Do you believe?

Posted on March 29, 2013 by abdicate

Jesus’ Righteousness Surpasses Adam’s Sin

This message is for real, true, honest Christians, not people who are pseudo-Christians. What’s the difference? Honest Christians are those that want to get out of bondage of sin. The others are those who prayed a formula prayer and think they’re Christians and do as they please with the world.

Romans 6:14-16 (KJV) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

If you believe these verses are telling you that if you “obey” you become righteous and if you “sin” you’ll die, then you have a misunderstanding. If you believe that obedience will make you righteous then you’re living under the law and have fallen from grace!

Galatians 5:4 (KJV) Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Paul is stating “to whom ye yield” – it’s a person, either Jesus’ way or our way (Adam’s original sin – he didn’t believe God’s word): to whom you believe leads to either the way of righteousness or the way of death. We cannot be righteous through obedience otherwise Jesus died in vain and we are still dead in our sins!

Galatians 2:21 (KJV) I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

So Paul is not talking about our obedience to righteousness, he’s referring to Jesus. Going back to chapter five we see this spelled out:

Romans 5:17-19 (KJV) For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one [judgment came] upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [the free gift came] upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Here it clearly states what Paul is talking about in chapter six. Adam’s sin caused us all to be in sin (noun). Likewise, through Jesus’ righteousness, His obedience, many are made righteous (noun). Why not all? Because everyone must accept that they themselves cannot do anything to be righteous. Adam chose his own way over God’s way and usurped God’s authority. Likewise, we must recognize God’s way to receive the gift of righteousness. What is God’s way? That we (me, myself, and I) can do nothing to become righteous! Righteousness is a GIFT not a reward. A reward is given for something you did to earn it. You get your salary because you worked; your pay is your reward. Righteousness cannot be earned, it can only be accepted. If I walk up to a guy and give him a gallon of milk (best in the world) did he do anything to earn it? That’s a gift. If he doesn’t take it then he’ll never know how good the milk is. If he accepts it, but doesn’t believe it’s any good and doesn’t drink it, again, what good is it to him? But if he accepts it and drinks it, he’ll find it the best milk he’s ever had in his life. That changes his thinking. Without being told, he wants to share it with others! But he first had to accept it, and then believes it’s drinkable and then he drinks it. That’s salvation. The gift of righteousness is there for all, but they have to accept it, then they believe it, and then they confess it and it comes to life to them and they want to tell others! That’s salvation!

In English we say “I AM hungry.” It should be “I have hunger.” We become what we think. This is really the mentality we use towards God. “I sin, so I AM sinful”. Though after we eat, we are no longer “I AM hungry”, yet since we still sin, in our thinking we are “still sinful” – THIS IS WRONG THINKING!!! Look at it like this: if a person born and raised in Germany comes to the U.S. and becomes a citizen, they are now American. To others they may have a German accent, they might like to eat German food, wear German clothes and even speak German, but to the authorities they are American! Likewise we, once sinful, are now righteous in the eyes of the Authority! Just like the German who wants to have fellowship with the authorities, learns to remove their accent from their speech, learns to eat American foods and changes their clothes to American blue jeans, we too transform, not for our salvation, but to be more like Christ! To have fellowship with God! If the German complains about being German, though they are an American, another American would say “so let your actions reflect you’re an American”. Paul says the same thing!

Romans 6:4 (KJV) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

We are righteous through Christ, not by anything we can do. If our actions change it’s by the power of the Holy Spirit guiding us to what is right and correct (to be like Christ) for the sake of fellowship with Him, leaving behind the old man, the old life we had in “sin” or Germany to the new American.

Romans 6:6-9 (KJV) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

In English we get the noun sin (person, place or thing) confused with the verb sin (action, performance, or existence). We wrongly focus on sin, and because we sin, we think we are still sinful. But in God’s eyes, because of what Jesus did, our state is now righteousness! Notice in these verses word “sin” is singular because it’s a NOUN:

John 1:29 (KJV) The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Hebrews 9:26 (KJV) For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

So, just like those asking Paul, “Do we sin so grace can abound?” NO WAY! Why would you want to go back to that way of life? God loves you and you are no longer slaves to sin, so why do it? You have self-control though the Holy Spirit. Nonetheless, when we sin (verb) we have our Advocate (lawyer) in Heaven – Jesus so there’s no more condemnation!!

1 John 2:1 (KJV) My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

If the speed limit is 55mph and you’re doing 56mph you don’t fret about it; more likely, you don’t even give it a second thought even if you noticed you’re speeding. Yet, by the law, you are indeed breaking it. Sin is not something to ignore, but we must not let it condemn us either. This is why young people don’t want to go to church. They’re only being honest with themselves. They don’t want to be in an environment of hypocrisy because they can’t stop sinning. Their parents, pastors and Sunday school teachers drill it into their heads “Obey! Obey! Obey!” and yet they see their parents, pastors, and Sunday school teachers sinning. They then think what hope do they have, I’ll just end up like them – hypocrites! Paul agrees and says:

Romans 7:23 (KJV) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

It’s right believing that leads to right living. Look at these verses:

Titus 1:15 (KJV) Unto the pure all things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

So how does one become defiled? Speech. What we say reflects what we believe, but if we say what we want to believe then it becomes faith and faith changes what we believe J This is proven by Jesus’ Own words.

Matthew 15:17-18 (KJV) Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

If you confess with your mouth you are sick because of a twinge, you can become sick indeed. Scientists have proven this, even though this is what God said Himself! Why do you think placebos work? The power of believing! Now because science has proven it, does it make it more real? If it does, it shows the lack of faith you have in God. God says to speak the words of God (1 Peter 4:11a (KJV) If any man speak, [let him speak] as the oracles of God;) But why speak God’s word?

Romans 10:8 (KJV) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, [even] in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

Romans 10:17 (KJV) So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

So when you speak the words of God, you start to believe the words of God through faith and they manifest in reality. God says you are no longer slaves to sin, so don’t be. If you are, it just means you have to change your thinking. This is proven again by Paul speaks of this war within our thinking:

Romans 7:24-25 (KJV) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Paul says it’s how we think! Though he cannot overcome the old man in the flesh, he can overcome with his way of thinking. Since he’s adjusted his thinking the next verse says:

Romans 8:1-4 (KJV) [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

So many still get caught up in the second part of that verse: who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Like it’s a conditional act – works all over again. The truth is, to walk after the Spirit is to walk in faith – belief!

Romans 4:3 (KJV) For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

It’s all in your thinking. There is NO condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus! Don’t you get it? The devil’s job is to make you doubt, lose faith, hope, etc. When Jesus warned Peter he would deny Jesus, He told him He prayed his faith would not lack:

Luke 22:32 (KJV) But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

The word converted here means to return, meaning to go back to the old way of life, which is what Peter did the night he denied knowing Jesus. Notice Jesus didn’t pray he wouldn’t fail, but that his faith wouldn’t fail.

Hebrews 10:23 (KJV) Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;)

“But I still sin!” Yea, so? Our body isn’t saved and it will always fail until Jesus returns and gives us new bodies! So stop focusing on sin and keep your eyes on the Sacrifice of God, Jesus!

Hebrews 10:2-3 (KJV) For then would they [the sacrificed of goats to God] not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those [sacrifices there is] a remembrance again [made] of sins every year.

See, every year Israel had to sacrifice for their sins, called the Day of Atonement (10 Tishri). The day before was called the T’Shuba – day of repentance, to reflect on their wrongs throughout the year. The sacrifices of bulls and goats could not remove sin, but only covered it up. Since everything fades over time, even the covering blood of bulls and goats had to be renewed. God seeing this sent His Son to be that sacrifice, in the flesh condemning sin by never sinning, died for us to REMOVE sin from us! Now there’s no more sin, only righteousness! Glory to God! Read this carefully. The Holy Spirit narrates a conversation between the Father and the Son in heaven:

Hebrews 10:7-14 (KJV) Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein]; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all]. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

The Father was tired of the continual sacrificing of bulls and goats…man used the sacrifices to continue in their sins, not wanting to be free from this bondage. It only brought about hypocrites. So Jesus came, and in the flesh, fulfilled the law, making those who believe through faith in His work perfect forever! How is one “sanctified”? The word in the Greek and Hebrew mean the same thing: proclaim, pronounce, dedicate, mentally to venerate (regard with great respect)! First we believe and then we confess it!

I AM RIGHTEOUS!

Not of my own doing, but by the gift from Jesus’ work! Today, parents, preacher and Sunday school teachers are doing the same as the Pharisees – teaching the law instead of Grace, making those that hear them slaves to sin and hypocrites.

Matthew 13:15 (KJV) For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Revelation 3:22 (KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Listen to the Spirit and not man! Since we are hard of hearing, we need to confess the word of God so our faith grows and we hear the Spirit speak to us! Glory to God!! Praise His holy Name!! We are free from sin (noun). Remember that speeding? If we’re dead, we can’t break the law!

1 Peter 2:15-17 (KJV) For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using [your] liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all [men]. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Romans 5:17 (KJV) For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

Those who receive the abundance of grace AND the gift of righteousness SHALL REIGN IN LIFE! How can you receive? Believe!!!

Romans 4:5 (KJV) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

See you can’t work for it! Only those who KNOW [believe, reckon it so] they are ungodly and BELIEVE [have faith, trust God at His Word] are JUSITIFIED and our FAITH is counted for righteousness! Because you believe and you are righteous, you SHALL (command) reign in life through Jesus Christ! When you reign in life, your unclean habits do not. When you reign in life, your diseases do not. When you reign in life, Satan cannot. Because YOU are reigning! We are reigning not by achieving but by receiving. Man says you get good because you work hard. God says “Take! I am your supplier!” The more you receive the more you reign. I repeat it again:

Romans 5:17-19 (KJV) For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one [judgment came] upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [the free gift came] upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Adam’s sin condemns all men and we are all made sinners. We are sinners not because we sin; we are sinners because we are BORN into sin! Jesus’ righteousness justifies all men who believe! Since we died with Christ and were buried with Him, we are DEAD to sin. Can one dead be given a speeding ticket? Sure, but what authority is there behind it? NONE! They guy’s DEAD! So we, in Christ, are raised from the dead to new life! A life of RIGHTEOUSNESS! BORN AGAIN! “So by the obedience of One” Jesus (!!!), we are made righteous!! Believe it!!!!

So by Who’s obedience are we made righteous? You, me? No! Jesus’ obedience!! God blesses you based on Jesus’ work not yours! Receive! Believe! This is why it’s called GRACE! Unmerited favor – you couldn’t do anything to earn it! Hallelujah!!! Heaven has been cleansed by Jesus’ blood so Satan can no long accuse you before the Father, besides, our Lawyer (Jesus) is there advocating for us – case dismissed! So Satan can only accuse you to YOU! Don’t listen to him! He’s a looser! God says you’re righteous, believe! NO MORE FOCUS on sin, but focus on Jesus! God blesses you because of Jesus’ obedience not by your obedience. We cannot love God with all our hearts, minds, or souls. But Jesus can and did for US! This isn’t a New Testament thing either. The Law of Moses was put into a wooded box covered in Gold, with a golden seat above it where the blood of bulls and goats was poured. So when the Father would look for the Law, He’d only see the Blood! That’s what Jesus did for us! When God looks at our actions He does so through His son and He only sees the Blood of Jesus!

John 8:11 (KJV) She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

NO MORE CONDEMNATION! Did she sin more, certainly, we all do, but in God’s eyes we have NEVER sinned! We are DEAD to the Law! No Law no sin! Be free from condemnation since there’s no one to condemn you except the One Who’s our Lawyer!

When you focus on your sin, you have more faith in sin than in what Jesus did for you. Do you have more faith in Adam or in Jesus? Jesus!! Then live like it! Adam brought sin and death. Jesus brought righteousness and life. By His obedience we are made righteous.

Romans 6:17-18 (KJV) But God be thanked, that ye were [past tense] the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form [tupos – see below] of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

How are we righteous? Obeying the doctrine delivered you – believing! When you believe the gospel [good news] that Jesus’ obedience makes you righteous, you are free from sin! Now you know why it’s “Good News”! “Being then made free from sin” (noun) you are righteous (noun). The word “form” above is tupos in the Greek and it’s the imprint made in clay. So when you believe, you are imprinted with righteousness! Just like when a king would press his ring into the hot wax to seal something, the imprint on the wax was what was on his ring. Jesus actions imprinted righteousness onto you (you being the hot wax). So when God looks are you, He sees that you are righteous! Hallelujah! We are not set free from the verb of sin, we can still sin if we want to, but we are freed from the place of sin where nothing we do right can make us righteous. We have been transformed to a place of righteousness where the blood of Jesus makes it so even if we do wrong God sees us in a place of righteousness. Paul calls himself a prisoner of Christ. When we were slaves to sin, could we do right to make us righteous? No. Now, we have had a prisoner exchange by Jesus where we are slaves to righteousness. Is sin greater than Jesus? So what makes you think when you do wrong, God’s going to see you as a sinner? Jesus died for sin ONCE FOR ALL FOREVER! So since you are righteous, then you have the right to the promises through Jesus!

Psalms 5:12 (KJV) For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as [with] a shield.

Psalms 34:15 (KJV) The eyes of the LORD [are] upon the righteous, and his ears [are open] unto their cry.

Psalms 37:25 (KJV) I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Psalms 37:29 (KJV) The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

Psalms 37:30 (KJV) The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

Psalms 55:22 (KJV) Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Psalms 92:12 (KJV) The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Psalms 118:15 (KJV) The voice of rejoicing and salvation [is] in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

Psalms 118:20-21 (KJV) This gate [Jesus] of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.

I love the play on words! Jesus is Yeshua in Hebrew and it means “Salvation!” He is the Door (gate) of the Lord!! HA! HA!

Proverbs 10:3 (KJV) The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

Proverbs 10:16 (KJV) The labour of the righteous [tendeth] to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

Proverbs 10:21 (KJV) The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

Proverbs 10:24 (KJV) The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

Proverbs 10:28 (KJV) The hope of the righteous [shall be] gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

Proverbs 11:8 (KJV) The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

Proverbs 11:28 (KJV) He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

Proverbs 29:2 (KJV) When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Isaiah 3:10 (KJV) Say ye to the righteous, that [it shall be] well [with him]: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

Finally, let me say that all this was hidden in the Hebrew Scriptures and was revealed in the New Testament.

Romans 16:25-26 (KJV) Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

Obedience of faith is right believing! The only DOING you have to DO is believe! Believe that Jesus’ obedience makes you righteous!

Let’s look at one more thing. Paul below confronted Peter about hypocrisies he was committing.

Galatians 2:11-16 (KJV) But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: [it was unlawful to eat with them] but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled [hypocrisy] likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation [hypocrisy]. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before [them] all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? We [who are] Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Hypocrisy is acting like your free when you’re in bondage. And when you’re under grace and you’re acting like you’re under the Law. How are we to “walk uprightly according to the truth of the gospel?” It’s not by DOING but by BELIEVING! When God says we are righteous, we should not be sin conscience. When God says you are righteous you believe it. When you believe that Jesus’ obedience makes you righteous then you are obedient to the faith! Then you are walking uprightly. What happens to people who walk uprightly?

Psalms 84:11 (KJV) For the LORD God [is] a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good [thing] will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

How is one to walk uprightly? Believing the Gospel every single day! WE cannot DO anything but believe!

Posted in Victory Living | Comments Off on Do you believe?

Affects of Grace

Posted on March 27, 2013 by abdicate

I want to continue to show you the power of Grace, the Person, Jesus Christ, in the names and actions of the Hebrew Scriptures. I’ve highlighted the Hebrew letter hey (ה) so you can take note of the letter and its transformation on the meaning of the words. To see why the hey (ה) is Grace, read my previous post: http://abdicate.net/blog/?p=293 

Abram – אברם meaning “High Father” but Abram couldn’t have children.

Sarai – שרי meaning “My Lord” or “My Prince” and shows her dominance. But Sarai couldn’t have children.

Abraham – אברהם God took ה from His Name Yahuah (יהוה) and gave it to Abram making him Abraham.

Sarah – שרה Likewise God substituted the yod (י) in Sarai for the hey ה from His Name (יהוה) making her a Princess (the meaning of Sarah)!

After grace (ה) was introduced, within a year later, Abraham and Sarah, had Isaac! Notice too that in Abram the words and symbols of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are present (see below) but not grace (ה), so no blessing. When God put grace (ה) into Abraham and Sarah they had Isaac. Also the plan of salvation is now visible, being on this side of time of the cross.

The Father sent the Son:

1 John 4:14 (KJV) And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world.

Father – אברהם

Son – אברהם

Jesus, the Son, brought Grace and Truth:

John 1:17 (KJV) For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Grace – אברהם

After Jesus was Glorified, the Holy Spirit was sent:

Galatians 3:14 (KJV) That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 4:6 (KJV) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Holy Spirit – אברהם The letter mem (ם) represents water and means the Holy Spirit because the Spirit brings forth living waters through Jesus’ work (John 7:38) and He moved upon the waters at Creation (Genesis 1:2).

Notice the order in Abraham’s name: Father (אב), Son (בר), Grace (ה), Holy Spirit (ם), the execution of God’s plan for mankind. 🙂

Also notice that the yod (י) from Sarai’s name has a numeric value of 10 whereas the letter hey (ה) has the numeric value of 5. The Ten were replaced by Grace!

Bless – ברכ – barak and contains the word for Son (בר) and the letter kaf (כ) has the meaning of open hand. So the Son offers His hand, but what is in His hand? To receive a BLESSING (ברכה) you add the letter hey (ה)! The first time the word “blessing” is used is where God is speaking to Abram just before changing his name:

Genesis 12:2 (KJV) And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

And indeed the Seed of Abraham is a Blessing of Grace to the whole world! Jesus Who brought Grace and Truth!

Genesis 22:17-18 (KJV) That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

John 1:17 (KJV) For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

So now let’s look at the process involved in accepting this Gift from God.

Isaiah 30:15 (KJV) For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:…

The word “returning” is the same word for “repent” in Hebrew, and in the Greek it literally means to change your mind  (meta – change – noeho – mind; metanoeho means repent). In the verse above, the word “returning” is shuba (שובה) and if you remove the hey (ה) you get the word for “return” – shub (שוב). So when we “return” we are “returning” to Grace (ה).

The letter chet (ח) has the meaning of “fence”. Remember this for later.

Heal – רפא means rafa and the letters have the meaning of head (ר) mouth (פ) and sacrifice (א). So “thinking” on the Sacrifice and “speaking” of the Sacrifice is to HEAL. Now each word has a root word from which it stems. Rafa’s root word is rafah (רפה) meaning to “relax”! Healing stems from relaxing, no worries, trusting in God’s grace! Amazingly, look at the word for sick.

Sick is חלה challah which contains that letter chet (ח) meaning to fence. The letter lamed (ל) means to learn. So to fence one off from learning Grace (ה) is to be sick (חלה)!

How to overcome this world and rely on God and His Grace:

Meditate הגה haga meaning “to mutter” as in to meditate on God’s Word mumbling His Word under your breath. The letter gimmel (ג) has the meaning of a camel, and a camel is used to transport things. So the letter meaning of haga is to transport from God’s Word His Grace into us! Grace transported Grace from His word to our hearts! This is proven by Paul in the verse below.

Romans 10:17 (KJV) So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

John 1:16 (KJV) And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

This verse in the Greek, the word “for” is actually “anti” meaning “substitution” which means that when Grace runs out, there is more Grace to take its place!

Romans 5:17 (KJV) For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

The word “abundance” in the Greek is perisseia and means superabundance and superior in quality! And if that wasn’t enough, the Gift of Righteousness by Jesus Christ is given too! What is this for? The promise you SHALL REIGN in LIFE! Now! Here on Earth! How can you reign if you’re sick, if you’re destitute? Call on Jesus and Believe!

John 10:10 (KJV) The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly (perisseia!).

Praise God for His abundance of Grace and the power He has!

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The Four Horns

Posted on March 22, 2013 by abdicate

Zechariah 1:18-21 (KJV) Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What [be] these? And he answered me, These [are] the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. And the LORD shewed me four carpenters. Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These [are] the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up [their] horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

The four horns are the Quartet: USA, Russia, the EU and the UN. They come together as one to divide the land of Israel. They lift up [their] horn (Tony Blair) and four workmen come to terrify those nations!

The Quartet (1) released the “Road Map to Peace” (2) April 30, 2003 and starting on that day for a month America suffered some of the worst weather in history: 564 tornadoes  1500 hail storms.  May 3 to May 11 was the single most damaging weather week in U.S. history. (3)

After that month, in Europe they suffered the hottest weather in over 250 years. Water dried up so much that the nuclear power plants couldn’t cool so they had to shut them down, causing massive power outages. Almost 15,000 died from heat related complications. (4)

July 23, 2007 (5), Tony Blair went to Israel to get them to let the Palestinians have Israeli lands. That very week the banks started to suffer from liquidity crisis of such magnitude it was the start of the global financial meltdown began.

 “Citigroup’s former chief executive officer, Chuck Prince, summed up the situation on July 10, 2007 by referring to Keynes’s analogy between bubbles and musical chairs (Nakamoto and Wighton, 2007): “When the music stops, in terms of liquidity, things will be complicated. But as long as the music is playing, you’ve got to get up and dance. We’re still dancing.” This game of musical chairs, combined with the vulnerability of banks to dry-ups in funding liquidity, ultimately unfolded into the crisis that began in 2007.”

Pg 83, Markus K. Brunnermeier, “Deciphering the Liquidity and Credit Crunch 2007–2008” (6)

 “U.S. home loan lender, Countrywide Financial Corp., announced an earnings drop on July 24. And on July 26, an index from the National Association of Home Builders revealed that new home sales had declined 6.6 percent year-on-year, and the largest U.S. home builder reported a loss in that quarter. From then through late in 2008, house prices and sales continued to drop.”

Pg 84, Markus K. Brunnermeier,  “Deciphering the Liquidity and Credit Crunch 2007–2008” (6)

Great Britain refused to allow Israel’s tourism office to run an ad in the UK about East Jerusalem citing that it didn’t belong to Israel but to a future Palestinian Capital. The refusal notice came on April 14, 2010 (7). This impacted Israeli tourism and inferred that Israel had no right to the land. That very day, Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland erupted shutting down the air traffic and most tourism throughout Great Britain and Europe! (8)

Obama gave a speech on May 19, 2011, on how Israel has to go back to their 1967 borders, “We believe the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states.” (9).

George Mitchell resigned (he was the U.S. envoy to the Middle East to broker peace agreements, and his resignation was signed April 6, 2011 (10)). Obviously he didn’t like the new path towards Israel’s treatment by the U.S. So this decision must have been met on or about 3 or 4 April. On April 4, 2011 started the U.S. worst weather for the month in world history with 875 of tornadoes (previous record was April 1974 with only 267! (11)), with a “Super Outbreak” on April 25-28 with 304 tornadoes – previous record was April 3-4, 1974 when 148 tornadoes were confirmed.)

The Lord comes because of this:

Isaiah 34:8 (KJV) For [it is] the day of the LORD’S vengeance, [and] the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.

 

References:

  1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartet_on_the_Middle_East
  2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_map_for_peace
  3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_2003_tornado_outbreak_sequence
  4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_European_heat_wave
  5. http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jul/24/world/fg-blair24
  6. http://www.princeton.edu/~markus/research/papers/liquidity_credit_crunch.pdf
  7. http://www.asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2010/4/Israeli-Government-Tourist-Office/TF_ADJ_48345.aspx
  8. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/15/world/la-fg-volcano-flights16-2010apr16
  9. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/20/world/middleeast/20prexy-text.html
  10. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/14/world/middleeast/14mitchell.html
  11. http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/1319-april-weather-2011-110510.html

 

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Genesis 1:1 Amazing Verse

Posted on March 5, 2013 by abdicate

This is Genesis 1:1 in Hebrew:

בראשית ברא אלהים את השמים ואת הארץ׃

If you take the word for “son” in Hebrew (בר) and the word for “I make” (אשית) and put them together, you have the first word of the Scriptures: “in the beginning” (בראשית).

John 1:1-3 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Ancient Hebrew letters were like the Egyptian hieroglyphics in that they each had their own meaning. So each letter of the first word means: in man (son) sacrifice consumed with an open hand on the cross. Amazing!

There are seven words in Genesis 1 verse 1 in the Hebrew. This represents the menorah of the Temple. The center candlestick is called the “shamash” meaning (“helper” or “servant”) and is used to light the other candlesticks.

Isaiah 52:13 (KJV)  Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.

The center one is always lit first and represents the Messiah.

John 1:4 (KJV) In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

John 8:12 (KJV) Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

The three candlesticks branched out from each side of the center branch.

John 15:5 (KJV) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The menorah was to be made out of hammered gold.

Isaiah 53:5 (KJV) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

The middle word of Genesis 1:1 is “et” את and is not translatable. However, since there are seven words, this is the center word with three words on each side, just like the menorah of the Temple. This word contains two letters, the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This is the signature of Jesus for He said to John:

Revelation 1:8 (KJV) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

The “alpha” and “omega” are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. If it had been written in Hebrew Jesus would have said “I am the Alef and Tav” the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet and the very word used as the center of the sentence of Genesis 1 verse 1. In the ancient Hebrew lettering this combination of letters would have been the Ox and the Cross; in other words, the Sacrifice on the Cross. It can also be translated as Leader of the Covenant.

1 Corinthians 5:7b (KJV) …For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us

Jeremiah 31:31 (KJV) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

Hebrews 12:24 (KJV) And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

The cool thing is, the word “et” is on the right hand of the word for God in Hebrew (Elohim).

1 Peter 3:22 (KJV)  Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

The sixth word of Genesis 1 verse 1 is v’et ואת (translated as “and”) because it contains the sixth letter of Hebrew alphabet called vav and represents a “hook” or “nail” or “tent peg” with the “et” letters. The vav is a connector letter because it connected words and phrases and “hooks” them together. This shows even HOW Jesus would “connect” Heaven AND earth through the “sacrifice” on the “cross” and held up by the “nails”.

John 20:25 (KJV)  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

Genesis 1:1 is an amazing verse!

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Rapture in the Scriptures

Posted on December 15, 2012 by abdicate

In light of my other comments on the rapture. I thought I’d spell out some other raputres in the Scriptures. First off we have to understand where the word “rapture” comes from. It from the Latin (raptus: meaning carried away) translation of the Greek word harpazo meaning to catch away; take by force; snatch away; to seize. The idea behind it is a friend is about to cross the road and you pull them back by the hair to keep from being hit by a speeding bus: that’s harpazo. This word is used 17 times in 13 verses of the King James Bible. In the case of Philip, that’s what happened in Acts 8:39 “… the Spirit of the Lord caught away [harpazo] Philip…”. While the English word “rapture” doesn’t appear in the Scriptures, it is clear it occurs throughout.

I’ve always been a staunch believer the Church is not meant for wrath and that’s why I stand with the pre-trib idea. However, scripture clearly points out that there are multiple raptures: Enoch, Elijah, Moses’ body, Jesus, Philip (temporary), Paul’s friend, John (temporary), those found worthy, those later found worthy, all that offend, and finally, the two witnesses. Here’s the breakdown:

Raptures in Scripture
Enoch

Genesis 5:24 (KJV) “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.”
Jude 1:14-15 (KJV) “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
Hebrews 11:5-6 (KJV) “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Moses body

Deuteronomy 34:5-6 (KJV) “So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.”
Jude 1:9 (KJV) “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”

Elijah

2 Kings 2:9-13 (KJV) “And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;”

Jesus

Acts 1:7-9 (KJV) “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.”
Ephesians 4:8-10 (KJV) “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)”

Paul’s Friend (temp)

2 Corinthians 12:2-4 (KJV) “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”

Philip (temp)

Acts 8:39 (KJV) “And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”

John (temp)

Revelation 4:1 (KJV) “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.”

Rapture of the Faithful Church

1 Thessalonians 5:2-5 (KJV) “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.”
Matthew 23:33 (KJV) “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”
Luke 21:36 (KJV) “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

Two Witnesses

Revelation 11:3-12 (KJV) “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.”

Gather of the Faithful – after the tribulation, those that were not counted worthy before but are now (Luke 21:36 (KJV) )

Matthew 24:29-31 (KJV) “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
Mark 13:24-27 (KJV) “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.”

Gathering of all that Offends

Matthew 13:41-43 (KJV) “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

When & Who
Hard to say, but we are not meant for wrath being under the Blood of Jesus. How can God’s punishment of the world fall on us? If we are the promised Bride of Christ and the body of Christ, then how is it we would be pummelled on the Earth, die, and then have the wedding feast in Heaven? Hence the faithful bride is raptured out before the tribulation.

Ephesians 5:25-30 (KJV) “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”
John 14:1-4 (KJV) “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.”
Isaiah 26:19-21 (KJV) “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.”
1 John 3:1-3 (KJV) “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
Zephaniah 2:3 (KJV) “Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.”
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 (KJV) “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.”
Psalms 27:5-6 (KJV) “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.”

Whole book of Ruth. Naomi is Israel, Ruth is the Church, Boaz is the Lord. Naomi returns to the Land of Israel, Ruth follows, and marries Ruth’s kindred, just like we will when Jesus returns.

Before war, the ambassador’s are recalled.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (KJV) “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Dogma (A principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true) is not bad, but if Scripture must be excluded for it to work, then it’s tradition and a lie.

Colossians 2:8 (KJV) “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

A correct dogma is “Jesus, born of a virgin, died for you, and rose from the dead on the third day, so you can be saved on earth as well as in heaven after death.” With the state of the world the way it is (specifically the USA) one must re-evaluate some of the greyer dogma because of the vile evil so rampant. When the church is statistically inseparable from the world when it comes to addictions and divorce, then I have to wonder if those “Christians” are really Christians. Don’t get me wrong, even real Christians fall and we have an Advocate in heaven for us. But when people don’t even try to live a godly life, as a fruit inspector, I must say they’ve been fed a lie. What’s the lie? “1, 2, 3, pray after me” as if this prayer of words without real repentance (“change of mind” in Greek, about God) can save you. We’ve taken the words of Scripture and twisted them to a single act: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, … thou shalt be saved.” instead of what it really says:

Romans 10:9 (KJV) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, AND shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

A simple pray of faith has been turned by wolves in the church into a false dogma – “Pray this little prayer and you’ll go to heaven.” I can train a parrot, will he go to heaven? How many times have you heard in church “repeat after me”?! The devil has turned US into parrots and allowed unrepentant people to believe they’re Christians.

Luke 18:8 (KJV) I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

What does ALL this boil down to? Faith. I groan to live like Christ. I groan for the Church to live like Christ. To make a difference in the world, not give up on it because the “time is short” – it’s been short for 2000 years. Many have rejected any notion that our actions have any weight with God, just like Israel did in the wilderness. David was one of the greatest sinners of all time – killed to have a woman whom he lusted for in his heart! Why was he not killed for it (according to the Law)? Because he had genuine repentance. Sure, he was still disciplined by God. So many times I hear people say “Why am I not blessed? Why is there so much wrong in my life?” There are only two answers: to give God the Glory when it’s all fixed, or we are suffering the consequence of our actions. If I eat all the junk in the world and can’t fit through the front door and become a diabetic, am I to blame God? Sometimes what we point out as judgement by God is actually just the absence of His blessings on our lives because of disobedience. If you’re not killing someone, what disobedience are you committing then? Lack of prayer:

Psalms 32:6 (KJV) For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
Psalms 122:6 (KJV) Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (KJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Matthew 5:44-48 (KJV) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 6:5-7 (KJV) And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Matthew 9:38 (KJV) Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Matthew 24:20 (KJV) But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
Matthew 26:41 (KJV) Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Mark 11:24 (KJV) Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Mark 13:33 (KJV) Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
Luke 6:28 (KJV) Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Luke 21:36 (KJV) Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV) Pray without ceasing.
1 Timothy 2:8 (KJV) I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
James 5:16 (KJV) Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

The faithful pray. That’s it. There’s no formula, no complicated solution, it’s simple heart-felt, feet-moving prayer. With so many verses that show the need for prayer on our part, couldn’t Paul have just implied “all [the faithful] be changed”? I mean, who else will be changed? Not the ungodly. Pray and have faith, then you’ll be in the rapture; neglect it and you’ll be left behind.

Galatians 3:3 (KJV) Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (KJV) Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:20-25 (KJV) But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

So to answer my own question, what does Jesus mean in Luke 21:36 (KJV):

Hebrews 2:1-4 (KJV) Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

There is great joy in faithfulness, not easy-believe-ism.

Luke 21:36 (KJV) Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
1 Peter 4:17 (KJV) For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

God bless you all!

Posted in End Times, Victory Living | Comments Off on Rapture in the Scriptures

Happy Hanukkah

Posted on December 9, 2012 by abdicate

Happy Hanukkah! It isn’t just a Jewish holiday! Since my study (http://www.abdicate.net/book.aspx) shows how amazingly the feasts of scripture point to Jesus, it’s very fitting that the Lord would put “icing on the cake” having Jesus conceived during the Festival of Lights – Hanukkah (25 Kislev-2 Tevet)!! Jesus is the Light of men (John 1:4) and John was the witness of the Light (John 1:7). How very appropriate for Mary to go and be with John the Baptist’s mother Elisabeth in the sixth month and Mary being overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, conceived during the Festival of Lights! To further this wonder, this feast is also called the Feast of Dedication, where even Jesus participated by going to the temple one winter, John 10:22. Since Jesus is the Word of God, this is when God “Dedicated” His Son to us like authors do in books where they dedicate their work to the reader! Lights in Hebrew is the word urim (אוּרִים) and the letter meanings are:

sacrifice, nail, man, open hand, water

Jesus was the sacrifice nailed in the hand so that we could have the living Water!

John 7:38 (KJV) “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

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Rapture: Right or Gift

Posted on December 2, 2012 by abdicate

[Read to the end before judging what I’m saying.] Over the years, I’ve come to the realization that the rapture is a gift for the faithful and not based on a matter of salvation but on doing “something”. Jesus Himself said:

Luke 21:36 (KJV) Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

If it was a given, why the need to pray to be found worthy? He’s our righteousness, how much more “worthy” can that be, unless, we are to DO something. And that something is being in faith. How do you “be” in faith?

 2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV) “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Here’s that condition again: prove as in “prove it”, like the kids say.

Luke 18:8 (KJV) “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

When you read all the “gatherings” the scriptures you’ll see that there are multiple ones. This is why there’s so much confusion about when it’ll happen: two for the faithful, one for the wicked.

The Faithful pre-Trib Rapture:

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (KJV) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

“Caught up” in the Greek is harpazo and is the same thing that happened to Jesus in Rev 12:5 (KJV) and Philip in Acts 8:39 (KJV) and Paul’s friend in 2Cor 12:1-4 (KJV).

Second Gathering of the Faithful:

Matthew 24:29-31 (KJV) Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

The word gathered here is episunago meaning to collect unto one place – i.e. the New Jerusalem!

Wicked are Gathered and burned:

Matthew 13:40-42 (KJV) As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

There is one parable that spells this out, but it usually dismissed. First, the Holy Spirit is the Oil in our lives right?

Psalms 23:5 (KJV) “…thou anointest my head with oil…”

Psalms 45:7 (KJV) “…therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

Psalms 92:10 (KJV) “…I shall be anointed with fresh oil.”

Psalms 133:2 (KJV) “It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;”

1 John 2:20,27 (KJV) “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”, “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

Acts 2:3-4 (KJV) “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

In Matthew 25 all the women were virgins (saved by grace) – no hanky panky with other gods – all had oil – (earnest of our salvation, the Holy Spirit) but five were foolish. In the Greek this word is moros meaning heedless or a blockhead. John in 3:29 (KJV) said he was a friend of the Bridegroom, not the bride. When Jesus told the five foolish He didn’t know them, it’s like saying that to someone who’s really let you down and you’re at a loss for words, so you say “I don’t know who you are any more.” All that means is they’re not part of the bride, it doesn’t mean they’re not saved.

 1 Corinthians 3:15 (KJV) If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Jude 1:23 (KJV) And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

It is the hope of all who are saved to be in the Rapture, yet it’s not a right, but a gift.

 James 2:14-26 (KJV) What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Notice here it’s one thing to believe in God – the devils do and yet they tremble! – but another to act (do something) on it. If you teach, or drop $10 in the offering plate, even preach, but you do it by rote and not in faith, then it’s dead works. Where are those that have the power of the Spirit as in Matthew 10!?

 Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

I too pray that I am found worthy to escape.

Salvation vs. Rewards

Jesus Himself, not John or Paul, said that we are to pray that we are found worthy to escape, yet ignoring it won’t make it go away. If God Almighty said we are to do this and we don’t then what are the consequences. Being raptured or not has nothing, I repeat, nothing to do with salvation. It’s all about rewards, not justification or sanctification. And it should scare you: Hebrews 10:31 (KJV) “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” You forget God killed 70,000 people because David counted them! Disobedience has a price, don’t use your liberty as a cloak of wickedness.

How many do not fear the Lord and live their lives their way? The correction of the Lord is proof you are His, Hebrews 12:8 (KJV). I’m talking woodshed not hell and damnation. Getting into a car wreck because you’re on your way to a strip joint and living to tell about it and repent is God’s hand of love! You just can’t pick and choose verses based on a feel-good outcome. If there are millions of real Christians left behind, that only proves that they were living for themselves. Think what actions they would do!? How it would change their hearts for God!? It has NOTHING to do with salvation. What if God chose YOU to stay behind to tell the truth? What of Job? He did nothing, but was a tool of God to put the devil in his place! Bad things happen to Good people so His glory will shine through them. We are NOT in control, it only seems that way. Denying that doesn’t make it so.

Mark 8:38 (KJV) “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Again Jesus points out the INACTION of towards those in this “adulterous and sinful generation”! Again Jesus Christ says to the CHURCH – saved children:

Revelation 3:15-19 (KJV) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Proof is in the pudding! America has more churches than any other nation, yet we also have the most citizens in JAIL #1 in the porn industry with Utah topping that list! We are also #1 in illegal drug use and #1 in tobacco use! What’s that say about the state of the Church of God Almighty!? The hypocrisy is that we are also the most giving financially. I can only speculate on that one…

These are the words of David too:

Psalms 33:18 (KJV) “Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;”

Psalms 130:3-4 (KJV) “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.”

Fear of the Lord leads to hope in his mercy. When we count what joy there is in Christ and live that joy, then there is nothing to fear. But, and I know you don’t like it nor believe it, but it’s true and the Scriptures bear this out. Not all that call him Lord are going to heaven because they are indeed lost, but actions show the faith of the true believers. This is what Jesus the Almighty God said. There are a lot of verses we don’t talk about: wilfully sinning, unprofitable servant, miserable poor blind and naked and some don’t even know it.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (KJV) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

What is charity? Love in action for faith, not emotion. That’s what God wants, anything else is “sounding brass”. The Just shall live by faith. Since this is indeed true, what does it say about His when He comes:

Luke 18:8 (KJV) “… when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

You may think me judgemental and harsh, but I have to live by these words too. I have to confess my sins too to remain in fellowship with God, not to reconcile with God – He’s already done that! I want God’s power in my life, like Matthew 10. I want Him to wake me at 2 am to pray for my neighbour, cry unto God for forgiveness for my neighbourhood, my state and my country! We must die daily and until we understand that doesn’t just mean skipping a cookie now and again but obeying the Holy Spirit and making a difference not just in our own lives but in the lives of our cities, we’re gonna be judged by our works – not for salvation, that bill’s been paid – but for rewards. All employees are employees, but when one stands out they’re going to get more than just their pay check. That’s my point.

I hope you don’t despise me yet, and I hope I have an answer that doesn’t make these two verses contradictory:

Luke 21:36 (KJV) Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

1 Corinthians 15:51 (KJV) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

I believe the Lord gave me the answer I was looking for: Jesus was talking in a parable.

Luke 21:29 (KJV) And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

So what does that mean? Simply, He was talking to the lost who are unworthy!

Matthew 13:10-13 (KJV) And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Now I believe all the Scriptures are understood in harmony. I don’t believe we can know it all because that’s the power of prophecy – no private interpretation. We can try to fit it all in place but until it happens we can’t know for certain. A perfect example, with the pre-New Testament information, the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, come from Nazareth and be called out of Egypt. Looking at this way, it’s clearly a contradiction because we “believe” He’ll be FROM these three places but because we didn’t know about the call for census that caused them to leave Nazareth for Bethlehem or the threat on His life that caused them to flee to Egypt, our interpretation is incorrect. It’s no different about the end-times. We can try and figure out the chronology, but until it happens we just don’t know for certain all the details. One thing is certain, if we are not flexible about end-time dogma, and pick-n-choose verses based on someone’s teaching, we’ll miss the boat just as the Pharisees did when He came the first time. Keep in mind, there are still multiple raptures as I’ve shown here.

 

Posted in End Times, Victory Living | Comments Off on Rapture: Right or Gift

Thanksgiving

Posted on November 22, 2012 by abdicate

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A very Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers! Remember that in older posts I showed how that each Hebrew letter has it’s own meaning, much like the hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt and Chinese today. When you combine the meaning of the letters, you get a fuller meaning of the word used today. You can see the meaning of each letter in the image to the right.

The Hebrew word for thanks is toda (תודה) and each letter has the meaning of “Covenant and Door – Grace”. Jesus made a covenant with us as He is the Door full of Grace and Truth. The first five times (the number of grace) any form of the word thanks is mentioned in the Scriptures is when Israel is taught how to offer a sacrifice of Thanksgiving to the Lord in Leviticus 7. But there are two other forms of thanks in the Scriptures as well.

The next thanks is barak (ברךְ) with the letters meaning “In, man, open palm” and is translated as “thanks, bless, praise, kneel down [as in adoration] and curse”. The first time barak is use in the Scriptures is when God blessed the fowl of the air and the fish of the sea to multiply and be fruitful. The next time is when God blessed man to be fruitful and multiply and have dominion over all. Then God blessed the seventh day and He sanctified it. God then blessed the male and female and called them Adam (a double blessing). The next blessing mention, again by God, was when He blessed Noah – the fifth blessing, Grace which Noah had already found in the Lord, Genesis 6:8 (KJV) – when God told them to be fruitful and replenish the earth. The first blessing by man was Noah when he blessed Shem and cursed Canaan, son of Ham, for what Ham had done to his father by seeing his nakedness. Noah couldn’t curse Ham because he had already been blessed by God. Interestingly, the greatest blessing man ever received from God comes from the word for nakedness (ערוה) in Hebrew letter meaning is “see man nail grace”. Jesus was nailed to the cross, naked, so we could have grace. I find it a wonderful matter when you see that this one word barak can mean a blessing or a cursing. So close are they that they share the same word! James 3:10 (KJV) “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” Now you can understand this verse: Proverbs 18:21 (KJV) “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Truly the President’s name is a blessing to some and a cursing to others.

The last form of thanks is yada (ידה) meaning to hold out your hand in worship or make confession or to praise. The letters mean “open hand, door, grace”. It is a wonderful gem that in praising the Lord we give Him thanks! In fact, if you realize this, it is the meaning to the verse in Revelation 3:20 (KJV) “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Literally, to praise the Lord, is to open the door to Grace! To put your hand on the door, open it, and receive Grace! Glory to God! I remember as a kid seeing a painting of Jesus standing at a door knocking and the door didn’t have a doorknob – it could only be opened from within. This is how we know the Lord Jesus more, by inviting Him into our hearts through daily praise and worship. If you have trouble praising the Lord, read and listen to Peter Furler’s song “I’m Alive!” http://www.songlyrics.com/peter-furler/i-m-alive-lyrics/

On this day of thanksgiving I want to praise my Lord Jesus Christ and thank Him for coming and giving me life! Thank you Father for sending your Son to die for me and give me life! Thank you for your wonderful Grace!

Posted in Hebrew Gems, Victory Living | Comments Off on Thanksgiving

Five and Grace

Posted on November 19, 2012 by abdicate

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I have consistently stated that the number five infers grace in the Scriptures. I’ve also consistently linked the letter hey (ה) with grace, so I thought it most important to show how and why. In reality the letter hey is a window in Ancient Hebrew meaning it reveals something; to say behold! to say look!. The rabbis agree: they do not know what it reveals. Windows illuminate and permit the light to shine through and nothing is hidden. The fact that they cannot see what the window illuminates only shows their condition:

Exodus 34:33 (KJV) “And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.”

Exodus 34:35 (KJV) “And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.”

Exodus 40:21 (KJV) “And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses.”

There’s a saying “Where the old conceals, the new reveals.” We can see that the Glory of God was being concealed, whether the reflection of God in Moses’ face or the Mercy Seat; they were concealed.

But what in the New Testament is being “revealed” about this?

2 Corinthians 3:12-16 (KJV) “Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.”

How and when was this veil taking away?

Matthew 27:50-51 (KJV) “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”

So the veil commanded by God to cover the Mercy Seat was ripped by God when He died on the cross. This is the Good News (Gospel): that man has become reconciled with God, and that His Mercy Seat is revealed. If one cannot see that, they are lost and not His children.

2 Corinthians 4:3 (KJV) “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:”

Two things you should notice about how the veil was ripped: top to bottom; hung on a rod. First, the veil was ripped from top to bottom. If it had been ripped from bottom to top, they could have said someone did it. But it is said that the veil before the Holy of Holies in the Temple was 30 feet high, 15 feet wide and 4 inches thick. The ability of someone ripping it from top to bottom is almost impossible because of the height and thickness. Even if someone were to tear it from the bottom and pull to the sides, they probably would not have been able to lift it. It would have taken a team of men to tear it. Next, it hung on a rod. When God ripped the veil in two, it would have acted like curtains on a window, revealing the Mercy Seat of God. Another word for mercy is grace.

So you ask, how does the number five come to mean grace? Hey is the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet and holds the value of 5 when written as a number. If you look at the Hebrew calendar depicting the full year, we are in the fifth millennium so every year starts with the letter hey, meaning 5000. The year 2012 is 5773 (ה׳תשע״ג) in the Hebrew calendar. Everything in the Scriptures is by design, so let’s look at the occurrences of the number five (I’ll let you find the Scripture references):

  • The fifth word (in Hebrew) of the Scriptures starts with the letter hey and when a prefix means “the” as in “the heavens”.
  • The fifth day of Creation, God filled the waters with life. Living waters.
  • The first instance of the number five (aside from its use to determine the ages) was when the five kings of Sodom and Gomorrah were attacked by Chedorlaomer and Lot was taken. God sent Abram to overtake Chedorlaomer and he brought back all the goods and kidnapped people, including Lot. Again the five kings were saved by Abram and his 318 men. Interestingly, this is the only time the number is mentioned in Scripture and 318 is the sum of the prime numbers from 7 to 7 squared and of which, there are twelve prime numbers:  7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, & 47. The fact that these men were “born in his house”, and lead by Eliezer (אליעזר), Abram’s heir apparent, whose name letters sum to 318. This shows the utter intricacies of the Scriptures, that the primary salvation will come from Abram’s loins and from the twelve tribes of Israel. That’s so far-fetched you say; well, do you have a meaning to 318? 🙂
  • Five is mentioned is when Abraham asks for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to be spared if there are fifty (5 x 5 x 2) righteous and he lowers the count by five twice and then by ten three times – asking for mercy (grace) overall five times for others.
  • Joseph is by far the greatest example of the life of the Lord Jesus, so one would expect grace to abound and thereby the number five. Joseph was sold to the world for 20 (5 x 2 x 2) pieces of silver. He is 30 (5 x 2 x 3) years old when he stands before Pharaoh and begins his mandate. Joseph feeds his step-brothers but gives his blood brother, Benjamin, five times as much food. Grace is unmerited favor: Benjamin got more for just being who he was; he did nothing to earn it. Next Joseph reveals himself to his brothers when there are yet five years of drought remaining and he tells them how he was sent ahead to save them according to God’s will. Pharaoh commanded that they not worry about anything, that all Egypt was theirs and the good of the land. More grace: they didn’t earn it, but were blessed because of who they were – Joseph’s brothers. When they leave to go get Jacob all are given a change of clothes, but to Benjamin, he is given 300 (5 x 5 x 12) (!) pieces of silver and five changes of clothing. When they return Joseph presents five of his brothers to Pharaoh to seek permission to stay in the land of Goshen (גשׁן – letter meaning: travel, provision, life). They found grace in the eyes of Pharaoh.
  • Next, if a man steals an ox, he is to restore it fivefold, to find grace.
  • The entire tabernacle is made up of measurements of multiples of five as well as all the measurements of spices for the anointing oil: 1500 (2 × 2 × 3 × 5 × 5 × 5) shekels of spices and 5 quarts of olive oil. The oil was used for blessing, healing, and anointing – to make holy. More grace.
  • Next the first peace offering made to God by the people of Israel was by Nahshon the son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah where he gave five rams, five he goats, five lambs. Interestingly his name means: Diligently Observant son of People of Liberty! His sister, Elisheba, was wife to Aaron, and his son, Salmon, was husband to Rahab after the taking of Jericho. Each tribe made the same peace offering to God.
  • The firstborn of man or beast are redeemed to the Lord with five shekels of money. Here is a clear example of linking redemption to the number five, paying the price, if the previous examples were not enough.
  • Next are the five kings that ruled the land and hid in a cave. Joshua knew where they were and had the captains of war place their feet on the backs of their neck with the promise of God that this is what will happen to their enemies if they’d trust the Lord.
  • Israel fought for five years to take the land and the land was divided up among the tribes. A land they lived off of from farms they did not plant and houses they did not build. Grace and more grace.
  • Another example is when the five lords of the Philistines were stricken with a plague of mice and emrods because they had the ark of God. As a trespass offering to God, they made five emrods and five golden mice so that God would lift the plague from them.
  • Next, David picked five smooth stones to fight Goliath. His name means to reveal, and the letters in his name mean travel, control, deed, mark.  He came from Gath which means wine-press. Through the grace that David believed in, God delivered Israel, overcoming insurmountable odds with a shepherd boy and a smooth stone under God’s control to hit the mark and Goliath was crushed like a grape.
  • David also took five loaves of showbread which was meant for the priests alone.
  • Abigail brought David five sheep and five measures of parched corn when her husband, Nabal, lived up to his name by being stupid with David’s men and refused them. She brought these and 200 loaves, 100 clusters of raisins and 200 fig cakes – multiples of five – as a trespass offering to David. Later her husband died and David called to her to become his wife and she came with five damsels with her. Seeking grace, she became a queen!
  • Solomon’s temple was filled with measurements of multiples of five. God’s dwelling place is full of grace.
  • The fifth time Noah is mentioned in the Scriptures it says: Genesis 6:8 (KJV) “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. “
  • The fifth time Ruth is mentioned in the Scriptures it says: Ruth 2:2 (KJV) “And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.”
  •  The fifth time David’s name is mentioned after meeting Saul, the Scriptures says David found favor in Saul. 1 Samuel 17:37 (KJV)  “…And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.”
  • There was a boy whose lunch was five loaves and two fish. Jesus took them, blessed them and gave them to the people and fed 5000 men besides the women and children  and he had them sit in groups of 50 (5 x 5 x 2)! They took up 12 baskets full after the people had their fill. The people didn’t have to do ANYTHING except be obedient. And each apostle received their own basket in the end for being obedient! Grace is Unmerited Favor!  This is where this clinches it for me. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked to heaven, blessed and broke them. Imagine you see Jesus having two fish in one hand and the five loaves in the other holding them up to the Father. Father in Hebrew is ab (אב) and Jesus reveals the Father John 14:9 (KJV) “Jesus saith … he that hath seen me hath seen the Father…” so remember that the letter hey (ה) means a window. If you put this window between the letters for father, you get the word love! (אהב) The heart of God the Father is love, Jesus, Lord God is Love and Grace. John 1:17 (KJV) “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” So if you see Jesus standing there with the fish in one hand (the meaning of the letter nun – נ – is fish), the number two is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet is beyt (ב), together beyt and nun spell the word Son (בנ). And the loaves in His other open hand (open hand is the meaning of the letter yod – י) and with the five loaves; the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the letter hey, which together spells the word Jah (יה) meaning God. And finally, the numeric value of the letter nun is 50, fifty is Jubilee and the day in which the Holy Spirit was given (Pentecost means 50 days from Passover). In this picture of Jesus holding the two fish and five loaves, you have God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in love to give grace! John 1:16 (KJV) “And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.” The word “for” here means “anti” or “opposite, in place of” which gives us the understanding that when grace runs out, there’s more grace.

I know that it seems coincidental and a bit “mathematical” but it’s there for you to see. Do you see? In these days of cynicism, how much coincidence is required for one to believe? What if this is correct and accurate? If the Word of God is inspired, wouldn’t it contain more than just feel-good sermons, but integral nuances that would point to what the Author wanted to convey in the plain text as well as deep within? How many examples are required before one takes serious the Word of God? I hope to kick the fence you’re sitting on, and fall one way or the other. I’m not selling anything or guiding you to some site to buy a product or go to some church or donate to my charity, I’m here to point out the wonderful gems written in plain view for those wanting to know more about Jesus. Christians especially have such a warped sense of who God is. Grace is the reason we all stand before God either to eternal life or eternal damnation: we are inexcusable! Romans 2:1.

Not to leave the faithful with a sour tone, I want to point out what this year in the Hebrew calendar says to those watching the news. Those that have read my study on the chronology of man according to the scriptures know that this year isn’t 5773, but much later, however, God knows we’d be watching with the incorrect calendar. The year 2012 is 5773 (ה׳תשע״ג) in the Hebrew calendar. Look up the meaning of each letter and you’ll find it says: the, covenant, provide, see, travel. The covenant [people – us] are provided the means to see travel! The Rapture! Wouldn’t that be great if He comes this year?! Next year, 5774 (starting 5 Sep 2013) will mean: the, covenant, provide, see, establish! The covenant people will see the establishment [of the bride of Christ]! God bless and I hope you enjoyed this note.

 

 

Posted in Hebrew Gems | Comments Off on Five and Grace

Man and Wife

Posted on October 21, 2012 by abdicate

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Genesis 1:26-27 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

Genesis 5:2 “Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.”

In fact the word create in Hebrew is bara (ברא) with the letters meaning Son (בר) and strength (א) – to create is the Son’s strength!

John 1:3 “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

Notice too, that God called them BOTH “Adam” as in the “human species”. In Modern Hebrew, “Human Being” is literally “son of Adam” – ben Adam – בן אדם. Before I get into the meaning of the word “Adam” please read these verses:

Ephesians 5:23-30 “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”

Notice that Jesus sanctified and cleansed the church with the washing of water by the word – a most curious phrase.

John 15:3 “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”

John 7:38 “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

1 Corinthians 6:11 “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

So the “water” is the Spirit and the Word is Jesus. Another gem is the word for mother in Hebrew: אם with the meaning of “strong waters”. In Modern Hebrew, it also means nation, womb, people, race, etc.

  • א – is leader, or strong, or sacrifice
  • ם – (this is the form when “m” – מ – is the last letter of a word) is water, chaos, or spirit

Genesis 3:20 “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.”

Eve in Hebrew is Havah (חוה) meaning “life giver” and by letter “protector (ח) and (ו) grace (ה)”!

So let’s look at the word for “Adam” in Hebrew: אדם

  • א – is leader, or strong, or sacrifice
  • ד – is door, or path
  • ם – (this is the form when “m” – מ – is the last letter of a word) is water, chaos, or spirit

So the meaning of Adam is “man opens door to the Spirit” and it can also mean “man opens door to chaos”, which is what Adam did; he opened up to the wrong spirit! Though we have free will, it really boils down to two choices: participate in God’s will, or not. God gives us the power to succeed through obedience, but if we are disobedient then we suffer loss, not so much from punishment, but more of an absence of God’s blessings. This is why God says He’ll heal the nation when HIS people repent. If a Godly nation becomes lost, it’s HIS people who are at fault.

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Even in churches today, “preachers” are saying the “problem is Washington” when in reality it’s the first 15 rows of the church or the pulpit!

So what is “man” and “woman”?

Genesis 2:21-23 “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”

The word for woman here is אשה (ishah) and the word for man here is איש (ish). There are a few words for man, but this one is when man is in dignity – meaning obedient, righteous, and correct. So let’s look at the letter meaning of these words.

  • א – sacrifice, leader, first, man
  • י – hand, work, deed
  • ש – destroy, consume, provide

So this man is “man’s work provides” and “man’s work consumes”.  I debated with myself concerning this last definition, but I realized that is exactly what we do. We work to provide for the family, but it’s the Lord that gives the increase. We cannot create, we can only consume, but it’s the Lord that sustains us. This is why many of the mezuzahs on doors have the letter shin (ש) on them. It represents God; El Shaddai (אל שדי) translated as “God Almighty”. However, שד means breast as in that which provides required nourishment – everything a baby would need. The letter yod (י) means “my”; so the full meaning of El Shaddai is “God my breast” as in “God is all I need to be nourished and provides for me.” The individual letters שד mean “consumes door”. What happens when a baby is hungry, besides cry, they open their mouth – the door. Exactly what Jesus meant:

Matthew 4:4 “But he answered and said, It is written (Deu 8:3), Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

So now let’s look at אשה (ishah) – woman – and the letter meanings:

  • א – sacrifice, leader, first, man
  • ש – destroy, consume, provide
  • ה – reveal, window, grace

So the letters for woman mean “first to provide grace”. What traditional home isn’t where the father is the “law” enforcer and the mother is the one who dishes out “grace”! If this isn’t enough to warm the cockles of a cold heart, let’s look at what happens when a man and woman become one. As we can see that separately they reveal differing aspects of God, together they show even more. If you combine the letter of man and woman separating the common letters from the unique letters, you get the following:

איש (man) + אשה (woman) =  אש (fire) + יה (God) + אש (fire)

Notice that both man and woman turn into “sacrifice consumed” (the meaning of fire)! When a man and woman marry both must sacrifice their passions (fire) to compromise for each other, give and take, and allow God to work in their midst, otherwise they’ll become a conflagration – an extensive fire that destroys a great deal; fire + fire! There are two things I notice about this layout of fire on each side of God. One, both “fires” are identical words. Though men and women are not the same, they are certainly equal, one flesh. Eve came from Adam’s rib, not his foot or his head. The second is that in order to keep the balance, the difference, between man and woman requires God’s input into their individual differences as well as what they have in common. He is the pivot point.

Now if you combine all the letters of man and woman you get the word for foundation – אשיה with the letters meaning of “first provide the work of grace”. These two are the foundation for a family. We see the opposite of this everywhere now-a-days with so many divorces. No one takes the blame, and part of this is because neither prepares to be married before the wedding ceremony. So let’s look at the words groom (חתן – chatan) and bride (כלה – kalah).  Groom is:

  • ח – fence, protect
  • ת – sign, covenant, mark
  • נ – ן (final form) – seed, life

So groom means “protect covenant life”. The man needs to first determine in his heart that his life is now linked to a covenant long before the wedding is consummated. This is why a written contract was drawn up and sealed with wine when a couple was betrothed. A new Covenant.  Sound familiar? The son would go home and build a house or an addition to the existing home for his bride. Only when the father felt the house was indeed a home fit for a bride, would he allow his son to get his bride. Only then would a wedding night occur, never before. Later, after a the marriage, it is up to the father to protect his family.

The letters for the word bride mean:

  • כ – palm of hand, open, power to suppress
  • ל – learn, teach, authority
  • ה – window, reveal, grace

So bride means “open to teach grace”. It’s the mother’s job to show her children refinement and gentleness and grace. Bride can also mean “suppress her authority for grace.” If you take the first two letters they spell the word all (כל) in Hebrew. So the bride is also “all grace”. It is also required for the woman to submit to her husband as the man is to submit to Christ. Read Ephesians 5.

Romans 1:17 “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

The first letters of each word groom (חתן) and bride (כלה) forms the word for power – כח with the letters meaning “open fence”. Think about it; power, God’s power has no limits, no hurdles, and cannot be fenced in.  The remaining letters make the word gift – לתנה. Together the man and woman become the gift of power, but what is this “gift of power”? It is to become one like God is One! On earth, the most powerful unit is the family.

Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:”

Genesis 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

Matthew 19:5-6 “And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

The letters for the word gift (לתנה) mean “authority of the cross is life of grace”; the gift of salvation!

Ecclesiastes 3:13 “And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.”

Romans 5:17 “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

Finally, let’s look at the word for family (משפחה). Since the man and woman a joined, a family is born.

  • מ – water, chaos, from
  • ש – consume, destroy, provide
  • פ – mouth, speak, words
  • ח – fence, protect, full expression of love
  • ה – window, reveal, grace

Therefore the meaning of family is “flowing provision to speak the full expression of love, grace”. While this begs the question, how does this mean family? Well, you have to look at what a family is supposed to be. First, they’re a continual source of provision. When one member has a need, the others are there to help. A family is also one that produces fruit, the full expression of love. And finally, the family is supposed to be one of grace and forgiveness. When you look at this word through the eyes of Scripture, you find none other than the plan of salvation. When the flowing waters of life speak to the full expression of the love of God, grace occurs!

John 7:38 “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 1:16 “And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.”

I hope you see the theme God put into His word and the letters and that is grace. No matter the sin in our lives, God’s grace will always super-abound.

Romans 5:20 “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:”

That is meaning of the word in Greek for the “more abound” in this verse: it’s “super-abound”! It’s just like the sun. Scientists say that of the energy the sun puts out, only a small fraction reaches the earth, the rest is lost in space. This is just like God to be so plentiful that we have all we will ever need. Just like Paul says:

2 Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

When we are weak, God’s power is more than sufficient to make me strong! Grace for grace! All glory is God’s!

Posted in Hebrew Gems, Victory Living | Comments Off on Man and Wife