May 2019 – Eternity

17 Israel – Shabbat – May 31, 2019

Avinu Malkeinu (Janowski) by Park Avenue Synagogue’s Cantors – Azi Schwartz – Published on Sep 28, 2017 – Cantors Azi Schwartz, Shira Lissek and Rachel Brook – From “Moments of Awe, Music of the High Holidays” 2017

As you view the Jews in the above video, keep this verse in mind:

Deuteronomy 14:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

2 For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

Throughout each day, keep this key verse in mind:

Psalm 122:6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.

Introduction.

The earth is spinning on its axis at the equator at the speed of 1,000 miles per hour. As the earth is rotating, the darkened earth is being blessed by the first glimpses of the sun that will bring the dawn of Friday morning. As the earth continues with its race to sunset, turning from east to west, the Sabbath will mark its presence, and beginning, at the setting of the sun. Sabbath will continue from sunset on Friday, until sunset on Saturday. Jews will join for worship on the Sabbath. Other non-Jews will pay honor and respect to the Sabbath.

The purpose of this article is to help non-Jews to gain a better appreciation for Shabbat. There is also a goal of making known to all, Jew and Gentile alike, that there will be a thousand years of Sabbath worship in the Kingdom Age of the Millennium, that awaits those whom have been born again, of all times.

A Discussion: Shabbat, Shabbos, Sabbath

Shabbat (also known as “Shabbos” or the “Sabbath”) is the centerpiece of Jewish life, and has been so since the infancy of our nation. According to the Talmud, Shabbat is equal to all the other commandments. Shabbat is so central to Jewish lifeShabbat is the centerpiece of Jewish life that the term shomer Shabbat (Shabbat observer) is synonymous with “religious Jew” in common parlance. https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/633659/jewish/What-Is-Shabbat.htm

We will consider the connection between the Sabbath and Holiness.

Our discussion begins in history past.

Consider the creation.

Genesis 1:1 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:31 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

31 God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Genesis 2:1-4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

2 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

Consider the Sabbath in Creation.

Notice that it was the seventh day that God sanctified (6942).

sanctified: וַיְקַדֵּ֖שׁ (vay·kad·desh): 6942: to be set apart or consecrated: denominative verb from qodesh
6942. Transliteration: qadash: Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-dash’)
6942. verb denominative be set apart, consecrated

Notice that “sanctified” is tied to the following words of Holiness.
Sinai, tabernacle, tent of meeting, 7th day, feasts, Sabbath, God, His name

Notice how Sabbath and Holiness draw together in the relationship that existed between God and the Jews. As you read the following verses, consider God’s Holiness in each passage.

Exodus 16:23 then he said to them, “This is what the Lord meant: Tomorrow is a sabbath observance, a holy sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning.”

Exodus 16:29 See, the Lord has given you the sabbath;

Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Exodus 20:10 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God

Exodus 20:11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

Exodus 31:13 “But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.”

Exodus 31:14 Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you.

Exodus 31:15 For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord;

Exodus 31:16 So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.

Exodus 35:2 “For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a holy day, a sabbath of complete rest to the Lord”

Leviticus 11:44 For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.

Leviticus 16:31 It is to be a sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls; it is a permanent statute.

Let’s consider worship in our current church age.

Sabbath Worship, as well as all of the other requirements of the Law, were fulfilled by Christ (Matthew 5:17-18). Believers in Christ are not required to worship on the Sabbath, but there should be an honor and appreciation for the Sabbath. God made the Sabbath; He made the Sabbath Holy. No one can move the Sabbath to another day of the week to meet their desires.

The Sabbath begins each Friday at sunset, and ends on the next day (Saturday) at sunset. We can’t buy marking powder, “mark off the Sabbath” so that we can see its boundaries, and rent a backhoe and dig up the Sabbath and move it to a more preferred day of the week. That just won’t work! What we can do is, “remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy” (Exodus 20:8).

Let us consider future prophecy.

As we go from past to future, we will see something that probably lapses from many minds of Christians. Once the rapture has taken place (John 14:2-3,6; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), the church will “be no more.” From Revelation 4:1, through the end of the book of Revelation, there is no mention of the church, because it has been removed from the earth in the rapture. The tribulation is discussed in 4:1 through 19:21. The millennium (Kingdom Age) continues from 20:1 through 20:15. The eternal state begins in 21:1 and continues through the end of Revelation, 22:21. The church has served its purpose. Its born again believers in Christ have been taken to Heaven by Christ (John 14:2-3, 6). Notice, that in John 14:6, “Christ takes the raptured believers to heaven;” this verse relates to much more than a belief in Christ.

The church age born again believers, resurrected and raptured, will rule and reign with Christ for the thousand-year reign of Christ (Rev 20:4), which is the Kingdom Age of the Millennium (thousand years). These same raptured believers will be immortal in their heavenly bodies (1 Cor 15:50-54), and will go from, and back, to Heaven, as they serve Christ.

On earth, during the millennium, there will be people that were not taken up in the rapture; they will have accepted Christ during the Tribulation, through a relationship of belief and trust in Him, having been born again, and allowed to enter the Kingdom Age of the Millennium (Matt 24:40-41…Jews; the one taken (unbeliever) will be taken to judgment; the one left (born again believer) will be left to enter the Kingdom Age. Matthew 25:46…Gentiles; unbelievers to be taken to eternal punishment; born again believers to enter the Kingdom Age).

Those whom will be in the Kingdom will be Jew and Gentile, but will also be “one in Christ” (Gal 3:28-29). The Jews will have been accustomed to Sabbath worship; the Gentiles may have knowledge of Sabbath worship, but may not have actually observed the Sabbath. For the Gentiles, they will come “face to face” with the reality of the following passage of scripture, Isa 66:22-23, with key focus on vs 23. The blessing of John 3:3 will be made obvious (“unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” NASB). All those whom had been born again will observe the Sabbath in the Kingdom Age. Such participants will be the Old Testament Saints; the Tribulation Saints (Jew and Gentile, deceased and living, at the end of the Tribulation); the deceased saints of the church age that are resurrected, and the saints that will be alive and caught up in the rapture of the church (John 14:2-3, 6).

Isaiah 66:22-23 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

22 “For just as the new heavens and the new earth, Which I make will endure before Me,” declares the Lord, “So your offspring and your name will endure. 23 “And it shall be from new moon to new moon And from sabbath to sabbath, All mankind will come to bow down before Me,” says the Lord.

Note. 66:22 your descendants…remain. National Israel will have a never-ending existence through the Millennium, and on into the new heavens and the new earth throughout eternity (MacArthur study note).

Note. 66:23 All flesh…worship before Me. All humanity will participate in worshiping the Lord at stipulated times during the temporal phase of the messianic kingdom (MacArthur study note).

The Prophet, Ezekiel, also discussed the millennial Sabbath worship.

Ezekiel 46:3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

3 The people of the land shall also worship at the doorway of that gate before the Lord on the sabbaths and on the new moons.

We see the fulfillment of Isaiah 66:23 in Ezekiel 46:3. Jews and Gentiles are “the people of the land” that are present during the Millennium. Jews and Gentiles will observe the Sabbath in the Kingdom Age. There are other Jewish type observances for which those whom are “one in Christ,” will participate in the Millennium, and will be discussed in future articles.

Please let me greet all of my friends with the words that will be shared among Jews, and among some Christians and Jews. That greeting is “Shabbat Shalom,” which means, “Sabbath of Peace.”

A Shabbat of Peace For All

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14 – Israel – Exodus 25-40 – The Tabernacle In The Desert

We Glorify The Lamb – Terry MacAlmon – Terry MacAlmon Official.
Published on Mar 21, 2015 – Taken from “Pikes Peak Worship Festival”, a live worship DVD by Terry MacAlmon. The DVD was published in 2007.

I. Introduction.

A. In our previous study of the “Tent Of Meeting,” Israel 12 – Yahweh Shammah – The Tent Of Meeting – Exodus 33, we discussed “a certain tent” that Moses would pitch where he would go inside and meet with God. Scripture does not tell of any furnishings that may have been present in this tent, “The Tent Of Meeting.” But in, “The Tabernacle in the desert,” also known as the “Tent of Meeting,” there were furnishings, as well as other things, with each having its own spiritual purpose. In this article, we will discuss “The Tabernacle in the Desert,” and those things that were present in that tabernacle.

B. God commissioned the construction of the tabernacle/sanctuary (Exodus 25:8-9, 1491 B.C.). The Tabernacle in the Desert was completed (Exodus 40:33, 1490 B.C.). The Glory of God was present in this tabernacle.

C. God commissioned King Solomon to build the first temple in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 28:6, 1015 B.C.). Solomon finished the construction of the temple in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 5:1, 1004 B.C.). The Glory of God was present in this, “Solomon’s Temple.”

D. After Solomon’s Temple was destroyed in 586 B.C., it was rebuilt by Zerubbabel, finishing it in 515 B.C. However, the Glory of God was not present in Zerubbabel’s temple.

E. King Herod remodeled Zerubbabel’s Temple, but the Glory of God was not present in “Herod’s” temple. Herod’s temple was destroyed in 70 A.D.

F. There will be a temple that will be build during the tribulation, but it will not be one of Godly legitimacy. The Glory of God will not be present in the tribulation temple.

G. It will only be when Christ sets up His Millennial Kingdom that there will be a Godly Temple in Jerusalem. During the time that Christ was in Jerusalem He never entered into the temple’s “Holy of Holies;” the reason is that He “is” the “Holy of Holies!”

H. God will build a temple in Jerusalem that will be present during the future millennium of the Kingdom Age (Ezekiel 37:25). The prophet Ezekiel saw the glory of God in a vision entering the millennial temple (Ezekiel 43:1-7, 574 B.C.), which will make the temple of the Kingdom Age a Godly occupied temple, and very legitimate.

I. It is important to understand that regarding the law, including Temple worship, Christ has fulfilled all of the requirements of the Law, with that fulfillment being finished on the cross at Calvary. It is only through the finished work of Christ on the cross that anyone can have salvation (Matthew 5:17; John 1:29; John 4:19-24; John 19:30).

J. In this series of articles on the dwelling places of God, in our next article we will study Solomon’s Temple, which will be followed by a study of the temple of the Kingdom Age (Millenium). We will not study any temple not having the indwelling Presence of God. We will conclude the dwelling places of God with a study on the indwelling presence of God’s Holy Spirit in the spirit of born again believers in Yeshua Ha’Mashiach.

K. The significance of key Tabernacle items:

1. The Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 26:33) is the seat of God’s gracious presence.
2. The Mercy Seat is a type of Christ, our Propitiation (Exodus 25:16-22). The Mercy Seat was positioned “above” the ark which held the covenant, the “law.”
3. The Table of Bread (Exodus 25:23-30; 26:35). The “Table Bread” is a type of Christ, the Bread of Life.
4. The Lampstand (Exodus 25:31). The Candlestick is a type of Christ, the Light of the World.
5. The Veil (Exodus 26:31-35). The curtain separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.
6. The Altar of Burnt Offering (Exodus 27:1). The Bronze Altar is a type of Christ, our Substitute and Sacrifice.
7. The Bronze Laver (Exodus 30:17-20). The Laver is a type of Christ, our cleansing and regeneration.
8. The Altar of Incense (Exodus 30:1). The Incense Altar is a type of Christ, our Intercessor and Advocate.

II. The following video discusses “The Tabernacle In The Desert.”

The Ark and the Tabernacle – A Faith Kids Bible Story Video

III. Description Of The Tabernacle And Its Components.

A. God’s Order To Construct The Tabernacle In The Desert.

1. The Tabernacle To Be Constructed (Ex 25:1-9). (A Holy Place, A Sanctuary). Exodus 25:8-9 New American Standard Bible (NASB).

8 Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. 9 According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it.

The tent (Ex 26:36). The tent of meeting (Ex 29:42). The tabernacle of the testimony (Num 17:7).

2. The ark and the mercy seat (Ex 25:10-22).
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex+25%3A10-22&version=NASB

Ex 25:10-16 The ark (not Noah’s ark) that held the tables of the law (or “the testimony” vs 16), a pot of manna, and “Aaron’s rod that budded” (“Numbers 17:5-8,” Hebrews 9:4).
Ex 25:17 A mercy seat (a covering). It was not only the lid for the ark, but also the place where sins were covered, thus the place of propitiation.
Ex 25:22 Ark of testimony. So called because it contained the law (vs 16).

3. The table for the bread .(Exodus 25:23-30).
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex+25%3A23-30&version=NASB

The table held the “bread of the Presence” and certain utensils (Ex 25:29). “Bread of the Presence means bread laid before God, in His Presence. Each of the 12 tribes was equally important to God, and He was the one who met their needs (John 6:32-35).

4. The Lampstand (Exodus 25:31-40).
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex+25%3A31-40&version=NASB

The gold lampstand was an upright shaft, from each side of which 3 branches extended. The lampstand provided light for the ministering priests, and typified Christ, the Light of the world.

5. The Curtains (Exodus 26:1-14)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex+26%3A1-14&version=NASB

Ex 26:1-6 Curtains. The inside curtains that covered the wooden framework of the Tabernacle.
Ex 26:7-13 Curtains. These curtains covered the inner linen curtain.
Ex 26:14 Two additional coverings. Some believe that these coverings were used as a wrapper when the Tabernacle was being moved.

6. The Boards (Ex 26:15-30).
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex+26%3A15-30&version=NASB

The walls of the Tabernacle were apparently not solid, but of a trellis-like construction that allowed the beauty of the linen curtains to be visible from the inside.

7. The Veils (Ex 26:31-37).
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex+26%3A31-37&version=NASB

Ex 26:31-35 The inner veil separated the Holy Place (which contained the Altar of Incense, the lampstand, and the table for the bread) from the Most Holy Place, or Holy of Holies (which contained the ark and the mercy seat). The veil barred all but the high priest from the Presence of God, but when it was torn in two at the death of Christ (Mark 15:35), access to God was made available to all that come through Him (Heb 10:19-22).
Ex 26:36-37 The outer veil hanging at the eastern end of the Holy Place functioned as a door to the tent.

8. The Bronze Altar (Exodus 27:1-8).
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex+27%3A1-8&version=NASB

Ex 27:1-8 The “altar” was made of wood covered with bronze. The sacrifices were made on it. “Horns” were used to bind the sacrificial animals to the altar (Ps 118:27). “Basins” were used to catch the blood of the animals.

9. The Court (Ex 27:9-19).
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex+27%3A9-19&version=NASB

The court of the tabernacle was screened with linen curtains 7.5 feet high to provide privacy for the worshipers inside. The tabernacle itself took up only about 1/15 of this area.

10. The Oil (Ex 27:20-21).
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex+27%3A20-21&version=NASB

The “oil” obtained from olives that were beaten, rather than crushed, would be of finer quality, burning more brightly and with less smoke.

11. The Priests’ Garments (Ex 28:1-43).
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex+28%3A1-43&version=NASB

12. The Priests’ Consecration (Ex 29:1-46).
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex+29%3A1-46&version=NASB

13. The Altar Of Incense (Ex 30:1-10).
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex+30%3A1-10&version=NASB

The “altar of incense” stood before the curtain that shut off the Most Holy Place, or Holy of Holies. Incense was burned on it, morning and evening, when the priest tended to the lamp. (Ex 30:34-38 describes the composition of the incense).

14. The Atonement Money (Ex 30:11-16).
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex+30%3A11-16&version=NASB

15. The Laver (Ex 30:17-21).
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex+30%3A17-21&version=NASB

The “bronze laver” was made from mirrors (Ex 38:8), and stood between the altar of burnt offering and the door of the Tabernacle. The bronze laver was used for the ritual cleansing of the priests.

16. The Anointing Oil (Ex 30:22-33).
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex+30%3A22-33&version=NASB

The “holy anointing oil” was highly perfumed and was to be used only for the prescribed consecrations of the Tabernacle and its furnishings (vs 26-29). vs 29, The Tabernacle and its furnishings were made holy, i.e., set apart for God’s service. Holiness was transmitted to the priests who touched them. Others who touched the Holy items would die (2 Sam 6:7).

17. The incense (Ex 30:34-38).
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex+30%3A34-38&version=NASB

Ex 30:35. Salted to assure rapid burning of the incense, and to preserve it until used.

II. The construction of the Tabernacle completed.

Exodus 40:33 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

33 He erected the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the veil for the gateway of the court. Thus Moses finished the work.

III. The Tabernacle Filled (indwelt) By The Glory Of The Lord.

Exodus 40:34-35 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

40:34 “the cloud covered…the glory of the Lord filled.” This was the final confirmation for Moses and the people that all the work for setting up God’s dwelling place had been properly done and all the tedious instructions obediently followed. (MacArthur Study Bible note).

35 Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

40:35 The intensity of the Presence of God is evident in that even Moses was not able to enter the Tabernacle. There are other instances of the power of God’s Presence. See 1 Kings 8:10-11; 2 Chr 5:13-14; 2 Chr 7:1-2

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Memorial Day – “Lest We Forget”

For The Saluting Marine – DipperSethJohnston17 – 5,057,470 views

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13 New International Version)

Rolling Thunder https://www.rollingthunderrun.com/

Rolling Thunder Washington, DC, Inc’s mission is to educate, facilitate, and never forget by means of a demonstration for service members that were abandoned after the Vietnam War. The Rolling Thunder First Amendment Demonstration Run has also evolved into a display of patriotism and respect for all who defend our country.

Lest we forget (phrase)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lest_we_forget_(phrase)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The phrase “Lest we forget” is commonly used in war remembrance services and commemorative occasions in English speaking countries, in particular Remembrance Day and ANZAC Day.[1] Before the term was used in reference to soldiers and war, it was first used in an 1897 Christian poem written by Rudyard Kipling called “Recessional”. The phrase occurs eight times; and is repeated at the end of the first four stanzas in order to add particular emphasis regarding the dangers of failing to remember.

‘God of our fathers, known of old,
Lord of our far-flung battle line,
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!’

The concept of ‘being careful not to forget’ was already present in the Bible (Deuteronomy 4:7-9):

7″For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? 8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy son’s sons ….”[2]

This Biblical quote is probably a direct source for the term in the 1897 poem.[according to whom?] This is consistent with the main theme of the “Recessional” poem – that if a nation forgets the true source of its success (the “Lord God of Hosts” and His “ancient sacrifice” of “a humble and contrite heart”) – its military or material possessions will be insufficient in times of war.[citation needed]

The poem “Recessional” also appears as a common hymn at war remembrance services; and the phrase “Lest We Forget” can hence be sung.[3]

The phrase later passed into common usage after World War I across the British Commonwealth, especially becoming linked with Remembrance Day observations; it became a plea not to forget past sacrifices, and was often found as the only wording on war memorials,[4] or used as an epitaph.

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The Life of Christ – John 1:1-18

God’s Word Becomes Flesh | English | The Life of Jesus | 1 of 49
The life of Jesus Published on Mar 12, 2017 (See details below)

Translation In Video

John 1:1-18 Good News Translation (GNT)

The Word of Life

1 In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 From the very beginning the Word was with God. 3 Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. 4 The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.

6 God sent his messenger, a man named John, 7 who came to tell people about the light, so that all should hear the message and believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came to tell about the light. 9 This was the real light—the light that comes into the world and shines on all people.

10 The Word was in the world, and though God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own country, but his own people did not receive him. 12 Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God’s children. 13 They did not become God’s children by natural means, that is, by being born as the children of a human father; God himself was their Father.

14 The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father’s only Son.

15 John spoke about him. He cried out, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘He comes after me, but he is greater than I am, because he existed before I was born.’”

16 Out of the fullness of his grace he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another. 17 God gave the Law through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the same as God and is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

Video text – Modern Translation
https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Good-News-Translation-GNT-Bible/
https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GGRV_enUS751US752&ei=L0rpXMXZBu2ygge-rIPAAQ&q=what+kind+of+translation+is+the+good+news+translation&oq=what+kind+of+translation+is+the+good+news+translation&gs_l=psy-ab.12..0i22i30.5289.11834..14244…1.0..0.136.2672.10j16……0….1..gws-wiz…….0i71j35i39j0j0i20i263j33i22i29i30j33i299.Y4zrKLuz3lU

My Daily Reading Translation

John 1:1-18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Deity of Jesus Christ

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

The Witness John

6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Word Made Flesh

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John *testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

NASB Translation – Formal Equivalence

https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-American-Standard-Bible-NASB/

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+kind+of+translation+is+the+NASB&rlz=1C1GGRV_enUS751US752&oq=what+kind+of&aqs=chrome.1.69i59l2j0l4.11911j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Study Tools (1) https://biblehub.com/ (2) https://www.biblegateway.com/

Video Series Information

The History Of The Jesus Film Project https://www.jesusfilm.org/about/history.html

The life of Jesus Published on Mar 12, 2017
————————————————-
The Gospel of John was written two generations after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
It is set in a time when the Roman Empire controlled Jerusalem.
Although crucifixion was the preferred Roman method of punishment, it was not one sanctioned by Jewish law.
Jesus and all his early followers were Jewish.
The Gospel reflects a period of unprecedented polemic and antagonism between the emerging church and the religious establishment of the Jewish people.

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Israel 15 – Shabbat Candle Blessing

Shabbat Candle Blessing – Valley Outreach Synagogue

Psalm 46:10-11 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

10 Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the heathen, and I will be exalted in the earth.

11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Valley Outreach Synagogue & Center for Jewish Life
Published on Jan 24, 2011

Jack Bielan’s setting of the Shabbat Candle Blessing performed at High Holidays by the Valley Outreach Synagogue Choir and Orchestra. The soloist is Bronwen Li-Paz. Valley Outreach Synagogue is located in Woodland Hills, California. The Spiritual Leader of V.O.S. is Ron Li-Paz and Jack Bielan is the Musical Director.

http://www.vosla.org

http://www.JackBielan.com

From Jack Bielan’s album “From The Heart Of A Jewish Soul” – available at http://www.JackBielan.com/Music-From_…

Sheet music is available at http://www.jackbielan.com/Sheet_Music…

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Revelation Chapter 7 – Tribulation Missionaries And Martyrs

Paul Wilbur Baruch – Haba Blessed Is He Who Comes – Juan Rodriguez
Published on Dec 12, 2010.

The opening video tells the story of Matthew 23:37-39, which is discussed in this article.

Matthew 23:37-39 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. 38 Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! 39 For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

(See * references at the bottom of this page.)

Introduction

As we study Revelation Chapter 7, it is important to know that Revelation Chapter 6 shows the persecution of Jews and Gentiles whom will have come to faith in Christ after the rapture has taken place (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). We now see in Chapter 7, 144,000 Jews whom have come to saving faith in Christ during the Tribulation, and whom will preach the gospel of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-12), and will share the message of salvation “by belief in Christ” (John 3:16), to others whom also missed the rapture. The gospel of the Kingdom (the thousand-year reign of Christ) will immediately follow the tribulation, and will also be taught (Matthew 24:14) by “these 144,000 Jews.” As unsaved people come to saving faith in Christ, they will find themselves in the gun sites of the forces of the anti-christ. They will also find themselves in the path of the judgments of God that will be released upon the earth (Examples, Revelation 6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12; 8:1).

It is important to understand that, “this gospel of the kingdom” shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come (Matt 24:14). It has improperly been taught in many church circles today that, “the Gospel” (1 Corinthians 15:1-12) shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. “The end” will be the end of the Tribulation. The “gospel of the Kingdom” tells of the thousand-year reign of Messiah/Christ. Of course, the “gospel” of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ will also be taught by the 144,000 Jewish missionaries, and by whomever they may disciple. Jews look back to the promise of a Kingdom for Israel, which dates back to Genesis 17:6 (approximately 2069 B.C., Thompson Chain Reference Bible); God will honor that promise which He made to Israel.

It is also important to know that we, in the church age, will not usher in the Kingdom Age. Christians will have nothing to do with the coming of the Kingdom Age. The Kingdom Age will come when Christ returns to earth at the end of the tribulation, and will happen when saved Jews in the Tribulation call upon Christ to return to earth to save them from their persecutions and judgments.

Matthew 23:39 “For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

* Christ’s public teaching ministry was over. He withdrew from national Israel until the time “yet future” when they will recognize Him as Messiah (Rom. 11:23–26). Then Christ quoted from Ps. 118:26.

**** At His second advent, the saved Jewish remnant (the nucleus of the millennial kingdom) will recognize their once-rejected Messiah-King and will welcome His return (Zech 12:10-13:1; Rom 11:26) to set up His earthly rule over Israel and the nations.

Zechariah 12:10 “… so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.

*Israel’s repentance will come because they look to Jesus, the One whom they rejected and crucified (cf. Is. 53:5; John 19:37), in faith at the Second Advent (Rom. 11:25–27).

It is easy to understand that unsaved Israel is the cause of the Tribulation, and not born again believers in Christ of the church age.

Revelation 7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

* 7:1–17 Chapter 7 forms a parenthesis between the sixth seal (6:12–17) and the seventh seal (8:1) and answers the question posed at the end of chap. 6. Two distinct groups will survive the divine fury: 1) 144,000 Jewish evangelists on earth (vv. 1–8) and 2) their converts in heaven (vv. 9–17).

Revelation 7:4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The 144,000 Jewish Evangelists “at the beginning of the Tribulation”

4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

The discussion of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists reveals that they were successful in leading many others, “whom had been unbelievers,” to saving faith in Christ. We will see in this article that the 144,000 Jews were saved, “through the tribulation.” We see the truth of God’s protection of these 144,000 Jews in Revelation 14:1, where the same number of the Jewish evangelists is seen standing with Christ at the end of the tribulation on Mount Zion (earthly Jerusalem).

Revelation 14:1 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The 144,000 Jewish Evangelists “at the end of the Tribulation”

1 Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.

These Jewish evangelists will be present at the beginning of the tribulation, and will be present at the end of the tribulation. God will protect them. The Jewish evangelists will be saved, “through” the tribulation.

Article Text And Notes

Revelation 7:1-3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

An Interlude

1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”

*** 7:3 The judgments are delayed until these 144,000 Jewish people can be “sealed;” i.e., protected supernaturally.

The 144,000 Sealed Jewish Evangelists

4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

* 7:4 One hundred and forty-four thousand. A missionary corps of redeemed Jews who are instrumental in the salvation of many Jews and Gentiles during the Tribulation (vv. 9–17). They will be the firstfruits of a new redeemed Israel (v. 4; Zech. 12:10). Finally, Israel will be the witness nation she refused to be in the OT (see notes on Rom. 11:25–27). all the tribes of the children of Israel. By sovereign election, God will seal 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes, promising His protection while they accomplish their mission.

5 from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, 6 from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, 7 from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.

A Multitude from the Tribulation

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

* 7:9 a great multitude. While the tribulation period will be a time of judgment, it will also be a time of unprecedented redemption (cf. v. 14; 6:9–11; 20:4; Is. 11:10; Matt. 24:14). all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues. All the earth’s people groups. white robes.

10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,“Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

7:11 elders. See note on 4:4. four living creatures. See note on 4:6.

* 4:4 twenty-four elders. Their joint rule with Christ, their white garments (19:7, 8), and their golden crowns (2:10) all seem to indicate that these 24 represent the redeemed (vv. 9–11; 5:5–14; 7:11–17; 11:16–18; 14:3; 19:4). The question is which redeemed? Not Israel, since the nation is not yet saved, glorified, and coronated. That is still to come at this point in the events of the end. Their resurrection and glory will come at the end of the 7 year tribulation time (cf. Dan. 12:1–3). Tribulation saints aren’t yet saved (7:9, 10). Only one group will be complete and glorified at that point—the church. Here elders represent the church, which sings the song of redemption (5:8–10). They are the over-comers who have their crowns and live in the place prepared for them, where they have gone with Jesus (cf. John 14:1–4).

* 4:6 sea of glass. There is no sea in heaven (21:1), but the crystal pavement that serves as the floor of God’s throne stretches out like a great, glistening sea (cf. Ex. 24:10; Ezek. 1:22). four living creatures. Lit. “four living ones or beings.” These are the cherubim (sing., cherub), those angels frequently referred to in the OT in connection with God’s presence, power, and holiness. Although John’s description is not identical to Ezekiel’s, they are obviously both referring to the same supernatural and indescribable beings (Pss. 80:1; 99:1; see notes on Ezek. 1:4–25; 10:15). full of eyes. Although not omniscient—an attribute reserved for God alone—these angels have a comprehensive knowledge and perception. Nothing escapes their scrutiny (cf. v. 8).

12 saying, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” 14 I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

* 7:14 the great tribulation. See notes on 3:10; 6:1, 9, 12. These people did not go with the raptured church, since they were not yet saved. During the 7 year period they will be saved, martyred, and enter heaven. Though it is a time of unparalleled judgment, it is also a time of unparalleled grace in salvation (cf. Matt. 24:12–14). washed their robes. Cf. 19:8. Salvation’s cleansing is in view (see Titus 2:11–14). blood of the Lamb. This refers to the atoning sacrifice of Christ (cf. 1:5; 5:9; Rom. 3:24, 25; 5:9).

** 7:14 The question has been raised concerning the time pictured in this vision. This picture of the martyrs as being before the throne of the Lamb is similar to Chapters 5 and 6.

** 6:9-11 The vision shifts from earth to Heaven, and John sees a vision of those who will be martyred for their faith in Christ. These martyrs have come from the tribulation scene on earth. The church has already been raptured; the dead in Christ have been raised from the dead before the time pictured here. The plea of the martyrs for righteous judgment is that their persecutors are still living. Additional martyrs will be added to their number. In a word, they are to wait until the time of Christ’s return in power and glory when God will deal in summary judgment with the earth.

2 Corinthians 5:8. “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” The 6:9-11 deceased martyrs are with God in Heaven. The murder is continuing on earth (during the tribulation) of believers in Christ. See 7:15.

15 For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.

* 7:15 His temple. This refers to the “heavenly throne” of God (see note on 11:19). During the Millennium there will also be a temple on earth—a special holy place where God dwells in a partially restored, but still fallen, universe (see Ezek. 40–48). In the final, eternal state with its new heavens and earth, there is no temple; God Himself, who will fill all, will be its temple (21:22). dwell among them. The preferred reading is that He “will spread His tent over them.” God’s presence will become their canopy of shelter to protect them from all the terrors of a fallen world and the indescribable horrors they have experienced on the earth during the time of tribulation.

16 They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

*** 7:15-17 Having died or been martyred during the Tribulation, this great multitude are seen in heaven enjoying its blessings.

* 7:17 shepherd. In a beautiful mix of images, the Lamb has always been the Shepherd (Ps. 23; John 10:14ff.; Heb. 13:20).

As previously stated, God’s promise to Israel is “the Kingdom” which will be fulfilled after the time of tribulation. The promise that has been made to born again believers in Christ of the church age is that we will be taken to heaven to dwell with Christ forever, “prior to the tribulation” (John 14:2-3); wherever Christ may be, “His raptured born again believers will be with Him.”

Consider the following video that discusses the 144,000 Jewish evangelists of the tribulation.

Who are the 144,000, and what power has God given to them?
John Ankerberg Show Published on Sep 28, 2018
From the series “Revelation: The Last Words of Jesus” featuring very special guests Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. Ed Hindson, and, Dr. Mark Hitchcock. To obtain this entire series, please visit https://www.jashow.org/resources/the-…

Consider the following video that discusses the martyrs of the Tribulation.

Who are the ones who are martyred during the Tribulation period?
John Ankerberg Show Published on Oct 30, 2015
How much prophetic material did God put in the Bible? How many times does the Bible mention Christ’s Second Coming? Where does the Bible teach the doctrine of the Rapture? Where is Imminence (that Christ could return any moment) taught in Scripture?

* MacArthur Study notes.
** Walvoord Study notes.
*** Ryrie Study notes.
**** Unger Commentary notes.

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Israel 14 – Shabbat – God’s Words To The Jews

Most Beautiful Shabbat Video Ever!!!! Published on Sep 29, 2014 -Shabbat.com Filmed at the Klatzko Family Shabbat home in Monsey, NY.

It is almost 8 PM on the east coast of the United States of America. As I am completing this article that will be published and posted on my blogs, I am very aware that the earth on which we reside, is speeding on its axis with the result being the arrival of Sabbat on each part of our earth on Godly predetermined times of a twenty-four hour day. Therefore, I must use the mindset of “haste-not waste” as I try not to become a Cinderella type of pumpkin.

The earth is rotating on its axis at a speed of 1,000 miles per hour at the equator. There are 24 time zones in the world, with each time zone being 15 degrees in width at the equator. Therefore, twenty-four time zones, being 15 degrees wide (at the equator), gives us a world of 360 degrees width. If the speed of the earth’s rotation would be 10,000 miles an hour, or ten times its current speed, the earth would move so fast that the earth would never warm from the sun’s rays, which would cause everybody on earth to freeze to death. Consider, also, the heating and burning effect of the sun on the people of the earth, if the earth’s rotation would be 100 miles an hour, or one-tenth of its present speed. With this stated perfection of the earth’s rotation, I will ask this question: “Didn’t God do a good job in creating the earth?” Sorry folks, “no big bang!” Explosions result in a scattering effect of disorder. God’s creation of the world, resulted in perfect order, with the Sabbath Day being the capstone of God’s perfection in creation.

Let’s consider a view of God’s creation of earth, as it is shown in the following video from the moon, on Christmas Eve 1968. Also consider the reading of the Bible from their lunar orbit by the U.S. astronauts. All of the Apollo 8 astronauts were members of the U.S. military.

Matthew Tietje Published on Dec 23, 2013

Think about the coming of the Sabbath on each Friday morning that you wake from sleep. With your mind, move throughout your day, with the knowledge that God is in the process of bringing about Holiness, in each of the 24 time zones, one hour apart. I think that you will gain an appreciation for Shabbat that escapes most believers in Christ. Consider the darkness of Thursday night, ending in the dawning of Friday morning. Consider darkness becoming dawn, dawn becoming day, day becoming evening, evening becoming dusk, and sunset, and the Sabbath arriving at the end of the day (Friday), and lasting 24 hours, until sunset on Saturday evening.

Let’s now consider God, the Sabbath, and the Jews, which is the spiritual tie that draws “that three” together (Imagine a triune Godly relationship).

Exodus 16:23-29 (NASB)

The Sabbath Observed

23…tomorrow is a sabbath observance, a holy sabbath to the Lord. 29 …the Lord has given you the sabbath;

Exodus 31:12-18 (NASB)

The Sign Of The Sabbath

12 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 13“But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 14Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you….15For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord….16So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.’ 17It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”

Exodus 20:1, 8-11 (NASB)

1 Then God spoke all these words, saying, 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,10 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

Leviticus 23:1-3 (NASB)

Laws Of Religious Festivals

1 The Lord spoke again to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord’s appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations—My appointed times are these: 3 “For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath to the Lord in all your dwellings.

Leviticus 23:23-25 (NASB)

23 Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. 25 You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord.’”

Leviticus 25:1-4 (NASB)

The Sabbatic Year And Year Of Jubilee

1 The Lord then spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you come into the land which I shall give you, then the land shall have a sabbath to the Lord. 3 Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its crop, 4 but during the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord; you shall not sow your field nor prune your vineyard. Deuteronomy is the record of Moses’ words of explanation concerning the law.

Deuteronomy 5:1, 12-14 (NASB)

The Ten Commandments Repeated

1 Then Moses summoned all Israel and said to them:“Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I am speaking today in your hearing, 12 ‘Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.

Deuteronomy 15:1 (NASB)

The Sabbatic Year

1 At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts.

Deuteronomy 14:2 (NASB)

2 For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth

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John 1:14-18, “The Word Became Flesh”

100huntley Published on Dec 7, 2017 – Robbie continues his weekly series and this week the focus is Christmas Truth. Robbie talks about the theology around the Incarnation. The series is based on John 1:14

John 1:14-18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Word Made Flesh

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Israel 12 – Yahweh Shammah – The Tent Of Meeting – Exodus 33

In The Presence Of Jehovah – Terry MacAlmon

Introduction – We now begin a series of discussions on the relationship of God and His chosen people, Israel. We will consider God’s Presence in, “The Tent Of Meeting, The Tabernacle In The Desert, Solomon’s Temple, and the Millennial Temple” (Ezekiel’s Temple is also known as the Millennial Temple). We will begin this study with an examination of the Tent Of Meeting.

Of key significance to this study is the end wording of Ezekiel 48:35.

Ezekiel 48:35 The Message (MSG) 35… “From now on the name of the city will be Yahweh-Shammah:
“God-Is-There.” The city is Jerusalem. The time is that of the thousand-year millennial reign in the Kingdom Age.

In each of the following discussions of: “Tent of meeting, Tabernacle in the desert, Solomon’s Temple, and Ezekiel’s Temple,” the Glory of God will be found to be Present in each structure . Ezekiel’s Temple is, yet future, in the Kingdom Age of the Millennial reign of Christ. For the purposes of born again believers in Christ, we know the truth of 1 Corinthians 6:19: “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you.”

As born again believers in Christ, we worship God, whose Holy Spirit resides within our spirit. But, why do we worship and praise God? The answer to this question is simple. We worship God because He is worthy of our worship and praise.

Psalm 19 New International Version (NIV)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Consider “the Glory of God,” as we continue with this article.

Haggai 2:7: “I will fill this temple with glory.” (520 B.C.)

When we consider “the temple,” we must go back to a point in time when there was no Jewish temple; such a time is described in Exodus 33:7 (1491 B.C.). From there, we turn around and go forward as far as we possibly can go. So, hop on board! You’ll enjoy the ride!

The Tent Of Meeting – Yahweh Shammah

Exodus 33:7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp.

Let’s say that you’re an Israelite in 1491 B.C. You have been traveling with the other Jews as you have fled the oppressive Egyptians, and have made a tent encampment in an area that has only dirt, sand and dust on the ground. You don’t know it yet, but your travel will last forty years. On this particular day, your mind and eyes are focused on “the walk of Moses,” as you have become accustomed. Freshly and deeply stored in your mind is the knowledge that God has provided for all of your needs during these recent days. You know that God took you from the oppressive hand of the Egyptians. You saw God opening the Red Sea for you to flee to safer land. You are experiencing intimacy with God through God’s gift to you of the Sabbath and the Law. You are gaining a greater understanding of the creative and sustaining power of God (Elohim, Genesis 1:1). Today, as in previous days, you are being exposed to the intimacy of the Presence of the LORD (Yahweh, Exodus 33:7, 11), as His Glory becomes visible in the pillar of cloud at the tent where God meets with Moses (Exodus 33:10).

Let’s say that it is late in the afternoon, just prior to dusk. The sun is going down, nearing the horizon. Suddenly you, and the other Israelites, go to the door of each of your tents! Why? Moses is walking in between your rows of tents on his way to the tent of meeting. All of you and your neighbors are aware that a time of Holiness is in the making. Moses is no longer a young man; being eighty years of age at this time in his life. He doesn’t move with the quickness or agility that he did as a young man; still, he makes this regular stroll; he may even walk with the aid of a cane or staff. As Moses walks past the doorway of your tent, and continues in the direction of the “Tent,” where he will experience the holiness and glory of God, the sun is staring him in the face. With each step that Moses takes, dust is kicked up behind him and finds a resting place on the lower edge of his robe. You see the evening haze, just above the horizon, with the setting sun casting various colors of red, yellow, brown. You see Moses arriving at the door of the tent; you see him entering the tent, and you know that waiting for him is, “God!” Yes! The Glory of God had also entered the Tent! You know that God and Moses are about to enter into serious conversation. You have never had such an experience of Holiness! You, and all of the others in your encampment … you stand at the doors of your tents, and … you … all of you…”worship”!

The following video will help you to understand that which I have written in the above paragraph. The scriptures are Exodus 33:7-14.

Moses and the Tent of Meeting

Exodus 33:7-11 NASB (1491 B.C.)

The Tent of Meeting 7-11 – Moses, God, Joshua

7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp. 8 And it came about, whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and gaze after Moses until he entered the tent. 9 Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and the Lord would speak with Moses. 10 When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would arise and worship, each at the entrance of his tent. 11 Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

There are two points of interest that I would like to discuss that pertain to vs 7-11.

First of all, 33:7 has a description of “tent” that needs to be investigated. Different translations say: a tent, the tent, his tent. The KJV states “the tabernacle,” which is far from the context of this passage. The NKJV uses, “his tent.” The NLT uses, “The Tent Of Meeting,” which states its purpose, but not its ownership. “A tent” is used by NIV, CSB, HCSB, KJV2000. “The tent” is used by ESV, NASB/NAS, ISV, NET, ASV. “The tabernacle” is used by KJV and KJV21. The Interlinear Hebrew uses, “his tent.” Strong’s Concordance uses “a tent” to describe the Hebrew (ha·’o·hel). All of the above descriptions of “a tent, the tent, his tent, tabernacle, tent of meeting,” will find acceptance in most conversations. However, I think that we need a more clearly defined description of that structure in which God and Moses met.

In order for me to provide a credible conclusion on the matter of “tent,” I chose a commentary on the Book of Exodus, from The New American Commentary set of individual commentaries. The writer is Dr. Douglas K. Stuart; see his bio below.

Consider the conclusion on the tent that is made by Dr. Stuart: “Starting with the timing of 33:7, Moses employed “a certain tent” (quotation marks mine) as a symbolic substitute for the actual Tent of Meeting, the tabernacle.” My conclusion is that of Dr. Stuart, “a certain tent.”

Another matter of discussion is that of 33:11: “… Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.”… We will stay with Dr. Stuart in his discussion on the tent of meeting. Joshua’s not leaving is not intended to imply that he lived in it – only that his own tent was nearby so that he could serve as its custodian. Joshua thus lived outside the concentrated Israelite encampment. Joshua was called Moses’ “young aide” not because he was immature but because he was so much younger than Moses, who was eighty at this point. Forty years later, Joshua may himself have been eighty years old (or more) when he led the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan (A reasonable inference from Joshua 13:1, 23:1).

BIO: Douglas K. Stuart (born February 8, 1943) is Professor of Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, an interdenominational Evangelical Seminary.[1] He received his B.A. magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1964, spent two years at Yale Divinity School, and in 1971 received his PhD in Near Eastern Languages and Literature from Harvard University, on meter in Hebrew Poetry. Other data on Dr. Stuart is contained in this link of information: https://christianuniversity.org/professors/douglas-k-stuart-ph-d/

Consider the purpose for a detailed examination of Bible scriptures.

Acts 17:10-11 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Paul at Berea

10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

My note. The “Jews” at Berea heard Paul’s preaching. Then, they examined the scriptures, which were Old Testament . There was no New Testament at this time (53 A.D. Scofield Study Bible).

My deep interest in 33:7 and 33:11. These two verses told me a lot about that which was going on while the Israelites were desert dwellers. But, I wanted to know more than that which just meets the eye. My mind is of an investigative nature. My twenty-eight years of military service in the radar field, involved operating radar scopes, training others to operate radar scopes, and evaluating trainee radar operators so that they could operate radar scopes while under no supervision. Also, working as a private investigator, and commercial and residential inspector, have given me “an inquiring mind” (you’ve probably heard that one before). My spiritual drive comes from Ephesians 4:12:”

Ephesians 4:12 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

Holy Are You Lord – Terry MacAlmon

Re: the two Terry MacAlmon videos: Terry MacAlmon Official – Published on Mar 21, 2015. Taken from “Pikes Peak Worship Festival”, a live worship DVD by Terry MacAlmon. The DVD was published in 2007.

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Israel 13 – Shabbat – The True Light – John 1:6-13

How to light Shabbat candles? Yahaduton Published on May 27, 2013

A woman brought “The Light” into the world.

Isaiah 7:14 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Isaiah’s Prophecy Of The Light

14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

The Birth Of The Light

Matthew 1:23-25 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

Christ, “God with us,” (Isaiah 7:14/Matthew 1:23)

John 1:6-13 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

John The Baptist’s Witness Of The Light

Exodus 16

The Sabbath, “Holy To The Lord.” The Sabbath, “God’s Gift To The Jews.”

23 Tomorrow is a sabbath observance, a holy sabbath to the Lord. 29 See, the Lord has given you the sabbath.

Exodus 31

The Sign of the Sabbath, “Between God And The Jews.”

12 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 13 “But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 14 Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you….16 So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.’ 17 It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”

Please allow me to wish you, “Shabbat Shalom,” which mean “Sabbath Of Peace.” Shabbat/Sabbath begins on Friday at sunset, and ends on Saturday at sunset.
What Does “Shabbat Shalom” Mean?

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Verses – John 1:1-5

john 1:1-5 Alex Welgraven Published on Oct 23, 2015

John 1:1-5 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Deity of Jesus Christ

Notes: MacArthur Study Bible

John 1:1 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1-5&version=NASB
John 1:3 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1-5&version=NASB
John 1:4-5 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1-5&version=NASB
John 1:5 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1-5&version=NASB

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Tribulation People – Part II

Sweet Beulah Land [Live] – Gaither Music TV – Squire Parsons – Official Video for ‘Sweet Beulah Land [Live]

The message of the opening song is about the catching up of the saints, the Kingdom Age, the new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem. Let’s continue with the following article (Tribulation People – Part II), which tells of the people that will be left behind from the rapture of the church, and who will not have an eternal presence with God. If you have not read “Tribulation People – Part I,” please check the following link:

https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/2019/05/01/tribulation-people-part-1/

Isaiah 62:4 King James Version (KJV)
4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

62:4 Hephzibah…Beulah. The terms mean “My delight is in her” and “Married,” reflecting a full restored relationship with the Lord. (MacArthur Study Bible)

2 Corinthians 5:7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight—

5:7 The Christian can hope for a heaven he has not seen. He does so by believing what Scripture says about it and living by that belief (see note on Heb. 11:1; cf. John 20:29). (MacArthur Study Bible)

John 14:2-3, 6 (NASB) Heaven is gained, only through Christ. Christians to be taken there, only by Christ.
2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Let’s consider the second coming of Christ, when Christ will stand on Earth; it will be fearful for those which will be “dwelling on the earth,” who are also called “earth dwellers.” For those whom have not been born again, they will see the second coming of Christ; it will at the end of the tribulation, during which time horrible things will have been happening in all four corners of the earth. For unbelievers, the second coming of Christ will have no joy for them.

Revelation 1:7 New American Standard 1977
BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. Even so. Amen.

MacArthur Study Bible note. they who pierced. “the Jews who were actually responsible for Christ’s death” (Acts 2:22, 23; 3:14, 15). all the tribes…will mourn. The mourning of the rest of the earth’s inhabitants is not that which accompanies genuine repentance (cf. 9:21). It is the result of guilt for sin and fear of punishment (6:16; cf. Gen. 3:8–10).

Zechariah 14:1-4 New American Standard Bible (NASB) God Will Battle Jerusalem’s Foes
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech+14%3A1-4&version=NASB
Revelation 19:11-21 (NASB) Christ will kill His enemies.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rev+19%3A11-21&version=NASB
Matthew 24:29-31 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Christ will return after the tribulation
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matt+24%3A29-31&version=NASB
There will be atmospheric disruptions. Great mourning will come from all whom have survived the tribulation. All of those whom are alive will see Christ. Christ will judge the unbelievers, through death; they will be sent them to the Judgment Seat of Christ (Matt 25:41) to be resurrected, judged,
and cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:10-15).

Knowing Christ

To know Christ as Lord and Savior guarantees an eternal Presence with Him, and to be protected by Him by being removed from earth before the onset of the persecutions and judgments that will take place during the tribulation. It is important to know that God will be in charge of all of the things that will happen to those on earth that will be left behind from the rapture of the church. Consider that at the beginning of each series of judgments, “seal, trumpet, bowl,” there are statements that identify God as being the designer and conductor of all that will happen. The following verses are examples of God’s involvement in the events of the tribulation.

Revelation 6:1 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The First Seal
1 Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.”

Revelation 8:1-2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Seventh Seal—the Trumpets
8 When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

Revelation 16:8-9 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Fourth Bowl Judgment
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. 9 Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.

After the rapture of the Church, and until the second coming of Christ, the tribulation will bring about the following judgments upon “all whom dwell on the earth,” (Rev 3:10). The earth dwellers will continue to defy God throughout the tribulation (Rev 3:10, 6:10, 8:13, 11:10, 13:8, 13:14, 17:8), even as they see the effects of the persecutions of the anti-christ and the judgments of God, as follows:

The Seven Seals (Rev 6:1-8:6). 1.The Conquerer/The Antichrist 2. Conflict On Earth 3. Scarcity On Earth 4. Widespread Death 5. Martyrdom. 6. Physical Disturbances.
The Seven Trumpets (Rev 8:7-9:21). 1. 1/3 of vegetation burned. 2. 1/3 of the seas struck. 3. The Waters Struck. 4. The Heavens Struck. 5. Increased Demonic Activity. 6. 1/3 Of Mankind Killed..
The Seven Bowls (Rev 15:1-16:21). 1. Painful Sores. 2. The Sea Turns To Blood. 3. The Waters Turn To Blood. 4. Men Are Scorched. 5. Darkness And Pain. 6. Euphrates Dried Up. 7. Greatest Earthquake And Destruction.

The purpose of the tribulation is described in the following verses of scripture.

Jacob’s Distress

Jeremiah 30:7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
7 ‘Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress,
But he will be saved from it.

MacArthur Study Bible note. 30:7 time of Jacob’s trouble. This period of unprecedented difficulty for Israel, as the verse defines, is set in a context of Israel’s final restoration. It is best equated with the time of tribulation (cf. vv. 8, 9) just before Christ’s Second Advent, mentioned elsewhere (Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21, 22) and described in detail by Rev. 6–19.

The Seventieth Week Of Daniel

Daniel 9:20 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Daniel’s Prayer For Israel

20 Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God,

John Walvoord note. As Daniel expresses it, it was accomplished “while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God.” My note. It is clear that Daniel’s prayer relates to the sins of Israel, and has nothing to do with born again believers in Christ of the church age.

Daniel 9:24 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Seventy Weeks and the Messiah (Weeks of years)

24 “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.

MacArthur Study Bible. 9:24. This highly complex and startlingly accurate prophecy answers Daniel’s prayer, not with reference to near history, but by giving the future of Israel in the final end of the age. God promises 2 sets of 3 accomplishments each.

First, those related to sin are:

1) finish the transgression, i.e., restrain sin and Israel’s in particular in its long trend of apostasy, as in v. 11; 2) make an end of sins, i.e., to judge it with finality (cf. Heb. 9:26); and 3) make reconciliation for iniquity, signifies to furnish the actual basis of covering sin by full atonement, the blood of the crucified Messiah who is “cut off” (v. 26), which affects the first two realities (cf. the fountain, Zech. 13:1).

Second, those accomplishments related to righteousness are:

1) bring in…righteousness, the eternal righteousness of Daniel’s people in their great change from centuries of apostasy; 2) seal up vision…, i.e., no more revelation is needed and God will bring these anticipations to completion by their fulfillment in Israel’s blessing as a nation; and 3) anoint the Most Holy, consecrate the Holy Place in a temple of the future that will be the center of worship in the millennial kingdom (cf. Ezek. 40–48). Clearly this must be understood to sweep to the end of Gentile power and the time of Antichrist right before Christ’s return. Summing up, the first 3 are fulfilled in principle at Christ’s first coming, in full at His return. The last 3 complete the plan at His Second Advent.

As is stated in the prophecies of Jeremiah and Daniel, the tribulation happens for the purpose of restoring Israel to fellowship with God. There is nothing stated in scripture about the tribulation having anything to do with the born again body of believers in Christ. Through the tribulation, the leading of God is for Jews to come to saving faith in Christ, as Messiah. May it be that Jews will come to know the truth of Isaiah’s prophecy of Christ being, “God with them.”

Isaiah 7:14 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”

A few more thoughts about the tribulation, “its purpose, and its inhabitants.”

As we continue with our study of the end times, the understanding of saving faith in Christ will become more important to those of us whom have named Christ as our Lord and Savior, that because of our faith in Christ we will be caught up by Christ prior to the time of the tribulation. For those whom do not have such saving faith in Christ, they will be left behind from the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), and will remain on earth to come under the Godly ordained persecution of the anti-christ and judgments of God. The purpose of the tribulation will be to bring unsaved Israel to a relationship of belief in Christ as Messiah. Gentiles whom will also be left behind, will also have the opportunity to come to saving faith in Christ. There is no purpose for “church age” born again believers in Christ to come under the persecution of the anti-christ or the judgments of God, neither of which will make any believer more holy, or more worthy of eternal life with God. It will only be the sin of unbelief that will cause anyone to be “left behind” (John 1:29, John 3:3). Without the rapture of church, “everyone” in the whole world would be left behind, which would include infants and those whom are unable to make a decision for Christ. For those of us whom have been born again, at the time of our new birth our born again spirit began to dwell within the Spirit of “Father, Son and Holy Spirit;” at the time of our new birth, the Spirit of “Father, Son and Holy Spirit,” began to dwell within our born again spirit (John 14:16-17, 20). At the time of our new birth: we have a new spirit, (2 Cor 5:17), that is as pure as the Spirit of Christ (2 Cor 5:21, 1 John 1:5), with Christ’s Spirit residing in our spirit (Col 1:27). At the time of the catching up of the saints, each deceased or living born again believer in Christ will have their body changed into an eternal, and non-decaying, body (1 Cor 15:50-54). No amount of persecution or judgment can make a born again spirit to be any more holy. Anyone, “without the new birth and saving faith in Christ,” faces an eternity that is described in Revelation 20:10-15.

As you listen to the following song, consider a relationship with Christ … with its heights, depths, and swings of emotion. The closing scripture tells of a born again believer’s walk with Christ, with every such believer being eternally secure in Christ.

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow [Live] – Gaither Music TV – George Younce,Larry Ford – Official Video for ‘I Know Who Holds Tomorrow [Live]

Philippians 3:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

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https://thechurchoftheopendoor.wordpress.com/
Christian And Jew

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Tribulation People – Part 1

Just Give Me Jesus – Anne Graham Lotz – Carole Inman – Promotional video for Just Give Me Jesus, a free revival for women with Anne Graham Lotz, Fernando Ortega, Jill Briscoe and Stephanie Seefeldt.

Two articles will be used to discuss the subject of “Tribulation People.” The following text is Part I of the study. Part II will soon be published.

An Intimate Relationship With Christ – The Key To Protection From The Tribulation – The Key To Eternal Life In Christ

In the opening video, the words of Anne Graham Lotz are of eternal significance. Consider the words of Christ.

John 17:3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

The significance of having an intimate relationship with Christ is key. If you have such a relationship, your spirit dwells within the Spirit of Christ, and the Spirit of Christ dwells within your spirit. Christ will not be present during the tribulation, neither will anyone be there whose spirit dwells within the Spirit of Christ.

The truth of John 17:3 is a textbook definition of that which is required for anyone to have eternal life. The formula that creates a life, where we will spend an eternity with God, is that of an intimate relationship with God the Father, through God the Son, being empowered by God the Holy Spirit. The first two words of the verse are the power of the verse: “This is!”… Eternal life begins at the time that anyone “knows” God intimately, through belief in Christ as Lord and Savior.

John 3:16 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Just as eternal life begins at the time of belief in Christ, there is permanency in that saving relationship of belief.

John 10:28 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”

A Definition Of The Tribulation

https://www.chafer.edu/content.cfm?id=389#T
CHAFER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Tribulation – The eschatological seven literal years (Daniel 9:27; Revelation 11:3; 12:6) which is the end of the Age of Israel and of divine discipline against Israel, following the Rapture of the Church, and terminating with the Second Advent of Christ. The Church Age is an intercalation–a period of time inserted into the Age of Israel. The Tribulation is the fulfillment of Israel’s seventieth and last week, the latter half of which is the time of Jacob’s trouble, the Great Tribulation (Daniel 9:24-27; Jeremiah 30:7; Matthew 24:15-21; Revelation 6:1–19:21).

Sources of end times information and study.

All of us read things that have been written by other people. It is important, therefore, for us to select the works of Christian authors whom have shown themselves to be knowledgeable in the things of God’s Word that they speak of publish. It has been my pleasure to have been a student of the end times since 1976. The pastors, lecturers, authors and seminary instructors, of whom I have studied their works and listened to their words, have shown to have an understanding of the end times in which I find agreement.

The following links will show the names of my sources of information, as well as examples of their works and educational status. These theologians have provided a lot of documentation, and ideas, that have helped me to compose and publish my own articles.

https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/library/ (Works of sources)

https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/sources-of-information/ (Education of sources)

A Discussion Of The Tribulation

We need to be assured that Christ is, “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14/Matthew 1:23). For those, that are left behind from the rapture, they will need to read articles such as this one. They will also need to see videos that show that “Christ wants to be God with them.”

Have you ever been with someone who was dying? I have. I was with my mother when she drew her last breath; my brother died alone. My mother and brother were born again believers in Christ; they went from this life to the Presence of God (2 Corinthians 5:8). But, think about all of the people that will die during the time of the Tribulation, with many of them dying alone.. not having the promise of eternity with God.

All of whom will find themselves in the Tribulation, will have been left behind from the rapture; some of them will accept Christ as Lord and Savior during the tribulation, with no condemnation awaiting them (Romans 8:1); others will stay in their sin of unbelief (John 3:18), and will face the judgment of the Great White Throne Judgment and the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10-15). Those, having become saints during the tribulation, may die to this life but will wake to the blessings of being in the eternal Presence of God (Revelation 7:9-17). Those, not having come to saving faith in Christ, will die to this life and will be awakened to the Presence of the Great White Throne Judgment.

Consider the many people that will suffer and die during the tribulation, with many of them having come to saving faith in Christ. Those who come to belief in Christ will be known as “tribulation saints.” The “unbelievers” will continue to be known as unbelievers, with the Great White Throne Judgment awaiting them. Consider the following verses that tell of the violent deaths that will take place during the tribulation.

Revelation 6:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB) The Fourth Seal—Death
8 I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Revelation 6:9 New American Standard Bible (NASB) The Fifth Seal—Martyrs
9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;

Revelation 9:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB) The Sixth Trumpet—Army from the East
15 And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind (the angels are demons, Ryrie Study Bible).

It is important to know that God will be in charge of the above judgments (Revelation 6:7, 6:9, 9:13).

There are two truths that reveal the joy, or fear, of the return of Christ to earth. One truth of His return (known as the rapture of the church) will be of Christ catching up His born again believers to Heaven. The other truth of His return (known as the second coming of Christ), will be for Him to return to Earth with His raptured believers, “from Heaven”, to judge sin and to set up His thousand-year Kingdom on Earth. The first return, where Christ will return in the air and not stand on Earth, will be joyous for those which have been born again, and will occur prior to the tribulation. The second return, where Christ will stand on Earth, will be fearful for those whom will be “dwelling on the earth,” and who will be known as “earth dwellers;” this return will occur at the end of the tribulation. For those which will have come to belief in Christ during the tribulation, His post-tribulation return will become joyous for them because they will be allowed to enter into the Kingdom of God on Earth (Matt 24:40-41, Jew; 25:34, Gentile); such an entry into the Kingdom was prepared for them, “from the foundation of the world.” John 3:3 is key. “No one can see the kingdom of God without having been born again.”

Let’s consider the joyous return of Christ in the catching up of the church, when Christ comes in the air, but does not stand on Earth. Notice that in the following scripture examples, nothing but good awaits those whom will be raptured up from the earth prior to the tribulation. For church-age born again believers in Christ, they look to the rapture and the good things that will follow. There is nothing of consequence for these born again believers whom will be caught up in the rapture; they will miss the consequences of not having being born again, to come under the Godly ordained persecution of the anti-christ and the judgments of God that will take place during the tribulation. Let’s consider three passages that tell of the catching up of the saints, and the joy that will follow.

John 14:1-6 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Forever with Christ

1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Note. Christ will come to take His born again believers to the place in Heaven that He has prepared for them (1-4). Christ will personally take His believers to their place in Heaven (5-6). Many people see only the reward of belief in Christ in vs 6; but, it is clear from the verse that Christ will personally take His raptured saints from earth, “to Heaven.” During this journey, the saints will go to the judgment seat of Christ for rewards (2 Cor 5:10), and will continue to the marriage of the Lamb (Rev 19:7-8). Because of the rapture of the church, the saints will be guaranteed a seat at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9), which will take place in the millennial Kingdom after they return from Heaven with Christ for the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 19:11-21). The church age saints will not only be taken to heaven by Christ, but they will also rule and reign with Christ on Earth during the thousand-year Kingdom Age (2 Tim 2:12). These raptured saints will come and go, from Heaven to Earth, and from Earth to Heaven. Raptured saints “will not” be present for punishment at the Great White Throne Judgement (Rev 20:10-15), but will have an eternity in the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem, where they will dwell eternally with God (Rev 21:1-5). It is important to know that without the catching up of they saints, none of the above events will take place. Without the rapture taking place, believers in Christ will come under the same persecutions and judgments that are prescribed for the unbelievers of the tribulation.

1 Corinthians 15:50-54 New American Standard Bible (NASB) The Mystery of Resurrection

50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.

In the above rapture passage, it shows that mortal human beings can not be allowed entry into in Heaven. Deceased and living saints will be given bodies that are changed to be immortal, through the resurrection of the dead saints and the catching up of the living saints. The resurrected and raptured bodies of the saints will be made immortal; they will spend eternity in heaven, and will never die.

“A MYSTERY.” Consider the MacArthur Study Bible note. 15:51 mystery. This term refers to truth hidden in the past and revealed in the NT. See notes on 2:7 and Eph. 3:4, 5. In this case, the rapture of the church was never revealed in the OT. It was first mentioned in John 14:1–3, when it is specifically explained and is detailed in 1 Thess. 4:13–18 (see notes there). sleep. See note on v. 18.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+cor+15%3A51&version=NASB

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Those Who Died in Christ
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

In this last passage about the catching up of the saints, we see the following. We are not to grieve the deaths of saints, “as is the case when unbelievers die.” Christ will descend from heaven; a shout of a trumpet will announce His descent from heaven to earth. He will raise up the bodies of the deceased saints, which are called “the dead in Christ,” and then will “catch up” the saints that are alive. These deceased and living saints will be caught up with Christ in the air, to always be with our Lord. There is no scripture that states that unbelievers will see the coming of Christ in the air to catch up His saints.

Titus 2:13 New American Standard Bible (NASB) The blessed hope
“looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,”

The above passage states that the coming of Christ for His saints will be glorious. Only good things will follow for the caught up saints to experience. Notice the words, “for His saints.” Nothing in the rapture relates to unbelievers.

Part I of “Tribulation People” has been concluded. Part II will soon be published.

Give Me Jesus! (Rev. Billy Graham/Fernando Ortega) – TarHeel4Christ –

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