When The Of Man Arrives
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Posted:Aug 10, 2015 7:54 pm
Last Updated:Aug 25, 2015 4:11 am 6662 Views
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Matthew 25:31+32 “When the of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Jesus' prophecy about the last days reveals that he will for the very first time act as Judge of all nations after the destruction of false religion.
Some of the events that will occur during that time are recorded:
Matthew 24:29-31 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the of man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief, and they will see the of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity.
When you examine those verses, you will note that Jesus there foretells events that are similar to the ones he mentions in the parable of the sheep and the goats.
Matthew 25:33-46 And he will put the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right: ‘Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world*. For I became hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you received me hospitably; naked and you clothed me. I fell sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous ones will answer him with the words: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and receive you hospitably, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ In reply the King will say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left: ‘Go away from me, you who have been cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. For I became hungry, but you gave me nothing to eat; and I was thirsty, but you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger, but you did not receive me hospitably; naked, but you did not clothe me; sick and in prison, but you did not look after me.’ Then they too will answer with the words: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying: ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of these least ones, you did not do it to me.’ These will depart into everlasting cutting-off, but the righteous ones into everlasting life.”
* 'the founding of the world' here refers to the beginning of satan's system of things and not the creation.
For example, the of man comes with glory and with angels; all tribes and nations are gathered; those judged as sheep 'lift [their] heads up' because 'everlasting life' awaits them.
Those judged as goats 'beat themselves in lamentation,' realizing that 'everlasting cutting-off' awaits them.
Luke 21:25-28 Also, there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and its agitation. People will become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth, for the powers of the heavens* will be shaken and then they will see the of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory but as these things start to occur, stand up straight and lift up your heads, because your deliverance is getting near.”
* 'the powers of the heavens here refers to the powers of the governments of man.
Which of these positions will you choose?
The position of the sheep or of the goats?
The choice needs to be made now!
You can't wait until false religion has been destroyed as it will be much too late.
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Such an important choice.
Yours,
Katidid.
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Be Transformed
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Posted:Aug 10, 2015 4:14 pm
Last Updated:Sep 21, 2015 4:56 am 3941 Views
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Romans 12:2 And stop being molded by this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, so that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The transformation involves what we are inside, so to bring it about, we need something that can penetrate the surface, reaching deep inside us.
What can help us in that way?
When we learn what Jehovah God requires of us in harmony with His purpose as stated in the Bible, our response to what we read reveals what is in our heart and what adjustments we need to make in order to act in accord with 'the perfect will of God.'
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints from the marrow, and is able to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart.
If we allow Jehovah to mold us, the transformation that results is internal, or spiritual - precisely what we need in order to combat worldly influences.
Isaiah 64:8 But now, O Jehovah, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are our Potter; We are all the work of your hand.
How many times have we been urged to read the Bible daily and to be regular in attending Christian Meetings, where God's word is being considered.
Why have we been encouraged to do these things?
It is because by doing so, we are submitting ourselves to Jehovah's molding.
Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of Jehovah, and he reads His law in an undertone day and night.
Acts 17:11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they accepted the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
Hebrews 10:24+25 And let us consider one another so as to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking our meeting together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you see the day drawing near.
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An excellent 'thought for the day' for your consideration.
Love Katidid.
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The Scene Of The World Is Changing
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Posted:Aug 10, 2015 6:44 am
Last Updated:Aug 10, 2015 6:44 am 3901 Views
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We have all seen major changes in the world in our own lifetimes.
Certainly we have heard the stories of our Parents and Grandparent's eras and have realized the differences that have occurred in just the past 100 years.
Some changes have been helpful to us, like:
...vaccinations against diseases;
...advances in medical procedures:
...rapid expansions in communications worldwide;
...amazing transportation modes;
...changes for the better in our human rights; and many more,
Unhappily though, most changes have been for the worse.
We can't ignore the raging increases in:
...materialism;
...pride and arrogance;
...nationalism;
...crime;
...drug and alcohol abuse;
...divorce rates and broken families;
... born out of wedlock;
...pollution and environmental destruction;
...corruption in all spheres of life;
...the amount of risk taking people are prepared for;
...dramatic decreases in moral values; and,
...the obvious slide into depravity and barbarism.
We are now living in a time when peoples' attitudes reflect an 'anything goes' mentality and 'if it feels right, do it' - regardless of the impact on others.
1Corinthians 7:29-31 Moreover, this I say, brothers, the time left is reduced. From now on, let those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who weep as those who do not weep, and those who rejoice as those who do not rejoice, and those who buy as those who do not possess, and those making use of the world as those not using it to the full; for the scene of this world is changing.
The 'scene of this world' is like a stage drama - changing to suit a given need where the actors are our prominent, influential politicians, business people and religious leaders who take their part in the play and then depart from the stage. They come and they go.
There is no security in them or their establishments.
Now, some say 'these things have always been happening' or that 'it has always been this way' but our own eyes and senses show us that the pace of change is daily accelerating. Since 1914 when Christ took His position as King of God's Kingdom and satan and his demons were cast down to the earth all things have been changing rapidly.
The major difference is the marked regression of standards that were normal prior to that time and it is the behaviour of people that is the crux of the change. The effects felt by all peoples' to these changes is the huge increases in stress, depression and anxiety at all levels of societies never before seen in history.
We know why the world is going down this path but were and when will it all end?
Revelation 12: 7-9+12 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them any longer in heaven. So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him...On this account be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing that he has a short period of time.
Jehovah God designed the earth and its inhabitants for peace, happiness and security but satan in his losing position wants only to cause us the same ugly disposition and state of mind that he himself has put himself into....that of chaos, distress and hopelessness, and he is pulling the strings, make no mistake about it.
Matthew 4:8+9 Again the Devil took him along to an unusually high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory and he said to him: “All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me.”
John 14:30 I will not speak with you much more, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has no hold on me
1John 5:19 We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one
2Corinthians 4:1-5 Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy that was shown us, we do not give up but we have renounced the shameful, underhanded things, not walking with cunning or adulterating the word of God; but by making the truth manifest, we recommend ourselves to every human conscience in the sight of God. If, in fact, the good news we declare is veiled, it is veiled among those who are perishing, among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through. For we are preaching, not about ourselves, but about Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.
Hebrews 2:14 Therefore, since the “young ” are sharers of blood and flesh, he also similarly shared in the same things, so that through his death he might bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death, that is, the Devil
Revelation 2:12+13 To the angel of the congregation in Pergamum write: These are the things that he says who has the sharp, long, two-edged sword: ‘I know where you are dwelling, that is, where the throne of Satan is; and yet you keep holding fast to my name, and you did not deny your faith in me even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed by your side, where Satan is dwelling.
What is the 'scene' changing to?
Like a play or a movie - 'the plot thickens'. The pace of the drama quickens and this is how we can tell the end of the play is near.
So it is with the world's present scene.
Numerous Bible prophecies tell us of this time - right throughout the Bible. It is not ambiguous and there are multiple 'signs'.
1913 has been described by some as 'the last completely normal year in history' saying things like - 'in 1913 we thought utopia was coming but instead in 1914 the whole world blew up'. More people were killed in this century than in the world's entire history previously. The world changed never to recover. Certainly not by man's hand.
There is no mistaking this 'time of the end' with the 'plot thickening' just like an enormous stage play.
So what are some of the happenings that lead up to the end of this system of things - the the beginning of the tribulation?
1Thessalonians 5:1-3 Now as for the times and the seasons, brothers, you need nothing to be written to you. For you yourselves know very well that Jehovah’s day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. Whenever it is that they are saying, “Peace and security!” then sudden destruction is to be instantly on them, just like birth pains on a pregnant woman, and they will by no means escape.
The world's people and its leaders will think they are the crux of matters but events will prove them wrong.
Revelation 17:15-18 He said to me: “The waters that you saw, where the is sitting, mean peoples and crowds and nations and tongues. And the ten horns that you saw and the wild beast, these will hate the and will make her devastated and naked, and they will eat up her flesh and completely burn her with fire. For God put it into their hearts to carry out his thought, yes, to carry out their one thought by giving their kingdom to the wild beast, until the words of God will have been accomplished. And the woman whom you saw means the great city that has a kingdom over the kings of the earth.”
Kings = the political factions of the world.
= the false religions of the world.
The kings of the earth will think it is their idea to destroy the but it is Jehovah God working out His Word and fulfilling His prophecies which will culminate in Armageddon.
Daniel 2:44 “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. And this kingdom will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it alone will stand forever,
The world's governments will be completely obliterated and they will be replaced by God's Kingdom ruling from the Heavenly realm with Jesus Christ as King.
We need to keep our focus upon the things of God.
Most people don't think about Jehovah God. Their confidence is in the governments of the world and in materialism and this is their focus.
This worldly attitude can rub off on us if we allow ourselves to be distracted from the important things, from reality. We need to keep our focus on the fact that all things have unfolded and are unfolding exactly as Jehovah has said they would.
How wonderful it will be to have the earth cleanse of all demonic influence, thinking and practices.
Do the prospects confronting the world cause you stress or anxiety?
True, there are things to come upon this system of things that will be very unpleasant.
So how do we face the coming tribulation?
By not fearing and by putting our trust in Jehovah. Just as Hezekiah set a wonderful example for us we need to 'lift up our heads' to the coming joy that is awaiting us.
2Kings 19:15-20, 32-36 And Hezekiah began to pray before Jehovah and say: “O Jehovah the God of Israel, sitting enthroned above the cherubs, you alone are the true God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth. Incline your ear, O Jehovah, and hear! Open your eyes, O Jehovah, and see! Hear the words that Sennacherib has sent to taunt the living God. It is a fact, O Jehovah, that the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands. And they have thrown their gods into the fire, because they were not gods but the work of human hands, wood and stone. That is why they could destroy them. But now, O Jehovah our God, please save us out of his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are God, O Jehovah.” Isaiah of Amoz then sent this message to Hezekiah: “This is what Jehovah the God of Israel says, ‘I have heard your prayer to me concerning King Sennacherib of Assyria.....“‘Therefore this is what Jehovah says about the king of Assyria: “He will not come into this city or shoot an arrow there or confront it with a shield or cast up a siege rampart against it. By the way he came he will return; He will not come into this city,” declares Jehovah. “I will defend this city and save it for my own sake
And for the sake of my servant David.”’” On that very night the angel of Jehovah went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When people rose up early in the morning, they saw all the dead bodies. So King Sennacherib of Assyria departed and returned to Nineveh and stayed there.
Only those not trusting and living for God need fear.
Jeremiah 23:19 +20 Look! The windstorm of Jehovah will burst out in fury; Like a whirling tempest it will whirl down on the head of the wicked. The anger of Jehovah will not turn back until he has carried out and accomplished the intentions of his heart. In the final part of the days you will clearly understand this.
What are some of the positive changes can we look forward to under God's Kingdom Rule?
Psalm 37:10+11 Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more; You will look at where they were, And they will not be there. But the meek will possess the earth, And they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace
This states the complete opposite to the postulated 'rapture'.
Isaiah 33:24 And no resident will say: “I am sick.” The people dwelling in the land will be pardoned for their error.
1John 2:17 Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever
Scientist cannot explain why we corrupt over the short time of our lives and then die but we know by God's Word that the reason is sin and that satan is the cause of death.
2Peter 3:11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, consider what sort of people you ought to be in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion,
The things to be dissolved are the things of satan and this world system of things.
Jehovah's Witness = Jehovah's People.
Isaiah 43:10 You are my witnesses,” declares Jehovah, “Yes, my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and have faith in me and understand that I am the same One. Before me no God was formed, and after me there has been none.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the holy spirit comes upon you, and you will be witnesses of me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the most distant part of the earth
Be amoung those who love Jah in holy conduct and survive satan's destruction and the destruction of the corruption. Be amoung those who will walk into the New World never seeing death.
What a grand invitation is being put to you.
Revelation 22:17 And the spirit and the bride keep on saying, “Come!” and let anyone hearing say, “Come!” and let anyone thirsting come; let anyone who wishes take life’s water free.
Revelation 7:13 In response one of the elders said to me: “These who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?” So right away I said to him: “My lord, you are the one who knows.” 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
Ask for a free Bible study today.
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Love,
Katidid.
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Consider Others Superior To You
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Posted:Aug 5, 2015 7:26 pm
Last Updated:Aug 9, 2015 4:01 pm 3842 Views
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Philippians 2:1-4 If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any spiritual fellowship, if any tender affection and compassion, make my joy full by being of the same mind and having the same love, being completely united, having the one thought in mind. Do nothing out of contentiousness or out of egotism, but with humility consider others superior to you, as you look out not only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Eve acted out of a selfish desire to be like God.
Genesis 3:4+5 At this the serpent said to the woman: “You certainly will not die. For God knows that in the very day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad.
Adam manifested a selfish desire to please her.
Genesis 3:6+12 Consequently, the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was something desirable to the eyes, yes, the tree was pleasing to look at. So she began taking of its fruit and eating it. Afterward, she also gave some to her husband when he was with her, and he began eating it.
The man said: “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, so I ate.”
After turning Adam and Eve away from true worship, the devil continued to tempt people to be selfish. He even tried that same approach when tempting Jesus.
Matthew 4:1-9 Then Jesus was led by the spirit up into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. After he had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, he felt hungry. And the Tempter approached and said to him: “If you are a of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered: “It is written: ‘Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every word that comes from Jehovah’s mouth.’” Then the Devil took him along into the holy city, and he stationed him on the battlement of the temple and said to him: “If you are a of God, throw yourself down, for it is written: ‘He will give his angels a command concerning you,’ and, ‘They will carry you on their hands, so that you may not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him: “Again it is written: ‘You must not put Jehovah your God to the test.’” Again the Devil took him along to an unusually high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him: “All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me.”
How clever satan can be in twisting God's own word to suit his selfish endeavours.
In our day, satan has successfully misled most people, moving them to manifest selfishness in many ways. This merits our attention because the prevailing selfish spirit easily rubs off on us.
Ephesians 2:2 ... in which you at one time walked according to the system of things of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.
Selfishness may be compared to rust that develops in iron. If an iron object is exposed to the elements, it might begin to rust. The real danger lies in ignoring the rust, allowing it to develop to the point of causing structural damage or failure.
Similarly, though we cannot presently eliminate our imperfections and selfish tendencies, we must be alert to the dangers involved and fight such tendencies.
1Corinthians 9:26+27 Therefore, the way I am running is not aimlessly; the way I am aiming my blows is so as not to be striking the air; but I pummel my body and lead it as a slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself should not become disapproved somehow.
Amoung the many 'gifts' satan has given us in his corruption is self-justification. We have to, daily, examine our thoughts and our actions to see if we are being caught in this trap of self-deceit.
What are our motives and what lies are we telling ourselves to justify our actions or thoughts?
Negativity is such a powerful tool satan uses. Using our own thoughts against us.
Such thinking has to be combated at every turn and we only have one, very powerful, way to combat it. That is with God's word. Striving every waking moment to make sure of the 'finer things'. Striving every waking moment to pattern our thoughts and actions upon Jehovah God's standards and principles.
Of course, we cannot reach perfection because of the genetic sin we carry, but we can certainly give it our 'whole-souled' attention and diligence.
God loves a cheerful giver.
Acts 20:35 I have shown you in all things that by working hard in this way, you must assist those who are weak and must keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, when he himself said: ‘There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.’”
1Timothy 6:18+19 Tell them to work at good, to be rich in fine works, to be generous, ready to share, safely treasuring up for themselves a fine foundation for the future, so that they may get a firm hold on the real life.
Considering that others are superior to you and that their needs are greater than our own is a humble mind-set which is totally in opposition to satan's stance. It is not always easy but it is always worth the effort.
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Love Katidid.
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Keep Growing In Your Relationship With God
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Posted:Jul 21, 2015 6:29 pm
Last Updated:Jul 21, 2015 6:30 pm 3831 Views
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Are you just standing at the gate hesitating?
Jehovah God is waiting for you to decide.
Why hesitate when you could be experiencing the joy of serving God and being His friend?
God has given His word - His diary, so to speak - so we can get to know Him - so we can have a relationship with Him.
Why would Jah go to so much trouble to preserve His word, through many years of hardship for mankind, through many devoted men and women translators and through many trials and persecutions, if it was not so we could get to know Him. Get to understand His feelings, His standards and principles, His dealings with His people and the nations of satan's world, if He didn't want us to know about Him?
Genesis 1: 27 And God went on to create the man in his image, in God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.
By creating us in His image He instilled in us His characteristics and attributes, intelligence and creativity and freedom of choice, not to mention, our great desire for eternal life.
These things are proof that He wants us to interact with Him.
Acts 17:27 ...so that they would seek God, if they might grope for him and really find him, although, in fact, he is not far off from each one of us.
Romans 2:14+15 For when people of the nations, who do not have law, do by nature the things of the law, these people, although not having law, are a law to themselves. 15 They are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts, while their conscience is bearing witness with them, and by their own thoughts they are being accused or even excused.
Animals have instinct but we have intelligence, a conscience and freewill. We are not automatons.
There is not one nation that has ever been or is now that does not have a conscience - a guidance system, if you will, that leads us toward right thinking.
This again is proof that Jehovah God wants a relationship with us.
Of course, we cannot fully utilise our conscience if we try to be our own guide. Such a gift from God requires God's imput into the system.
Jeremiah 10:23 I well know, O Jehovah, that man’s way does not belong to him. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step
O Lord, I am conscious that a man’s way is not in himself: Man has no power of guiding his steps.“The Bible in Basic English.”
Our relationship with God grows as we study His word and learn about Jehovah, about His principles and standards, so that these things can then work with our conscience to keep us walking in the 'Way'.
Of course, more is needed than just reading and learning about these things.
We also need to converse with God in prayer. It is such a great gift and privilege. We should not forsake this.
Some things are very precious to God and we also need to reflect these in our nature and our dealings with all things. God's loves and hates need to be deeply embedded in our hearts so that they become a normal part of our thinking and actions.
To do this we need to daily study His word.
Joshua 1:8 This book of the Law should not depart from your mouth, and you must read it in an undertone day and night, in order to observe carefully all that is written in it; for then your way will be successful and then you will act wisely.
This makes us very attractive not just to other people but to our God, Jehovah.
We naturally tend to shy away from hateful, violent, nasty, hard-hearted and crass people and this is also true of God.
Our conscience is at work, if we let it, to make us attractive to Jehovah.
We need to separate ourselves from the hatred, violence and immorality of satan's world by tuning our conscience to God's standards which will keep us growing to maturity as a Christian.
In satan's world we learn laws and rules. Such things govern the guilty.
In Jehovah's Kingdom, we learn principles and standards which guide the innocent in God's eyes.
Christian maturity brings a deeper understanding and brings us closer to God's thinking so that we can be at a better 'level' with Jehovah in conversation and action.
Hebrews 5:14 But solid food belongs to mature people, to those who through use have their powers of discernment trained to distinguish both right and wrong.
For example: if you showed a shiny $2 coin to a , then showed him a scruffy, scrunched up $100 bill, which would the pick as having more worth.
The shiny $2 coin.
So how old are we when we percieve that the scruffy, scrunched up $100 bill is actually of more value?
In such a way are our perceptive powers trained and grown in discernment to distinguish right from wrong as to God's viewpoint.
Putting these things into practise, even in times of trouble(especially in times of trouble) will keep us growing to Christian maturity.
1Timothy 4:15 Ponder over these things; be absorbed in them, so that your advancement may be plainly seen by all people.
By learning the Truth of the Scriptures you grow in the 'fruits of the spirit' which becomes a real turning point in your life and from then on, you can continue to grow to maturity.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.
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Interesting points to ponder.
Love Katidid.
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"Oh How Great His Goodness Is!" (Pt 2)
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Posted:Jul 15, 2015 4:06 am
Last Updated:Jul 16, 2015 8:04 pm 3828 Views
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Goodness With Everlasting Benefits
Jesus said:
Matthew 4:4 “It is written: ‘Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every word that comes from Jehovah’s mouth".
Indeed, Jehovah's spiritual provisions can do us even more good than can the physical kind, for they lead to everlasting life.
Jehovah has used His restorative power during these last days to bring into being a spiritual paradise and a key feature of paradise is the abundance of spiritual food. You too can be a part of paradise.
In one of the Bible's great restoration prophecies, the prophet Ezekiel was given a vision of a restored and glorified temple. From that temple flowed a stream of water, widening and deepening as it went until it became a "double-size torrent". On its banks flourished a crop of trees that provided food and healing and the river even brought life and productivity to the salty, lifeless Dead Sea!
Ezekiel 47:1-12 Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and there I saw water flowing eastward from under the threshold of the temple, for the front of the temple was facing east. The water was flowing down from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. He then led me out by way of the north gate and took me outside and around to the outer gate that is facing east, and I saw water trickling from the right side. When the man went out toward the east with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off 1,000 cubits and had me pass through the water; the water was ankle deep. Then he measured off another 1,000 and had me pass through the water, and it was up to the knees. He measured off another 1,000 and had me pass through, and the water was up to the hips. When he measured off another 1,000, it was a torrent that I was unable to walk across, for the water was so deep that one had to swim, a torrent of water that could not be crossed on foot. He asked me: “Have you seen this, of man?” Then he had me walk and return to the bank of the stream. When I returned, I saw that on the bank of the stream were very many trees on both sides. Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region and continues down through the Arabah and enters the sea. When it enters the sea, the water there will be healed. Swarms of living creatures will be able to live wherever the waters flow. There will be an abundance of fish, because this water will flow there. The seawater will be healed, and everything will live wherever the stream goes. “Fishermen will stand beside it from Engedi clear to Eneglaim, where there will be a drying yard for dragnets. There will be an abundance of many kinds of fish, like the fish of the Great Sea. “It will have swampy places and marshy places, and these will not be healed. They will be abandoned to salt. “All sorts of trees for food will grow on both banks of the stream. Their leaves will not wither; nor will their fruitage fail. Each month they will bear new fruit, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruitage will serve as food and their leaves for healing.
But, what did all that mean?
The vision meant that Jehovah would restore His arrangement for pure worship, as pictured by the temple Ezekiel saw. Like that visionary river, God's provisions for life would flow out to His people in ever-greater abundance. Since the restoration of pure worship in 1919, Jehovah has blessed His people with life-giving provisions.
How?
Well, Bibles, Bible literature, Meetings and Conventions have all served to bring vital truths to millions. By such means Jehovah has taught people about the most important of His provisions for life - Christ's ransom sacrifice, which brings a clean standing before Jehovah and the hope of everlasting life to all those who truly love and fear God and there can be no greater example of Jehovah's goodness than the ransom. Of all the millions of spirit creatures to choose from, Jehovah selected His beloved, only-begotten to die in our behalf. Hence, throughout these last days, while the world has suffered a spiritual famine, Jehovah's people have enjoyed a spiritual feast.
Isaiah 65:13 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “Look! My servants will eat, but you will go hungry. Look! My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty. Look! My servants will rejoice, but you will suffer shame.
Ezekiel's visionary river does not stop flowing when this old system of things meets its end. On the contrary, it will flow even more abundantly during Christ's Millennial Reign. Then, by means of the Messianic Kingdom, Jehovah will apply the full value of Jesus' sacrifice, gradually lifting faithful mankind to perfection. How we will then exult over Jehovah's goodness!
Additional Facets of Jehovah's Goodness
Jehovah's goodness involves more than generosity. God told Moses:
Exodus 33:19 But he said: “I will make all my goodness pass before your face, and I will declare before you the name of Jehovah; and I will favor the one whom I favor, and I will show mercy to the one to whom I show mercy
Later the account says:
Exodus 34:6 Jehovah was passing before him and declaring: “Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in loyal love and truth
So Jehovah's qualities embraces a number of fine qualities.
"Gracious" This quality tells us about Jehovah's manner of dealing with His creatures. Instead of being brusque, cold or tyrannical, as is often true of the powerful of this world under satan, Jehovah is gentel and kind. For example, Jehovah said to Abram:
Genesis 13:14 Jehovah said to A′bram, after Lot had separated from him: “Raise your eyes, please, and look from the place where you are, to the north and south, east and west,
Many translations omit the word "please" but Bible scholars note that the wording in the original Hebrew includes a word particle that changes the statement from a command to a polite request. There are other, similar instances.
Genesis 31:12 And he continued, ‘Raise your eyes, please, and see that all the he-goats mating with the flock are striped, speckled, and spotty, for I have seen all that La′ban is doing to you
Ezekiel 8:5 He then said to me: “ of man, please raise your eyes toward the north.” So I raised my eyes toward the north, and there, north of the gate of the altar, was this symbol of jealousy in the entryway.
Imagine, the Sovereign of the universe says "please" to mere humans! In a world where harshness, pushiness and rudeness are so common, is it not refreshing to contemplate the graciousness of our God, Jehovah?
"Abundant in....truth" Dishonesty has become the way of the world today but the Bible reminds us:
Numbers 23:19 God is not a mere man who tells lies, Nor a of man who changes his mind. When he says something, will he not do it? When he speaks, will he not carry it out?
In fact, the Bible also tells us:
Titus 1:2 and is based on a hope of the everlasting life that God, who cannot lie, promised long ago
God is far too good for that. Thus, Jehovah's promises are completely reliable: His words, always sure of fulfillment. Jehovah is even called:
Psalm 31:15 Into your hand I entrust my spirit. You have redeemed me, O Jehovah, the God of truth.
Not only does He refrain from telling falsehoods but He dispenses an abundance of truth. He is not closed, guarded or secretive; rather, He generously enlightens His faithful servants from His boundless store of wisdom.
For good reason, the Bible associates truth with light.
Psalm 43:3 Send out your light and your truth. May these lead me; May they guide me to your holy mountain and to your grand tabernacle
Jehovah sheds an abundance of spiritual light upon those willing to be taught, or enlightened, by Him.
2Corinthians 4:6 For God is the one who said: “Let the light shine out of darkness,” and he has shone on our hearts to illuminate them with the glorious knowledge of God by the face of Christ.
1John 1:5 This is the message that we heard from him and are announcing to you: God is light, and there is no darkness at all in him
He even teaches His faithful ones how to live by the truths He dispenses so that they may go on "walking in the truth".
3John 3 For I rejoiced very much when brothers came and bore witness about the truth you hold, as you go on walking in the truth
Become Radiant Over the Goodness of Jehovah
When satan tempted Eve in the garden of Eden, he began by subtly undermining her trust in Jehovah's goodness. Jehovah had told Adam:
Genesis 2:16+17 Jehovah God also gave this command to the man: “From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will certainly die
Of the thousands of trees that must have graced that garden, only one was placed off-limits by Jehovah.
Genesis 2:9 Thus Jehovah God made to grow out of the ground every tree that was pleasing to look at and good for food and also the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and bad.
Yet, notice how satan worded his first question to Eve:
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was the most cautious of all the wild animals of the field that Jehovah God had made. So it said to the woman: “Did God really say that you must not eat from every tree of the garden?
He twisted Jehovah's words to make Eve think that Jehovah was holding back something good.
Sadly, the tactic worked and Eve, like so many men and women after her, began to doubt the goodness of God, who had given her everything, absolute.
We know the depth of sorrow and misery brought on by such doubts. So let us take to heart the words of Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 31:12 They will come and shout joyfully on the height of Zion and become radiant over the goodness of Jehovah, over the grain and the new wine and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd. They will become like a well-watered garden, and they will never languish again.”
Jehovah's goodness should indeed make us radiant with joy. We need never doubt the motives of our God, who is so full of goodness. We may trust in Him completely, for He wants nothing but good for those who love Him.
Further, when we get an opportunity to talk to others about God's goodness, we are delighted. Regarding Jehovah's people:
Psalm 145: 7 They will bubble over as they recall your abundant goodness, and they will shout joyfully because of your righteousness
Every day that we live, we benefit in some way from Jehovah's goodness. Why not make it a practice each day to thank Jehovah for His goodness, being as specific as possible? Thinking about that quality, thanking Jehovah for it daily, and telling others aobut it will help us to imitate our good God and His loving , Jesus (who never ceased in His ministry).
As we seek ways to do good, as Jehovah does, we will draw ever closer to Him. The aged apostle John wrote:
3John 11 Beloved one, do not imitate what is bad, but imitate what is good. The one who does good originates with God. The one who does bad has not seen God
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Questions For Meditation
1 Kings 8:54-61,66 How does Solomon express appreciation for Jehovah's goodness, and with what effect on the Israelites?
Psalm 119:66,68 How might our prayers reflect a desire to imitate Jehovah's goodness?
Luke 6:32-38 What can help to motivate us to imitate Jehovah's spirit of generosity?
Romans 12:2, 9, 17-21 How can we demonstrate goodness in our day-to-day life?
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I sure hope you enjoy this study.
Yours,
Katidid.
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"Oh How Great His Goodness Is!" (Pt 1)
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Posted:Jul 9, 2015 6:04 pm
Last Updated:Aug 5, 2015 4:07 pm 3863 Views
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Whether we know it or not we all benefit from the goodness of Jehovah God.
Religious people often repeat the phrase "God is good" or similar.
The Bible is far more emphatic.
Zechariah 9:17 Oh how great His goodness is...
It seems however that few really know what these words actually mean.
An Outstanding Facet of Divine Love
In many modern languages 'goodness' is a somewhat bland word. Yet in the Bible it refers to virtue and moral excellence so that we might say that goodness permeates Jehovah. All His attributes such as His power, justice and wisdom are good through and through. More than this though it is best described as an expression of Jehovah's love.
Goodness is an active, outgoing quality.
Paul indicated that in humans it is even more appealing than righteousness.
Romans 5: 7 For hardly would anyone die for a righteous man; though perhaps for a good man someone may dare to die.
The righteous man can be counted on to adhere faithfully to the requirements of the law but a good man does more. He takes the initiative in actively seeking ways to benefit others.
How much more so is Jehovah in actively seeking good for others and such goodness springs from His boundless love.
Jehovah is unique in His goodness.
Not long before Jesus died a man approach him to ask a question addressing him with these words, "Good Teacher." Jesus response might strike you as puzzling.
Mark 10:17+18 As he was going on his way, a man ran up and fell on his knees before him and put the question to him: “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit everlasting life?” Jesus said to him: “Why do you call me good? Nobody is good except one, God.
Why did Jesus correct the man?
Was not Jesus, in fact, a "Good Teacher"?
Evidently, the man was using the words "Good Teacher" as a flattering title. We know that many of the Jewish authorities often tried to 'catch out' Jesus in his teachings so as to bring condemnation upon him. However, Jesus modestly directed such glory to his heavenly Father, who is good in the supreme sense.
Proverbs 11:2 When presumptuousness comes, dishonor will follow, but wisdom is with the modest ones
Jesus was also affirming a profound truth.
Jehovah alone is the standard for what is good.
Only He has the sovereign right to determine what is good and what is bad.
Adam and Eve, by their rebellion, sought to assume this right for themselves, unlike Jesus, who humbly leaves the setting of standards to his Father.
More than that, Jesus knew that Jehovah is the source of all that is truly good.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect present is from above, coming down from the Father of the celestial lights, who does not vary or change like the shifting shadows
When each man sets these standards for himself, chaos results, as we see every day in the world around us.
Evidence of Jehovah's Abundant Goodness
Everyone who has ever lived has benefited from Jehovah's goodness.
Psalm 145:9 Jehovah is good to all and his mercy is evident in all his works.
Look outside your window.
Breath the air.
Taste the fruit.
Smell the rain.
Pat your soft cat.
Play with your .
Ride a .
And so very much more.
Acts 14:17 ..He did not leave himself without witness in that He did good, giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying you with food and filling your hearts with gladness.
We have obvious evidence of Jehovah's goodness in designing this earth with its ever-recycling water supply and "fruitful season" which has the ability to produce abundant food supplies.
Everyone benefits, not just those He loves.
Matthew 5:45 ...He makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good and makes it rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.
Many take for granted the sheer generosity that is heaped upon us because of the continued action of the sun, the rain and the fruitful seasons.
Consider for example, the apple. It is a common fruit. It is beautiful. Delicious to eat and full of refreshing water and vital nutrients. There are some 7500 varieties of apple. Hold an apple pip in your fingers. It seems rather insignificant but from it grows one of the world's loveliest of trees. Every spring the apple tree is crowned with a glorious halo of blossoms and every Autumn it produces fruit. In fact, the apple tree can live for 75 years and, on average, each year, it can yield 840 pound of fruit! Amazing! Wonderful!
The Shulammite girl of Solomon's endearing poem even compares the beauty of her shepherd boy love to the beauty of the apple tree.
Song of Solomon 2:3 “Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my dear one among the sons. I passionately desire to sit in his shade, And his fruit is sweet to my taste.
In His infinite goodness Jehovah has given us a body that is "wonderfully made," with senses designed to help us perceive His works and delight in them.
Psalm 139:1 I praise you because in an awe-inspiring way I am wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know this very well.
The human eye is designed to detect over 300,000 different colours!
Our sense of hearing catches the nuances of tone in a well-loved voice, the whisper of the wind through the trees, the 's ecstatic laugh.
Proverbs 20:12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye —Jehovah has made both of them.
Without our sense of taste, food would simply be fuel, and of no delight at all. A symphony of flavour greets you as your taste buds detect subtleties created by foods chemical makeup.
The human nose can distinguish some 10,000 different odours.
Our sense of touch enables us to feel the caress of the breeze, the reassuring embrace of a loved one, the satisfying feel of a piece of fruit.
Truly, we have every reason to exclaim to Jehovah in great thankfulness the words found in:
Psalm 31:19 How abundant your goodness is!....
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Food for thought, great gratitude and thankfulness.
Love,
Katidid.
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Torture Stake
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Posted:Jul 3, 2015 6:12 pm
Last Updated:Jul 29, 2015 3:09 am 5015 Views
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An instrument such as that on which Jesus Christ met death by impalement.
Matthew 27:32-40 As they were going out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon. This man they compelled into service to carry his torture stake. And when they came to a place called Golgotha, that is, Skull Place, they gave him wine mixed with gall to drink; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had nailed him to the stake, they distributed his outer garments by casting lots, and they sat there keeping watch over him. They also posted above his head the charge against him, in writing: “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.” Then two robbers were put on stakes alongside him, one on his right and one on his left. And those passing by spoke abusively of him, shaking their heads and saying: “You who would throw down the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are a of God, come down off the torture stake!”
Mark 15:21-30 Also, they compelled into service a passerby, a certain Simon of Cyrene, coming from the countryside, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his torture stake
Luke 23:2626 Now as they led him away, they seized a certain Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the countryside, and they placed the torture stake on him to carry it behind Jesus.
John 19:17-20,25 Bearing the torture stake for himself, he went out to the so-called Skull Place, which is called Golgotha in Hebrew. There they nailed him to the stake alongside two other men, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the torture stake. It was written: “Jesus the Nazarene′ the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this title, because the place where Jesus was nailed to the stake was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. - By the torture stake of Jesus, however, there were standing his mother and his mother’s sister; Mary the wife of Clo′pas and Mary Magdalene.
In classical Greek the word 'stauros' rendered 'torture stake in the New World Translation of the Bible primarily denotes an upright stake, or pole, and there is no evidence that the writers of the Christian Greek Scriptures used it to designate a stake with a crossbeam.
The book The Non-Christian Cross, by John Denham Parsons, London, 1896, pp 23+24, states: "There is not a single sentence in any of the numerous writings forming the New Testament, which, n the original Greek, bears even indirect evidence to the effect that the stauros used in the case of Jesus was other than an ordinary stauros; much less to the effect that it consisted, not of one piece of timber, but of two pieces nailed together in the form of a cross...it is not a little misleading upon the part of our teachers to translate the word stauros as 'cross' when rendering the Greek documents of the Church into our native tongue, and to support that action by putting 'cross' in our lexicons as the meaning of stauros without carefully explaining that that was at any rate not the primary meaning of the word in the days of the Apostles, did not become its primary signification till long afterwards, and became so then, if at all, only because, despite the absence of corroborative evidence, it was for some reason or other assumed that the particular stauros upon which Jesus was executed had that particular shape"
Why Did Jesus Have to Die on a Stake
At the time Jehovah God gave His Law to the Israelites, they obligated themselves to abide by its terms.
Exodus 24:3 Then Moses came and related to the people all the words of Jehovah and all the judicial decisions, and all the people answered with one voice: “All the words that Jehovah has spoken, we are willing to do.
However, as descendants of sinner Adam, they were unable to do so perfectly. For this reason they came under the curse of the Law. To remove this special curse from them, Jesus had to be hanged on a stake like an accursed criminal. Concerning this the apostle Paul wrote:
Galatians 3:10-13 All those who depend on works of law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not remain in all the things written in the scroll of the Law by doing them.” Moreover, it is evident that by law no one is declared righteous with God, because “the righteous one will live by reason of faith.” Now the Law is not based on faith. Rather, “anyone who does these things will live by means of them.” Christ purchased us, releasing us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse instead of us, because it is written: “Accursed is every man hung upon a stake.
Figurative Use
"torture Stake" sometimes stands for the sufferings, shame or torture experienced because of being a follower of Jesus Christ. As Jesus said:
Matthew 10:38 "Whoever does not accept his torture stake and follow after me is not worthy of me".
Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake and keep following me
Mark 8:34 He now called the crowd to him with his disciples and said to them: “If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake and keep following me.
Luke 9:23 Then he went on to say to all: “If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake day after day and keep following me.
Luke 14:27 Whoever does not carry his torture stake and come after me cannot be my disciple.
The expression "torture stake" is also used in such a way as to represent Jesus' death upon the stake, which made possible redemption from sin and reconciliation with God.
1Corinthians 1:17+18 For Christ sent me, not to baptize, but to declare the good news; and not with wisdom of speech, so that the torture stake of the Christ should not be made useless.
Jesus' death on the torture stake was the basis for removing the Law, which had separated the Jews from the non-Jews. Therefore, by accepting the reconciliation made possible by Jesus' death, both Jews and non-Jews could become "one body to God through the torture stake:
Ephesians 2:11-16 Therefore, remember that at one time you, people of the nations by fleshly descent, were the ones called “uncircumcision” by those called “circumcision,” which is made in the flesh by human hands. At that time you were without Christ, alienated from the state of Israel, strangers to the covenants of the promise; you had no hope and were without God in the world. But now in union with Christ Jesus, you who were once far off have come to be near by the blood of the Christ. For he is our peace, the one who made the two groups one and destroyed the wall in between that fenced them off. By means of his flesh he abolished the enmity, the Law of commandments consisting in decrees, in order to make the two groups in union with himself into one new man and to make peace, and to reconcile fully both peoples in one body to God through the torture stake
Colossians 1:20 and through him to reconcile to himself all other things by making peace through the blood he shed on the torture stake, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens.
Colossians 2:13+14 Furthermore, though you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcised state of your flesh, God made you alive together with him. He kindly forgave us all our trespasses and erased the handwritten document that consisted of decrees and was in opposition to us. He has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the torture stake
This proved to be a stumbling block for many Jews, since they insisted that circumcision and adherence to the Mosaic Law were essential for gaining God's approval. That is why the apostle Paul wrote:
Galatians 5:11 As for me, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the stumbling block of the torture stake has been eliminated.
Galatians 6:12, 14 All those who want to make a good impression in the flesh are the ones who try to compel you to get circumcised, doing so only to avoid being persecuted for the torture stake of the Christ. - But may I never boast, except in the torture stake of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been put to death with regard to me and I with regard to the world
For confessing Jesus' death on the torture stake as the sole basis for gaining salvation, Paul was persecuted by the Jews. As a consequence of this confession, to the apostle the world was as something impaled, condemned, or dead, whereas the world viewed him with hatred, as a criminal impaled on a stake.
Persons who embraced Christianity but who afterward turned to an immoral way of life proved themselves to be "enemies of the torture stake of the Christ">
Philippians 3:18+19 For there are many—I used to mention them often but now I mention them also with weeping—who are walking as enemies of the torture stake of the Christ. Their end is destruction, and their god is their belly, and their glory is really their shame, and they have their minds on earthly things.
Their actions demonstrated that hey had no appreciation for the benefits resulting from Jesus' death on the torture stake.
Hebrews 10:29 How much greater punishment do you think a person will deserve who has trampled on the of God and who has regarded as of ordinary value the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has outraged the spirit of undeserved kindness with contempt?
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These last three articles are all from the books Insight On The Scriptures
As always I wish to help in your understanding.
Love,
Katidid.
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The Figurative Use Of Trees In The Bible
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Posted:Jul 3, 2015 6:48 am
Last Updated:Jul 21, 2015 6:30 am 4847 Views
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In the garden of Eden, God employed two trees for symbolic purposes: "the tree of life" and "the tree of the knowledge of good and bad." Failure to respect God's decree concerning the latter brought man's fall.
Genesis 2:9, 16+17 Thus Jehovah God made to grow out of the ground every tree that was pleasing to look at and good for food and also the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and bad - Jehovah God also gave this command to the man: “From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction but as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will certainly die.
Genesis 3:1-24 Read
The significance of "the tree of the knowledge of good and bad" and of the restriction placed on its fruit has often been incorrectly viewed as relating to the sexual act between the first human pair. This view is contradicted by God's plain command to them as male and female to "be fruitful and become many and fill the earth."
Genesis 1:28 Further, God blessed them, and God said to them: “Be fruitful and become many, fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving on the earth.
Rather, by standing for "the knowledge of good and bad" and by God's pronouncement decreeing it to be out-of-bounds for the human pair, the tree became a symbol of God's right to determine or set the standards for man as to what is "good"(approved by God) and what is "bad" (condemned by God). It thus constituted a test of man's respect for his Creator's position and his willingness to remain within the area of freedom decreed by God, an area that was by no means cramped and that allowed for the greatest enjoyment of human life. Therefore, to violate the boundaries of the prohibited area by eating of "the tree of the knowledge of good and bad" would be an invasion of or a revolt against God's domain and authority.
Trees were also used to symbolize individuals, rulers and kingdoms, as in the prophecy likening the fall of Pharaoh and his crowd to the cutting down of a lofty cedar.
Ezekiel 31 Read
As well as in Daniel's prophecy regarding the mighty tree representing dominion "in the kingdom of mankind."
Daniel 4:10-26 Read
The righteous man is likened to a tree planted by streams of water whose foliage is luxuriant and whose fruit continues to grow even in drought.
Psalm 1:3 He will be like a tree planted by streams of water,
A tree that produces fruit in its season, The foliage of which does not wither. And everything he does will succeed.
Jeremiah 17:8 He will become like a tree planted by the waters,
That sends out its roots to the stream. He will not notice when heat comes, But his leaves will always flourish. And in the year of drought he will not be anxious, Nor will he quit producing fruit.
The promise that the days of God's restored people will be like those of a tree is made more meaningful by the fact that some trees of Palestine live for centuries, even up to a thousand years or more.
Isaiah 65:22 They will not build for someone else to inhabit, nor will they plant for others to eat. For the days of my people will be like the days of a tree, And the work of their hands my chosen ones will enjoy to the full.
In Ezekiel's vision a stream flowing from the visionary temple was lined with fruitful trees of healing foliage, and a similar vision is presented in the book of Revelation.
Ezekiel 47: 7, 12 When I returned, I saw that on the bank of the stream were very many trees on both sides. - “All sorts of trees for food will grow on both banks of the stream. Their leaves will not wither; nor will their fruitage fail. Each month they will bear new fruit, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruitage will serve as food and their leaves for healing
Revelation 22:2, 14 Down the middle of its main street. On both sides of the river were trees of life producing 12 crops of fruit, yielding their fruit each month. And the leaves of the trees were for the healing of the nations.
The expression "tree of life" is used with regard to true wisdom, the fruitage of the righteous, the realization of a thing desired and calmness of the tongue; it is also associated with the crown of life.
Proverbs 3:18 It is a tree of life to those who take hold of it, And those who keep firm hold of it will be called happy
Proverbs 11:30 The fruitage of the righteous one is a tree of life, And the one who wins souls is wise.
Proverbs 13:12Expectation postponed makes the heart sick, But a desire realized is a tree of life.
Proverbs 15:4 A calm tongue is a tree of life, But twisted speech causes despair.
Revelation 2: 7,10 Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations: To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ - Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. Look! The Devil will keep on throwing some of you into prison so that you may be fully put to the test, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Prove yourself faithful even to death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Trees are mentioned in association with the fruitful, peaceful and joyful conditions resulting from Jehovah's kingship and the restoration of His people.
1Chronicles 16:33 At the same time let the trees of the forest shout joyfully before Jehovah, For he is coming to judge the earth.
Psalm 96:12 Let the fields and everything in them rejoice. At the same time let all the trees of the forest shout joyfully
Psalm 148: 7, 9 Praise Jehovah from the earth, - You mountains and all you hills, You fruit trees and all you cedars
Isaiah 55:12For you will go out with rejoicing, And in peace you will be brought back. The mountains and the hills will become cheerful before you with a joyful cry, And the trees of the field will all clap their hands
Ezekiel 34:27 The trees of the field will yield their fruit, and the soil will give its produce, and they will dwell securely on the land. And they will have to know that I am Jehovah when I break their yoke bars and rescue them from those who enslaved them.
Ezekiel 36:30 I will make the fruitage of the tree and the produce of the field abound, so that you may never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations
Jesus used trees in some of his illustrations stressing the need for fruitfulness in true righteousness as John the Baptizer had done before him.
Matthew 3:10 The ax is already lying at the root of the trees. Every tree, then, that does not produce fine fruit is to be cut down and thrown into the fire
Matthew 7:15-20 “Be on the watch for the false prophets who come to you in sheep’s covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, do they? Likewise, every good tree produces fine fruit, but every rotten tree produces worthless fruit. A good tree cannot bear worthless fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce fine fruit. Every tree not producing fine fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Really, then, by their fruits you will recognize those men
Since fruit trees were taxed in Palestine in that time, an unproductive tree (as good as dead) was an undesirable burden to the owner and, hence, a tree to be chopped down and destroyed.
Luke 13:6-9 Then he went on to tell this illustration: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it but found none.Then he said to the vinedresser, ‘Here it is three years that I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, but have found none. Cut it down! Why should it keep the ground useless?’ In reply he said to him, ‘Master, leave it alone for one more year until I dig around it and put on manure. If it produces fruit in the future, well and good; but if not, then cut it down.’”
At Jude 12 immoral persons who infiltrated the Christian congregation are likened to fruitless trees in autumn time that have died twice. Their being described as 'twice dead' may be an emphatic way of expressing that they are completely dead. Or, it could signify that they are dead from two viewpoints. They are (1) barren or fruitless and (2) literally dead, possessing no vitality.
Jude 12 These are the rocks hidden below water at your love feasts while they feast with you, shepherds who feed themselves without fear; waterless clouds carried here and there by the wind; fruitless trees in late autumn, having died twice and having been uprooted;
The Hebrew word for tree is also used with regard to the stake or post on which a body was hung.
Genesis 40:19 Three days from now, Pharaoh will behead you and will hang you on a stake, and the birds will eat your flesh from you
Deuteronomy 21:22+23 “If a man commits a sin deserving the sentence of death and he has been put to death and you have hung him on a stake, his dead body should not remain all night on the stake. Instead, you should be sure to bury him on that day, because the one hung up is something accursed of God, and you should not defile your land that Jehovah your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Joshua 8:29 He hung the king of A′i on a stake until the evening, and as the sun was about to set, Joshua gave the order to take his dead body down from the stake. Then they pitched it at the entrance of the city gate and raised up a great pile of stones over him, which is there to this day.
Esther 2:23 So the matter was investigated and eventually confirmed, and both men were hanged on a stake; and this was all recorded in the book of the history of the times in the presence of the king.
In applying Deuteronomy 21:23, the apostle Paul used the Greek word Xylon (wood).
Galatians 3:13 Christ purchased us, releasing us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse instead of us, because it is written: “Accursed is every man hung upon a stake.
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As always I hope that this article aids in your understanding of Scriptures.
Yours,
Katidid.
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Trees In Bible Times
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Posted:Jul 3, 2015 2:47 am
Last Updated:Jul 21, 2015 6:30 am 4937 Views
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The great variation in the climate of Palestine and neighbouring lands made possible a very diversified growth of trees, from the cedars of Lebanon to the date palms of Jericho and the broom trees of the desert. Some 30 different types of trees are mentioned in the Bible.
The problem of identifying the particular tree indicated by the original Hebrew or Greek word is frequently a difficult one, and in a number of cases, the identification is only tentative. Such identification depends upon the extent of description given in the actual Bible record as to the characteristics of the tree (at times indicated by the meaning of the root word from which the name is derived) and by comparison of such description with the trees now known to grow in Bible lands, particularly in the regions indicated in the Bible text, when these are so mentioned. Additional help comes from a study of cognate words(that is, words that by their form give evidence of being related and having proceeded from the same original root or source) in other languages, such as Arabic and Aramaic. In some cases it seems the wiser course simply to transliterate* the name, as, for example, in the case of the algum tree.
*Transliteration is the conversion of a text from one script to another.
As Harold and Alma Moldenke point out in their book Plants of the Bible (1952, pp 5+6), many of the trees now found in Palestine may not have been growing there in Bible times, since, as they state, "floras change, especially in regions like Palestine and Egypt where man, notorious for his aptitude in upsetting the delicately adjusted balances in nature, has been most active" for thousand of years. They further state: "Many plants which grew in abundance in the Holy Land or surrounding countries in Biblical days are now no longer found there or else grow in far smaller numbers." Some types have been exterminated or greatly diminished by excessive cultivation of the land or by devastation of timberlands due to the invading forces of Assyria, Babylon, on down to Rome.
Jeremiah 6:6 For this is what Jehovah of armies says:
“Cut down wood and raise up a siege rampart against Jerusalem.
She is the city that must be held to account; There is nothing but oppression within her
Luke 19:43 Because the days will come upon you when your enemies will build around you a fortification of pointed stakes and will encircle you and besiege you from every side
The destruction of trees and forests has allowed the topsoil to wash away and has resulted in barrenness and desolation in many areas.
As early as Abraham's day, trees were listed in a contract for the transfer of property.
Genesis 23:15-18 “My lord, listen to me. This land is worth 400 silver shekels, but what is that between me and you? So bury your dead.” Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out to Ephron the amount of silver that he had mentioned in the hearing of the sons of Heth, 400 silver shekels according to the weight accepted by the merchants. Thus the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was in front of Mam′re—the field and the cave in it and all the trees within the boundaries of the field—became confirmed as Abraham’s purchased property in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all those entering the gate of his city.
In the Law
Later Jehovah God brought Israel into Canaan, a land containing "trees for food in abundance." He promised to provide the needed rain if Israel obeyed Him, and He required that a tenth of the fruits be set aside for the use of the sanctuary and the priesthood.
Nehemiah 9:25 And they captured fortified cities and a fertile land, and they took possession of houses full of all sorts of good things, cisterns already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and grew satisfied and fat, and they basked in your great goodness.
Leviticus 26:3+4 3 “‘If you continue walking in my statutes and keeping my commandments and you carry them out, I will give you showers of rain at their proper time, and the land will yield its produce, and the trees of the field will give their fruit.
Leviticus 27:30 30 “‘Every tenth part of the land, whether from the produce of the field or the fruit of the trees, belongs to Jehovah. It is something holy to Jehovah
On invading the land, the Israelites were instructed not to destroy the fruit-bearing trees when attacking the cities, although centuries later the kings of Judah and Israel were authorized by God to devastate the 'good trees' of the kingdom of Moab. The reason appears to be that Moab was outside the Promised Land. It was punitive warfare against Moab, and the Israelite action was a protection against Moabite revolt or retaliation.
Deuteronomy 20:19+20 “If you lay siege to a city and capture it after fighting against it for many days, you should not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them. You may eat from them, but you should not cut them down. For should you besiege a tree of the field as you would a man? You may destroy only a tree that you know is not used for food. You may cut it down and build siegeworks against the city that is making war against you, until it falls.
2Kings 3:19+25 You must strike down every fortified city and every choice city, you should cut down every good tree, you should stop up all the springs of water, and you should ruin every good plot of land with stones - They tore down the cities, and each man threw a stone into every good plot of land, filling it with stones; they stopped up every spring of water, and they cut down every good tree.
On planting a tree, the owner was not to eat of its fruit during the first three years, and in the fourth year its fruitage was to be devoted to sanctuary use.
Leviticus 19:23-25 “‘When you come into the land and you plant any tree for food, you must consider its fruitage impure and forbidden. For three years it will be forbidden to you. It must not be eaten but in the fourth year, all its fruit will be holy for rejoicing before Jehovah. Then in the fifth year, you may eat its fruit in order to add its produce to your harvest. I am Jehovah your God.
Deuteronomy 26:2 You are to take some of the firstfruits of all the produce of the ground, which you will gather from your land that Jehovah your God is giving you, and put them in a basket and go to the place that Jehovah your God chooses to have his name reside
Thereafter the annual first ripe fruits were likewise so dedicated.
Nehemiah 10:35-37 We will also bring the first ripe fruits of our land and the first ripe fruits of every sort of fruit tree, year by year, to the house of Jehovah, as well as the firstborn of our sons and of our livestock—according to what is written in the Law—and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks. We will bring them to the house of our God, to the priests who minister at the house of our God. Also, the firstfruits of our coarse meal, our contributions, the fruitage of every sort of tree, new wine, and oil, we should bring to the priests to the storerooms of the house of our God, along with the tenth from our land to the Levites, for the Levites are the ones who collect the tenths in all our agricultural cities.
List of Trees by Name
acacia
akee
algum
almond
aloe, aloeswood
apple
apricot
ash
aspen
one stand of, earth’s largest organism
avocado
banyan
baobab (boab)
barteria
ants protect
birch
Stone (Erman’s) birch
black mulberry (sycamine)
breadfruit tree
broom tree
carob
cascarilla
cashew
cassia bark
cedar
cinchona tree
cinnamon
clove
coffee
Commiphora africana
Commiphora opobalsamum (gileadensis)
cork oak
cypress
dragon tree (Canary Islands)
ebony
eucalyptus
fig
fig-mulberry
golden wattle
guayacan
juniper
kauri
laurel
lemon
lotus tree
macadamia
mangrove
maple
mastic
mesquite
Monterey cypress
Moringa oleifera
myrtle
neem
oak
oil tree
oleaster
olive
palm
Pernambuco (pau brasil, “violin tree”)
pine
pistachio
plane tree
pomegranate
poplar
quiver tree
royal poinciana (lagani auna)
rubber tree
sandalwood
sandarac tree
sapodilla
sea buckthorn
sequoia
soursop
storax
sycamore (fig-mulberry)
tamarisk
terebinth
walnut
whistling thorn
willow
yellowwood
yew
ylang-ylang
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I hope you enjoy this interesting information and that it helps you understand your readings.
Love,
Katidid.
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