FORMLESS associated with DARKNESS and its dread. In Republican and Imperial ROME, May 9, 11, and 13 were dedicated to THEIR PLACATION in the HOUSEHOLD
PRACTICES of LEMURALIA or LEMURIA.
The head of the household (pater families) would rise AT MIDNIGHT and CAST BLACK BEANS
behind him with adverted gaze; the LEMURES WERE PRESUMED TO FEAST ON THEM.
The LEMURES THEMSELVES were both FEARSOME and FEARFUL : any malevolent spirit dissatisfied with the offering of the pater families could be force to leave the place by the loud banging
of bronze pots.
The tale of the Raven who stole the Light
Throughout their history, the FIRST-NATION tribes on the WEST COAST of CANADA (including the HAIDA and the TLINGIT) have woven myths about RAVEN -a magical trickster who has lived on Earth for all time.
When the WORLD was very NEW, there was absolutely NO LIGHT - everyone lived in the DARK.
To get from place to place, hunt and fish, and even find berries for food, PEOPLE HAD TO REACH
OUT and FEEL for familiar TREES, ROCKS, WATER, and BUMPS in the GROUND.
There was no light because the SELFISH SKY CHIEF it all hidden away in a box, which he kept close to him in his big house.
This made RAVEN very angry, so he worked out a plan to sneak inside the CHIEF'S HOUSE and STEAL the BOX. To do this, he first turned himself into a tiny PINE NEEDLE. When the CHIEF's
beautiful DAUGHTER went to a nearby SPRING to fetch WATER, RAVEN rode on the BREEZE and dropped into her PITCHER. When SHE DRANK the water inside, the PINE NEEDLE slipped
smoothly down her throat.
Once RAVEN was INSIDE HER, he CHANGED himself into a HUMAN BABY waiting to be born. When the tiny BOY ARRIVED, he had RAVEN-DARK hair, shiny BLACK EYES, a BEAK-
ISH NOSE, and a harsh, CROW like CRY, but the SKY CHIEF was completely charmed by him and did everything he could to make him happy. For many weeks, RAVEN lived as a gurgling BABY, playing with his mother and his grandfather in their house.
One day, catching SIGHT of the HIDDEN BOX that held the world's light, HE REACHED OUT TO GRAB IT. The SKY Chief SNATCHED it away quickly, but the BABY CRIED and CRIED and CRIED until his GRANDFATHER GAVE IN - as adoring grandfathers often do.
As soon as the TREASURE was in his hands, RAVEN OPENED IT AND RELEASED THE MAGIC BALL OF LIGHT. Instantly HE TURNED BACK INTO A BIRD, snatched the BALL in HIS BEAK, and FLEW AWAY through the HOUSE's SMOKE HOLE and up into the sky.
As he passed over many mountains, rivers, and oceans, he grew weary and dropped half the light.
It shattered into a thousand pieces, which became the STARS and the MOON.
In the end, exhausted by his travels, RAVEN let go of all the remaining light and it filled the SKY.
His precious load had turned into THE SUN.
When the WORLD was very NEW, there was absolutely NO LIGHT - everyone lived in the DARK.
To get from place to place, hunt and fish, and even find berries for food, PEOPLE HAD TO REACH
OUT and FEEL for familiar TREES, ROCKS, WATER, and BUMPS in the GROUND.
There was no light because the SELFISH SKY CHIEF it all hidden away in a box, which he kept close to him in his big house.
This made RAVEN very angry, so he worked out a plan to sneak inside the CHIEF'S HOUSE and STEAL the BOX. To do this, he first turned himself into a tiny PINE NEEDLE. When the CHIEF's
beautiful DAUGHTER went to a nearby SPRING to fetch WATER, RAVEN rode on the BREEZE and dropped into her PITCHER. When SHE DRANK the water inside, the PINE NEEDLE slipped
smoothly down her throat.
Once RAVEN was INSIDE HER, he CHANGED himself into a HUMAN BABY waiting to be born. When the tiny BOY ARRIVED, he had RAVEN-DARK hair, shiny BLACK EYES, a BEAK-
ISH NOSE, and a harsh, CROW like CRY, but the SKY CHIEF was completely charmed by him and did everything he could to make him happy. For many weeks, RAVEN lived as a gurgling BABY, playing with his mother and his grandfather in their house.
One day, catching SIGHT of the HIDDEN BOX that held the world's light, HE REACHED OUT TO GRAB IT. The SKY Chief SNATCHED it away quickly, but the BABY CRIED and CRIED and CRIED until his GRANDFATHER GAVE IN - as adoring grandfathers often do.
As soon as the TREASURE was in his hands, RAVEN OPENED IT AND RELEASED THE MAGIC BALL OF LIGHT. Instantly HE TURNED BACK INTO A BIRD, snatched the BALL in HIS BEAK, and FLEW AWAY through the HOUSE's SMOKE HOLE and up into the sky.
As he passed over many mountains, rivers, and oceans, he grew weary and dropped half the light.
It shattered into a thousand pieces, which became the STARS and the MOON.
In the end, exhausted by his travels, RAVEN let go of all the remaining light and it filled the SKY.
His precious load had turned into THE SUN.
RAVEN Tales... continue...
RAVEN appears in traditional stories and myths all around the world and particularly in North America, Europe, Scandinavia, and Siberia.
In Norse legend, the chief god ODIN, is often described or pictured with TWO RAVENS : Huginn
(meaning "Thought") and Muninn (meaning "Memory"), who served as his eyes and ears. They are sometimes shown sitting one on each of his shoulders. ODIN is a ruler of the gods, god of magic, poetry and prophesy, battle and dead. He is recognized by his long flowing robes and large beard. he has one eye that shines as brightly as the Sun. He traded his other eye for wisdom. He married FRIGG, goddess of marriage and motherhood. She knew the destiny of everyone but never revealed what she knew. Four of the English names for the days of the week have come from the names of Norse gods :
TYR (god of war) in Tuesday, THOR (ruler of the skies, storms , and thunder) in Thursday, FRIGG
(goddess of marriage and motherhood) in Friday, and ODIN (ruler of the gods, god of magic, poetry and prophesy, battle and death; the god is known also known by the name WODEN) in Wednesday.
In the far EASTERN part of RUSSIA and the RUSSIAN ARTIC, KUTKH the RAVEN SPIRIT is not only a creation figure, he is also an ancestor of mankind, a powerful shaman, and a cunning trick-
ster. Some of the raven stories from this area are very similar to the raven tales of native North America.
For hundreds of years, PEOPLE HAVE BELIEVED that if RAVENS ever leave the TOWER OF LONDON, ENGLAND will SUFFER a terrible DISASTER. To this day, RAVENS are kept and protected THERE to prevent this from happening.
In Norse legend, the chief god ODIN, is often described or pictured with TWO RAVENS : Huginn
(meaning "Thought") and Muninn (meaning "Memory"), who served as his eyes and ears. They are sometimes shown sitting one on each of his shoulders. ODIN is a ruler of the gods, god of magic, poetry and prophesy, battle and dead. He is recognized by his long flowing robes and large beard. he has one eye that shines as brightly as the Sun. He traded his other eye for wisdom. He married FRIGG, goddess of marriage and motherhood. She knew the destiny of everyone but never revealed what she knew. Four of the English names for the days of the week have come from the names of Norse gods :
TYR (god of war) in Tuesday, THOR (ruler of the skies, storms , and thunder) in Thursday, FRIGG
(goddess of marriage and motherhood) in Friday, and ODIN (ruler of the gods, god of magic, poetry and prophesy, battle and death; the god is known also known by the name WODEN) in Wednesday.
In the far EASTERN part of RUSSIA and the RUSSIAN ARTIC, KUTKH the RAVEN SPIRIT is not only a creation figure, he is also an ancestor of mankind, a powerful shaman, and a cunning trick-
ster. Some of the raven stories from this area are very similar to the raven tales of native North America.
For hundreds of years, PEOPLE HAVE BELIEVED that if RAVENS ever leave the TOWER OF LONDON, ENGLAND will SUFFER a terrible DISASTER. To this day, RAVENS are kept and protected THERE to prevent this from happening.
THE TALE OF THE EVER-HUNGRY RAVEN
The ever-hungry RAVEN was a very important mythical hero of the WEST-COAST tribes, as he was said to have seeded the world with the plants and fish needed for survival.
The RAVEN is the first bird specifically named in the Bible.
GENESIS 8 : -The waters began to subside (the mind of the unseen world started to settle). -The ark rested on a mountain called AR-ARAT. -NOAH, being commanded, leaves the ark. -He built an altar
and offered a sacrifice, which GOD accepted and promised, not to curse the earth ever again.
1 : And GOD remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark.
And GOD made a WIND to PASS OVER the EARTH, and the WATERS subsided.
2 : The FOUNTAINS also of THE DEEP and the WINDOWS of HEAVEN were stopped, and the
RAIN from HEAVEN was restrained.
3 : And the WATERS gradually receded from the Earth, and by the END OF A HUNDRED and
FIFTY DAYS it had abated.
4 : And the ARK RESTED IN the SEVENTH MONTH, ON the SEVENTEENTH DAY of the
MONTH, UPON THE MOUNTAINS OF AR-ARAT.
5 : The WATER continued to ABATE UNTIL the TENTH MONTH, and ON THE FIRST DAY
OF THE TENTH MONTH the TOPS of the MOUNTAINS could be SEEN.
6 : And it came to pass AT THE END OF FORTY DAYS, that NOAH OPENED the WINDOW of
the ARK which he had made.
7 : And HE SET OUT A RAVEN; the RAVEN CONTINUED FLYING TO and FRO UNTIL the
WATER ON THE EARTH HAD DRIED UP.
The symbolism of this biblical passage shows us our past present and future life in the invisible world.
We were in the ark. The RAVEN is the symbolism of our mind going back and forth without being settled. Only those filled with the spirit of true that comes from GOD are able to progress in this journey.
The RAVEN is the first bird specifically named in the Bible.
GENESIS 8 : -The waters began to subside (the mind of the unseen world started to settle). -The ark rested on a mountain called AR-ARAT. -NOAH, being commanded, leaves the ark. -He built an altar
and offered a sacrifice, which GOD accepted and promised, not to curse the earth ever again.
1 : And GOD remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark.
And GOD made a WIND to PASS OVER the EARTH, and the WATERS subsided.
2 : The FOUNTAINS also of THE DEEP and the WINDOWS of HEAVEN were stopped, and the
RAIN from HEAVEN was restrained.
3 : And the WATERS gradually receded from the Earth, and by the END OF A HUNDRED and
FIFTY DAYS it had abated.
4 : And the ARK RESTED IN the SEVENTH MONTH, ON the SEVENTEENTH DAY of the
MONTH, UPON THE MOUNTAINS OF AR-ARAT.
5 : The WATER continued to ABATE UNTIL the TENTH MONTH, and ON THE FIRST DAY
OF THE TENTH MONTH the TOPS of the MOUNTAINS could be SEEN.
6 : And it came to pass AT THE END OF FORTY DAYS, that NOAH OPENED the WINDOW of
the ARK which he had made.
7 : And HE SET OUT A RAVEN; the RAVEN CONTINUED FLYING TO and FRO UNTIL the
WATER ON THE EARTH HAD DRIED UP.
The symbolism of this biblical passage shows us our past present and future life in the invisible world.
We were in the ark. The RAVEN is the symbolism of our mind going back and forth without being settled. Only those filled with the spirit of true that comes from GOD are able to progress in this journey.
WHEAT and BARLEY ... continue ...
REVELATION 6 ...
I watched as the LAMB BROKE the SIXTH SEAL.
There was a VIOLENT EARTHQUAKE; the SUN TURNED BLACK as a funeral pall (as sackcloth of hair)) and the MOON all red as blood; the STARS IN THE SKY FELL TO THE EARTH, as a fig tree casted her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
And THE HEAVEN DEPARTED as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every MOUNTAIN and
ISLAND were MOVED OUT OF THEIR PLACES.
And the KINGS OF THE EARTH, and the GREAT MEN, and the RICH MEN, and the CHIEF CAPTAINS, and the MIGHTY MEN, and EVERY BONDMAN, and EVERY FREE MAN, HID themselves IN CAVES and under MOUNTAIN CRAGS.
And THEY CALLED OUT TO the mountains and the crags :
"FALL ON US, HIDE US FROM THE ONE WHO SITS ON THE THRONE AND FROM THE WRATH OF THE LAMB, FOR THE GREAT DAY OF THEIR WRATH HAS COME, AND WHO CAN STAND?"
REVELATION 7 ...
After that I SAW FOUR ANGELS stationed AT THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH,
HOLDING BACK ITS FOUR WINDS so that no wind should BLOW ON LAND or SEA or on any TREE.
I SAW ANOTHER ANGEL RISING FROM the EAST, BEARING the SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD. To the FOUR ANGELS who had been given POWER TO RAVAGE LAND and SEA, he cried out: "DO NOT DAMAGE to LAND or SEA or to the TREES until WE HAVE SET THE SEAL of our GOD UPON the FOREHEADS of HIS SERVANTS."
I watched as the LAMB BROKE the SIXTH SEAL.
There was a VIOLENT EARTHQUAKE; the SUN TURNED BLACK as a funeral pall (as sackcloth of hair)) and the MOON all red as blood; the STARS IN THE SKY FELL TO THE EARTH, as a fig tree casted her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
And THE HEAVEN DEPARTED as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every MOUNTAIN and
ISLAND were MOVED OUT OF THEIR PLACES.
And the KINGS OF THE EARTH, and the GREAT MEN, and the RICH MEN, and the CHIEF CAPTAINS, and the MIGHTY MEN, and EVERY BONDMAN, and EVERY FREE MAN, HID themselves IN CAVES and under MOUNTAIN CRAGS.
And THEY CALLED OUT TO the mountains and the crags :
"FALL ON US, HIDE US FROM THE ONE WHO SITS ON THE THRONE AND FROM THE WRATH OF THE LAMB, FOR THE GREAT DAY OF THEIR WRATH HAS COME, AND WHO CAN STAND?"
REVELATION 7 ...
After that I SAW FOUR ANGELS stationed AT THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH,
HOLDING BACK ITS FOUR WINDS so that no wind should BLOW ON LAND or SEA or on any TREE.
I SAW ANOTHER ANGEL RISING FROM the EAST, BEARING the SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD. To the FOUR ANGELS who had been given POWER TO RAVAGE LAND and SEA, he cried out: "DO NOT DAMAGE to LAND or SEA or to the TREES until WE HAVE SET THE SEAL of our GOD UPON the FOREHEADS of HIS SERVANTS."
WHEAT and BARLEY symbolism in the invisible world
REVELATION 6 : And I saw when the LAMB OPENED ONE of the SEALS, and I heard ONE of the FOUR BEASTS saying, as it were the noise of thunder, "COME and SEE!"
There before my eyes was a WHITE HORSE, and its RIDER had a BOW. He was given a CROWN, and he rode forth, CONQUERING and TO CONQUER.
The LAMB BROKE the SECOND SEAL, and I heard the SECOND BEAST say, "COME and SEE!" And there went out another HORSE that was RED. Its RIDER was given POWER to take away PEACE from the EARTH, and that they should KILL ONE ANOTHER; and he was given a great SWORD.
HE BROKE the THIRD SEAL, and I heard the THIRD BEAST say, "COME and SEE!"
There, as I looked, was a BLACK HORSE, and its RIDER was holding in his hand A PAIR OF SCALES. I heard what sounded like a voice from among the FOUR BEASTS; it said, "A MEASURE
OF WHEAT FOR A DAY's WAGE, and THREE MEASURES OF BARLEY FOR A DAY's WAGE; BUT DO NOT DAMAGE THE OLIVE and THE VINE!"
HE BROKE the FOURTH SEAL, and I heard the FOURTH BEAST say, "COME and SEE!"
There, as I looked, was another HORSE, sickly PALE; its RIDER's name was DEATH and HELL followed close behind. To them was given POWER over a QUARTER of the EARTH, power to KILL by SWORD and FAMINE, by PESTILENCE and WILD BEASTS.
HE BROKE the FIFTH SEAL, and I SAW under the altar the SOULS of those that were SLAIN FOR THE WORD OF GOD, and THE TESTIMONY WHICH THEY HELD : And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "HOW LONG, Sovereign LORD, HOLY and TRUE, must it be BEFORE YOU WILL VINDICATE US and AVENGE OUR DEATH on the inhabitants of the Earth?"
They were EACH GIVEN A WHITE ROBE, and TOLD TO REST yet for a little season, UNTIL THE NUMBER of their fellow servants in Christ and also their brothers, that should be killed IS COMPLETE.
There before my eyes was a WHITE HORSE, and its RIDER had a BOW. He was given a CROWN, and he rode forth, CONQUERING and TO CONQUER.
The LAMB BROKE the SECOND SEAL, and I heard the SECOND BEAST say, "COME and SEE!" And there went out another HORSE that was RED. Its RIDER was given POWER to take away PEACE from the EARTH, and that they should KILL ONE ANOTHER; and he was given a great SWORD.
HE BROKE the THIRD SEAL, and I heard the THIRD BEAST say, "COME and SEE!"
There, as I looked, was a BLACK HORSE, and its RIDER was holding in his hand A PAIR OF SCALES. I heard what sounded like a voice from among the FOUR BEASTS; it said, "A MEASURE
OF WHEAT FOR A DAY's WAGE, and THREE MEASURES OF BARLEY FOR A DAY's WAGE; BUT DO NOT DAMAGE THE OLIVE and THE VINE!"
HE BROKE the FOURTH SEAL, and I heard the FOURTH BEAST say, "COME and SEE!"
There, as I looked, was another HORSE, sickly PALE; its RIDER's name was DEATH and HELL followed close behind. To them was given POWER over a QUARTER of the EARTH, power to KILL by SWORD and FAMINE, by PESTILENCE and WILD BEASTS.
HE BROKE the FIFTH SEAL, and I SAW under the altar the SOULS of those that were SLAIN FOR THE WORD OF GOD, and THE TESTIMONY WHICH THEY HELD : And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "HOW LONG, Sovereign LORD, HOLY and TRUE, must it be BEFORE YOU WILL VINDICATE US and AVENGE OUR DEATH on the inhabitants of the Earth?"
They were EACH GIVEN A WHITE ROBE, and TOLD TO REST yet for a little season, UNTIL THE NUMBER of their fellow servants in Christ and also their brothers, that should be killed IS COMPLETE.
Wheat, what it means in the invisible world? continue...B
II Kings 6&7 ISRAEL (the grain) DELIVERED FROM SYRIA ( wild animals).
During the reign of King JEHORAM of ISRAEL, SYRIA plans a SURPRISE ATTACK upon ISRAEL. More than once maneuvers of BEN-HADAD II are FRUSTRATED BY ELISHA, who REVEALS TO KING JEHORAM EVERY MOVE OF the SYRIANS.
At first BEN-HADAD thinks that there is a traitor in his own camp. But when he FINDS OUT the real SOURCE of his difficulty he SENDS a MILITARY FORCE TO DOTHAN, surrounding it with HORSES and WAR CHARIOTS to get ELISHA.
ELISHA's ATTENDANT is struck with FEAR, but ELISHA PRAYS to GOD to OPEN the ATTENDANT's eyes, and "look! the MOUNTAINOUS REGION is full of horses and war chariots of fire all around ELISHA."
Now, as the SYRIAN hosts close in, ELISHA PRAYS for the opposite kind of miracle, "PLEASE, STRIKE THIS NATION WITH BLINDNESS." Elisha says to the Syrians, "FOLLOW ME," but the ORDER IS MENTAL RATHER THAN PHYSICAL blindness. They do not recognize ELISHA, whom they came to take, nor do they know where he is taking them.
BRINGING the SYRIANS TO SAMARIA, ELISHA PRAYS THAT GOS OPEN THEIR EYES, and the Syrians find themselves right IN THE MIDDLE OF SAMARIA BEFORE KING JEHORAM himself.
ELISHA manifests FAITH IN GOD's POWER and shows complete lack of vindictiveness when he prevents the king of Israel from killing the Syrians, for, he says, "THEY ARE LIKE CAPTIVES OF WAR." He instructs the king to FEED THEM, and they are feasted and sent home. The RESULT is :
"NOT ONCE DID THE MARAUDING BANDS of the Syrians COME AGAIN INTO THE LAND OF ISRAEL."
However, later on, BEN-HADAD INVADES in force, and lays SIEGE to SAMARIA. The siege is so severe that at least one case is reported to the king in which a woman eats her own son. As the OFF-SPRING of AHAB, the "son of a murderer," KING JEHORAM SWEARS TO KILL ELISHA.
ELISHA, however, replies to the king's rage by telling him that FOOD supplies will be ABUNDAND
THE NEXT DAY. The king's ADJUTANT SCOFF at his prediction, causing Elisha to tell him :
"HERE YOU ARE SEEING IT WITH YOUR OWN EYES, BUT FROM IT YOU WILL NOT EAT." By a NOISE that the LORD causes to be heard in the CAMP of the SYRIANS, they are LED to BELIEVE that a GREAT ARMY of combined nations is ADVANCING against them and THEY FLEE, leaving the camp intact with all its food supplies. The ADJUTANT is put IN CHARGE of guarding the GATE at the king's orders when he FINDS OUT about the DESERTION of the SYRIANS, and there HE IS TRAMPLED TO DEATH IN THE GATEWAY OF SAMARIA when the starving crowd of Israelites rushes out to plunder the camp. HE SEES THE FOOD, BUT DOES NOT EAT FROM IT.
During the reign of King JEHORAM of ISRAEL, SYRIA plans a SURPRISE ATTACK upon ISRAEL. More than once maneuvers of BEN-HADAD II are FRUSTRATED BY ELISHA, who REVEALS TO KING JEHORAM EVERY MOVE OF the SYRIANS.
At first BEN-HADAD thinks that there is a traitor in his own camp. But when he FINDS OUT the real SOURCE of his difficulty he SENDS a MILITARY FORCE TO DOTHAN, surrounding it with HORSES and WAR CHARIOTS to get ELISHA.
ELISHA's ATTENDANT is struck with FEAR, but ELISHA PRAYS to GOD to OPEN the ATTENDANT's eyes, and "look! the MOUNTAINOUS REGION is full of horses and war chariots of fire all around ELISHA."
Now, as the SYRIAN hosts close in, ELISHA PRAYS for the opposite kind of miracle, "PLEASE, STRIKE THIS NATION WITH BLINDNESS." Elisha says to the Syrians, "FOLLOW ME," but the ORDER IS MENTAL RATHER THAN PHYSICAL blindness. They do not recognize ELISHA, whom they came to take, nor do they know where he is taking them.
BRINGING the SYRIANS TO SAMARIA, ELISHA PRAYS THAT GOS OPEN THEIR EYES, and the Syrians find themselves right IN THE MIDDLE OF SAMARIA BEFORE KING JEHORAM himself.
ELISHA manifests FAITH IN GOD's POWER and shows complete lack of vindictiveness when he prevents the king of Israel from killing the Syrians, for, he says, "THEY ARE LIKE CAPTIVES OF WAR." He instructs the king to FEED THEM, and they are feasted and sent home. The RESULT is :
"NOT ONCE DID THE MARAUDING BANDS of the Syrians COME AGAIN INTO THE LAND OF ISRAEL."
However, later on, BEN-HADAD INVADES in force, and lays SIEGE to SAMARIA. The siege is so severe that at least one case is reported to the king in which a woman eats her own son. As the OFF-SPRING of AHAB, the "son of a murderer," KING JEHORAM SWEARS TO KILL ELISHA.
ELISHA, however, replies to the king's rage by telling him that FOOD supplies will be ABUNDAND
THE NEXT DAY. The king's ADJUTANT SCOFF at his prediction, causing Elisha to tell him :
"HERE YOU ARE SEEING IT WITH YOUR OWN EYES, BUT FROM IT YOU WILL NOT EAT." By a NOISE that the LORD causes to be heard in the CAMP of the SYRIANS, they are LED to BELIEVE that a GREAT ARMY of combined nations is ADVANCING against them and THEY FLEE, leaving the camp intact with all its food supplies. The ADJUTANT is put IN CHARGE of guarding the GATE at the king's orders when he FINDS OUT about the DESERTION of the SYRIANS, and there HE IS TRAMPLED TO DEATH IN THE GATEWAY OF SAMARIA when the starving crowd of Israelites rushes out to plunder the camp. HE SEES THE FOOD, BUT DOES NOT EAT FROM IT.
Sunday, 28 April 2013
EPIC JAPANESE TALES continue...
YOMI, the LAND OF THE DEAD.
Over 80,000 DEMONS WERE SAID TO LIVE IN THE DARK, dismal LAND OF THE DEAD.
Their job was TO CARRY the DEAD to EMMA-O, the ruler and judge, who lived in an underground castle.
GOOD PEOPLE WERE REBORN, WHILE EVIL PEOPLE WERE SENT TO YOMI, the land of the dead. There, they would be tortured until their dead bodies were rotted away by maggots and TURNED INTO DEMONS TOO.
The DARK Lord of KAKURI YOMI is named EMMA-O. Emma-O is a calculated, thought out individual lacking mercy. Usually appearing in dreams or visions as a exceedingly tall man,wearing a long beard and cultivating a hairy appearance, with skin of OBSIDIAN, dressed in clothes bearing designs of battle, disease or death.
EMMA-O was the guide of the dead for the AINU PEOPLES of the islands of Japan. Revered as a benevolent deity, Emma-O gained great power and took upon himself to punish the wicked and protect the good. This worked well until the modern day inhabitants came, subjugating and decimating the AINU PEOPLE. Emma-O was furious and wanted revenge against the Japanese of the modern day.
EMMA-O has become what he hated. All he has is his desire for VENGEANCE.
Over 80,000 DEMONS WERE SAID TO LIVE IN THE DARK, dismal LAND OF THE DEAD.
Their job was TO CARRY the DEAD to EMMA-O, the ruler and judge, who lived in an underground castle.
GOOD PEOPLE WERE REBORN, WHILE EVIL PEOPLE WERE SENT TO YOMI, the land of the dead. There, they would be tortured until their dead bodies were rotted away by maggots and TURNED INTO DEMONS TOO.
The DARK Lord of KAKURI YOMI is named EMMA-O. Emma-O is a calculated, thought out individual lacking mercy. Usually appearing in dreams or visions as a exceedingly tall man,wearing a long beard and cultivating a hairy appearance, with skin of OBSIDIAN, dressed in clothes bearing designs of battle, disease or death.
EMMA-O was the guide of the dead for the AINU PEOPLES of the islands of Japan. Revered as a benevolent deity, Emma-O gained great power and took upon himself to punish the wicked and protect the good. This worked well until the modern day inhabitants came, subjugating and decimating the AINU PEOPLE. Emma-O was furious and wanted revenge against the Japanese of the modern day.
EMMA-O has become what he hated. All he has is his desire for VENGEANCE.
WHEAT, what it means in the invisible world?
CRIMEA. It was here that PRIMITIVE forms of WHEAT and BARLEY grew wild, and where the wild ancestors of goats and sheep lived. On UPLAND SOILS too thin to support trees, there GREW
ISOLATED stands of WILD GRASSES whose SEEDS were worth GATHERING because they were so PACKED with NOURISHMENT. These GRASSES STORED a HIGH QUANTITY OF
FOOD PER PLANT, because THEY NEEDED TO SURVIVE through the DRY SUMMERS, and then HAD TO COMPETE vigorously when the RAINY SEASON came.
Man soon learnt HOW TO GRIND the GRAIN to make FLOUR. The GRAINS that FELL by chance around his CAMP found ideal GROWING conditions in the disturbing ground of the camp site,
and were FERTILIZED BY NITROGEN content on REFUSE HEAPS. The grasses grew so vigorously near the rubbish heaps. Men began to sow WHEAT and BARLEY, preparing the GROUND carefully so that competition from other plants was lessened, and making sure that wild animals were kept away from the growing plants.
In II Kings, chapter 7. We see the meaning of WHEAT and BARLEY in the spiritual context which takes place inside of the invisible world..
ELISHA = <God is salvation> The son of Shaphat and a prophet of the Lord in the ninth and tenth centuries B.C.E.; successor to the prophet ELIJAH. Elijah was directed by the Lord
to travel toward ABEL-MEHOLAH and there, finding ELISHA plowing, ELIJAH threw his official garment over him, designating an appointment. Elisha was plowing behind TWELVE spans of BULLS. It is a custom in the EAST for several farmers to work together with their small plows, and one sower can easily sow all that they plow in a day. ELISHA, in the rear of the group, would be able to stop without disrupting the work of the rest. The fact that he sacrificed a span of the BULLS and used the implements as fuel speaks for Elisha's promptness, decisiveness and appreciativeness for the Lord's call. He lost no time in preparing the meal, by using the implements of the BULLS to provide fuel for cooking them, leaving immediately to follow Elijah.
Elisha's activity as successor to Elijah commences at the time of Elijah's ascension toward the heavens in a chariot of fire. Before Elijah leaves, Elisha asks him for TWO PARTS in his SPIRIT, that is a double part, which was granted, according to the customs, to the firstborn son. Elijah, realizing that this
is not his to give, tells Elisha that, if GOD GRANTS him to see Eijah taken from him, his desire will be
granted. GOD CONFIRMS this by permitting Elisha to see Elijah taken in a windstorm into the heavens. At the SHORE of the JORDAN RIVER GOD SHOWS that HE IS WITH ELISHA when HE DIVIDES the JORDAN WATERS as ELISHA STRIKES THEM with the garment.
CROSSING the JORDAN, Elisha RETURNS to the GROUP of the SONS of the PROPHETS at JERICHO. As the head of GOD's company of prophets he HEALED THE WATER SUPPLY OF THE CITY OF JERICHO, which has been bad and causing miscarriages. Going to the source of the water, he THROWS SALT from a small NEW BOWL into it, and THE WATER CONTINUES HEALED DOWN TO THIS DAY. continue...
ISOLATED stands of WILD GRASSES whose SEEDS were worth GATHERING because they were so PACKED with NOURISHMENT. These GRASSES STORED a HIGH QUANTITY OF
FOOD PER PLANT, because THEY NEEDED TO SURVIVE through the DRY SUMMERS, and then HAD TO COMPETE vigorously when the RAINY SEASON came.
Man soon learnt HOW TO GRIND the GRAIN to make FLOUR. The GRAINS that FELL by chance around his CAMP found ideal GROWING conditions in the disturbing ground of the camp site,
and were FERTILIZED BY NITROGEN content on REFUSE HEAPS. The grasses grew so vigorously near the rubbish heaps. Men began to sow WHEAT and BARLEY, preparing the GROUND carefully so that competition from other plants was lessened, and making sure that wild animals were kept away from the growing plants.
In II Kings, chapter 7. We see the meaning of WHEAT and BARLEY in the spiritual context which takes place inside of the invisible world..
ELISHA = <God is salvation> The son of Shaphat and a prophet of the Lord in the ninth and tenth centuries B.C.E.; successor to the prophet ELIJAH. Elijah was directed by the Lord
to travel toward ABEL-MEHOLAH and there, finding ELISHA plowing, ELIJAH threw his official garment over him, designating an appointment. Elisha was plowing behind TWELVE spans of BULLS. It is a custom in the EAST for several farmers to work together with their small plows, and one sower can easily sow all that they plow in a day. ELISHA, in the rear of the group, would be able to stop without disrupting the work of the rest. The fact that he sacrificed a span of the BULLS and used the implements as fuel speaks for Elisha's promptness, decisiveness and appreciativeness for the Lord's call. He lost no time in preparing the meal, by using the implements of the BULLS to provide fuel for cooking them, leaving immediately to follow Elijah.
Elisha's activity as successor to Elijah commences at the time of Elijah's ascension toward the heavens in a chariot of fire. Before Elijah leaves, Elisha asks him for TWO PARTS in his SPIRIT, that is a double part, which was granted, according to the customs, to the firstborn son. Elijah, realizing that this
is not his to give, tells Elisha that, if GOD GRANTS him to see Eijah taken from him, his desire will be
granted. GOD CONFIRMS this by permitting Elisha to see Elijah taken in a windstorm into the heavens. At the SHORE of the JORDAN RIVER GOD SHOWS that HE IS WITH ELISHA when HE DIVIDES the JORDAN WATERS as ELISHA STRIKES THEM with the garment.
CROSSING the JORDAN, Elisha RETURNS to the GROUP of the SONS of the PROPHETS at JERICHO. As the head of GOD's company of prophets he HEALED THE WATER SUPPLY OF THE CITY OF JERICHO, which has been bad and causing miscarriages. Going to the source of the water, he THROWS SALT from a small NEW BOWL into it, and THE WATER CONTINUES HEALED DOWN TO THIS DAY. continue...
Thursday, 25 April 2013
EPIC JAPANESE TALES continue....
A NATION WAS BORN : In JAPANESE MYTHS, the CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE BEGAN WITH TWO GODS, IZANAGI and IZANAMI, who were BROTHER and SISTER.
They DESCENDED FROM the HEAVENS ON A FLOATING RAINBOW BRIDGE.
BELOW them was CHAOS -a swirling oily darkness. Standing ON THE BRIDGE, IZANAGI STIRRED the CHAOS with a JEWELED SPEAR until AN ISLAND WAS FORMED.
CREATION had BEGUN. The FIRST ISLAND was called ONOKORO. To continue creating,
IZANAGI and IZANAMI decided to MARRY. They BUILT a tall COLUMN on the island for their MARRIAGE CEREMONY. Izanagi went one way and Izanami went the other way around the column and when they met THEY SAID THEIR VOWS. However, IZANAMI SPOKE FIRST.
This UPSET THE GODS IN HEAVEN, FOR the BRIDEGROOM IZANAGI SHOULD HAVE SAID HIS WEDDING VOWS FIRST.
They REPEATED THE CEREMONY CORRECTLY, but IZANAMI WAS NOW DESTINED TO GIVE BIRTH TO DEMONS AND MONSTERS AS WELL AS TO GODS AND SPIRITS.
Together, THEY CREATED the EIGHT ISLANDS of JAPAN and ALL the PLANTS and ANIMALS.
IZANAMI GAVE BIRTH TO THE GODS and SPIRITS WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THEM, including AMATERASU, the SUN GODDESS; TSUKI-YOMI, the MOON GOD;
SUSANO-O, the STORM GOD, and many other gods of nature, oceans, lowlands, and mountains.
IZANAMI was DESTINED TO DIE and so, WHEN KAGUTSUCHI, the FIRE GOD, WAS BORN, she DIED IN HIS FLAMES and DESCENDED TO YOMI, the UNDERWORLD.
IN GRIEF, IZANAGI WENT TO the UNDERWORLD AFTER HER. He pulled a comb from his hair and lit it. In horror, he saw that HE WAS TOO LATE TO SAVE HER, as SHE HAS TURNED INTO a ROTTING CORPSE and her body was COVERED IN MAGGOTS.
IZANAMI was furious that her HUSBAND HAD SEEN HER and ORDERED the DEMONS to
CHASE HIM. ISANAGI FLED , throwing his headdress and comb behind him. The headdress turned
into grapes and the comb into bamboo shoots, which the demons stopped to eat. However, Izanami was close on his heels. Only JUST IN TIME, Izanagi REACHED THE ENTRANCE and ROLLED A VAST STONE ACROSS IT, SEPARATING the LIVING AND the DEAD FOREVER.
They DESCENDED FROM the HEAVENS ON A FLOATING RAINBOW BRIDGE.
BELOW them was CHAOS -a swirling oily darkness. Standing ON THE BRIDGE, IZANAGI STIRRED the CHAOS with a JEWELED SPEAR until AN ISLAND WAS FORMED.
CREATION had BEGUN. The FIRST ISLAND was called ONOKORO. To continue creating,
IZANAGI and IZANAMI decided to MARRY. They BUILT a tall COLUMN on the island for their MARRIAGE CEREMONY. Izanagi went one way and Izanami went the other way around the column and when they met THEY SAID THEIR VOWS. However, IZANAMI SPOKE FIRST.
This UPSET THE GODS IN HEAVEN, FOR the BRIDEGROOM IZANAGI SHOULD HAVE SAID HIS WEDDING VOWS FIRST.
They REPEATED THE CEREMONY CORRECTLY, but IZANAMI WAS NOW DESTINED TO GIVE BIRTH TO DEMONS AND MONSTERS AS WELL AS TO GODS AND SPIRITS.
Together, THEY CREATED the EIGHT ISLANDS of JAPAN and ALL the PLANTS and ANIMALS.
IZANAMI GAVE BIRTH TO THE GODS and SPIRITS WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THEM, including AMATERASU, the SUN GODDESS; TSUKI-YOMI, the MOON GOD;
SUSANO-O, the STORM GOD, and many other gods of nature, oceans, lowlands, and mountains.
IZANAMI was DESTINED TO DIE and so, WHEN KAGUTSUCHI, the FIRE GOD, WAS BORN, she DIED IN HIS FLAMES and DESCENDED TO YOMI, the UNDERWORLD.
IN GRIEF, IZANAGI WENT TO the UNDERWORLD AFTER HER. He pulled a comb from his hair and lit it. In horror, he saw that HE WAS TOO LATE TO SAVE HER, as SHE HAS TURNED INTO a ROTTING CORPSE and her body was COVERED IN MAGGOTS.
IZANAMI was furious that her HUSBAND HAD SEEN HER and ORDERED the DEMONS to
CHASE HIM. ISANAGI FLED , throwing his headdress and comb behind him. The headdress turned
into grapes and the comb into bamboo shoots, which the demons stopped to eat. However, Izanami was close on his heels. Only JUST IN TIME, Izanagi REACHED THE ENTRANCE and ROLLED A VAST STONE ACROSS IT, SEPARATING the LIVING AND the DEAD FOREVER.
EPIC JAPANESE TALES ABOUT THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE
THE FIRST GODS : In the beginning, the LIGHTER PARTS OF the swirling CHAOS FLOATED
UPWARD and FORMED the HIGH PLAIN OF HEAVEN (Takama-gavara).
The FIRST FORCES were CREATED in the form of THREE INVISIBLE
GODS who dwelled in the heaven.
A REED GREW upward THROUGH the CHAOS and FROM ITS TOP
TWO MORE GODS appeared.
Then OTHER GENERATIONS followed. IZANAGI and IZANAMI were
the LAST OF THESE HEAVENLY GODS.
THE FEUD : Their ELDEST DAUGHTER, AMATERASU, was BORN so BRIGHT that she was
SENT TO THE HEAVENS to SHINE LIGHT ON THE EARTH. She SHOWED
the PEOPLE OF JAPAN how to grow RICE and WHEAT and use SILK WORMS
to make CLOTH. But, HER BROTHER SUSANO-O ANNOYED HER WHEN HE
DESTROYED her HOME and CROPS so SHE SHUT HERSELF IN A CAVE.
THE RISING SUN : The WORLD WAS IN DARKNESS, UNTIL THE OTHER GODS, in
desperation, TRICKED HER TO COME OUT. Some say THEY SHOWED
her A MIRROR and THINKING IT WAS A NEW GODDESS, and not her
reflection, SHE CAME OUT. Others say the gods made lots of noise as if they
were having a party and, being curious to find out what was going on, she came
out. When SHE APPEARED, LIGHT WAS BROUGHT BACK INTO THE
WORLD.
For many years, the JAPANESE FLAG SHOWED A RISING SUN,
SYMBOLIZING AMATERASU COMING OUT OF THE CAVE.
THE FIRST EMPEROR : Amaterasu sent HER GRANDSON NINIGI TO RULE over the land
and gave him THREE TREASURES - a jeweled necklace for
KINDNESS, a mirror for PURITY and a sword for COURAGE.
THESE ARE THE THREE SYMBOLS connected to the ROYAL
HOUSEHOLD OF JAPAN. According to legend, his great grandson
JIMMU-TENNO became the FIRST EMPEROR.
UPWARD and FORMED the HIGH PLAIN OF HEAVEN (Takama-gavara).
The FIRST FORCES were CREATED in the form of THREE INVISIBLE
GODS who dwelled in the heaven.
A REED GREW upward THROUGH the CHAOS and FROM ITS TOP
TWO MORE GODS appeared.
Then OTHER GENERATIONS followed. IZANAGI and IZANAMI were
the LAST OF THESE HEAVENLY GODS.
THE FEUD : Their ELDEST DAUGHTER, AMATERASU, was BORN so BRIGHT that she was
SENT TO THE HEAVENS to SHINE LIGHT ON THE EARTH. She SHOWED
the PEOPLE OF JAPAN how to grow RICE and WHEAT and use SILK WORMS
to make CLOTH. But, HER BROTHER SUSANO-O ANNOYED HER WHEN HE
DESTROYED her HOME and CROPS so SHE SHUT HERSELF IN A CAVE.
THE RISING SUN : The WORLD WAS IN DARKNESS, UNTIL THE OTHER GODS, in
desperation, TRICKED HER TO COME OUT. Some say THEY SHOWED
her A MIRROR and THINKING IT WAS A NEW GODDESS, and not her
reflection, SHE CAME OUT. Others say the gods made lots of noise as if they
were having a party and, being curious to find out what was going on, she came
out. When SHE APPEARED, LIGHT WAS BROUGHT BACK INTO THE
WORLD.
For many years, the JAPANESE FLAG SHOWED A RISING SUN,
SYMBOLIZING AMATERASU COMING OUT OF THE CAVE.
THE FIRST EMPEROR : Amaterasu sent HER GRANDSON NINIGI TO RULE over the land
and gave him THREE TREASURES - a jeweled necklace for
KINDNESS, a mirror for PURITY and a sword for COURAGE.
THESE ARE THE THREE SYMBOLS connected to the ROYAL
HOUSEHOLD OF JAPAN. According to legend, his great grandson
JIMMU-TENNO became the FIRST EMPEROR.
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
THE LAW OF THE CAUSE AND EFFECT
Why is it so important to know about it? Understanding this law and its repercussions will protect and prevent us from making any dangerous or foolish mistakes. The concept and meaning of the law is in the word "ACTION." Some translate it as "DEED" or "FATE."
The LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT states that AS WE SOW, so SHALL WE REAP. In other words, EVERYTHING WE THINK, SAY and DO BECOMES PART OF AN ENERGY or FORCE that WE SEND OUT INTO THE UNIVERSE, and that ENERGY WILL THEN RETURN TO US. If you DO HARM TO OTHERS, HARM WILL COME TO YOU. If YOU GIVE OUT
LOVE, then LOVE COMES BACK. It is also said that WHATEVER YOU SEND OUT, COMES BACK TO YOU WITH DOUBLED INTENSITY.
When we go over areas in our life we can see a possible "CAUSE AND EFFECT" scenario. It might be, for example, in the workplace, when we treated someone badly in our effort for promotion. Did someone then treat us in a similar fashion? Another example, we have been the one to break up a relationship, perhaps not handing it very well, and then had our next relationship and it end treating us in the same manner. Another example, we have a difficult relationship with our parents and now that we have our own kids, we have the same troubles with ours, giving us hard time. Another example,
Have we ever taken from someone, personal property, and then had an item taken from us? Another
example, Have we started the day in an angry mood and noticed how other angry people are attracted
to us? Likewise if we feel particularly loving one day, have us had others be very loving in return?
Another good example is if we are in a rush to get somewhere and we need a helping hand, and then if we are driving we start to notice that our way is cleared somehow, or if we are taking the public transportation, a bus or a train come along, swiftly. Have we noticed whenever we are in this situation that if we are irritated and tense, everything goes wrong? However, if we remain calm and focused, refusing to panic, does the situation smooth itself out? If we feel an argument brewing with someone and we are getting more and more burned up, are we not simply giving out anger and receiving it back?
What if one us suddenly backs down and refuses to fight, expressing instead love and concern for the other person? It is very likely that the cause of disagreement disappear. LOVE is a very POWERFUL
FORCE
The LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT states that AS WE SOW, so SHALL WE REAP. In other words, EVERYTHING WE THINK, SAY and DO BECOMES PART OF AN ENERGY or FORCE that WE SEND OUT INTO THE UNIVERSE, and that ENERGY WILL THEN RETURN TO US. If you DO HARM TO OTHERS, HARM WILL COME TO YOU. If YOU GIVE OUT
LOVE, then LOVE COMES BACK. It is also said that WHATEVER YOU SEND OUT, COMES BACK TO YOU WITH DOUBLED INTENSITY.
When we go over areas in our life we can see a possible "CAUSE AND EFFECT" scenario. It might be, for example, in the workplace, when we treated someone badly in our effort for promotion. Did someone then treat us in a similar fashion? Another example, we have been the one to break up a relationship, perhaps not handing it very well, and then had our next relationship and it end treating us in the same manner. Another example, we have a difficult relationship with our parents and now that we have our own kids, we have the same troubles with ours, giving us hard time. Another example,
Have we ever taken from someone, personal property, and then had an item taken from us? Another
example, Have we started the day in an angry mood and noticed how other angry people are attracted
to us? Likewise if we feel particularly loving one day, have us had others be very loving in return?
Another good example is if we are in a rush to get somewhere and we need a helping hand, and then if we are driving we start to notice that our way is cleared somehow, or if we are taking the public transportation, a bus or a train come along, swiftly. Have we noticed whenever we are in this situation that if we are irritated and tense, everything goes wrong? However, if we remain calm and focused, refusing to panic, does the situation smooth itself out? If we feel an argument brewing with someone and we are getting more and more burned up, are we not simply giving out anger and receiving it back?
What if one us suddenly backs down and refuses to fight, expressing instead love and concern for the other person? It is very likely that the cause of disagreement disappear. LOVE is a very POWERFUL
FORCE
Monday, 22 April 2013
MIRIAM, is the symbol of the Church of Today?.....continue
EXODUS 4 : 22) And you shall say unto Pharaoh : "Thus said the LORD, 'ISRAEL IS MY SON,
EVEN MY FIRSTBORN.'
23) 'AND I SAY UNTO YOU : LET MY SON GO, THAT HE MAY SERVE ME ;
AND IF YOU REFUSE TO LET HIM GO, BEHOLD, I WILL SLAY YOUR
SON, EVEN YOUR FIRSTBORN. ' "
24) And it came to pass BY THE WAY IN THE INN, that THE LORD MET HIM,
and SOUGHT TO KILL HIM.
25) Then ZIPPORAH TOOK A SHARP STONE, and CUT OFF THE FORESKIN
of her SON, and TOUCHED MOSES's GENITALS WITH IT, saying :
" SURELY A BLOODY HUSBAND YOU ARE TO ME."
26) So HE let him go. Then she said : " A BLOODY HUSBAND YOU ARE,
BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMCISION."
Zipporah, rather than Moses, circumcised the child to show she was abandoning any Midianitish oppo-
sition to circumcision she may have had; that she cast the foreskin at the feet of the angel who was threatening the child's life to demonstrate her compliance with the LORD"s law; that ZIPPORAH
addressed the LORD through his representative angel when she exclaimed, "YOU ARE A BRIDEGROOM OF BLOOD TO ME," doing so to show her acceptance of a WIFELY POSITION IN the circumcision COVENANT WITH THE LORD AS THE HUSBAND.
JEREMIAH, was commissioned as prophet in the thirteenth year of King JOSIAH (647 B.C.E.) to warn the southern kingdom JUDAH, of her impending destruction. This was less than a century after the prophet, ISAIAH's activity and the fall of Israel, the northern kingdom, to the Assyrians.
The BOOK OF JEREMIAH reveals that GOD expects the PEOPLE BEARING HIS NAME TO BE
A GLORY AND A PRAISE TO HIM AND THAT HE CONSIDERS THEM CLOSE TO HIM.
Those who prophesy falsely in his name, saying "PEACE" to those with whom GOD is not at peace,
have to account to GOD for their words, and they will stumble and fall.
EVEN MY FIRSTBORN.'
23) 'AND I SAY UNTO YOU : LET MY SON GO, THAT HE MAY SERVE ME ;
AND IF YOU REFUSE TO LET HIM GO, BEHOLD, I WILL SLAY YOUR
SON, EVEN YOUR FIRSTBORN. ' "
24) And it came to pass BY THE WAY IN THE INN, that THE LORD MET HIM,
and SOUGHT TO KILL HIM.
25) Then ZIPPORAH TOOK A SHARP STONE, and CUT OFF THE FORESKIN
of her SON, and TOUCHED MOSES's GENITALS WITH IT, saying :
" SURELY A BLOODY HUSBAND YOU ARE TO ME."
26) So HE let him go. Then she said : " A BLOODY HUSBAND YOU ARE,
BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMCISION."
Zipporah, rather than Moses, circumcised the child to show she was abandoning any Midianitish oppo-
sition to circumcision she may have had; that she cast the foreskin at the feet of the angel who was threatening the child's life to demonstrate her compliance with the LORD"s law; that ZIPPORAH
addressed the LORD through his representative angel when she exclaimed, "YOU ARE A BRIDEGROOM OF BLOOD TO ME," doing so to show her acceptance of a WIFELY POSITION IN the circumcision COVENANT WITH THE LORD AS THE HUSBAND.
JEREMIAH, was commissioned as prophet in the thirteenth year of King JOSIAH (647 B.C.E.) to warn the southern kingdom JUDAH, of her impending destruction. This was less than a century after the prophet, ISAIAH's activity and the fall of Israel, the northern kingdom, to the Assyrians.
The BOOK OF JEREMIAH reveals that GOD expects the PEOPLE BEARING HIS NAME TO BE
A GLORY AND A PRAISE TO HIM AND THAT HE CONSIDERS THEM CLOSE TO HIM.
Those who prophesy falsely in his name, saying "PEACE" to those with whom GOD is not at peace,
have to account to GOD for their words, and they will stumble and fall.
MIRIAM, Moses's sister is the symbol of the Church of Today?
What is your opinion? Is Miriam's attitude towards Moses the same that the Church of today has towards the COVENANT that GOD established with our forefathers? Do you think that the COVENANT is not in use in our days?
NUMBERS 12 1) GOD rebuked the sedition of Miriam and Aaron. 10) Miriam's leprosy is healed at
the PRAYER OF MOSES. 14) GOD commanded her to be shut out of the host.
1 : And MIRIAM and AARON spoke against MOSES because of the ETHIOPIAN WOMAN
whom MOSES HAD MARRIED : for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
It was a long journey across wilderness territory to Midian, where Moses sought refuge. There at a well, Moses'courage and readiness to act forcefull to help those suffering injustice again came to the fore. When shepherds drove away the SEVEN DAUGHTERS of JETHRO and their flock, MOSES
DELIVERED THE WOMEN and WATERED THE FLOCKS for them. As a result he was INVITED TO JETHRO's HOUSE, where HE ENTERED JETHRO's EMPLOYMENT AS A SHEPHERD for his flocks and EVENTUALY MARRIED ONE OF JETHRO's DAUGHTERS,
ZIPPORAH, who bore him TWO SONS, GERSHOM and ELIEZER. Ex.2 ; Ex. 18. When the
LORD sent MOSES BACK TO EGYPT, Zipporah and THEIR TWO SONS started out to ACCOMPANY HIM. ALONG THE WAY a very serious INCIDENT occurred, the account says :
Exodus 4 : 20 - And MOSES took his wife and his two sons, and set them upon an ass, and he
returned to the land of Egypt : and MOSES TOOK THE ROD OF GOD IN HIS
HAND.
21) And the LORD said unto MOSES : "WHEN YOU GO TO RETURN TO INTO
EGYPT, SEE THAT YOU DO ALL THOSE WONDERS BEFORE PHARAOH,
WHICH I HAVE PUT IN YOUR THINE HAND : BUT I WILL HARDEN HIS
HEART, THAT HE SHALL NOT LET THE PEOPLE GO.
NUMBERS 12 1) GOD rebuked the sedition of Miriam and Aaron. 10) Miriam's leprosy is healed at
the PRAYER OF MOSES. 14) GOD commanded her to be shut out of the host.
1 : And MIRIAM and AARON spoke against MOSES because of the ETHIOPIAN WOMAN
whom MOSES HAD MARRIED : for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
It was a long journey across wilderness territory to Midian, where Moses sought refuge. There at a well, Moses'courage and readiness to act forcefull to help those suffering injustice again came to the fore. When shepherds drove away the SEVEN DAUGHTERS of JETHRO and their flock, MOSES
DELIVERED THE WOMEN and WATERED THE FLOCKS for them. As a result he was INVITED TO JETHRO's HOUSE, where HE ENTERED JETHRO's EMPLOYMENT AS A SHEPHERD for his flocks and EVENTUALY MARRIED ONE OF JETHRO's DAUGHTERS,
ZIPPORAH, who bore him TWO SONS, GERSHOM and ELIEZER. Ex.2 ; Ex. 18. When the
LORD sent MOSES BACK TO EGYPT, Zipporah and THEIR TWO SONS started out to ACCOMPANY HIM. ALONG THE WAY a very serious INCIDENT occurred, the account says :
Exodus 4 : 20 - And MOSES took his wife and his two sons, and set them upon an ass, and he
returned to the land of Egypt : and MOSES TOOK THE ROD OF GOD IN HIS
HAND.
21) And the LORD said unto MOSES : "WHEN YOU GO TO RETURN TO INTO
EGYPT, SEE THAT YOU DO ALL THOSE WONDERS BEFORE PHARAOH,
WHICH I HAVE PUT IN YOUR THINE HAND : BUT I WILL HARDEN HIS
HEART, THAT HE SHALL NOT LET THE PEOPLE GO.
Sunday, 21 April 2013
A MEANINGFUL LIFE IS POSSIBLE
When you wake up every day, the first thing that you need to do is PRAYING. What are you going to pray is IN PSALM 90.
PSALM 90 MOSES, setting forth GOD's PROVIDENCE, complained of human fragility, divine chastisement and brevity of life. He prayed for the KNOWLEDGE and SENSIBLE experience of GOD's good PROVIDENCE.
1 : LORD, YOU have been our dwelling place in ALL GENERATIONS.
2 : Before the mountains were brought forth, or even YOU had formed the earth and the world, even
from everlasting to everlasting, YOU ARE GOD.
3 : YOU turn mortals back to dust, saying, "TURN BACK, YOU CHILDREN OF MORTALS."
4 : For IN YOUR SIGHT a THOUSAND YEARS ARE as passing of ONE DAY or as a watch in
the night.
5 : YOU carried them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep : in the morning they are like grass
which grow up.
6 : In the morning it flourished and grew up; in the evening it is cut down, and withered.
7 : We are consumed BY YOUR ANGER, and BY YOUR WRATH are we troubled.
8 : YOU SET OUT our iniquities BEFORE YOU, our secret sins IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR
PRESENCE.
9 : For all our days are passed away IN YOUR WRATH : we spend our years as a tale that is told.
10 : SEVENTY YEARS IS THE SPAN OF OUR LIFE, eighty if our strength holds; all their best
they are but toil and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
11 : Who feels THE POWER OF YOUR ANGER, who feels YOUR WRATH like THOSE WHO
FEAR YOU?
12 : So TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS, that we may APPLY OUR HEARTS UNTO
WISDOM (make us know how few are our days, that our minds learn wisdom).
13 : RETURN, O LORD, how long? TURN and SHOW COMPASSION to your servants.
14 : O SATISFY US EARLY WITH YOUR MERCY; that WE MAY REJOICE AND BE GLAD
ALL OUR DAYS.
15 : GRANT US DAYS OF GLADNESS for the days YOU HAVE HUMBLED US, for the years
when we have known misfortune.
16 : LET YOUR WORK APPEAR unto your servants, and YOUR GLORY unto their children.
PSALM 90 MOSES, setting forth GOD's PROVIDENCE, complained of human fragility, divine chastisement and brevity of life. He prayed for the KNOWLEDGE and SENSIBLE experience of GOD's good PROVIDENCE.
1 : LORD, YOU have been our dwelling place in ALL GENERATIONS.
2 : Before the mountains were brought forth, or even YOU had formed the earth and the world, even
from everlasting to everlasting, YOU ARE GOD.
3 : YOU turn mortals back to dust, saying, "TURN BACK, YOU CHILDREN OF MORTALS."
4 : For IN YOUR SIGHT a THOUSAND YEARS ARE as passing of ONE DAY or as a watch in
the night.
5 : YOU carried them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep : in the morning they are like grass
which grow up.
6 : In the morning it flourished and grew up; in the evening it is cut down, and withered.
7 : We are consumed BY YOUR ANGER, and BY YOUR WRATH are we troubled.
8 : YOU SET OUT our iniquities BEFORE YOU, our secret sins IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR
PRESENCE.
9 : For all our days are passed away IN YOUR WRATH : we spend our years as a tale that is told.
10 : SEVENTY YEARS IS THE SPAN OF OUR LIFE, eighty if our strength holds; all their best
they are but toil and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
11 : Who feels THE POWER OF YOUR ANGER, who feels YOUR WRATH like THOSE WHO
FEAR YOU?
12 : So TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS, that we may APPLY OUR HEARTS UNTO
WISDOM (make us know how few are our days, that our minds learn wisdom).
13 : RETURN, O LORD, how long? TURN and SHOW COMPASSION to your servants.
14 : O SATISFY US EARLY WITH YOUR MERCY; that WE MAY REJOICE AND BE GLAD
ALL OUR DAYS.
15 : GRANT US DAYS OF GLADNESS for the days YOU HAVE HUMBLED US, for the years
when we have known misfortune.
16 : LET YOUR WORK APPEAR unto your servants, and YOUR GLORY unto their children.
Thursday, 18 April 2013
THE PROSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH OF GOD
ISAIAH 57
1 : THE RIGHTEOUS perish, and no one is concerned; all who are LOYAL TO THEIR FAITH
are swept away and no one give it a thought.
THE RIGHTEOUS are swept away by THE ONSET OF EVIL;
2 : those who have FOLLOWED A STRAIGHT COURSE shall ACHIEVE PEACE at the last,
as they lie on their deathbeds.
3 : COME NEAR YOU CHILDREN OF A SOOTHSAYER (sons of the sorceress).YOU SPAWN
OF AN ADULTERER AND A HARLOT (the seed of the adulterer and the whore),
4 : AGAINST WHOM DO YOU SPORT YOURSELVES?
AGAINST WHOM DO YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTHS AND STICK OUT YOUR
TONGUES? ARE YOU NOT CHILDREN OF TRANSGRESSION, A SEED OF FALSE-
HOOD ?
5 : YOU ARE BURNING WITH LUST (enflaming yourselves with idols) UNDER THE
SACRED OAKS, UNDER EVERY SPREADING TREE, AND SACRIFICING CHILDREN
IN THE VALLEYS (wadis), UNDER THE ROCKY CLEFTS.
6 : AMONG THE SMOOTH STONES OF THE STREAM IS YOUR PORTION; THEY,
THEY ARE YOUR LOT ( and you, woman, your place is with the deceitful gods of the wadi;
that is where you belong); EVEN TO THEM HAVE YOU POURED A DRINK OFFERING,
YOU HAVE OFFERED A MEAT OFFERING ( and presented an offering of grain).
SHOULD I RECEIVE COMFORT IN THESE?
7 : ON A HIGH MOUNTAINTOP YOU HAVE MADE YOUR BED; THERE TO YOU HAVE
GONE UP TO OFFER SACRIFICE.
8 : BEHIND THE DOORS ALSO AND THE POSTS YOU HAVE PUT UP YOUR SIGN.
DESERTING ME, YOU HAVE STRIPPED AND LAIN DOWN ON THE WIDE BED
WHICH YOU HAVE MADE; YOU DROVE BARGAINS WITH MEN FOR THE
PLEASURE OF SLEEPING TOGETHER AND MAKING LOVE.
9 : AND YOU WENT TO THE KING WITH OINTMENT, AND DID INCREASE YOUR
PERFUMES, AND DID SEND YOUR MESSENGERS FAR OFF, AND DID DEBASE
YOURSELF EVEN UNTO HELL.
1 : THE RIGHTEOUS perish, and no one is concerned; all who are LOYAL TO THEIR FAITH
are swept away and no one give it a thought.
THE RIGHTEOUS are swept away by THE ONSET OF EVIL;
2 : those who have FOLLOWED A STRAIGHT COURSE shall ACHIEVE PEACE at the last,
as they lie on their deathbeds.
3 : COME NEAR YOU CHILDREN OF A SOOTHSAYER (sons of the sorceress).YOU SPAWN
OF AN ADULTERER AND A HARLOT (the seed of the adulterer and the whore),
4 : AGAINST WHOM DO YOU SPORT YOURSELVES?
AGAINST WHOM DO YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTHS AND STICK OUT YOUR
TONGUES? ARE YOU NOT CHILDREN OF TRANSGRESSION, A SEED OF FALSE-
HOOD ?
5 : YOU ARE BURNING WITH LUST (enflaming yourselves with idols) UNDER THE
SACRED OAKS, UNDER EVERY SPREADING TREE, AND SACRIFICING CHILDREN
IN THE VALLEYS (wadis), UNDER THE ROCKY CLEFTS.
6 : AMONG THE SMOOTH STONES OF THE STREAM IS YOUR PORTION; THEY,
THEY ARE YOUR LOT ( and you, woman, your place is with the deceitful gods of the wadi;
that is where you belong); EVEN TO THEM HAVE YOU POURED A DRINK OFFERING,
YOU HAVE OFFERED A MEAT OFFERING ( and presented an offering of grain).
SHOULD I RECEIVE COMFORT IN THESE?
7 : ON A HIGH MOUNTAINTOP YOU HAVE MADE YOUR BED; THERE TO YOU HAVE
GONE UP TO OFFER SACRIFICE.
8 : BEHIND THE DOORS ALSO AND THE POSTS YOU HAVE PUT UP YOUR SIGN.
DESERTING ME, YOU HAVE STRIPPED AND LAIN DOWN ON THE WIDE BED
WHICH YOU HAVE MADE; YOU DROVE BARGAINS WITH MEN FOR THE
PLEASURE OF SLEEPING TOGETHER AND MAKING LOVE.
9 : AND YOU WENT TO THE KING WITH OINTMENT, AND DID INCREASE YOUR
PERFUMES, AND DID SEND YOUR MESSENGERS FAR OFF, AND DID DEBASE
YOURSELF EVEN UNTO HELL.
PROSTITUTION continue...
Hosea 4 : 1) GOD's judgments against the sins of the people, 6) and of the priests, 12) and
against their idolatry. 15) Judah is exhorted to take warning by Israel's calamity.
1 : HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD, you children of ISRAEL : FOR THE LORD HAS A
CONTROVERSY WITH THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND, BECAUSE THERE IS
NO TRUTH( no good faith, no loyalty), NOR MERCY, NOR KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IN
IN THE LAND.
2 : PEOPLE SWEAR OATHS AND BREAK THEM (swearing and lying); THEY KILL AND
ROB and COMMIT ADULTERY; THERE IS VIOLENCE, ONE DEED OF BLOOD
AFTER ANOTHER.
3 : THEREFORE THE LAND WILL BE DESOLATE AND ALL WHO LIVE IN IT WILL
LANGUISH, WITH THE WILD BEASTS AND THE BIRDS OF THE AIR; EVEN THE
FISH WILL VANISH FROM THE SEA.
4 : BUT IT IS NOT FOR MANKIND TO BRING CHARGES, NOT FOR THEM TO PROVE
A CASE; IT IS MY QUARREL, ANND IT IS WITH YOU, THE PRIEST.
5 : THEREFORE YOU SHALL FALL IN THE DAY, AND THE PROPHET WITH YOU
ALSO SHALL FALL IN THE NIGHT, AND I WILL DESTROY YOUR MOTHER.
6 : MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ; BECAUSE YOU HAS
REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I WILL ALSO REJECT YOU, THAT YOU SHALL BE NO
PRIEST TO ME; SEEING THAT YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN THE LAW OF YOUR GOD,
I WILL ALSO FORGET YOUR CHILDREN.
7 : AS THEY ( the priests) WERE INCREASED, SO THEY SINNED AGAINST ME; therefore
I WILL CHANGE THEIR GLORY INTO SHAME.
8 : THEY (the priests) EAT UP THE SIN OF MY PEOPLE, and THEY SET THEIR HEART
ON THEIR INIQUITY.
9 : And THERE SHALL BE, LIKE PEOPLE, LIKE PRIEST; and I WILL PUNISH THEM
FOR THEIR WAYS, and REPAY THEM FOR THEIR DEEDS.
10 : THEY WILL EAT BUT NEVER BE SATISFIED, RESORT TO PROSTITUTES AND
NEVER HAVE CHILDREN (they shall not increase), FOR THEY HAVE ABANDONED
THE LORD
11 : TO GIVE THEMSELVES TO IMMORALITY.
WINE, old and new, STEALS MY PEOPLE'S WITS;
12 : MY PEOPLE ASK COUNSEL AT THEIR STOCKS ( from a piece of wood), AND ACCEPT
THE GUIDANCE OF THE DIVINER's WAND (their staff declared unto them);
FOR A SPIRIT OF PROMISCUITY HAS LED THEM ASTRAY (for the spirit of whoredoms
have caused them to err) AND THEY ARE UNFAITHFUL TO THEIR GOD.
13 : THEY SACRIFICE UPON THE TOPS OF THE MOUNTAINS, and BURN INCENSE UP-
ON THE HILLS, UNDER OAKS and POPLARS and ELMS, BECAUSE THE SHADOW
THEREOF IS GOOD.
THAT IS WHY YOUR DAUGHTERS TURN TO PROSTITUTION AND YOUR SPOU-
SES SHALL COMMIT ADULTERY.
14 : I SHALL NOT PUNISH YOUR DAUGHTERS FOR BECOMING PROSTITUTES, NOR
YOUR SPOUSES WHEN THEY COMMIT ADULTERY, BECAUSE YOUR MEN
RESORT TO WHORES AND SACRIFICE WITH TEMPLE-PROSTITUTES.
A PEOPLE SO DEVOID OF UNDERSTANDING COMES TO GRIEF.
against their idolatry. 15) Judah is exhorted to take warning by Israel's calamity.
1 : HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD, you children of ISRAEL : FOR THE LORD HAS A
CONTROVERSY WITH THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND, BECAUSE THERE IS
NO TRUTH( no good faith, no loyalty), NOR MERCY, NOR KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IN
IN THE LAND.
2 : PEOPLE SWEAR OATHS AND BREAK THEM (swearing and lying); THEY KILL AND
ROB and COMMIT ADULTERY; THERE IS VIOLENCE, ONE DEED OF BLOOD
AFTER ANOTHER.
3 : THEREFORE THE LAND WILL BE DESOLATE AND ALL WHO LIVE IN IT WILL
LANGUISH, WITH THE WILD BEASTS AND THE BIRDS OF THE AIR; EVEN THE
FISH WILL VANISH FROM THE SEA.
4 : BUT IT IS NOT FOR MANKIND TO BRING CHARGES, NOT FOR THEM TO PROVE
A CASE; IT IS MY QUARREL, ANND IT IS WITH YOU, THE PRIEST.
5 : THEREFORE YOU SHALL FALL IN THE DAY, AND THE PROPHET WITH YOU
ALSO SHALL FALL IN THE NIGHT, AND I WILL DESTROY YOUR MOTHER.
6 : MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ; BECAUSE YOU HAS
REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I WILL ALSO REJECT YOU, THAT YOU SHALL BE NO
PRIEST TO ME; SEEING THAT YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN THE LAW OF YOUR GOD,
I WILL ALSO FORGET YOUR CHILDREN.
7 : AS THEY ( the priests) WERE INCREASED, SO THEY SINNED AGAINST ME; therefore
I WILL CHANGE THEIR GLORY INTO SHAME.
8 : THEY (the priests) EAT UP THE SIN OF MY PEOPLE, and THEY SET THEIR HEART
ON THEIR INIQUITY.
9 : And THERE SHALL BE, LIKE PEOPLE, LIKE PRIEST; and I WILL PUNISH THEM
FOR THEIR WAYS, and REPAY THEM FOR THEIR DEEDS.
10 : THEY WILL EAT BUT NEVER BE SATISFIED, RESORT TO PROSTITUTES AND
NEVER HAVE CHILDREN (they shall not increase), FOR THEY HAVE ABANDONED
THE LORD
11 : TO GIVE THEMSELVES TO IMMORALITY.
WINE, old and new, STEALS MY PEOPLE'S WITS;
12 : MY PEOPLE ASK COUNSEL AT THEIR STOCKS ( from a piece of wood), AND ACCEPT
THE GUIDANCE OF THE DIVINER's WAND (their staff declared unto them);
FOR A SPIRIT OF PROMISCUITY HAS LED THEM ASTRAY (for the spirit of whoredoms
have caused them to err) AND THEY ARE UNFAITHFUL TO THEIR GOD.
13 : THEY SACRIFICE UPON THE TOPS OF THE MOUNTAINS, and BURN INCENSE UP-
ON THE HILLS, UNDER OAKS and POPLARS and ELMS, BECAUSE THE SHADOW
THEREOF IS GOOD.
THAT IS WHY YOUR DAUGHTERS TURN TO PROSTITUTION AND YOUR SPOU-
SES SHALL COMMIT ADULTERY.
14 : I SHALL NOT PUNISH YOUR DAUGHTERS FOR BECOMING PROSTITUTES, NOR
YOUR SPOUSES WHEN THEY COMMIT ADULTERY, BECAUSE YOUR MEN
RESORT TO WHORES AND SACRIFICE WITH TEMPLE-PROSTITUTES.
A PEOPLE SO DEVOID OF UNDERSTANDING COMES TO GRIEF.
Prostitution
Male and female prostitutes served at the HIGH PLACES and, besides ceremonial prostitution, child
sacrifice was practiced.
1 Kings 14 1) ABIJAH being sick, JEROBOAM sent his wife disguised with presents to the prophet
AHIJAH at SHILOH. 5) AHIJAH, forewarned by GOD, denounced GOD's judgment.
17) ABIJAH died, and is buried. 19) NADAB succeeded JEROBOAM.
21) REHOBOAM's wicked reign. 25) SHISHAK spoiled Jerusalem.
29) ABIJAM succeeded REHOBOAM.
21 : In JUDAH REHOBOAM son of SOLOMON had become king. He was forty-one years old
when he came to the throne, and he reigned for seventeen years IN JERUSALEM, THE CITY
WHERE THE LORD HAD CHOSEN, OUT OF ALL THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, TO SET
HIS NAME.
REHOBOAM's MOTHER WAS A WOMAN OF AMMON called NAAMAH.
22 : JUDAH DID WHAT WAS WRONG IN THE EYES OF THE LORD, ROUSING HIS
JEALOUS INDIGNATION BY THE SINS THEY COMMITTED, which were beyond any-
thing that their forefathers had done.
23 : THEY ERECTED SHRINES, SACRED PILLARS, and SACRED POLES ON EVERY
HIGH HILL and UNDER EVERY SPREADING TREE.
24 : Worse still, ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THERE WERE MALE PROSTITUTES
ATTACHED TO the SHRINES, and the PEOPLE ADOPTED ALL THE ABOMINABLE
PRACTICES OF THE NATIONS (heathens) WHOM THE LORD HAD DISPOSSESSED
IN FAVOUR OF ISRAEL.
25 : In the fifth year of REHOBOAM's reign King SHISHAK OF EGYPT attacked JERUSALEM,
26 : and CARRIED AWAY THE TREASURES OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD and of the
KING's palace; HE SEIZED EVERYTHING, including ALL THE GOLD SHIELDS made
for SOLOMON.
27 : King REHOBOAM REPLACED THEM WITH BRONZE SHIELDS and ENTRUSTED
THEM TO THE OFFICERS OF THE ESCORT WHO GUARDED THE ENTRANCE OF
THE PALACE.
28 : WHENEVER THE KING ENTERD THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, THE ESCORT
CARRIED THEM; AFTERWARDS THEY RETURNED THEM TO THE GUARD-
ROOM.
sacrifice was practiced.
1 Kings 14 1) ABIJAH being sick, JEROBOAM sent his wife disguised with presents to the prophet
AHIJAH at SHILOH. 5) AHIJAH, forewarned by GOD, denounced GOD's judgment.
17) ABIJAH died, and is buried. 19) NADAB succeeded JEROBOAM.
21) REHOBOAM's wicked reign. 25) SHISHAK spoiled Jerusalem.
29) ABIJAM succeeded REHOBOAM.
21 : In JUDAH REHOBOAM son of SOLOMON had become king. He was forty-one years old
when he came to the throne, and he reigned for seventeen years IN JERUSALEM, THE CITY
WHERE THE LORD HAD CHOSEN, OUT OF ALL THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, TO SET
HIS NAME.
REHOBOAM's MOTHER WAS A WOMAN OF AMMON called NAAMAH.
22 : JUDAH DID WHAT WAS WRONG IN THE EYES OF THE LORD, ROUSING HIS
JEALOUS INDIGNATION BY THE SINS THEY COMMITTED, which were beyond any-
thing that their forefathers had done.
23 : THEY ERECTED SHRINES, SACRED PILLARS, and SACRED POLES ON EVERY
HIGH HILL and UNDER EVERY SPREADING TREE.
24 : Worse still, ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THERE WERE MALE PROSTITUTES
ATTACHED TO the SHRINES, and the PEOPLE ADOPTED ALL THE ABOMINABLE
PRACTICES OF THE NATIONS (heathens) WHOM THE LORD HAD DISPOSSESSED
IN FAVOUR OF ISRAEL.
25 : In the fifth year of REHOBOAM's reign King SHISHAK OF EGYPT attacked JERUSALEM,
26 : and CARRIED AWAY THE TREASURES OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD and of the
KING's palace; HE SEIZED EVERYTHING, including ALL THE GOLD SHIELDS made
for SOLOMON.
27 : King REHOBOAM REPLACED THEM WITH BRONZE SHIELDS and ENTRUSTED
THEM TO THE OFFICERS OF THE ESCORT WHO GUARDED THE ENTRANCE OF
THE PALACE.
28 : WHENEVER THE KING ENTERD THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, THE ESCORT
CARRIED THEM; AFTERWARDS THEY RETURNED THEM TO THE GUARD-
ROOM.
UNDERSTANDING THE COVENANT WITH GOD
2 Chronicles 34
8 : In the eighteenth year of his reign, after HE HAS PURIFIED THE LAND AND THE HOUSE
OF THE LORD, JOSIAH SENT SHAPHAN son of Azaliah and MAASEIAH the governor of
the city and JOAH son of Joahaz the secretary of the state TO REPAIR THE HOUSE OF THE
LORD HIS GOD.
9 : THEY CAME TO HILKIAH THE HIGH PRIEST and DELIVERED to him the SILVER that
had been BROUGHT TO THE HOUSE OF GOD, the SILVER WHICH THE LEVITES,
ON DUTY AT THE THRESHOLD, HAD RECEIVED FROM MANASSEH, EPRAIM, and
ALL THE REST OF ISRAEL, AS WELL AS FROM JUDAH and BENJAMIN and the inha-
bitants of JERUSALEM.
10 : IT WAS THEN HANDED OVER TO THOSE SUPERVISING THE WORK IN THE
HOUSE OF THE LORD, and THESE MEN, working in the house, USED IT FOR REPAIR-
ING AND STRENGTHENING THE FABRIC;
11 : THEY GAVE IT ALSO TO THE CARPENTERS and BUILDERS TO PURCHASE HEWN
STONE, and TIMBER for rafters and beams, FOR THE BUILDINGS WHICH THE KINGS
OF JUDAH HAD ALLOWED TO FALL INTO DISREPAIR.
12-13: THE MEN DID THEIR WORK FAITHFULLY UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF
JAHATH and OBADIAH, LEVITES OF THE LINE OF MERARI, and ZECHARIAH and
MESHULLAM, MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY OF KOHATH. THESE ALSO HAD
CONTROL OF THE BEARERS and DIRECTED THE WORKMEN OF EVERY TRADE.
THE LEVITES WERE ALL SKILLED MUSICIANS, and some of them were secretaries,
clerks, or door-keepers.
When we understand what it means to serve the Lord, our lives are transformed into entities of light.
29 : AT THE KING's SUMMONS ALL THE ELDERS OF JUDAH and JERUSALEM WERE
ASSEMBLED,
30 : AND HE WENT UP TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, TAKING WITH HIM ALL THE
MEN OF JUDAH, THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, THE PRIESTS, and the LEVI-
TES, THE ENTIRE POPULATION, HIGH AND LOW.
THERE HE READ OUT TO THEM THE WHOLE SCROLL OF THE COVENANT
WHICH HAD BEEN DISCOVERED IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.
After we have been transformed, our heart is been prepared to receive the Word of the Lord.
8 : In the eighteenth year of his reign, after HE HAS PURIFIED THE LAND AND THE HOUSE
OF THE LORD, JOSIAH SENT SHAPHAN son of Azaliah and MAASEIAH the governor of
the city and JOAH son of Joahaz the secretary of the state TO REPAIR THE HOUSE OF THE
LORD HIS GOD.
9 : THEY CAME TO HILKIAH THE HIGH PRIEST and DELIVERED to him the SILVER that
had been BROUGHT TO THE HOUSE OF GOD, the SILVER WHICH THE LEVITES,
ON DUTY AT THE THRESHOLD, HAD RECEIVED FROM MANASSEH, EPRAIM, and
ALL THE REST OF ISRAEL, AS WELL AS FROM JUDAH and BENJAMIN and the inha-
bitants of JERUSALEM.
10 : IT WAS THEN HANDED OVER TO THOSE SUPERVISING THE WORK IN THE
HOUSE OF THE LORD, and THESE MEN, working in the house, USED IT FOR REPAIR-
ING AND STRENGTHENING THE FABRIC;
11 : THEY GAVE IT ALSO TO THE CARPENTERS and BUILDERS TO PURCHASE HEWN
STONE, and TIMBER for rafters and beams, FOR THE BUILDINGS WHICH THE KINGS
OF JUDAH HAD ALLOWED TO FALL INTO DISREPAIR.
12-13: THE MEN DID THEIR WORK FAITHFULLY UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF
JAHATH and OBADIAH, LEVITES OF THE LINE OF MERARI, and ZECHARIAH and
MESHULLAM, MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY OF KOHATH. THESE ALSO HAD
CONTROL OF THE BEARERS and DIRECTED THE WORKMEN OF EVERY TRADE.
THE LEVITES WERE ALL SKILLED MUSICIANS, and some of them were secretaries,
clerks, or door-keepers.
When we understand what it means to serve the Lord, our lives are transformed into entities of light.
29 : AT THE KING's SUMMONS ALL THE ELDERS OF JUDAH and JERUSALEM WERE
ASSEMBLED,
30 : AND HE WENT UP TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, TAKING WITH HIM ALL THE
MEN OF JUDAH, THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, THE PRIESTS, and the LEVI-
TES, THE ENTIRE POPULATION, HIGH AND LOW.
THERE HE READ OUT TO THEM THE WHOLE SCROLL OF THE COVENANT
WHICH HAD BEEN DISCOVERED IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.
After we have been transformed, our heart is been prepared to receive the Word of the Lord.
BAAL, MASTER OR OWNER. Biblical sources.
Inside the SHRINES (in our heart) there have been images or representations of what owns or master
the live of the person, whereas near the altars outside were to be found STONE PILLARS (likely phallic symbols of BAAL) symbolic meaning of the world and its pleasures, SACRED POLES representing the goddess ASKERAH (emotions, feelings that are deep inside of our heart), and
INCENSE STANDS (to whom the odor of our actions really please).
2 Chronicles 34 1) JOSIAH's good reign. 3) He destroyed idolatry. 8) He took order for the repair
of the temple. 14) HILKIAH having found a book of the law. JOSIAH sent it to HULDAH to inquire of the LORD. 23) HULDAH prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem. 29) JOSIAH renew-
ed the COVENANT WITH GOD.
1 : JOSIAH was eight years old when he came to the throne, and he reigned IN Jerusalem for thirty-
one years.
2 : He did what WAS RIGHT IN THE EYES OF THE LORD, following IN THE FOOTSTEPS
OF HIS FOREFATHER DAVID, and deviating neither to the right nor to the left.
3 : In the eighth year of his reign, WHEN HE WAS STILL A YOUTH, HE BEGAN TO SEEK
GUIDANCE OF THE GOD OF HIS FOREFATHER DAVID; and in the twelfth year HE
BEGAN TO PURGE JUDAH and JERUSALEM of the SHRINES and the SACRED POLES,
and the CARVED IDOLS and the METAL IMAGES.
4 : He saw to it that THE ALTARS FOR THE BAALIM WERE DESTROYED and he HACKED
DOWN the INCENSE-ALTARS which stood above them; HE BROKE IN PIECES THE
SACRED POLES and the CARVED and METAL IMAGES, and MADE DUST OF THEM
and SCATTERED IT ON THE GRAVES OF THOSE WHO HAD SACRIFICED TO THEM.
5 : HE BURNT THE BONES OF THE PRIESTS ON THEIR ALTARS and PURGED JUDAH
and JERUSALEM.
6 : IN the TOWNS of MANASSEH, EPHRAIM, and SIMEON, as far as NAPHTALI,
HE BURNT DOWN THEIR HOUSES WHEREVER HE FOUND THEM;
7 : HE DESTROYED THE ALTARS and the SACRED POLES, GROUND THE IDOLS TO
POWDER, and HACKED DOWN the INCENSE-ALTARS THROUGHOUT THE LAND
OF ISRAEL. Then he returned to Jerusalem.
BAAL, according to Biblical sources.
Each Canaanite city built its BAAL SANCTUARY in HONOR of its local patron BAAL. Priests we-
re appointed to conduct the WORSHIP at these SANCTUARIES and the many SHRINES on neigh-
boring HILLTOPS known as "HIGH PLACES."
2 Kings 17 1) Hoshea's wicked reign. 3) Being subdued by Shalmaneser, he conspired against him
with So king of Egypt. 5) Samaria for their sins is captivated. 24) The strange nations (heathens), which were transplanted in Samaria, being plagued with lions, make a mixture of religions
24 : Then the king of ASSYRIA BROUGHT PEOPLE FROM BABYLON, CUTHAH, AVVA,
HAMATH, and SEPHARVAIM in place of the Israelites; so THEY OCCUPIED SAMARIA
AND LIVED IN ITS TOWNS.
25 : In the early years of their settlement THEY DID NOT PAY HOMAGE TO THE LORD, so
THE LORD SENT LIONS AMONG THEM TO PREY ON THEM.
26 : The king of ASSYRIA WAS TOLD that the DEPORTED peoples WHOM HE HAD SET-
TLED IN THE TOWNS OF SAMARIA DID NOT KNOW THE ESTABLISHED USAGE
of the GOD OF THE COUNTRY, and that HE HAD SENT LIONS AMONG THEM WHICH
WERE PREYING ON THEM BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW THIS.
27: The king, therefore, gave orders that ONE OF THE PRIESTS TAKEN CAPTIVE FROM
SAMARIA SHOULD BE SENT BACK TO LIVE THERE and TEACH THE PEOPLE THE
USAGE OF THE GOD OF THE COUNTRY.
28: So ONE OF THE DEPORTED PRIESTS CAME AND LIVED AT BETHEL, and TAUGHT
them HOW TO WORSHIP the LORD.
29 : But EACH of the nations (heathen) WENT ON MAKING ITS OWN god. They set them up in
niches at the shrines which the Samaritans had made, EACH NATION (heathen) IN ITS OWN
SETTLEMENTS.
30 : SUCCOTH-BENOTH was worshipped BY THE MEN OF CUTH, ASHIMA BY THE MEN
OF HAMATH,
31 : NIBHAZ and TARTAK BY THE AVVITES; and the SEPHARVITES BURNT THEIR
CHILDREN as offerings TO ADRAMMELECH and ANAMMELECH, the gods of
SEPHARVAIM.
32 : While STILL PAYING HOMAGE TO THE LORD, they APPOINTED ALL SORTS OF
PEOPLE TO ACT AS PRIESTS of the shrines and they resorted to them there.
33 : THEY PAID HOMAGE TO THE LORD, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME THEY SERVED
THEIR OWN GODS, according to the custom of the nations (heathens) from which they had
been carried into exile.
34 : THEY KEEP UP THESE OLD PRACTICES TO THIS DAY; THEY DO NOT PAY
HOMAGE TO THE LORD, FOR THEY DO NOT KEEP HIS STATUTES and HIS
JUDGMENTS, THE LAW and COMMANDMENT, WHICH HE ENJOINED ON THE
DESCENDANTS OF JACOB WHOM HE NAMED ISRAEL.
35 : When THE LORD MADE A COVENANT WITH THEM, HE GAVE THEM THIS
COMMANDMENT : 'DO NOT PAY HOMAGE TO OTHER GODS OR BOW DOWN
TO THEM OR SERVE THEM OR SACRIFICE TO THEM,
36 : BUT PAY HOMAGE TO THE LORD WHO BROUGHT YOU UP FROM EGYPT WITH
GREAT POWER AND WITH OUTSTRETCHED ARM; TO HIM ALONE YOU ARE TO
BOW DOWN, TO HIM ALONE YOU ARE TO OFFER SACRIFICE.
37 : YOU MUST FAITHFULLY KEEP THE STATUTES, THE JUDGMENTS, THE LAW,
AND THE COMMANDMENTS WHICH HE WROTE FOR YOU; YOU MUST NOT PAY
HOMAGE TO OTHER GODS.
38 : BUT TO THE LORD YOUR GOD YOU ARE TO PAY HOMAGE; IT IS HE WHO WILL
PRESERVE YOU FROM ALL YOUR ENEMIES.
40 : However, THEY would NOT LISTEN but CONTINUED THEIR FORMER PRACTICES.
41 : WHILE these nations PAID HOMAGE TO THE LORD THEY CONTINUED TO SERVE
THEIR IMAGES, and THEIR CHILDREN and THEIR CHILDREN's CHILDREN HAVE
MAINTAINED THE PRACTICE OF THEIR FOREFATHERS TO THIS DAY.
re appointed to conduct the WORSHIP at these SANCTUARIES and the many SHRINES on neigh-
boring HILLTOPS known as "HIGH PLACES."
2 Kings 17 1) Hoshea's wicked reign. 3) Being subdued by Shalmaneser, he conspired against him
with So king of Egypt. 5) Samaria for their sins is captivated. 24) The strange nations (heathens), which were transplanted in Samaria, being plagued with lions, make a mixture of religions
24 : Then the king of ASSYRIA BROUGHT PEOPLE FROM BABYLON, CUTHAH, AVVA,
HAMATH, and SEPHARVAIM in place of the Israelites; so THEY OCCUPIED SAMARIA
AND LIVED IN ITS TOWNS.
25 : In the early years of their settlement THEY DID NOT PAY HOMAGE TO THE LORD, so
THE LORD SENT LIONS AMONG THEM TO PREY ON THEM.
26 : The king of ASSYRIA WAS TOLD that the DEPORTED peoples WHOM HE HAD SET-
TLED IN THE TOWNS OF SAMARIA DID NOT KNOW THE ESTABLISHED USAGE
of the GOD OF THE COUNTRY, and that HE HAD SENT LIONS AMONG THEM WHICH
WERE PREYING ON THEM BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW THIS.
27: The king, therefore, gave orders that ONE OF THE PRIESTS TAKEN CAPTIVE FROM
SAMARIA SHOULD BE SENT BACK TO LIVE THERE and TEACH THE PEOPLE THE
USAGE OF THE GOD OF THE COUNTRY.
28: So ONE OF THE DEPORTED PRIESTS CAME AND LIVED AT BETHEL, and TAUGHT
them HOW TO WORSHIP the LORD.
29 : But EACH of the nations (heathen) WENT ON MAKING ITS OWN god. They set them up in
niches at the shrines which the Samaritans had made, EACH NATION (heathen) IN ITS OWN
SETTLEMENTS.
30 : SUCCOTH-BENOTH was worshipped BY THE MEN OF CUTH, ASHIMA BY THE MEN
OF HAMATH,
31 : NIBHAZ and TARTAK BY THE AVVITES; and the SEPHARVITES BURNT THEIR
CHILDREN as offerings TO ADRAMMELECH and ANAMMELECH, the gods of
SEPHARVAIM.
32 : While STILL PAYING HOMAGE TO THE LORD, they APPOINTED ALL SORTS OF
PEOPLE TO ACT AS PRIESTS of the shrines and they resorted to them there.
33 : THEY PAID HOMAGE TO THE LORD, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME THEY SERVED
THEIR OWN GODS, according to the custom of the nations (heathens) from which they had
been carried into exile.
34 : THEY KEEP UP THESE OLD PRACTICES TO THIS DAY; THEY DO NOT PAY
HOMAGE TO THE LORD, FOR THEY DO NOT KEEP HIS STATUTES and HIS
JUDGMENTS, THE LAW and COMMANDMENT, WHICH HE ENJOINED ON THE
DESCENDANTS OF JACOB WHOM HE NAMED ISRAEL.
35 : When THE LORD MADE A COVENANT WITH THEM, HE GAVE THEM THIS
COMMANDMENT : 'DO NOT PAY HOMAGE TO OTHER GODS OR BOW DOWN
TO THEM OR SERVE THEM OR SACRIFICE TO THEM,
36 : BUT PAY HOMAGE TO THE LORD WHO BROUGHT YOU UP FROM EGYPT WITH
GREAT POWER AND WITH OUTSTRETCHED ARM; TO HIM ALONE YOU ARE TO
BOW DOWN, TO HIM ALONE YOU ARE TO OFFER SACRIFICE.
37 : YOU MUST FAITHFULLY KEEP THE STATUTES, THE JUDGMENTS, THE LAW,
AND THE COMMANDMENTS WHICH HE WROTE FOR YOU; YOU MUST NOT PAY
HOMAGE TO OTHER GODS.
38 : BUT TO THE LORD YOUR GOD YOU ARE TO PAY HOMAGE; IT IS HE WHO WILL
PRESERVE YOU FROM ALL YOUR ENEMIES.
40 : However, THEY would NOT LISTEN but CONTINUED THEIR FORMER PRACTICES.
41 : WHILE these nations PAID HOMAGE TO THE LORD THEY CONTINUED TO SERVE
THEIR IMAGES, and THEIR CHILDREN and THEIR CHILDREN's CHILDREN HAVE
MAINTAINED THE PRACTICE OF THEIR FOREFATHERS TO THIS DAY.
Wednesday, 17 April 2013
THE MORNING OF JOY
Ezekiel 39 1) God's judgment upon Gog. 8) Israel's victory. 11) Gog's burial in Hamon-gog.
17) The feast of the fowls. 23) Israel, having been plagued for their sins, shall be gathered
again with eternal favour.
7 : "SO WILL I MAKE MY HOLY NAME KNOWN IN THE MIDST OF MY PEOPLE
ISRAEL; and IWILL NOT LET THEM POLLUTE MY HOLY NAME ANY MORE;
and THE HEATHEN (the nations) SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD, THE HOLY
ONE IN ISRAEL."
8 : "BEHOLD, IT IS COME, and IT IS DONE," said THE LORD GOD; "THIS IS THE DAY
WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN."
9 : "THOSE WHO LIVE IN ISRAEL's TOWNS WILL GO OUT AND GATHER WEAPONS
FOR FUEL, BUCKLERS and SHIELDS, BOWS and ARROWS, THROWING-STICKS
and LANCES; FOR SEVEN YEARS THEY WILL KINDLE FIRES WITH THEM."
10 : "THEY WILL TAKE NO WOOD FROM THE FIELDS, NOR CUT IT FROM THE FOREST,
BUT WILL USE THE WEAPONS TO LIGHT THEIR FIRES. THUS THEY WILL
PLUNDER THOSE WHO PLUNDERED THEM AND SPOIL THEIR DESPOILERS."
This is the WORD of THE LORD GOD.
11 : "ON THAT DAY, INSTEAD OF A BURIAL GROUND IN ISRAEL, I SHALL ASSIGN
TO GOG THE VALLEY OF ABARIM EAST OF THE DEAD SEA. THERE GOG WITH
ALL HIS HORDE WILL BE BURIED, AND ABARIM WILL BE ENTIRELY BLOCKED.
IT WILL BE CALLED THE VALLEY OF GOG's HORDE."
12 : "IT WILL TAKE THE ISRAELITES SEVEN MONTHS TO BURY THEM AND TO
PURIFY THE LAND,
13 : AND ALL THE PEOPLE WILL SHARE IN THE TASK. THE DAY THAT I WIN MYSELF
HONOUR WILL BE A MEMORABLE DAY FOR THEM." This is THE WORD OF THE
LORD GOD.
Ezekiel 39 1) God's judgment upon Gog. 8) Israel's victory. 11) Gog's burial in Hamon-gog.
17) The feast of the fowls. 23) Israel, having been plagued for their sins, shall be gathered
again with eternal favour.
7 : "SO WILL I MAKE MY HOLY NAME KNOWN IN THE MIDST OF MY PEOPLE
ISRAEL; and IWILL NOT LET THEM POLLUTE MY HOLY NAME ANY MORE;
and THE HEATHEN (the nations) SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD, THE HOLY
ONE IN ISRAEL."
8 : "BEHOLD, IT IS COME, and IT IS DONE," said THE LORD GOD; "THIS IS THE DAY
WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN."
9 : "THOSE WHO LIVE IN ISRAEL's TOWNS WILL GO OUT AND GATHER WEAPONS
FOR FUEL, BUCKLERS and SHIELDS, BOWS and ARROWS, THROWING-STICKS
and LANCES; FOR SEVEN YEARS THEY WILL KINDLE FIRES WITH THEM."
10 : "THEY WILL TAKE NO WOOD FROM THE FIELDS, NOR CUT IT FROM THE FOREST,
BUT WILL USE THE WEAPONS TO LIGHT THEIR FIRES. THUS THEY WILL
PLUNDER THOSE WHO PLUNDERED THEM AND SPOIL THEIR DESPOILERS."
This is the WORD of THE LORD GOD.
11 : "ON THAT DAY, INSTEAD OF A BURIAL GROUND IN ISRAEL, I SHALL ASSIGN
TO GOG THE VALLEY OF ABARIM EAST OF THE DEAD SEA. THERE GOG WITH
ALL HIS HORDE WILL BE BURIED, AND ABARIM WILL BE ENTIRELY BLOCKED.
IT WILL BE CALLED THE VALLEY OF GOG's HORDE."
12 : "IT WILL TAKE THE ISRAELITES SEVEN MONTHS TO BURY THEM AND TO
PURIFY THE LAND,
13 : AND ALL THE PEOPLE WILL SHARE IN THE TASK. THE DAY THAT I WIN MYSELF
HONOUR WILL BE A MEMORABLE DAY FOR THEM." This is THE WORD OF THE
LORD GOD.
EARTH's NIGHT OF SIN.
Ezekiel 38
18 : "ON THAT DAY, WHEN AT LENGHT GOG INVADES ISRAEL," says the LORD
GOD, "MY WRATH WILL BOIL OVER."
19 : "IN MY JEALOUSY and IN THE HEAT OF MY ANGER I SWEAR THAT THERE WILL
BE A GREAT EARTHQUAKE THROUGHOUT THE LAND OF ISRAEL ON THAT
DAY."
20 : "SO THAT THE FISHES OF THE SEA, and THE FOWLS OF THE HEAVEN, and THE
BEASTS OF THE FIELD, and ALL CREEPING THINGS THAT CREEP UPON THE
EARTH, and ALL THE MEN THAT ARE UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH, SHALL
SHAKE AT MY PRESENCE, and THE MOUNTAINS SHALL BE THROWN DOWN, and
EVERY WALL SHALL FALL TO THE GROUND."
21 : "I SHALL SUMMON UNIVERSAL TERROR AGAINST GOG," says the LORD GOD,
" and HIS MEN WILL TURN THEIR SWORDS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER."
22 : "I SHALL BRING HIM TO JUDGEMENT WITH PESTILENCE AND BLOODSHED;
I SHALL POUR TORRENTIAL RAIN AND HAILSTONES AS WELL AS FIRE AND
BRIMSTONE ON HIM AND HIS SQUADRONS AND THE WHOLE CONCOURSE OF
PEOPLES WITH HIM."
23 : "I SHALL SHOW MYSELF GREAT AND HOLY AND MAKE MYSELF KNOWN TO
MANY NATIONS. THEN THEY WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD."
Ezekiel 39
1 : "O man, prophesy against Gog and say : 'The LORD GOD says : I AM AGAINST YOU, GOG,
prince of ROSH, MESHECH, and TUBAL."
2 : " I SHALL TURN YOU ROUND AND DRIVE YOU ON. I SHALL LEAD YOU FROM
THE FAR RECESSES OF THE NORTH AND BRING YOU TO THE MOUNTAINS OF
ISRAEL."
3 : "I SHALL STRIKE THE BOW FROM YOUR LEFT HAND AND DASH THE ARROWS
FROM YOUR RIGHT HAND."
4 : "ON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL YOU WILL FALL, you and all your squadrons and
allies. I SHALL GIVE YOU AS FOOD TO EVERY KIND OF BIRD OF PREY AND TO
THE WILD BEASTS."
5 : "YOU WILL FALL ON THE GROUND, FOR IT IS I WHO HAVE SPOKEN." This is the
WORD of THE LORD GOD.
6 : "I SHALL SEND FIRE ON MAGOG AND ON THOSE WHO LIVE UNDISTURBED IN
THE COASTS AND ISLANDS. THEN THEY WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD."
7 : "MY HOLY NAME I SHALL MAKE KNOWN IN THE MIDST OF MY PEOPLE
ISRAEL AND NO LONGER LET IT BE PROFANED; THE NATIONS WILL KNOW
THAT I, THE LORD, AM HOLY IN ISRAEL.
Ezekiel 38
18 : "ON THAT DAY, WHEN AT LENGHT GOG INVADES ISRAEL," says the LORD
GOD, "MY WRATH WILL BOIL OVER."
19 : "IN MY JEALOUSY and IN THE HEAT OF MY ANGER I SWEAR THAT THERE WILL
BE A GREAT EARTHQUAKE THROUGHOUT THE LAND OF ISRAEL ON THAT
DAY."
20 : "SO THAT THE FISHES OF THE SEA, and THE FOWLS OF THE HEAVEN, and THE
BEASTS OF THE FIELD, and ALL CREEPING THINGS THAT CREEP UPON THE
EARTH, and ALL THE MEN THAT ARE UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH, SHALL
SHAKE AT MY PRESENCE, and THE MOUNTAINS SHALL BE THROWN DOWN, and
EVERY WALL SHALL FALL TO THE GROUND."
21 : "I SHALL SUMMON UNIVERSAL TERROR AGAINST GOG," says the LORD GOD,
" and HIS MEN WILL TURN THEIR SWORDS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER."
22 : "I SHALL BRING HIM TO JUDGEMENT WITH PESTILENCE AND BLOODSHED;
I SHALL POUR TORRENTIAL RAIN AND HAILSTONES AS WELL AS FIRE AND
BRIMSTONE ON HIM AND HIS SQUADRONS AND THE WHOLE CONCOURSE OF
PEOPLES WITH HIM."
23 : "I SHALL SHOW MYSELF GREAT AND HOLY AND MAKE MYSELF KNOWN TO
MANY NATIONS. THEN THEY WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD."
Ezekiel 39
1 : "O man, prophesy against Gog and say : 'The LORD GOD says : I AM AGAINST YOU, GOG,
prince of ROSH, MESHECH, and TUBAL."
2 : " I SHALL TURN YOU ROUND AND DRIVE YOU ON. I SHALL LEAD YOU FROM
THE FAR RECESSES OF THE NORTH AND BRING YOU TO THE MOUNTAINS OF
ISRAEL."
3 : "I SHALL STRIKE THE BOW FROM YOUR LEFT HAND AND DASH THE ARROWS
FROM YOUR RIGHT HAND."
4 : "ON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL YOU WILL FALL, you and all your squadrons and
allies. I SHALL GIVE YOU AS FOOD TO EVERY KIND OF BIRD OF PREY AND TO
THE WILD BEASTS."
5 : "YOU WILL FALL ON THE GROUND, FOR IT IS I WHO HAVE SPOKEN." This is the
WORD of THE LORD GOD.
6 : "I SHALL SEND FIRE ON MAGOG AND ON THOSE WHO LIVE UNDISTURBED IN
THE COASTS AND ISLANDS. THEN THEY WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD."
7 : "MY HOLY NAME I SHALL MAKE KNOWN IN THE MIDST OF MY PEOPLE
ISRAEL AND NO LONGER LET IT BE PROFANED; THE NATIONS WILL KNOW
THAT I, THE LORD, AM HOLY IN ISRAEL.
BAAL, THE OWNER.
Ezekiel 38 1: The army. 8: The malice of Gog. 14: GOD's judgment against him.
10 : The LORD GOD says : "AT THAT TIME A THOUGHT WILL ENTER YOUR HEAD and
YOU WILL HATCH an EVIL PLAN."
11 : "You will say : 'I shall attack a land of open villages and fall upon a people living quiet and
undisturbed, undefended by walls or barred gates.' "
12 : "YOU WILL EXPECT TO COME PLUNDERING, SPOILING, and STRIPPING BARE
the settlements WHICH ONCE LAY IN RUINS, BUT ARE NOW INHABITED BY A
PEOPLE GATHERED OUT OF THE NATIONS, A PEOPLE ACQUIRING LIVESTOCK
AND GOODS, AND MAKING THEIR HOME AT THE VERY CENTRE OF THE
WORLD."
13 : "SHEBA and DEDAN, the TRADERS of TARSHISH and HER LEADING MERCHANTS,
will say to you, 'IS IT FOR PLUNDER THAT YOU HAVE COME? HAVE YOU MUSTE-
RED YOUR HOST TO GET SPOIL, TO CARRY OFF SILVER AND GOLD, TO TAKE
LIVESTOCK AND GOODS, TO SEIZE MUCH BOOTY?"
14 : "Therefore, O man, prophesy and say to GOG : ' The LORD GOD says : ON THAT DAY
WHEN MY PEOPLE ISRAEL ARE LIVING UNDISTURBED, WILL YOU NOT KNOW
IT? "
15 : "And YOU SHALL COME FROM YOUR PLACE OUT OF THE NORTH PARTS, YOU,
and MANY PEOPLE WITH YOU, all of them RIDING UPON HORSES, a great company,
and A MIGHTY ARMY."
16 : "YOU WILL ADVANCE AGAINST MY PEOPLE ISRAEL LIKE A CLOUD THAT
COVERS THE EARTH. IN THE LAST DAYS I SHALL BRING YOU AGAINST MY
LAND, THAT THE NATIONS MAY KNOW ME, WHEN THEY SEE ME PROVE MY
HOLINESS AT GOG's EXPENSE."
17 : Thus said the LORD GOD : " IT WAS YOU WHOM I HAVE SPOKEN IN OLD TIME BY
MY SERVANTS THE PROPHETS OF ISRAEL, WHICH PROPHESIED IN THOSE
DAYS UNCEASINGLY THAT I WOULD BRING YOU AGAINST THEM."
Ezekiel 38 1: The army. 8: The malice of Gog. 14: GOD's judgment against him.
10 : The LORD GOD says : "AT THAT TIME A THOUGHT WILL ENTER YOUR HEAD and
YOU WILL HATCH an EVIL PLAN."
11 : "You will say : 'I shall attack a land of open villages and fall upon a people living quiet and
undisturbed, undefended by walls or barred gates.' "
12 : "YOU WILL EXPECT TO COME PLUNDERING, SPOILING, and STRIPPING BARE
the settlements WHICH ONCE LAY IN RUINS, BUT ARE NOW INHABITED BY A
PEOPLE GATHERED OUT OF THE NATIONS, A PEOPLE ACQUIRING LIVESTOCK
AND GOODS, AND MAKING THEIR HOME AT THE VERY CENTRE OF THE
WORLD."
13 : "SHEBA and DEDAN, the TRADERS of TARSHISH and HER LEADING MERCHANTS,
will say to you, 'IS IT FOR PLUNDER THAT YOU HAVE COME? HAVE YOU MUSTE-
RED YOUR HOST TO GET SPOIL, TO CARRY OFF SILVER AND GOLD, TO TAKE
LIVESTOCK AND GOODS, TO SEIZE MUCH BOOTY?"
14 : "Therefore, O man, prophesy and say to GOG : ' The LORD GOD says : ON THAT DAY
WHEN MY PEOPLE ISRAEL ARE LIVING UNDISTURBED, WILL YOU NOT KNOW
IT? "
15 : "And YOU SHALL COME FROM YOUR PLACE OUT OF THE NORTH PARTS, YOU,
and MANY PEOPLE WITH YOU, all of them RIDING UPON HORSES, a great company,
and A MIGHTY ARMY."
16 : "YOU WILL ADVANCE AGAINST MY PEOPLE ISRAEL LIKE A CLOUD THAT
COVERS THE EARTH. IN THE LAST DAYS I SHALL BRING YOU AGAINST MY
LAND, THAT THE NATIONS MAY KNOW ME, WHEN THEY SEE ME PROVE MY
HOLINESS AT GOG's EXPENSE."
17 : Thus said the LORD GOD : " IT WAS YOU WHOM I HAVE SPOKEN IN OLD TIME BY
MY SERVANTS THE PROPHETS OF ISRAEL, WHICH PROPHESIED IN THOSE
DAYS UNCEASINGLY THAT I WOULD BRING YOU AGAINST THEM."
BAAL, THE MASTER.
The farming and cattle-raising CANAANITES thought that engaging in a prescribed RITUAL helped to stimulates their gods to action according to the pattern enacted at their festivals and was necessary to ensure productive crops and herds in the coming season and to avert droughts, locust plagues, and so forth. Hence BAAL's coming to life again to be enthroned and mated with his consort was celebrated with licentious fertility rites, marked by sexual orgies of unrestrained debauchery.
EZEKIEL 38
1 This WORD of the LORD came to me :
2 "O man, face towards Gog in the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and
prophesy against him."
3 Say : "These are the WORDS of the LORD GOD : 'I AM AGAINST YOU, GOG, prince of
Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal."
4 "I SHALL PUT HOOKS IN YOUR JAWS AND TURN YOU ROUND. I SHALL LEAD
YOU OUT, YOU AND YOUR WHOLE ARMY, HORSES and HORSEMEN, all fully
equipped, a great host with bucklers and shields, every man wielding a sword."
5 "With them will march THE MEN OF PERSIA, CUSH, and PUT, all with shields and helmets,
6 GOMER and all its squadrons, BETHTOGARMAH with all its squadrons from the far recesses of
the NORTH - a great concourse of PEOPLE WITH YOU."
7 "BE PREPARED; MAKE READY, YOU AND ALL THE HOST WHICH HAS RALLIED
TO YOU, AND HOLD YOURSELVES AT MY DISPOSAL."
8 "After a LONG TIME HAS PASSED YOU WILL BE SUMMONED; in YEARS TO COME
YOU WILL INVADE A LAND RESTORED FROM RUIN, whose people are gathered from
many nations ON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL THAT HAVE BEEN SO LONG
DESOLATE. The ISRAELITES BROUGHT OUT FROM THE NATIONS, WILL ALL BE
LIVING UNDISTURBED;
9 and YOU WILL COME UP, ADVANCING LIKE A HURRICANE; YOU WILL BE LIKE A
CLOUD COVERING THE LAND, YOU AND ALL YOUR SQUADRONS, a great
concourse of peoples."
The farming and cattle-raising CANAANITES thought that engaging in a prescribed RITUAL helped to stimulates their gods to action according to the pattern enacted at their festivals and was necessary to ensure productive crops and herds in the coming season and to avert droughts, locust plagues, and so forth. Hence BAAL's coming to life again to be enthroned and mated with his consort was celebrated with licentious fertility rites, marked by sexual orgies of unrestrained debauchery.
EZEKIEL 38
1 This WORD of the LORD came to me :
2 "O man, face towards Gog in the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and
prophesy against him."
3 Say : "These are the WORDS of the LORD GOD : 'I AM AGAINST YOU, GOG, prince of
Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal."
4 "I SHALL PUT HOOKS IN YOUR JAWS AND TURN YOU ROUND. I SHALL LEAD
YOU OUT, YOU AND YOUR WHOLE ARMY, HORSES and HORSEMEN, all fully
equipped, a great host with bucklers and shields, every man wielding a sword."
5 "With them will march THE MEN OF PERSIA, CUSH, and PUT, all with shields and helmets,
6 GOMER and all its squadrons, BETHTOGARMAH with all its squadrons from the far recesses of
the NORTH - a great concourse of PEOPLE WITH YOU."
7 "BE PREPARED; MAKE READY, YOU AND ALL THE HOST WHICH HAS RALLIED
TO YOU, AND HOLD YOURSELVES AT MY DISPOSAL."
8 "After a LONG TIME HAS PASSED YOU WILL BE SUMMONED; in YEARS TO COME
YOU WILL INVADE A LAND RESTORED FROM RUIN, whose people are gathered from
many nations ON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL THAT HAVE BEEN SO LONG
DESOLATE. The ISRAELITES BROUGHT OUT FROM THE NATIONS, WILL ALL BE
LIVING UNDISTURBED;
9 and YOU WILL COME UP, ADVANCING LIKE A HURRICANE; YOU WILL BE LIKE A
CLOUD COVERING THE LAND, YOU AND ALL YOUR SQUADRONS, a great
concourse of peoples."
BAAL (Ba' al) (master, owner).
BAAl worship is known from the many SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES and for the ones who believe only in what their eyes can see, excavations at UGARIT (the modern Ras Shamra on the Syrian coast opposite the northeastern tip of the island of Cyprus) brought to light many religious artifacts.
Many of these ancient documents, now known as the RAS SHAMRA TEXTS, are liturgies of or words spoken by those participating in the rituals at the festivals.
In the RAS SHAMRA texts BAAL (also called Aliyan - the one who prevails -) is referred to as "ZABUL" (Prince), "LORD OF THE EARTH" and "THE RIDER OF THE CLOUDS." This harmonizes with a representation of BAAL, showing him as holding a club or mace in his right hand and a stylized lightning flash with a spearhead in his left. He is also depicted as wearing a helmet with horns, suggesting an intimate connection with the BULL (in other myths it is named RAM), as a symbol of fertility.
Normally from late April to September there is hardly any rain in Palestine. In October the rains start and continue throughout winter and into April, resulting in abundant vegetation.
The changes of the seasons and the resulting effects were thought to come in cycles because of the never-ending conflicts between the gods.
The cessation of the rains and the dying of vegetation were attributed to the triumph of the god MOT (death and aridity) over BAAL (rain and fertility), compelling BAAL to withdraw into the depths of the earth. The beginning of the rainy season was believed to indicate that BAAL was awakened to life. This, it was thought, was made possible by the triumph of BAAL's sister Anath over Mot, allowing her brother BAAL to return to his throne. The mating of BAAL with his wife, ASHTORETH, was believed to ensure fertility for the coming year.
The BULL ( RAM) is not shown in the earliest Babylonian Zodiacs. It appears in the charts of Ancient Egyptian astronomers. It can be seen on the walls of the temple of the Egyptian Pharaoh, Ramses the Great, near the Valley of the Kings in Thebes.
(RAM is a male sheep. BULL is an uncastrated male of the bovine or OX family. It is represented as the first sign of the Zodiac.).
BAAl worship is known from the many SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES and for the ones who believe only in what their eyes can see, excavations at UGARIT (the modern Ras Shamra on the Syrian coast opposite the northeastern tip of the island of Cyprus) brought to light many religious artifacts.
Many of these ancient documents, now known as the RAS SHAMRA TEXTS, are liturgies of or words spoken by those participating in the rituals at the festivals.
In the RAS SHAMRA texts BAAL (also called Aliyan - the one who prevails -) is referred to as "ZABUL" (Prince), "LORD OF THE EARTH" and "THE RIDER OF THE CLOUDS." This harmonizes with a representation of BAAL, showing him as holding a club or mace in his right hand and a stylized lightning flash with a spearhead in his left. He is also depicted as wearing a helmet with horns, suggesting an intimate connection with the BULL (in other myths it is named RAM), as a symbol of fertility.
Normally from late April to September there is hardly any rain in Palestine. In October the rains start and continue throughout winter and into April, resulting in abundant vegetation.
The changes of the seasons and the resulting effects were thought to come in cycles because of the never-ending conflicts between the gods.
The cessation of the rains and the dying of vegetation were attributed to the triumph of the god MOT (death and aridity) over BAAL (rain and fertility), compelling BAAL to withdraw into the depths of the earth. The beginning of the rainy season was believed to indicate that BAAL was awakened to life. This, it was thought, was made possible by the triumph of BAAL's sister Anath over Mot, allowing her brother BAAL to return to his throne. The mating of BAAL with his wife, ASHTORETH, was believed to ensure fertility for the coming year.
The BULL ( RAM) is not shown in the earliest Babylonian Zodiacs. It appears in the charts of Ancient Egyptian astronomers. It can be seen on the walls of the temple of the Egyptian Pharaoh, Ramses the Great, near the Valley of the Kings in Thebes.
(RAM is a male sheep. BULL is an uncastrated male of the bovine or OX family. It is represented as the first sign of the Zodiac.).
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
EARTH's NIGHT OF SIN TO TERMINATE IN A MORNING OF JOY.
Genesis 15 :
12 As the sun was going down ( man's fall because of sin), Abram fell into a trance (deep sleep) and great and fearful darkness came over him.
Luke 22 :
39 Then he (Jesus) went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, accompanied by the disciples.
40 When he (Jesus) reached the PLACE he (Jesus) said to them, "PRAY THAT YOU MAY BE SPARED THE TEST."
41 He (Jesus) himself withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and began to pray:
42 "FATHER, IF IT BE YOUR WILL, TAKE THIS CUP FROM ME. YET NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE."
43 And now there appeared to him an angel from heaven bringing him STRENGTH,
44 and IN ANGUISH OF SPIRIT HE PRAYED THE MORE URGENTLY; and his sweat was like
drops of blood falling to the ground.
45 When he rose from prayer and came to the disciples he found them asleep, WORN OUT BY GRIEF.
46 "WHY ARE YOU SLEEPING?" he said. "RISE AND PRAY THAT YOU MAY BE SPARED THE TEST."
Genesis 15 :
13 The LORD said to Abram, "KNOW THIS FOR CERTAIN : YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL
BE ALIENS LIVING IN A LAND THAT IS NOT THEIR OWN; THEY WILL BE
ENSLAVED AND HELD IN OPPRESSION FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS.
14 BUT I SHALL PUNISH THE NATION WHOSE SLAVES THEY ARE, AND
AFTERWARDS THEY WILL DEPART WITH GREAT POSSESSIONS.
15 YOU YOURSELF WILL JOIN YOUR FOREFATHERS IN PEACE AND BE BURIED
AT A RIPE OLD AGE.
16 BUT IT WILL BE THE FOURTH GENERATION WHO WILL RETURN HERE, FOR TILL
THEN THE AMORITES WILL NOT BE RIPE FOR PUNISHMENT."
17 The sun went down and it was dusk, and there appeared a smoking brazier and a flaming torch
which passed between the divided pieces.
18 That DAY the LORD made a COVENANT with Abram, and said, " I GIVE TO YOUR
DESCENDANTS THIS LAND FROM THE RIVER OF EGYPT TO THE GREAT RIVER,
THE RIVER EUPHRATES, THE TERRITORY OF THE KENITES, KENIZZITES,
KADMONITES, HITTITES, PERIZZITES, REPHAIM, AMORITES, CANAANITES,
GIRGASHITES, and JEBUSITES. "
Genesis 15 :
12 As the sun was going down ( man's fall because of sin), Abram fell into a trance (deep sleep) and great and fearful darkness came over him.
Luke 22 :
39 Then he (Jesus) went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, accompanied by the disciples.
40 When he (Jesus) reached the PLACE he (Jesus) said to them, "PRAY THAT YOU MAY BE SPARED THE TEST."
41 He (Jesus) himself withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and began to pray:
42 "FATHER, IF IT BE YOUR WILL, TAKE THIS CUP FROM ME. YET NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE."
43 And now there appeared to him an angel from heaven bringing him STRENGTH,
44 and IN ANGUISH OF SPIRIT HE PRAYED THE MORE URGENTLY; and his sweat was like
drops of blood falling to the ground.
45 When he rose from prayer and came to the disciples he found them asleep, WORN OUT BY GRIEF.
46 "WHY ARE YOU SLEEPING?" he said. "RISE AND PRAY THAT YOU MAY BE SPARED THE TEST."
Genesis 15 :
13 The LORD said to Abram, "KNOW THIS FOR CERTAIN : YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL
BE ALIENS LIVING IN A LAND THAT IS NOT THEIR OWN; THEY WILL BE
ENSLAVED AND HELD IN OPPRESSION FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS.
14 BUT I SHALL PUNISH THE NATION WHOSE SLAVES THEY ARE, AND
AFTERWARDS THEY WILL DEPART WITH GREAT POSSESSIONS.
15 YOU YOURSELF WILL JOIN YOUR FOREFATHERS IN PEACE AND BE BURIED
AT A RIPE OLD AGE.
16 BUT IT WILL BE THE FOURTH GENERATION WHO WILL RETURN HERE, FOR TILL
THEN THE AMORITES WILL NOT BE RIPE FOR PUNISHMENT."
17 The sun went down and it was dusk, and there appeared a smoking brazier and a flaming torch
which passed between the divided pieces.
18 That DAY the LORD made a COVENANT with Abram, and said, " I GIVE TO YOUR
DESCENDANTS THIS LAND FROM THE RIVER OF EGYPT TO THE GREAT RIVER,
THE RIVER EUPHRATES, THE TERRITORY OF THE KENITES, KENIZZITES,
KADMONITES, HITTITES, PERIZZITES, REPHAIM, AMORITES, CANAANITES,
GIRGASHITES, and JEBUSITES. "
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