Getting to know God involves learning and becoming better acquainted with His World.
The Bible refers to Angels hundreds of times. Colosssians 1:16 says:"By means of Jesus Christ all other things were created in the heaven and on the earth." Hence, all the Spirit Creatures called Angels were individually created by God through Jesus Christ. Psalm 103:20 indicates that hundreds of millions of Angels were created, and all of them are powerful. In Job 38: 4-7 the God's Word tells us that when the Earth was founded, "all the sons of God began shouting in applause." Thus the Spirit World existed long before humans were created, even before the creation of the Earth. Also the God's Word tells us that Spirits have feelings, for it says that they "joyfully cried out together." We are told also that "All the sons of God" rejoiced together, meaning that all the angels were part of a united family serving God.
Ever since they witnessed the creation of the first humans, faithful Spirit Creatures have shown keen interest in the growing human family and in the outworking of God's purpose. (Prov.8:30,31; 1Peter 1).
Whenever one human returns to God, "joy arises among the angels."(Luke 15:10).
God says in Hebrews 2: The Son was made greater than the angels, just as the Name that God gave Him is greater than theirs.
For God never said to any of his angels, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father."
Nor did God say about any angel, "I will be His Father, and He will be my Son."
But when God was about to send His First-Born Son into the World, He said, "All of God's angels must worship Him."
But about the angels God said, "God makes his angels Winds, and His servants Flames of Fire."
About the Son, however, God said: "Your kingdom, O God, will last forever and ever! You rule over your people with Justice. You Love what is Right and Hate what is Wrong. That is why God, your God, has chosen you and has given you the Joy of an Honor far greater than He gave to your companions."
He also said, "You, Lord, in the beginning created the earth, and with Your own Hands you made the heavens. They will disappear, but You will Remain; they will all wear out like clothes. You will fold them up like a coat, and they will be changed like clothes. But You are Always the Same, and Your Life Never Ends."
God never said to any of His angels: "Sit here at My Right Side until I put Your enemies as a footstool under Your Feet."
What are the Angels then? They are Spirits who serve God and are sent by Him to help those who are to receive Salvation.
Sunday, 31 January 2016
WHY GOD CALL JEREM-IAH?
In Hebrew the name of the Prophet and of his Book is Yir-meyah'hu, meaning :'God Exalts' or 'God Loosens [likely from the Womb].' By birth he was the son of Priest Hilk-Iah (from Ith-amar's line) of Ana-Thoth, a Priest-City in the Country to the North, North-East of Jerusalem, "in the Land of Benjamin."
Jeremiah lived during the latter part of the 7th century and the 1st part of the 6th century BC. He was commissioned by God to be a Prophet when he was a young man, in the 13th year of the reign of God-fearing king Josiah of Judah (659-628 BC).
God told him: "Before I was forming you In the Belly I KNEW YOU, and before you proceeded to come forth From the Womb I SANCTIFIED YOU. Prophet to the Nations I MADE YOU."(Jeremiah 1:2-5). He was therefore One of the Few Men (Isaac, Samson, Samuel, John the Baptist and Jesus) for whose Birth God assumed responsibility.
When God spoke to him, Jeremiah showed diffidence. He replied to God: "Alas, O God! Here I actually do not know How to Speak, for I am but a boy." From this remark and later comparing his boldness and firmness during his Prophetic Ministry, it can be seen that such unusual Strength was not a thing inherent in Jeremiah, but it actually came from Full Reliance on God.
During repairs on the House of God, the Book of the Law of God was found and was read to the king. Josiah worked hard at enforcing this, but he could at most only temporarily turn back the falling away to idolatry. His grandfather Manasseh, who had reigned for 55 years, and his father Amon, who had been assassinated after a reign of just 2 years, had both done wickedly. They had encouraged the people in impure orgies and gruesome rites, so that they had become accustomed to offering incense to the "Queen of the Heavens" and human sacrifices to demon gods. Manasseh had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood.
Jeremiah's task was no easy one. He had to serve as God's Prophet in foretelling the desolation of Judah and Jerusalem, the burning of the magnificent Temple of God, and the captivity of his people.
During his 40 years long ministry in Jerusalem through the reigns of bad kings (Jeho-Ahaz, Jeho-Iakim, Jeho-Iachin [Coniah], and Zedek-Iah), he warned God's people of the catastrophe that was to fall upon the Nation because of their idolatry and sin. He has scathing denunciation and fearful Judgments to proclaim, especially to the Priests, Prophets, and Rulers, and to those who took the "Popular Course" and developed an "Enduring Unfaithfulness."(Jeremiah 8). Yet he appreciated that his commission was also 'To Build and To Plant."(Jeremiah 1).
Later in Egypt, he had to prophesy concerning the idolatries of the Jewish Refugees there. The time covered by Jeremiah was an eventful period of 67 years.
He lived to see a number of the predictions come true with the Fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonian king, Nebu-chadnezzar, the destruction of the City and the Temple, and the Exile to Babylonia of Judah's king and many of the people. The dramatic fulfillment of the prophecies during his own lifetime attests fully to the authenticity of God's predictions through him.
He also foretold the eventual Return of the People from Exile and the Restoration of the Nation.
Jeremiah was a very sensitive man who deeply loved his people, and who hated to have to pronounce Judgment upon them. His courage and endurance were matched by his love for them. In many passages of the Book he spoke with deep emotion about the things he suffered because God had called him to be a Prophet to His people. Truly God was with him "like a terrible Mighty One" and it was Him who made Jeremiah "a Fortified City and an Iron Pillar and Copper Walls against all the Land. (Jeremiah 20).
Jeremiah reveals himself throughout the Book more than any of the other ancient Prophets, with the exception of Moses. His feelings and emotions, his intrepid boldness and courage, mingled with humility and tenderness of heart. The Word of God truly was like Fire in his heart. He was not only a Prophet but also a Priest, a Compiler of Scripture, and an accurate Historian.
Jeremiah's style of writing is clear, direct, and easily understood and the use of illustrations and pictorial images abound.
The Book of Jeremiah is the 2nd Book of the Latter Prophets following Isaiah and preceding Ezekiel in the Jewish Canon of the Hebrew Bible. In the Christian Old Testament it appears after Isaiah as the 2nd Book of the Prophets together with Lamentations. Jeremiah is referred to several times by Name in the Christian Greek Scriptures. Jesus used a combined language of Jeremiah (7:11) with that of Isaiah (56:7), when He cleansed the Temple. Because of Jesus' boldness and courage was such , some people even thought of Him to be in the spirit of Jeremiah.
Some of the greatest words in the Book point beyond Jeremiah's own dangerous, turbulent and troubled time to the Day when there would be a New Covenant, one that God's people would keep without a Teacher to remind them, because it would be written on their hearts.
Paul quotes Jeremiah (9:24) in saying: "He that boasts, let him boast in the Spirit of God." (1Cor 1;31).
At Revelation (18:21) there is an even more forceful application of Jeremiah's illustration of Babylon's downfall (Jer.51:63).
Archaeological findings also give support to the record in the Book of Jeremiah. A Babylonian Chronicle tells of Nebu-chadnezzar's capture of Jerusalem when he seized the king (Jeho-iachin) and appointed one of his own choice (Zedek-iah).
Jeremiah lived during the latter part of the 7th century and the 1st part of the 6th century BC. He was commissioned by God to be a Prophet when he was a young man, in the 13th year of the reign of God-fearing king Josiah of Judah (659-628 BC).
God told him: "Before I was forming you In the Belly I KNEW YOU, and before you proceeded to come forth From the Womb I SANCTIFIED YOU. Prophet to the Nations I MADE YOU."(Jeremiah 1:2-5). He was therefore One of the Few Men (Isaac, Samson, Samuel, John the Baptist and Jesus) for whose Birth God assumed responsibility.
When God spoke to him, Jeremiah showed diffidence. He replied to God: "Alas, O God! Here I actually do not know How to Speak, for I am but a boy." From this remark and later comparing his boldness and firmness during his Prophetic Ministry, it can be seen that such unusual Strength was not a thing inherent in Jeremiah, but it actually came from Full Reliance on God.
During repairs on the House of God, the Book of the Law of God was found and was read to the king. Josiah worked hard at enforcing this, but he could at most only temporarily turn back the falling away to idolatry. His grandfather Manasseh, who had reigned for 55 years, and his father Amon, who had been assassinated after a reign of just 2 years, had both done wickedly. They had encouraged the people in impure orgies and gruesome rites, so that they had become accustomed to offering incense to the "Queen of the Heavens" and human sacrifices to demon gods. Manasseh had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood.
Jeremiah's task was no easy one. He had to serve as God's Prophet in foretelling the desolation of Judah and Jerusalem, the burning of the magnificent Temple of God, and the captivity of his people.
During his 40 years long ministry in Jerusalem through the reigns of bad kings (Jeho-Ahaz, Jeho-Iakim, Jeho-Iachin [Coniah], and Zedek-Iah), he warned God's people of the catastrophe that was to fall upon the Nation because of their idolatry and sin. He has scathing denunciation and fearful Judgments to proclaim, especially to the Priests, Prophets, and Rulers, and to those who took the "Popular Course" and developed an "Enduring Unfaithfulness."(Jeremiah 8). Yet he appreciated that his commission was also 'To Build and To Plant."(Jeremiah 1).
Later in Egypt, he had to prophesy concerning the idolatries of the Jewish Refugees there. The time covered by Jeremiah was an eventful period of 67 years.
He lived to see a number of the predictions come true with the Fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonian king, Nebu-chadnezzar, the destruction of the City and the Temple, and the Exile to Babylonia of Judah's king and many of the people. The dramatic fulfillment of the prophecies during his own lifetime attests fully to the authenticity of God's predictions through him.
He also foretold the eventual Return of the People from Exile and the Restoration of the Nation.
Jeremiah was a very sensitive man who deeply loved his people, and who hated to have to pronounce Judgment upon them. His courage and endurance were matched by his love for them. In many passages of the Book he spoke with deep emotion about the things he suffered because God had called him to be a Prophet to His people. Truly God was with him "like a terrible Mighty One" and it was Him who made Jeremiah "a Fortified City and an Iron Pillar and Copper Walls against all the Land. (Jeremiah 20).
Jeremiah reveals himself throughout the Book more than any of the other ancient Prophets, with the exception of Moses. His feelings and emotions, his intrepid boldness and courage, mingled with humility and tenderness of heart. The Word of God truly was like Fire in his heart. He was not only a Prophet but also a Priest, a Compiler of Scripture, and an accurate Historian.
Jeremiah's style of writing is clear, direct, and easily understood and the use of illustrations and pictorial images abound.
The Book of Jeremiah is the 2nd Book of the Latter Prophets following Isaiah and preceding Ezekiel in the Jewish Canon of the Hebrew Bible. In the Christian Old Testament it appears after Isaiah as the 2nd Book of the Prophets together with Lamentations. Jeremiah is referred to several times by Name in the Christian Greek Scriptures. Jesus used a combined language of Jeremiah (7:11) with that of Isaiah (56:7), when He cleansed the Temple. Because of Jesus' boldness and courage was such , some people even thought of Him to be in the spirit of Jeremiah.
Some of the greatest words in the Book point beyond Jeremiah's own dangerous, turbulent and troubled time to the Day when there would be a New Covenant, one that God's people would keep without a Teacher to remind them, because it would be written on their hearts.
Paul quotes Jeremiah (9:24) in saying: "He that boasts, let him boast in the Spirit of God." (1Cor 1;31).
At Revelation (18:21) there is an even more forceful application of Jeremiah's illustration of Babylon's downfall (Jer.51:63).
Archaeological findings also give support to the record in the Book of Jeremiah. A Babylonian Chronicle tells of Nebu-chadnezzar's capture of Jerusalem when he seized the king (Jeho-iachin) and appointed one of his own choice (Zedek-iah).
Friday, 29 January 2016
FIRST GREAT AWAKENING
It was an evangelical revival movement that swept Protestant Europe and British America, and especially the American Colonies in the 1730s and 1740s, leaving a permanent impact on American Protestantism.
Pulling away from ritual, ceremony, sacramental, and hierarchy, the Great Awakening made Christianity intensely personal by fostering a deep sense of spiritual conviction and redemption, and by encouraging introspection and a commitment to a new standard of personal morality. Rather than listening demurely to preachers, people groaned and roared in enthusiastic emotion. Personal experience became more important than formal education for preachers. Such concepts and habits formed the foundation for the American Revolution.
The movement was a monumental social event in New England. It had a major impact in reshaping the Congregational Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Dutch Reformed Church, and the German Reformed denomination. It focused on people who were already church members. New divinity schools opened to challenge the hegemony of Yale and Harvard.
George Whitefield (December 27, 1714 - September 30, 1770) was the most widely recognized figures in Britain and the American Colonies. He was born at the Bell Inn, South-Gate Street, Gloucester in England. He was the 5th son (7 child) of Thomas Whitefield and Elizabeth Edwards who kept an Inn at Gloucester. At an early age, he found he had a passion and talent for acting in the theatre, a passion that he would carry on with the very theatrical re-enactments of Bible stories he told during his sermons.
Whitefield accepted the Church of England's doctrine of predestination and disagreed with the Wesley Brothers' views on the doctrine of the Atonement, Arminianism. He formed and was the president of the first Methodist conference, but soon he relinquished the position to concentrate on evangelical work. Three churches were established in England in his name and became known by the name of "Whitefield's Tabernacle."
He advocated in the task of raising funds in England to establish the Bethesda Orphanage, which is the oldest extant charity in North America. In 1740 he engaged Moravian Brethren from Georgia to build and orphanage for Negro children on the land he had bought in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania.
Following a theological disagreement, he dismissed them but was unable to complete the building, which the Moravians subsequently bought and completed. This now is the Whitefield House in the center of the Moravian settlement of Nazareth. He preached everyday for months to large crowds of several thousand people as he traveled throughout the colonies, especially New England, His journey on horseback from New York City to Charleston was the longest then undertaken in North America by a white man,
Whitefield preached staunchly Calvinist theory. While explicitly affirming God's sole agency of salvation, Whitefield's reputation as a great open-air orator preceded his preaching in parks and fields reaching out to large and emotional crowd of people who normally did not attend church, eliciting countless conversions as well as considerable controversy. He had charisma, and his voice could be heard over 500 feet. His small stature, and even his cross-eyed appearance all served to help make him one of the first celebrities in the American colonies. He employed print systematically, sending advance men to put up broadsides and distribute handbills announcing his sermons. He also arranged to have his sermons published and given to the audience freely, saying at the end of it : "Come poor, lost, undone sinner, come to me just as you are to Christ."A crowd estimated at 30,000 met him in Cambuslang in 1742.
The message of spiritual equality appealed to many slaves and as African religious tradition continued to decline in North America, for the first time black people accepted Christianity in large numbers. Before the American Revolution, the first black Baptist Churches were founded in South Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia; in Petersburg, Virginia, two black Baptist Churches were founded.
Pulling away from ritual, ceremony, sacramental, and hierarchy, the Great Awakening made Christianity intensely personal by fostering a deep sense of spiritual conviction and redemption, and by encouraging introspection and a commitment to a new standard of personal morality. Rather than listening demurely to preachers, people groaned and roared in enthusiastic emotion. Personal experience became more important than formal education for preachers. Such concepts and habits formed the foundation for the American Revolution.
The movement was a monumental social event in New England. It had a major impact in reshaping the Congregational Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Dutch Reformed Church, and the German Reformed denomination. It focused on people who were already church members. New divinity schools opened to challenge the hegemony of Yale and Harvard.
George Whitefield (December 27, 1714 - September 30, 1770) was the most widely recognized figures in Britain and the American Colonies. He was born at the Bell Inn, South-Gate Street, Gloucester in England. He was the 5th son (7 child) of Thomas Whitefield and Elizabeth Edwards who kept an Inn at Gloucester. At an early age, he found he had a passion and talent for acting in the theatre, a passion that he would carry on with the very theatrical re-enactments of Bible stories he told during his sermons.
Whitefield accepted the Church of England's doctrine of predestination and disagreed with the Wesley Brothers' views on the doctrine of the Atonement, Arminianism. He formed and was the president of the first Methodist conference, but soon he relinquished the position to concentrate on evangelical work. Three churches were established in England in his name and became known by the name of "Whitefield's Tabernacle."
He advocated in the task of raising funds in England to establish the Bethesda Orphanage, which is the oldest extant charity in North America. In 1740 he engaged Moravian Brethren from Georgia to build and orphanage for Negro children on the land he had bought in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania.
Following a theological disagreement, he dismissed them but was unable to complete the building, which the Moravians subsequently bought and completed. This now is the Whitefield House in the center of the Moravian settlement of Nazareth. He preached everyday for months to large crowds of several thousand people as he traveled throughout the colonies, especially New England, His journey on horseback from New York City to Charleston was the longest then undertaken in North America by a white man,
Whitefield preached staunchly Calvinist theory. While explicitly affirming God's sole agency of salvation, Whitefield's reputation as a great open-air orator preceded his preaching in parks and fields reaching out to large and emotional crowd of people who normally did not attend church, eliciting countless conversions as well as considerable controversy. He had charisma, and his voice could be heard over 500 feet. His small stature, and even his cross-eyed appearance all served to help make him one of the first celebrities in the American colonies. He employed print systematically, sending advance men to put up broadsides and distribute handbills announcing his sermons. He also arranged to have his sermons published and given to the audience freely, saying at the end of it : "Come poor, lost, undone sinner, come to me just as you are to Christ."A crowd estimated at 30,000 met him in Cambuslang in 1742.
The message of spiritual equality appealed to many slaves and as African religious tradition continued to decline in North America, for the first time black people accepted Christianity in large numbers. Before the American Revolution, the first black Baptist Churches were founded in South Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia; in Petersburg, Virginia, two black Baptist Churches were founded.
Thursday, 28 January 2016
INTELLIGENCE, what it means according to the Scriptures?
Where does Intelligence come from? The atheist world view cannot account for this question. All Intelligence comes from God. God is infinitely Intelligent and He is the only Being Who have created such a complex universe which has everything in place so perfectly. Do not let anyone fool you.
Quotes:
"There are enough evidences of supreme skill in the structure of the human hand alone to prove the existence, intelligence, and benevolence of God in the face of all the sophistry of infidelity." A.B. Simpson.
"There is no worse screen to block out the Spirit than confidence in our own intelligence." John Calvin.
Wisdom of the World:
The Wisdom of this World is Foolishness. God is the One who catches the World's Wise men in their craftiness. (1Cor.3:19). He captures their Wise Men by their own shewdness, and the advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted. (Job 5:13). They feel secure in their own Wickedness and says, 'No one sees me.' Their wisdom and knowledge have deluded them. For they have said in their hearts, 'We are, and there is no one besides us.' But evil will come on them which they will not know how to charm away. And disaster will fall on them for which they cannot atone. And destruction about which they do not know will come on them suddenly. (Isa.47:10-11).
This type of Wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but it is earthly, natural, demonic. (James 3:15). The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They corrupted themselves and have done abominable iniquity, there is none that does good. (Psalm 53:1). They despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:7).
We do speak Wisdom from above among those who are mature; a Wisdom, however, not of this Age nor of the Rulers of this Age, who are passing away. (1Cor.2:6).
The Wisdom of the Wise Men in the World will perish, and the Discernment of their Discerning Men will be concealed. (Isa.29:14). Professing to be wise, they became fools. (Romans 1:22). These appearance of Wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, are of no value against fleshy and evil indulgence.
Jesus said, 'I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden this things from the Wise and the Intelligent of the World and have revealed them to infant spirits. (Matt.11:25). For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be Wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible creatures. (Romans 1:21-23). For it is written, 'I will destroy the Wisdom of the Wise, and the Cleverness of the Clever I will set aside. (!Cor.2:6).
If your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of Darkness. If then the Light that is in you is Darkness. Matt.6:23). See to it that no one takes you captive through Philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the Elementary Principles of the World. (Col.2:8).
A man of Understanding walks straight. (Prov.15:21). Guard yourself what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called 'Knowledge'. (1Tim.6:20-21).
Let not a Wise Man boast of his Wisdom, and let not the Mighty Man boast of his Might, let not a Rich Man boast of his Riches; but let him boast of this, that he Understand and Knows God, that he is the Lord Who exercises Loving-Kindness, Justice, and Righteousness on Earth; for He delights on these things. (Jer.9:23-24).
Do not be wise in your own eyes. (Prov.3:7). It is a way which seems right to man, but its end is the way of death. (Prov.16:25). Because in much Wisdom there is much grieve, and increasing Knowledge results in increasing pain. (Eccl.1:18). Woe to those who are Wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight! (Isa.5:21).
God puts No Trust even in His servants; and against His angels He charges error. How much more those (spirits) who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the Dust, who are crushed before the moth! Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces; unobserved, they perish forever. (Job 4:18-21).
For the message of The Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to the ones who are being saved it is the Power of God. (1Cor.1:18)
Quotes:
"There are enough evidences of supreme skill in the structure of the human hand alone to prove the existence, intelligence, and benevolence of God in the face of all the sophistry of infidelity." A.B. Simpson.
"There is no worse screen to block out the Spirit than confidence in our own intelligence." John Calvin.
Wisdom of the World:
The Wisdom of this World is Foolishness. God is the One who catches the World's Wise men in their craftiness. (1Cor.3:19). He captures their Wise Men by their own shewdness, and the advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted. (Job 5:13). They feel secure in their own Wickedness and says, 'No one sees me.' Their wisdom and knowledge have deluded them. For they have said in their hearts, 'We are, and there is no one besides us.' But evil will come on them which they will not know how to charm away. And disaster will fall on them for which they cannot atone. And destruction about which they do not know will come on them suddenly. (Isa.47:10-11).
This type of Wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but it is earthly, natural, demonic. (James 3:15). The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They corrupted themselves and have done abominable iniquity, there is none that does good. (Psalm 53:1). They despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:7).
We do speak Wisdom from above among those who are mature; a Wisdom, however, not of this Age nor of the Rulers of this Age, who are passing away. (1Cor.2:6).
The Wisdom of the Wise Men in the World will perish, and the Discernment of their Discerning Men will be concealed. (Isa.29:14). Professing to be wise, they became fools. (Romans 1:22). These appearance of Wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, are of no value against fleshy and evil indulgence.
Jesus said, 'I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden this things from the Wise and the Intelligent of the World and have revealed them to infant spirits. (Matt.11:25). For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be Wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible creatures. (Romans 1:21-23). For it is written, 'I will destroy the Wisdom of the Wise, and the Cleverness of the Clever I will set aside. (!Cor.2:6).
If your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of Darkness. If then the Light that is in you is Darkness. Matt.6:23). See to it that no one takes you captive through Philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the Elementary Principles of the World. (Col.2:8).
A man of Understanding walks straight. (Prov.15:21). Guard yourself what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called 'Knowledge'. (1Tim.6:20-21).
Let not a Wise Man boast of his Wisdom, and let not the Mighty Man boast of his Might, let not a Rich Man boast of his Riches; but let him boast of this, that he Understand and Knows God, that he is the Lord Who exercises Loving-Kindness, Justice, and Righteousness on Earth; for He delights on these things. (Jer.9:23-24).
Do not be wise in your own eyes. (Prov.3:7). It is a way which seems right to man, but its end is the way of death. (Prov.16:25). Because in much Wisdom there is much grieve, and increasing Knowledge results in increasing pain. (Eccl.1:18). Woe to those who are Wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight! (Isa.5:21).
God puts No Trust even in His servants; and against His angels He charges error. How much more those (spirits) who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the Dust, who are crushed before the moth! Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces; unobserved, they perish forever. (Job 4:18-21).
For the message of The Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to the ones who are being saved it is the Power of God. (1Cor.1:18)
Friday, 22 January 2016
THE SPIRIT WORLD ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE.
Of all the Books that deal with the Spirit World, only The Bible has been shown throughout the centuries to be a reliable source of information. It declares that it was inspired by The One who inhabits and is over the whole Spirit World, and consistently describes the Spirit World without contradictions in a logical and historical manner, and has served as a faithful counterweight to the evil spiritual forces.
2 Timothy 3: 16-17 says: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in Righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Colossians 1:16 says: For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -All Things were created through Him and for Him.
Ephesians 6:12 says: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this Present Darkness, against the Spiritual Forces of Evil in the heavenly places.
1 Corinthians 15:24 says: Then comes The End, when He delivers the Kingdom of God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame. Colossians 2:15.
Romans 12:2 says: Do not be conformed to This World, but Be Transformed by the renewal of your mind, that By Testing you may discern what is the Will of god, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Colossians 2: 10-15 says: You have been filled in Him, who is The Head of all rule and authority ...you were also raised with Him through Faith in the Powerful Working of God, who raised Him from the dead. You were dead in your trespasses ..., God made alive together with Him ... by canceling the record of Debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross.
1 Peter 3:22 says: He has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, and powers having been subjected to Him.
John 4:24 says: God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and Truth. And whatever you do, in Word or Deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17
2 Timothy 3: 16-17 says: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in Righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Colossians 1:16 says: For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -All Things were created through Him and for Him.
Ephesians 6:12 says: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this Present Darkness, against the Spiritual Forces of Evil in the heavenly places.
1 Corinthians 15:24 says: Then comes The End, when He delivers the Kingdom of God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame. Colossians 2:15.
Romans 12:2 says: Do not be conformed to This World, but Be Transformed by the renewal of your mind, that By Testing you may discern what is the Will of god, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Colossians 2: 10-15 says: You have been filled in Him, who is The Head of all rule and authority ...you were also raised with Him through Faith in the Powerful Working of God, who raised Him from the dead. You were dead in your trespasses ..., God made alive together with Him ... by canceling the record of Debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross.
1 Peter 3:22 says: He has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, and powers having been subjected to Him.
John 4:24 says: God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and Truth. And whatever you do, in Word or Deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17
Wednesday, 20 January 2016
BAAL, THE MOST POWERFUL GOD OF THE FLESH.
The name Baal means "lord" designating a legal state of ownership or possession. It is the most significant deity in the Old Testament with the exception of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
In the Scriptures, the word "Baal" is employed with reference to: -a husband as owner of his wife instead of a complement to him (Genesis 20); -as landowners (Joshua 24); -as the owners of the nations (Isaiah 16); -as owners of a covenant, literary confederates (Genesis 14); -owners or possessors of tangibles (Exodus 21,22; 2Kings1); -persons of things having something that is characteristic of their nature, manner, occupation, etc (Genesis 49); -a creditor of a debt, literary the owner of a debt (Deuteronomy 15); -given to anger, literary owner of anger (Proverbs 22:24); -as a judicial antagonist, literary owner of the judgment (Isaiah 50); -the possessor of the 2 Horns, literary the owner of the 2 Horns (Daniel 8); -as false gods (Judges 2); -as the Spirit of the Lord (Hosea 2).
In a land dependent upon rain-fed agriculture, given the paramount need for rain and its continuous impact upon the population, the storm-god was the most significant representation of the spirit acting as a deity in the world of the living and manifested like the rain through the daily and ritualistic lives of the individuals. An extension of the concept of the rain is that of fertility.
Baal was represented icono-graphically by a Bull. Myths recorded at length the struggle of Baal in maintaining his power against his nemesis, "death." Baal is represented as a spirit powerful enough to engage "death" in a mythological struggle colliding each other. Then Baal descending into "death" who swallows him and come back again to the living world in the same manner of the agricultural cycle.
The power inherent in a thunderstorm lends itself to the association with warring prowess. Baal is the warrior par excellence expressed by his defeat of the forces of chaos, represented by the mind (sea), and saving order and balance in the spiritual realms where the real judgments takes place.
In the world of the living, the king of a nation which revered him was suppose to imitate Baal in this aspect, to protect the mundane societies from the forces of chaos. As a result of this, he is represented as a warrior clutching lightning as a weapon.
A number of elements of the Baal cult are attested in the old Testament. Ecstatic Prophets are depicted in the confrontation of Elijah with 400 Prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel (1King18). The cutting mentioned in the ritual is related to the cult of the dead, as the death of Baal is equated with drought of power.
Baalistic cultic practices deeply affected the spiritual power of Israel. The number of liturgical themes, images, and phrases that were adapted to the theological principles diminished the Truth deeply inscribed in true worship of the God of Israel.
In the Scriptures, the word "Baal" is employed with reference to: -a husband as owner of his wife instead of a complement to him (Genesis 20); -as landowners (Joshua 24); -as the owners of the nations (Isaiah 16); -as owners of a covenant, literary confederates (Genesis 14); -owners or possessors of tangibles (Exodus 21,22; 2Kings1); -persons of things having something that is characteristic of their nature, manner, occupation, etc (Genesis 49); -a creditor of a debt, literary the owner of a debt (Deuteronomy 15); -given to anger, literary owner of anger (Proverbs 22:24); -as a judicial antagonist, literary owner of the judgment (Isaiah 50); -the possessor of the 2 Horns, literary the owner of the 2 Horns (Daniel 8); -as false gods (Judges 2); -as the Spirit of the Lord (Hosea 2).
In a land dependent upon rain-fed agriculture, given the paramount need for rain and its continuous impact upon the population, the storm-god was the most significant representation of the spirit acting as a deity in the world of the living and manifested like the rain through the daily and ritualistic lives of the individuals. An extension of the concept of the rain is that of fertility.
Baal was represented icono-graphically by a Bull. Myths recorded at length the struggle of Baal in maintaining his power against his nemesis, "death." Baal is represented as a spirit powerful enough to engage "death" in a mythological struggle colliding each other. Then Baal descending into "death" who swallows him and come back again to the living world in the same manner of the agricultural cycle.
The power inherent in a thunderstorm lends itself to the association with warring prowess. Baal is the warrior par excellence expressed by his defeat of the forces of chaos, represented by the mind (sea), and saving order and balance in the spiritual realms where the real judgments takes place.
In the world of the living, the king of a nation which revered him was suppose to imitate Baal in this aspect, to protect the mundane societies from the forces of chaos. As a result of this, he is represented as a warrior clutching lightning as a weapon.
A number of elements of the Baal cult are attested in the old Testament. Ecstatic Prophets are depicted in the confrontation of Elijah with 400 Prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel (1King18). The cutting mentioned in the ritual is related to the cult of the dead, as the death of Baal is equated with drought of power.
Baalistic cultic practices deeply affected the spiritual power of Israel. The number of liturgical themes, images, and phrases that were adapted to the theological principles diminished the Truth deeply inscribed in true worship of the God of Israel.
Monday, 18 January 2016
THE POWERFUL 300 WARRIORS CHOSEN BY GOD.
According to The Book of Judges (6-8), a pre-monarchical leader was celebrated for ridding Israel of Midianite invaders. His name was Jerubbaal (Gideon). He was also remembered for divinatory activity.
This leader lived in a very turbulent time of Israel's history. Because of their unfaithfulness to God, they were not enjoying the fruits of their labor. For a number of years neighboring nations, especially the Medianites, had invaded the Land at harvest time with hordes as numerous as the locust. The hand of Midian proved to be heavy upon the Israelites for 7 years, so much so that they had to make underground storage places for themselves in order to conceal their food supplies from the invaders.
This leader was threshing grain in a wine-press, when an angel appeared to him, saying:"God is with you, you valiant, mighty one."Then the angel told him that he would be the one to deliver Israel. The leader modestly spoke of his own insignificance. But he was assured that God would prove to be with him. The leader was put to a test by God, commanding him to tear down his father's altar to the god Baal, to cut down the sacred pole alongside it, to build an altar to God and then to offer his father's young bull of 7 years, upon it, using as firewood the sacred pole. The leader did so at midnight with the aid of 10 servants.
Then the Medianites, together with the Amalekites and the Easterners encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. God's Spirit enveloped the leader. Calling together the Abiezrites of the tribe of Manasseh from where he belonged, for battle, he sent messengers throughout Manasseh and to Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, urging to join him.
32,000 Fighting men rallied around him in response to the leader's call. They encamped at The Well of Harod, South of the Midianite camp at the Hill of Moreh in the Low Plain. They were outnumbered about 4 to 1 by the invaders, with a force of about 135,000. But God indicated to the leader that there were too many men.
At God's direction, the leader told those who were afraid and trembling to retire. 22,000 departed, but still there were too many men. Next God instructed the leader to lead the remaining 10,000 men down to the water to be tested. Only 300 men scooped water to the mouth by hand and were separated to one side. The others, who bent down upon their knees to drink, were not to be used.
The powerful 300 warriors were chosen because of their method of drinking, manifesting alertness and a deep concerning for the fight for true worship in God's name. By means of this true warriors God promised to save Israel.
The leader organized the 300 into 3 bands in order to enable him to approach the camp of Midian from 3 sides, and gave each man a Horn, and a large Jar, inside of which was placed a Torch. His men did exactly what he commanded to do. The stillness of the night was shattered by the exact blowing of 300 horns, the smashing of 300 large water jars and the resounding of 300 war cries; at the same time the sky was lit up with 300 torches. Confusion seized the enemy camp. The invaders began shouting and fleeing, and god proceeded to set the sword of each one against the other in all the camp.
Grateful Israelites asked the leader to establish his family as a ruling dynasty. However, the leader appreciated that God was Israel's rightful King and therefore did not go along with their request.
This leader lived in a very turbulent time of Israel's history. Because of their unfaithfulness to God, they were not enjoying the fruits of their labor. For a number of years neighboring nations, especially the Medianites, had invaded the Land at harvest time with hordes as numerous as the locust. The hand of Midian proved to be heavy upon the Israelites for 7 years, so much so that they had to make underground storage places for themselves in order to conceal their food supplies from the invaders.
This leader was threshing grain in a wine-press, when an angel appeared to him, saying:"God is with you, you valiant, mighty one."Then the angel told him that he would be the one to deliver Israel. The leader modestly spoke of his own insignificance. But he was assured that God would prove to be with him. The leader was put to a test by God, commanding him to tear down his father's altar to the god Baal, to cut down the sacred pole alongside it, to build an altar to God and then to offer his father's young bull of 7 years, upon it, using as firewood the sacred pole. The leader did so at midnight with the aid of 10 servants.
Then the Medianites, together with the Amalekites and the Easterners encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. God's Spirit enveloped the leader. Calling together the Abiezrites of the tribe of Manasseh from where he belonged, for battle, he sent messengers throughout Manasseh and to Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, urging to join him.
32,000 Fighting men rallied around him in response to the leader's call. They encamped at The Well of Harod, South of the Midianite camp at the Hill of Moreh in the Low Plain. They were outnumbered about 4 to 1 by the invaders, with a force of about 135,000. But God indicated to the leader that there were too many men.
At God's direction, the leader told those who were afraid and trembling to retire. 22,000 departed, but still there were too many men. Next God instructed the leader to lead the remaining 10,000 men down to the water to be tested. Only 300 men scooped water to the mouth by hand and were separated to one side. The others, who bent down upon their knees to drink, were not to be used.
The powerful 300 warriors were chosen because of their method of drinking, manifesting alertness and a deep concerning for the fight for true worship in God's name. By means of this true warriors God promised to save Israel.
The leader organized the 300 into 3 bands in order to enable him to approach the camp of Midian from 3 sides, and gave each man a Horn, and a large Jar, inside of which was placed a Torch. His men did exactly what he commanded to do. The stillness of the night was shattered by the exact blowing of 300 horns, the smashing of 300 large water jars and the resounding of 300 war cries; at the same time the sky was lit up with 300 torches. Confusion seized the enemy camp. The invaders began shouting and fleeing, and god proceeded to set the sword of each one against the other in all the camp.
Grateful Israelites asked the leader to establish his family as a ruling dynasty. However, the leader appreciated that God was Israel's rightful King and therefore did not go along with their request.
Sunday, 17 January 2016
APOSLE, WHAT IT MEANS?
It means an envoy, an ambassador, or messenger commissioned to carry out instructions of the commissioned agenda. An overseer of human affairs.
The Septuagint uses "apostello" some 700 times to translate the Hebrew word "salah" (stretch out, send). More than the act of sending, this hebrew word includes the idea of the authorization of a messenger. The noun "apostolos" is found only in 1King 14:6, where the commissioning and empowering of the Prophet are clearly in mind. Thus the Septuagint uses it to denote the authorization of an individual to fulfill a particular function, with emphasis on the one who sends, not on the one who is sent.
The noun "apostolos" appears 79 times in the New Testament (10 in the Gospels; 28 in Acts; 38 in The Epistles; and 3 in Revelation). The vast majority is these occurrences are found in Luke-Acts(34) and in the Pauline Epistles(34), and refer to those appointed by Christ for a special function in the Church. Their unique place is not only on having witnessed the Resurrection, but also on having been commissioned and empowered by the Resurrected Lord to Proclaim the Gospel to all nations.
In the New Testament the word is applied to Jesus as the Sent One of God(Heb.3:1), to those sent by God to preach to Israel(Luk.11:49), to those sent by Churches(2Col.8:23;Php2:25), and most often, to the individuals who had been appointed by Christ to preach The Gospel of the Kingdom. This latter category is understood differently by New Testament writers. Luke-Act uses the term to refer to the 12, while Paul uses it in relation to a broader group of individuals. Jesus had a large number of disciples during His ministry, but not all of them were apostles. The 12 were chosen out of a wider group both to be with Jesus as disciples and to be sent out to preach and teach as apostles. In this broder sense, an apostle was a witness to the Resurrection of Christ, sent by Him to make disciples of all nations.
Jesus' choice of 12 disciples to form an inner circle of followers served to symbolize The Truth that He had come to build a New House of Israel. The 12 formed the nucleus of this New People of God, corresponding to the 12 Tribes of Israel, and signifying God's saving activity at work in Jesus and his followers. Paul's claim to apostleship is likewise based on the Divine Call of Christ, manifested in its 3 accounts of the Damascus Road encounter, and presented as the direct action of the Risen Christ.
Christ the Apostle is mentioned only once in Heb.3:1, sent by the Father. Nowhere is this more pronounced than in the Gospel of John, where Christ's entire ministry is qualified by the term "apostello"(send). As the Father sent His Son into the World, Jesus, in turn, sends out his disciples to continue and extend his mission. Thus, all apostleship finds its meaning in Jesus the Apostle.
The Septuagint uses "apostello" some 700 times to translate the Hebrew word "salah" (stretch out, send). More than the act of sending, this hebrew word includes the idea of the authorization of a messenger. The noun "apostolos" is found only in 1King 14:6, where the commissioning and empowering of the Prophet are clearly in mind. Thus the Septuagint uses it to denote the authorization of an individual to fulfill a particular function, with emphasis on the one who sends, not on the one who is sent.
The noun "apostolos" appears 79 times in the New Testament (10 in the Gospels; 28 in Acts; 38 in The Epistles; and 3 in Revelation). The vast majority is these occurrences are found in Luke-Acts(34) and in the Pauline Epistles(34), and refer to those appointed by Christ for a special function in the Church. Their unique place is not only on having witnessed the Resurrection, but also on having been commissioned and empowered by the Resurrected Lord to Proclaim the Gospel to all nations.
In the New Testament the word is applied to Jesus as the Sent One of God(Heb.3:1), to those sent by God to preach to Israel(Luk.11:49), to those sent by Churches(2Col.8:23;Php2:25), and most often, to the individuals who had been appointed by Christ to preach The Gospel of the Kingdom. This latter category is understood differently by New Testament writers. Luke-Act uses the term to refer to the 12, while Paul uses it in relation to a broader group of individuals. Jesus had a large number of disciples during His ministry, but not all of them were apostles. The 12 were chosen out of a wider group both to be with Jesus as disciples and to be sent out to preach and teach as apostles. In this broder sense, an apostle was a witness to the Resurrection of Christ, sent by Him to make disciples of all nations.
Jesus' choice of 12 disciples to form an inner circle of followers served to symbolize The Truth that He had come to build a New House of Israel. The 12 formed the nucleus of this New People of God, corresponding to the 12 Tribes of Israel, and signifying God's saving activity at work in Jesus and his followers. Paul's claim to apostleship is likewise based on the Divine Call of Christ, manifested in its 3 accounts of the Damascus Road encounter, and presented as the direct action of the Risen Christ.
Christ the Apostle is mentioned only once in Heb.3:1, sent by the Father. Nowhere is this more pronounced than in the Gospel of John, where Christ's entire ministry is qualified by the term "apostello"(send). As the Father sent His Son into the World, Jesus, in turn, sends out his disciples to continue and extend his mission. Thus, all apostleship finds its meaning in Jesus the Apostle.
Thursday, 7 January 2016
WHO WAS BALAAM?
Balaam (meaning: devouring or devourer) is a non-Israelite Prophet referred to in the Old Testament and New Testament as well as in an 8th-century BCE plaster inscription from Tell Deir'Alla in Jordan. Two major fragments groups of enigmatic and fragmentary plaster texts are dated ca. 700. The language has both Aramaic and Canaanite features. The first group of plaster fragments specifically mentions "Balaam son of Beor, a "seer of the gods" who had a night vision in which the Gods of the Mountain conveyed the future to him
The book of Numbers contains the most extensive material. Balaam is first introduced when the Israelites approach the Land of Canaan, after their defeat of Sihon and Og (21:21-35).
Balaam, is referred to as a son of Beor who lived in the Aramean town in the Upper Euphrates Valley and near the Sajur River (22:5; Deut.23:4). Abraham, Lot, and Jacob formerly lived in the vicinity of Haran, not far from Pethor (Gen.12:4,5; 24:10; 28:5; 31:18, 38).
Balak, king of Moab, having witnessed Israel's rout of the Amorites, sent messengers to Balaam requesting that he curse the Israelites. After the messengers arrived with "fees for divination", Balaam turned down the offer saying: "God has refused to let me go with you. When other princes in greater number and more honorable came, He received permission from God to go with them (22:7-21). On the way God's angel three times stood in the road, causing Balaam's ass first to turn into a field, then to squeeze Balaam's foot against a wall, and at last to lie down. Three times Balaam beat the animal, which then miraculously uttered a spoken protest (22:22-30). Finally, Balaam himself saw God's angel, who announced:"I have come out to offer resistance, because your way has been headlong against my will." Yet God once again allowed Balaam to continue in his chosen course.
Although Balak desired that Israel be cursed, Balaam stated that he must speak that which he was permitted to by God (22:36-39). After sacrifices were offered, Balaam sought God and received a divine message (23:1-6). Balaam blessed Israel in his first Oracle (23:7-12). Balak convinced Balaam to attempt again to curse Israel, but his 2nd Oracle was also a blessing (23:13-26). Two more blessing Oracles were pronounced by Balaam, the final one predicting that Israel would rule over the kingdoms, including Moab.
Balaam still entertained hope of having that rich reward for which he had come so far and for which he had work so hard. If he could not curse Israel, he reasoned, perhaps God Himself would curse his own people, if only they could be seduced to engage in sex worship of the Baal of Peor (a mountain). So , he went to Balak and show him how to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication. By Balaam's word, the daughters of Moab and Midian served to induce the sons of Israel to commit unfaithfulness toward God over the affair of Peor, so that the scourge came upon the assembly of God. The result: 24,000 men of Israel died for their sin (25:1-9). Neither did Midian, nor Balaam, for his part, escape divine punishment. God commanded that all their men, women and boys be executed; only virgins were spared.
"And they killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword." (Num.25:16-18; 31:1-18). As for the Moabites, they were barred from the congregation of God to the 10th generation (Deut.23:3-6).
The book of Numbers contains the most extensive material. Balaam is first introduced when the Israelites approach the Land of Canaan, after their defeat of Sihon and Og (21:21-35).
Balaam, is referred to as a son of Beor who lived in the Aramean town in the Upper Euphrates Valley and near the Sajur River (22:5; Deut.23:4). Abraham, Lot, and Jacob formerly lived in the vicinity of Haran, not far from Pethor (Gen.12:4,5; 24:10; 28:5; 31:18, 38).
Balak, king of Moab, having witnessed Israel's rout of the Amorites, sent messengers to Balaam requesting that he curse the Israelites. After the messengers arrived with "fees for divination", Balaam turned down the offer saying: "God has refused to let me go with you. When other princes in greater number and more honorable came, He received permission from God to go with them (22:7-21). On the way God's angel three times stood in the road, causing Balaam's ass first to turn into a field, then to squeeze Balaam's foot against a wall, and at last to lie down. Three times Balaam beat the animal, which then miraculously uttered a spoken protest (22:22-30). Finally, Balaam himself saw God's angel, who announced:"I have come out to offer resistance, because your way has been headlong against my will." Yet God once again allowed Balaam to continue in his chosen course.
Although Balak desired that Israel be cursed, Balaam stated that he must speak that which he was permitted to by God (22:36-39). After sacrifices were offered, Balaam sought God and received a divine message (23:1-6). Balaam blessed Israel in his first Oracle (23:7-12). Balak convinced Balaam to attempt again to curse Israel, but his 2nd Oracle was also a blessing (23:13-26). Two more blessing Oracles were pronounced by Balaam, the final one predicting that Israel would rule over the kingdoms, including Moab.
Balaam still entertained hope of having that rich reward for which he had come so far and for which he had work so hard. If he could not curse Israel, he reasoned, perhaps God Himself would curse his own people, if only they could be seduced to engage in sex worship of the Baal of Peor (a mountain). So , he went to Balak and show him how to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication. By Balaam's word, the daughters of Moab and Midian served to induce the sons of Israel to commit unfaithfulness toward God over the affair of Peor, so that the scourge came upon the assembly of God. The result: 24,000 men of Israel died for their sin (25:1-9). Neither did Midian, nor Balaam, for his part, escape divine punishment. God commanded that all their men, women and boys be executed; only virgins were spared.
"And they killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword." (Num.25:16-18; 31:1-18). As for the Moabites, they were barred from the congregation of God to the 10th generation (Deut.23:3-6).
VENUS AND JESUS CHRIST
In the Book of Numbers (22-24) is the account of King Balak summoning Balaam, a prophet, to curse Israel. However, Balaam could only pronounce what God allowed him to say or what God forced him to say.
In Balaam's 4th Oracle (prophecy), he said, "I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult (24-17).
This symbolic words clearly refers to the Messiah. Balaam had a vision of the coming of the Hebrew Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. He was visible from afar. He was radiant and beautiful, majestic and powerful.
In the Book of Revelation (22-16) is the account of Jesus who says, "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."
So the planet Venus is a metaphor for Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Balaam's prophecy was fulfilled with the coming of the Messiah.
In Paul's Letter to the Romans (1:20-21), he says that all of God's creation should remind us of the Creator. We have seen specifically that Venus remind us of Christ fulfilling the Prophecy. The earthly ministry of jesus Christ introduced the pre-dawn Light of the World (Luke 1:78-79; John 8:12; Matthew 4:13-16; 2 Corinthians 4:6). Jesus had to return to heaven commissioning his followers to bring Light to the World (Matthew 5:14-16; Ephesian 5:8). Only God and Christ are the Source of Light, like the stars are sources of physical light. God's people are to be like the stars that reflect the Light of God. The Scripture says in Philippians 2:15, "While we live 'in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,' we, as believers, are to 'shine as lights in the World.'"
In the Book of Matthew (24:14), Jesus said,"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the World as a witness to all nations, and then the End will come." Jesus Christ made it clear that the Light of God's Truth would be powerful preached preceding Christ's return. In 1John 2:8, he says, "the Darkness is passing away, and the True Light is already shining.
The latter half of 2 Peter 1:19 says, "You must pay close attention to what the Prophets wrote, for their words are like a Lamp shining in a dark place -until The Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts." The Morning Star and the Sunrise are used to picture the return of Christ.
God, speaking through Malachi (4:2), said, "But to you who fear My Name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves."
For those who are spiritually asleep, awake and be prepared for the New Day of Christ's glorious reign on Earth. (Romans 13:11-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8).
In Balaam's 4th Oracle (prophecy), he said, "I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult (24-17).
This symbolic words clearly refers to the Messiah. Balaam had a vision of the coming of the Hebrew Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. He was visible from afar. He was radiant and beautiful, majestic and powerful.
In the Book of Revelation (22-16) is the account of Jesus who says, "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."
So the planet Venus is a metaphor for Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Balaam's prophecy was fulfilled with the coming of the Messiah.
In Paul's Letter to the Romans (1:20-21), he says that all of God's creation should remind us of the Creator. We have seen specifically that Venus remind us of Christ fulfilling the Prophecy. The earthly ministry of jesus Christ introduced the pre-dawn Light of the World (Luke 1:78-79; John 8:12; Matthew 4:13-16; 2 Corinthians 4:6). Jesus had to return to heaven commissioning his followers to bring Light to the World (Matthew 5:14-16; Ephesian 5:8). Only God and Christ are the Source of Light, like the stars are sources of physical light. God's people are to be like the stars that reflect the Light of God. The Scripture says in Philippians 2:15, "While we live 'in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,' we, as believers, are to 'shine as lights in the World.'"
In the Book of Matthew (24:14), Jesus said,"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the World as a witness to all nations, and then the End will come." Jesus Christ made it clear that the Light of God's Truth would be powerful preached preceding Christ's return. In 1John 2:8, he says, "the Darkness is passing away, and the True Light is already shining.
The latter half of 2 Peter 1:19 says, "You must pay close attention to what the Prophets wrote, for their words are like a Lamp shining in a dark place -until The Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts." The Morning Star and the Sunrise are used to picture the return of Christ.
God, speaking through Malachi (4:2), said, "But to you who fear My Name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves."
For those who are spiritually asleep, awake and be prepared for the New Day of Christ's glorious reign on Earth. (Romans 13:11-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8).
THE PLANET VENUS AND ITS BEHAVIOR.
Going away from the Sun, the 4 solid and rocky planets that orbit around it are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
Venus is the same size as Earth and is our closest planetary neighbor. The mean surface temperature of the planet is 870F while the Earth is 72F. Venus is hotter than Mercury even though it is twice as far from the Sun as Mercury.
Venus's atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide with thick yellow-white clouds of sulfuric acid; these clouds becomes highly reflective -reflecting about 70% of incoming sunlight back into space. They are largely responsible for the high heat on the surface of the planet because of their "greenhouse effect" on the incoming energy from the Sun. Venus is the third brightest luminary in our sky -only the Sun and the Moon are brighter. For long periods of time, Venus becomes bright enough to cast shadows on Earth. The atmospheric pressure on Venus's surface is 92 times that of the Earth. That is about the same pressure as being 1 km/1.6 mi under water, in which our bodies are instantly squashed and burned.
Venus orbits the Sun in about 225 earth-days, while the Earth does it in about 365 days. Venus rotates in its axis slowly and in the opposite direction from all the other planets in our solar system except Uranus. The Sun rises in the West and sets in the East. It takes 243 earth-days to make one rotation, therefore "One Venus Day" is longer than "One Venus Year."
The periods of Venus as "Evening Star" and "Morning Star" each average about 263 days. In between, Venus disappears from our view on the Near side of the Sun for about 8 days, and from the the Far side of the Sun for about 50 days. The entire cycle is made in 584 days.
Venus is the third brightest luminary in our sky -only the Sun and the Moon are brighter. For long periods of time, Venus becomes bright enough to cast shadows on Earth.
Venus has phases like the Moon: full, half, quarter, crescent, etc. The planet appears to us at its brightest when its phase is only a quarter or less. When Venus is its full phase, it is on the opposite side of the Sun, the farthest possible distance from Earth. As the orbits of Earth and Venus bring them closer together (on the same side of the Sun), Venus appears brighter even though we are seeing only a quarter of the planet.
A Venus passage occurs when we can see Venus passing directly in front of the Sun. It is similar to a Solar Eclipse, when the Moon passes in front of the Sun. This passage can only occur with the inner planets -Mercury and Venus- because they are the only 2 that can lie between the Earth and Sun during their orbits.
Venus passages usually come in pairs, with each passage spaced 8 years apart. We are in the midst of the first and second passages of this millennium. It is a rare once-in-a-lifetime event. The last Venus Passages (pair of) occurred in 1874 and 1882. The next pair will occur in 2117 and 2125.
The English word "Friday" is derived from the Anglo-Saxon "Frigedaeg," meaning "Venus Day." The name Venus comes from the Roman goddess of beauty and love.
Sunday, 3 January 2016
ANIMISM
Animism is the doctrine that tends to view life as taking the form of discrete spirits that were the inhabitants of the spiritual world and were the vital force of the universe itself. All natural objects and the universe are believed to have souls and they preexisted the physical realm and weren't generated from our existence and experience in the physical world.
According to animism there was once a "mythic reality," a spiritual age when heavens and earth had not yet separated. Each entity in this world took part in the mythic reality of his divine ancestor, their lives were fulfilled and their powers maximized.
This belief is shared by all ancient societies around the world, who did not worship their gods just in its simple manifestation of the physical realm, instead, they graded them according to its powerful dominance in the physical realm that preexisted before in their mythic reality. Rocks and trees, among physical things, were the most closely approach to represent models of spirits that previously dwelt in the world of shadows, because they did not change or decay easily in their physical image, instead, they were more inclined to preserve the integrity of their identity, either in the physical or the spiritual realms. Another examples are: mountains, turtles; preservatives like salt and spices; preserved foods; the sun, moon and stars, etc.
Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher, was also a believer that anything we perceive in the physical world, in order for us to recognize it as anything at all, must correspond to some spiritual origin, or eternal, preexistent in our minds. In this sense any physical thing had a soul -a mental original that endowed it with its being and its identity.
Platonism and Jungian psychology are indebted to animism. Plato's concept is portrayed as a time when the soul lived among the Forms and learned to know of them by experiencing them directly. Plato's concept of Forms had its roots in old notions of the spiritual and animistic world of the ancestral gods.
The Forms were autonomous. In a sense they were living entities of their own conscious.
Jung's animistic concept of his philosophy is thought as the modern-day heir of animistic thinking, based in the mythological world view that still is present and alive in our unconscious world. We are still thinking, at least unconsciously, along animistic lines.
According to animism there was once a "mythic reality," a spiritual age when heavens and earth had not yet separated. Each entity in this world took part in the mythic reality of his divine ancestor, their lives were fulfilled and their powers maximized.
This belief is shared by all ancient societies around the world, who did not worship their gods just in its simple manifestation of the physical realm, instead, they graded them according to its powerful dominance in the physical realm that preexisted before in their mythic reality. Rocks and trees, among physical things, were the most closely approach to represent models of spirits that previously dwelt in the world of shadows, because they did not change or decay easily in their physical image, instead, they were more inclined to preserve the integrity of their identity, either in the physical or the spiritual realms. Another examples are: mountains, turtles; preservatives like salt and spices; preserved foods; the sun, moon and stars, etc.
Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher, was also a believer that anything we perceive in the physical world, in order for us to recognize it as anything at all, must correspond to some spiritual origin, or eternal, preexistent in our minds. In this sense any physical thing had a soul -a mental original that endowed it with its being and its identity.
Platonism and Jungian psychology are indebted to animism. Plato's concept is portrayed as a time when the soul lived among the Forms and learned to know of them by experiencing them directly. Plato's concept of Forms had its roots in old notions of the spiritual and animistic world of the ancestral gods.
The Forms were autonomous. In a sense they were living entities of their own conscious.
Jung's animistic concept of his philosophy is thought as the modern-day heir of animistic thinking, based in the mythological world view that still is present and alive in our unconscious world. We are still thinking, at least unconsciously, along animistic lines.
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