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Jesus Redeemed Creation

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God in His love for creation sent Jesus to redeem creation from the Fall of humanity.

John recorded in Chapter 17 Jesus’ prayer.  In verse five were he speaks of being with God before he came to be born as one of us. “And now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made.” Jesus had completed his Father’s plans and purposes: he prays thanking God his Father for the word that revealed his identity to his disciples, and for them to be one as brothers (Jesus fulfilled the law) in Christ and to be kept safe from the evil one.

It was a pivotal moment in the history of the creation of the earth when the fall of humanity took place. 

Moses, the writer of Genesis inspired by God gives an account of the first humans and their separation from God, their creator. He writes that Adam and Eve used their free will to eat the fruit from the forbidden tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Adam and Eve sin of disobedience, making themselves a god to themselves by responding to Satan’s temptation ‘To be like God’ to use their free will and eat from the forbidden tree. In being disobedient by eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, their eyes and hearts were open to discern the presence of evil. As a result, Satan, was legally able to take their dominion of all living breathing creatures over to him. Satan’s power over humanity led to Adam and Eve’s death, eternal death.

After the fall of humanity, Satan’s influence over humankind caused human beings to become corrupt: their nature became self-centred and unforgiving, often envious, fearful, and retaliatory. Cain, we read his offering did not please God, whereas God blessed his brother Abel’s offering. Cain was angry, envious of his brother. “So, Cain became angry, and his countenance fell. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is couching at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Genesis 4: 5-7. On another occasion Cain’s hatred of his brother led to him killing his brother Abel. Cain had been warned that Satan was behind his anger, and he needed to stand against it. But sadly, he was influenced by his fallen nature so he could not help himself, he slew his brother Abel. Genesis 8: 10.  Every person to stand in their own strength to withstand the temptations that came to them. Most could not withstand Satan’s spirit of evil and people’s inhumanity towards each other became prevalent on the earth.

During the time before the flood, the population must have grown significantly, “And God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.” Genesis 1: 28.

The people in those days lived a long time: Adam lived nine hundred and thirty years, Methuselah lived nine hundred and sixty-nine years. Genesis 5: 3. 5: 27. Also, their children would have migrated across the world.

The Lord used the power of his created word to remove the corruption from his creation.

Our sovereign God, had planned to destroy the earth with a flood. Noah believed God when he told him of his plan, so Noah and his family were told by God to build the ark for him and his family and for the creatures of the earth to escape the flood, “God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh; for the earth is filled with violence through them; behold I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms inside the ark and cover it inside with pitch . . . . For behold, I will bring a flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall die.” Genesis 6: 12-17.

God used the power of water to remove the corruption on the earth. But God knew that the spirit of Satan was still influencing humanities fallen inherited nature. Noah and his family and all the creatures that where on the ark were saved by God to make a fresh start. Their story has been told by succeeding generations. The evidence remains today of the flood having taken place. “The waters prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark floated on the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed so mightily upon the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered;” Genesis 7: 18,19.

“The Genesis Flood” The Biblical Record and its Scientific Implications” John C Whitcomb and Henry M Morris. “We have seen that most of the earth’s crust, up to and including some of the Proterozoic strata, was probably formed during the period of creation, Also, there must have been a primeval mantle of soil supporting the luxuriant plant life of the antediluvian earth. During the relatively brief period between the Fall and the Deluge, however, probably few deposits were formed, and those that were formed were swept away by the flood, together with the original soils and other unconsolidated materials. And it is highly probable that many of even the primeval crystal rocks were broken up and swept away, mixed and eventually redeposited by the tremendous forces of the flood waters, as well as by the volcanic and other phenomena accompanying them. For one thing seems absolutely certain, if the Biblical record of the flood is true, as we strongly affirm it to be the ‘Noachian Deluge’ was a cataclysm of absolutely enormous scope of potency and must have accomplished an immense of geologic work during the year in which it prevailed over the earth. There seems no reasonable alternative to either rejecting the Bible as of no historical value whatever or else acknowledging the fact that many of the earth’s rock stratus must have been produced by the flood! We have already shown that the Bible quite clearly and emphatically teaches the fact of a global flood, and it should be immediately obvious that if such a global flood ever occurred, it must have been the greatest geomorphic agent acting on the earth since creation itself! Anyone who can conceive of a worldwide flood being “tranquil” and geologically impotent should as easily be able to equate east with west and black and white.”  “Overflowed with water.” Page ‘258’  Publishers Baker House Grand Rapids Michigan USA 1991.

Noah’s descendant ‘Egypt’ the son of Cush, the son of Ham, the son of Noah, ( Genesis 10: 6) who’s name remains today on the land thousands of years later and in 1 Chronicles 1: 11, the land mass of the earth was divided in the days of Peleg. “To Eber  were born two sons: the name of the one Peleg (for in his days the earth was divided), and the name of the other Joktan.” 1 Chronicles 1: 19. The age of the earth is estimated between five – six billion years old. “The Genesis Flood” John C Whitcomb and Henry M Morris. .Page 378.

After the flood, the Lord decided that he would never curse the ground again, “The Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I ever again destroy every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day, and night, shall not cease.”  Genesis 8: 21,22.

God’s plan and purpose in sending Jesus to be born as one of us was to redeem humanity from the curse that he put on man and the ground, “And to Adam he said, “’Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life;  thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.  In the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3: 17-19.

“The Genesis Flood The Biblical Record and its Scientific Implications” John C Whitcomb and Henry M Morris.

Paul writing to the Church at Rome,  “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8: 20-22. King James Bible) “It was at the time of the Edenic curse of Gen. 3: 17-19 that “the creation was subjected to “vanity” by God. This “vanity” (of which the Book of Ecclesiastes speaks so eloquently) is further described as “the bondage of corruption,” which is the explanation of the fact that this passage teaches very clearly that some tremendous transformations took place in the realm of nature at the time of the Edenic curse: and therefore any scientific theory which purports to explain the history of life on this planet without taking into full account the effects of the fall upon the realm of nature must be rejected. The Edenic curse had far-reaching effects upon nature, including the animal kingdom. In Genesis 1: 28, for example, we are told that God gave Adam “dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every  living thing that moveth upon the earth.” This is the dominion that we read in Psalm 8:  6-8.  “Thou makest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou has put all things under his feet: all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatsoever passes through the paths of the seas “ Daily experience teaches us that dominion of this kind is no longer being exercised by the human race over the animal kingdom. Something drastic has taken place in man’s relationship to the animal kingdom since the days of the Garden of Eden. The subservience and instant obedience of all classes of animals to the will of man has been transformed into fear and dread of man that often brings with it violence and destruction.”  “The Genesis Flood The Biblical Record and its Scientific Implications” John C Whitcomb and Henry M Morris “Overflowed with water” Page 459.460.”  Publishers Baker House Grand Rapids Michigan USA 1991.

God planned to send his Son Jesus to redeem all creation, from God’s curse on the ground. Jesus the seed that fell into the earth and died. “Unless, a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies it remains alone, but if it dies it bears much fruit.”  John 12:  24. A seed contains the complete makeup of a plant: leaves, height, colour of flowers and produce more seeds of its own kind.  The seed of Jesus contained the fullness of his indestructible life and in his seed: a new heaven and a new earth.

Jesus redeemed the vegetation – when Jesus on the cross bore the crown of thorns.  The Roman soldiers at the Praetorium mocked Jesus and put  on him a scarlet robe, a crown of thorns and a reed in his hand, they ridiculed him saying, “Hail!  King of the Jews.” They removed the robe and reed  leaving the crown upon his head. This was significant as Jesus bore on the cross God’s curse that he put upon vegetation. Matthew 27: 27-31.

The wooden cross, or Jesus hanging on a tree, is also symbolic of God’s act of redeeming humanity from his curse upon the vegetation.  “And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is accursed by God; you shall not defile your land which the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance. “Cursed is the man that hangs on a tree.” Deuteronomy 21: 22,23.

Jesus was taken down from the cross on the same day, redeeming the land.                                                                                                                                   

God, had given Adam dominion over every living breathing creature, “God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” Genesis 1: 28. After the fall of Adam and Eve, Satan took from them the dominion that God had given to them. God had used animal skins to cover Adam and Eve’s bodies. The animals became a blood sacrifice to atone, make a covering for their s

Jesus redeems humanity and every living breathing creature from Satan’s dominion -Moses was chosen by God to lead the Hebrew people to the land that God promised to Abraham, the land of Canaan. On the Exodus journey, Moses was given the blueprint of the heavenly temple on Mount Sinia. “The Lord said,  . . And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in your midst. According to all that I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and all of its furniture, so you shall make it.” Exodus 25: 8.

The tent Tabernacle was carried from place to place and set up to worship the God of Israel. Within its framework was an altar where the blood of animals was sprinkled on the altar for forgiveness of sins. The person came to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where the priest stood, the person laying their hand upon the head of the animal or bird identifying their sin with the creature. Leviticus 1: 3-5. The person then killed the animal, and its blood was caught in a bowl by the priest, and he then took the bowl and sprinkled the blood on the altar. The blood of animals and birds were substituted taking the punishment for sin, Jesus in taking our sin and hereditary sin of Adam and Eve’s upon himself, he becomes our substitute having taken the punishment in dying in our place by his life’s blood shed on the cross for the forgiven of sin and its causes. Jesus redeemed the animals and birds from being used as a sacrifice for humanities sin.

Jesus has redeemed humanity – The Lord Jesus’ victory over sin for all those who believe in him, and in his resurrection from the dead, through repentance and faith in Jesus, believers are raised up in the likeness of Jesus’ resurrection by the power of his indestructible life (Hebrews 7: 15,16) and enter eternal life. Jesus through his victory over Satan transforms our fallen nature so, we feel how God feels about sin, it is abhorrent to us. Thank you, Lord God for what You have done for us by redeeming humankind from the curses and the inherited sin of Adam and Eve, making it possible to be reconciled to God our Father and creator.

Jesus has redeemed the creatures in the sea – Jesus gave the scribes and Pharisees the sign of Jonah, “But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign; but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12: 39,40. Jesus was speaking of his death, burial in a tomb for three days and nights and just as Jonah had died inside the whale’s stomach and on the third day was vomited out alive, so Jesus would rise from the dead on the third day. Jonah 2: 6,7,10. The fact that Jesus gave this sign he included the creatures of the sea. On another occasion Jesus was asked to pay the half shekel tax, he told Peter to go fishing and the fish he caught had the shekel in its mouth. Jesus showed his dominion over the fish in the sea. ”Jesus said, “However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel; take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.” Matthew 17: 24-27.

Jesus redeems the birds – The sign of the Cockrill crowing three times is not a co-incidence, the Cockrill represents the birds of creation being redeemed by Jesus as they were involved in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus predicted Peter’s denial of knowing him, “Jesus said to Peter, “Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” Matthew 26: 34. The Cockrill was included in the downfall of Peter’s denial of knowing Jesus, “ Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a maid came up to him, and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the porch, another maid saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again, he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man. . . . . “I do not know the man. And immediately the cock crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times. And he went out and wept bitterly.“. Matthew 26: 69-72,75.  Peter’s response must have hurt Jesus, but God had forewarned Jesus of Peter’s fallen nature taking control. But Peter was broken-hearted, we are told he wept bitterly, The angel at the tomb particularly asked the women to tell Peter that Jesus was risen. Mark 16: 7.

Jesus redeemed all living, breathing creatures on our planet from God’s curse upon the ground.

Every living breathing creature, and creation itself, is waiting  for the redemption of creation. (excluding humanity). This will happen on the day of the Lord’s coming. It will take place after Jesus’ Millennium reign and after Satan has been set free for a short period of time. John’s vision, “And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be loosed from his prison  and will come out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners of the earth, that is, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.  And they marched up over the broad earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city; but fire came down from heaven] and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20: 7-10

Paul in his letter to the Romans writes, “Because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay. . . . .We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Romans 8: 21-23. Paul knows that creation is redeemed, but creation is having to wait for Jesus’ return.  Paul likens it to the church waiting for the restoration of our bodies at the calling out his church.

Peter in his second letter writes, “ Waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire!  But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”  2 Peter 3: 12,13

The perfection of nature will be in the new heaven and the new earth, every living breathing creature will live at peace with one another. Isaiah writes, “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatlings together; and a little child shall lead them.” Isaiah 11: 6.

John writing towards the end of the first century, tells us that Jesus was willing to do his Father’s will, even though he would suffer and be killed at the hands of men. He was innocent of all the charges against him, Jesus bore on the cross the curses that God put on humanity (Both men and women and the 3rd and 4th generational sin, and sins of humanities fallen nature.)  In his bodily resurrection Jesus won the total victory over the whole of humanities fallen nature, curses, and sins of the flesh. Jesus has dominion over all creation.

When I was filled with the Holy Spirit, ‘I knew God was my Father and I felt one with creation.’ The revealing of the word, that ‘Jesus has redeemed creation,’ I now understand why I felt one with creation. Jesus completed in himself total victory over Satan’s dominion over the earth, (Matthew 4: 8,9) and redeeming all living breathing life that is on the earth. Satan and his principalities and powers have been disarmed, (Colossians 2: 14,15) he has no longer a kingdom of power. Christians who use the God given gifts of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, have the power to win Christ’s victory over Satan. Jesus holds the keys of death and Hades.  

         

John makes it clear that Jesus’ victory over Satan still stands today.

John writes in Revelation, “When I saw him, (Jesus)  I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand upon me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one; I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”  Revelation 1: 17,18.

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Escaping the Wrath of God

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 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving the temple, Jesus prophesied that the temple would be taken down stone by stone. “Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down.” Matthew 24:1,2.

Jesus was sat overlooking the temple on the Mount of Olives, his disciples: Peter, James, John and Andrew joined him. In the conversation that followed, Jesus referred to Daniel’s end times prophecy, when he said, “When you see the desolating sacrilege spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place; (let the reader understand)” Matthew 24: 15.

Daniel prophesied, “He shall cause sacrifice and offering to cease; and upon the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” Daniel 9: 27.

Jesus’ disciples would know immediately what Jesus was referring to by ‘the desolating sacrilege.’ Alexander the Great invaded Israel in 330 B.C. The Greek King Antiochus Epiphanes launched a massive campaign of repression against the Jews.

It was Judas Maccabeus who led a full-scale revolt in 165 B.C that drove Antiochus and the Greek army out, and the Jews regained control of their temple and land.

Eyre & Spottiswoode Study Bible ‘Sacrifices and offerings cease.’

Antiochus Epiphanes, whose troops desecrated the temple in 168 B.C, and suspended the daily burnt offerings and other services and erected an idol-altar (apparently a statue of Zeus Olympus) and entered the Holy of Holies; Daniel 9: 27 and 12: 11 and Mk 13: 14 it seems to refer to a desecration which shall take place in the end, during  the period of the great tribulation in Mt 24: 15 (cf Lk 21: 19-24) It probably refers also to the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.

Jesus on the cross took upon himself the desolating sacrilege.

Jesus prophesied the desolating sacrilege, “But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought not to be (let the reader understand).” Matthew 24: 15  Matthew’s words added ‘Let the reader understand,’ God’s plan of redemption was through the death and resurrection of the Messiah, the understanding was hidden from the Jewish leaders and people. The Jewish leaders collaboration with the pagan Roman Pontius Pilate, placed themselves under Satan’s spiritual authority.

Chief Priest Caiaphas, asked Jesus at his trial before the council, “Are you the Christ the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus replied, “I am; and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Mark 14: 61,62.   The council condemned Jesus to death for blasphemy. ‘The Messiah’s Secret’ – The Jewish council did not believe that the Messiah would come and die, and that’s why when Jesus was dying on the cross they shouted, “So also the chief priests mocked him to one another with the scribes, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.” Mark 15: 31,32.

Pilate, the Roman Governor was undecided, when he questioned Jesus. Jesus did not deny the charges against him. Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “You have said so.” Mark 15: 2.

Pilate turned to the crowd at the Praetorium, and asked them, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” They shouted, “Crucify him.” Mark 15: 9,13. Having the crowd’s approval Pilate sentenced Jesus to be crucified.

God’s plan was fulfilled, Jesus was innocent of their charges against him. But in taking the punishment which carried the death sentence, he became the redeemer of the nation of Israel and all nations on the earth. In his one sacrifice of himself on the cross, Jesus took upon himself, the desolating sacrifice, the idolatry of kings, dictators, governments, and their warfare, nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom. The devil’s pursuit of world dominance over people’s and nations, was brought to nothing, through Jesus becoming the desolating sacrifice, laying down his life’s blood for all sin, and its causes upon the cross.

Jesus he embodiment of God’s living power, His spoken word was fulfilled, “Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26: 26-28. In his resurrection God forgave Israel’s sin as a nation, the desolating sacrilege sacrifice and for the sin of their unbelief in Jesus who was the nations Messiah, Redeemer, and Saviour.

     The Church escapes God’s wrath.

Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” John 11: 25,26. These words from Jesus and other words from Jesus that Paul heard from the apostles brought a fresh understanding to Isaiah’s prophecy of ‘escaping the wrath of God,’ Jesus said, “There will be two men in a field; one is taken and the other left. Two women grinding at the mill; one is taken and the other left.”  Matthew 24: 40,41. Paul, interpreted Jesus’ words to include both Jews and Gentile believers, who would be called out from the earth and those resurrected from the dead in Christ. 

Isaiah’s prophecy, ““Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the wrath is past. For behold, the Lord is coming forth out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed upon her and will no more cover her slain.” Isaiah 26: 20,21. Isaiah 27: 2,3.

Paul taught in the churches a Christians’ resurrection in Christ.

Paul writing to the church at Corinth, he explains that in our resurrection we shall have our own body that will be transformed to an eternal spiritual body at the calling out of the church. “It is sown a physical body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body.” 1 Corinthians 15: 42-44.                                                                                                                                                               Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, he explains that the dead who are believers will be united with their own body, God will gather the dust of each person’s body, God will transform the dust to an eternal spiritual body, “And the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds.” 1 Thessalonians 4: 17

Paul’s first letter Thessalonians, Christians were dying but were not bodily resurrected like Jesus from the dead. Paul gave them assurance saying that it was according to the Lord Jesus’ words,  “According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4: 15-18.

The church called out from the earth escaping God’s wrath.

The Thessalonians received the word concerning a believer’s bodily resurrection in Christ. They also, believed what Paul taught that they would be delivered from the great tribulation. Paul writes, “For they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” 1 Thessalonians 1: 9,10.

Jesus did not call out the church.

In 70 A.D the Christians in response to Jesus’ words, “When you see the desolating sacrilege spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place; ( let the reader understand) then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” Matthew 24: 15,16. The Christians, when they realised the Roman army surrounded Jerusalem, they hoped to flee to the mountains.                                                                               

“The Footsteps of the Messiah by Arnold Fruchtenbaum.  Page 439. Ariel Ministries Press USA. 2000. The Roman siege of Jerusalem was lifted, because of the need for fresh supplies of food, and during the short period the Hebrew Christians fled across the Jordon to Pella. “The Christians crossed the Jordon River and set up a new Hebrew Christian Community in the town of Pella in the Transjordan. There they waited for the prophecy of Jesus to be fulfilled.”

God fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy that he would protect his people, “Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the wrath is past.”  Isaiah 26: 20. Isaiah 27: 2-4.

But it was Jesus’ prophecy of the destruction of the temple that was fulfilled, “Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down.” Matthew 24:2.

Jesus’ prophecy – Roman Titus led the Roman Army and destroyed the temple by setting it on fire. The Roman soldiers perhaps would search the ruins, demolishing the walls looking for melted gold. The Roman occupation of Israel ended in 135 A.D.

The NIV Theological Dictionary of New Testament Words Editor Verlyn Verbrugge. Greek word ‘genea’ – generation. “The events referred to Matt 24: 34; Mk 13: 30; “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all these things take place.” Lk 21: 32 generally have been taken to refer to cosmic events associated with the second coming of Christ. But if these events were expected within the first generation of Christians, were Jesus or the evangelists mistaken? Not at all. The failure of events to materialise can be attributed to a gracious postponement by God of the catastrophe as well as to a telescoping event.”

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Prayer Changes Situations

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Father God,

I believe that heart felt prayer changes situations,

I lift my prayer, along with millions of other Christians

to your throne of grace, as I bring both sides in the

war in Gaza to the cross, where Jesus laid down his

Life to make peace between humanity and God, and

between people of every nation.

Where there is hatred and bitterness that scars the soul.

I pray for healing, through a greater longing for peace.

   For all reproach that stems from being

     hurt over years of warfare to be removed.

   For the heavy stone to be rolled away from

    the tomb of death, for the resurrection

     of both the Palestinian people and the

       people of Israel, to a new  place of hope.

             I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen

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The Apostles to watch out for the Desolating Sacrilege

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The apostles to watch for the desolating sacrilege spoken by the prophet Daniel.

Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives looking across to the temple in Jerusalem, Peter, James, John, and Andrew came alongside of him and asked him “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign when these things are all to be accomplished?”  Mark 13: 4. In verse 14 Jesus referred to Daniel’s end times prophecy, when he said, “When you see the desolating sacrilege spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place.”  

Jesus’ disciples would know immediately what Jesus was referring to by ‘the desolating sacrilege.’ Approximately 168 years before the birth of Jesus, the Greek King Antiochus Epiphanes launched a massive campaign of repression against the Jews. The temple at Jerusalem was made the site of a pagan Jewish cult.

Flavius Josephus ‘The Jewish War’ Book 1. 34, 35.

In the aftermath of Antiochus 1V i Antiochus issuing his decrees forbidding Jewish religious practice, a campaign of land confiscations paired with shrine and altar-buildings took place in the Judean countryside. A rural priest Modein, Mattathias of the Hasmonean family, sparked the revolt against the Seleucid Empire by refusing to worship the Greek gods at Modein’s new altar. Mattathias killed a Jew who had stepped forward to take Mattathias’ place in sacrificing to an idol as well as the Greek officer who was sent to enforce the sacrifice. He destroyed the altar. Afterwards, he and his sons fled to the nearby mountains, which sat directly next to Modein.” It was Mattathias’ son Judas Maccabeus who led a full-scale revolt. In 165 BC Maccabeus drove Antiochus and the Greek army out, and the Jews regained control of their temple and land.

Jesus was saying to his disciples to look out for ‘desolating sacrilege’ that will indicate his return and the driving out of the Romans from their land.

Jesus, on the cross took upon himself the desolating sacrilege. 

Jesus prophesied the desolating sacrilege, “But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought not to be (let the reader understand).” The Jewish leaders in collaboration with the Roman Pontius Pilate, were in the spirit of the antichrist, when the Jewish council condemned Jesus to death for blasphemy. Chief Priest Caiaphas, asked Jesus at his trial before the council, “Are you the Christ the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus replied, “I am; and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Mark 14: 61,62.  

Pilate, the Roman Governor was undecided, when he questioned Jesus, he did not deny the charges against him. Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “You have said so.” Mark 15: 2

Pilate turned to the crowd The crowd at the Praetorium, were asked by Pilate, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” They shouted, “Crucify him.” Mark 15: 9,13.  Having the crowd’s approval, Pilate sentenced Jesus to be crucified.

Jesus was innocent of their charges against him. But in taking the punishment which carried the death sentence, he became the redeemer of the nation of Israel and all nations on the earth, in his one sacrifice of himself on the cross. Jesus took upon himself, the desolating sacrifice, the sins of the idolatry of kings, dictators, governments, and their warfare, nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom and the devil’s pursuit of world dominance over people’s and nations, was brought to nothing through Jesus becoming the desolating sacrifice, laying down his life for all sin and its causes upon the cross. Jesus’ spoken word was fulfilled, at the Passover meal with his disciples, Jesus said, “ Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26: 26-28. In his resurrection God forgave Israel’s sin against their unbelief in Jesus, he was the nations Messiah, Redeemer, and Saviour.

The Jewish leaders and people in 165 rejoiced over Mattathias’ son Judas Maccabeus in their victory over the Seleucid Empire. But the leaders and people failed to recognise what God was doing through Jesus’ victory over Satan’s principalities and powers, their nations leader failed to recognise that Jesus was their nation’s redeemer and Saviour.

Through Jesus’ disciples the message they proclaimed of the Jesus’ victory on the cross for nations and enabling the ordinary person to receive Jesus as their redeemer from sin and through his resurrection receiving God’s presence of eternal life. Jesus wants to be our friend and as his friend he has saved us a seat in heaven, in his Father’s house. I was 25 when I responded to Jesus becoming my redeemer and Saviour. I have never regretted for one moment that decision I made to follow Christ.

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Jesus the Embodiment of God’s Living Power

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Jesus is the Embodiment of God’s Living Power.

Jesus is the spoken word of God, and by God’s word in him he created life. “In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets. But in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power when he had made purification of our sins, when he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 1: 1-3.

The Lord our God has created and sustains the universe and the world by the power of his Word, love, and grace. Jesus the all-embracing power of the Word of God, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made, that was made. In him was life and the life was the light of men.” John 1: 1-4. 

Jesus healed by the power of his spoken Word.

Jesus’ creative power was experienced first hand by his disciples and followers when he healed the sicknesses and diseases of many people. . ”And many followed him, and he healed them all.” Matthew 12: 15. The miracles he performed could only be done by the power of the creator for example when Jesus  blessed the bread and fishes, “ And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all.” Mark 6: 41. The amount increased with enough to feed thousands.

Jesus fulfilled God’s plans and purposes in himself.

God has manifested himself in his Son Jesus, who was sent by his Father to be born as one of his created people. Jesus came to fulfil God’s plans and purposes, God’s plan to restore his relationship with the human family.  The purpose: Jesus making a way to find God through faith in his truthful words. God is the God of the living. When a person receives Jesus’ words into a person’s heart, by the action of the Holy Spirit God’s abiding presence of eternal life comes to dwell within that person. John 15: 7.10,11. 16: 14,15. 17: 20,24.

God prepared Jesus’ body to fulfil his plan, the writer of Hebrews stated, “Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings thou hast not desired, but a body hast thou prepared for me.” Hebrews 10: 5. God’s plan for Jesus to lay down his prepared body, his blood, to accomplish God’s purpose to redeem humanity from all sin and its causes and in doing so, he fulfilled God’s plan and purpose reconciling humankind to God. “Jesus said, ”In burnt offerings and sin offerings thou hast taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Lo, I have come to do thy will, O God, ‘as it is written of me in the roll of the book.” Hebrews 10: 6.   

The writer of Hebrews explains: “When he said above, “Jesus said, “Thou hast neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law),then he added, “Lo, I have come to do thy will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And by that will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10: 7-10.

Jesus bearing the very stamp of God reflecting God’s glory through having the embodiment of God’s living power, to abolish the covenant between God and Moses “He abolishes the first in order to establish the second.”  Having fulfilled both covenants in himself,the law was fulfilled in God’s love for humanity. The ‘second’ is reference to the New Covenant, that Jesus established in his death being the final sacrifice for sin and forgiveness in his resurrection. The Law of commandments the Holy Spirit writes them into a believers heart, transforming the nature to feel how God the Father feels about sin, it is abhorrent to us. Jesus’ sacrificial love when he died to self-determining his own life, to do his Father’s will.

Jesus’ eternal life.

Jesus in his prayer, recorded by John, Jesus explains eternal life, his body transformed into an eternal body in the tomb.

Jesus gave insight to the understanding of eternal life, his spoken word giving enlightenment through the indwelling presence of the eternal Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. “And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. I glorified thee on earth, having accomplished the work which thou gave me to do; and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made.” John 17: 2-5.

Jesus’ physical body was prepared before the foundation of the world, before the fall of humanity, God planned that the seed and egg planted by the Holy Spirit into the womb of Mary contained his immortality, his whole body, soul and spirit; the colour of his eyes and hair, his height, his blood coming from God as life is in the blood, His blood was an eternal offering for sin and the seed’s power in himself, to rise from the dead. His dead human body that had been prepared was transformed whilst he was in the tomb, by the power of his own prophecy, spoken during his ministry, “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him: and when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”  Mark 9: 31.

The living power of these words could only be realised (embodied) through the fulfilment of his own prophecy. Jesus’ body of human flesh became an eternal body, by the transforming power of his spoken word. He had the power to fulfil his own prophecy because he was the embodiment of God’s living power.

John wrote in his gospel, “Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it up in three days, ”John confirmed that he spoke of the temple of his body.” John 2: 19,21. Paul writes that the church is Christ’s body. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians he writes, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” 1 Corinthians 12: 27.

Proving that his body is the temple in the new Jerusalem. “ And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.” (Jesus the Lamb of God) Revelation 21: 22. The Churches new role serving Christ in the heavenly city.

Jesus in conversation with Martha, Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Jesus spoken word was fulfilled when he raised himself from the dead. Jesus’ body became eternal, His appearance before his disciples on the eve of his resurrection, their immediate reaction was to think they were seeing a ghostly figure of Jesus. Knowing their thoughts he said to them “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself, handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” Luke 24: 39. His eternal body had the marks that confirmed his word. “That it is I myself.” It was Jesus the same person they had followed for three years: he had shared with them the joy of his healing ministry and the times of discouragement when the Pharisees, Sadducees, lawyers. and scribes had opposed Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath day.

Jesus gave the promise of receiving eternal life through faith in him.

Jesus continued to say to Martha“He who believes in me; though he dies, yet shall he live and whoever lives and believes in me, shall never die.”

Mary, Martha and Lazarus believed spiritually that that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, their faith was acknowledged by Jesus. Through their faith in Jesus, they had entered eternal life while they lived, so when they died, they passed over eternal death, as sin leads to eternal death and eternal separation from God. Their faith in Jesus united them in life and death to him into eternal life. Their human remains lie in the grave  until Jesus calls out the church.                                                                                                                                

John recorded Jesus’ words, “Since thou (God) hast given him (Jesus)  power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him.”  

Jesus gave his disciples the promise of eternal life, “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life. . . . . Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me has eternal life.” John 6: 40,47.

Today anyone who has faith in Jesus can seek repentance for the forgiveness of their sins which enables a person to pass over death and they will be raised (resurrected) with Jesus into life eternal. By entering a personal relationship with Jesus, a person will experience the power of the Holy Spirit and become a child of God, a Christian (Christ-like).

Jesus spoke of bodily resurrection.

Every Christian’s body will be raised and transformed by the power of Jesus’ word: “And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14: 3.

To fulfil Jesus words, God put in place the event that would transform our human body into an eternal body.

Paul writes in his first letter to the church at Corinth, “ Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality.When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15: 51-54.

Jesus calls out the church to the gathering of believers in the air, “And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.” Mark 13: 26,27.

When Jesus calls out the church, it is the ‘fetching of the Bride’ to the wedding of Jesus the Bridegroom and his Bride, the Church. The word confirmed in “Footsteps of the Messiah” by Arnold Fruchtenbaum. Jewish Marriage” Page 111, Published by Ariel Ministries 2000 “The Rapture is the fetching of the Bride. Christ will come in the air to fetch His bride to His home, which is in heaven.”  

Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, “For  this we declare to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so, we shall always be with the Lord. therefore comfort one another with these words.”  1 Thessalonians 4: 15-18. This event has yet to take place.

John wrote in Revelation 1: 7 that Jesus will fulfil his Word, John writes, “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, everyone who pierced him; and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.”

When Jesus calls out the church by the power of Jesus’ living Word, our own body will be like his body that was transformed into an eternal body.

The simple truth – we take Jesus at his Word, the promises he gave and the commands he gives to us in the Gospels and letters are to bless his family and friends, the church.

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How did God’s Plans and Purposes Work out?

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God planned that the Jews would follow a legal plan that would ultimately lead to Jesus’ death at Jerusalem. Peter proved this truth, when in his address at Pentecost he said, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know —this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. (Romans) Acts 2: 23.

Peter’s words indicate that it was God’s plan for Jesus to die at the hand of the Roman lawless men. (man’s laws) God’s purpose to bring the nations of the world into the New Covenant. Fulfilling God’s Covenant promise to Abraham, through Abraham all the nations would bless themselves. Genesis 12: 3. 27: 29.                          

God’s plan was for Jesus to deliberately heal people on the sabbath day, The Pharisees and Lawyers had added rules to the laws of Moses, as they earned their righteousness from keeping the law. 

God’s purpose to shine his light on the added rules, Jesus pointed out that it was God’s intention to do good works on the sabbath day. The council accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath Day Laws of Moses. ”Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work; but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work. . .  .” Exodus 20: 8. The Messiah’s Secret D Newton Published 2001                                                          

A Rabbi in more modern times rightly observed that “Some of the laws of the Sabbath are like mountains suspended on a hair” wrote Victor Buksbazen in his book The Gospel in the Feasts of Israel.  Buksbazen describes the treatise ‘Sabbath’. “This treatise was based on the commandments being spoken by God to the Children of Israel in Exodus Chapter 20 verses 8-11. . . .“All travel on the Sabbath; even to a synagogue service is forbidden. The kindling of fire and even the turning on or off an electric lights is prohibited on the Sabbath. Also writing of any kind is forbidden, etc. Such questions are discussed at great length. How far may a man walk on the Sabbath Day? What may he carry on the Sabbath Day without breaking the law of burdens? What is a burden? Is the carrying of a handkerchief a burden? The answer is yes, if it is in the pocket; but no, if it is tied around the neck and thus used as a piece of apparel.”

Matthew records the Pharisee asking Jesus “Is it right to heal on the sabbath? “Jesus went on from there and entered their synagogue. And behold, there was a man with a withered hand. And the Pharisee asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath?” so that they might accuse him. He said to them, “What man of you, if he has one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?  Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So, it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, whole like the other. But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him, how to destroy him.” Matthew 12: 9-14

Luke records from his eyewitness account, Jesus asking the Pharisee, “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath?” “One sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him. (to accuse Jesus) And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy.  And Jesus spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath, or not?” But they were silent. Then he took him and healed him and let him go.  And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well, will not immediately pull him out on a sabbath day?” And they could not reply to this.” Luke 14: 1-6  

God’s plan embraced the people who were considered the least in Jewish society: the poor, the sick and disabled. “Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.”Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?”  As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.” Luke 13: 10-16. God’s presence convicted the people in the synagogue of the truth of Jesus’ words. The ruler of the synagogue observed the rules coming from his obedience to the law.  

God’s purpose to pull down the strongholds of the laws added by their leaders, who thought they were pleasing God by keeping to the letter of the law. Jesus making the comparison between the action of ‘untying’ their animals to lead them to the water and the woman being loosed, ‘untied’ from the bindings of her infirmity.

God’s plan for Jesus to reveal himself as the Son of God, “The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews persecuted Jesus because he did this on the sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working still, and I am working. This was why the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” John 5: 15-18   The words of Jesus were noted by the council, they accused Jesus of blasphemy by making himself equal with God. John 5: 18 

God’s purpose to prove that Jesus was God made visible in the flesh and proved it when he forgave the sick man from his sins and healed him. Jesus healed the paralytic man at Capernaum. His four friends had made an opening in the roof and lowered him down on a pallet into the room where Jesus was speaking. Jesus said to the man, “Son your sins are forgiven.”  Jesus discerned that the Scribes were accusing him in their hearts of blasphemy because he had said this to the paralytic man. In response to the Scribes inner thoughts, Jesus asked whether it was easier to say to the paralytic man the short phrase “Your sins are forgiven” or to give more convoluted explanation such as “Rise take up your bed and walk? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”  If anyone listening had missed the subtly of Jesus’ initial statement to the paralytic man, they could not miss the meaning behind Jesus further remarks to the Scribes. His follow up comments were blasphemy to any devout Jew. As stipulated by the law of Moses, the Jews sought forgiveness for sin through the offering of sacrifices at the temple and by water cleansing. The Jews believed that sin was the cause of infirmity, so here was a classic case of a paralytic man needing to be taken to the temple to get his sins forgiven and then maybe he would be able to walk again.  Only God could forgive sins. However, by healing the paralytic, Jesus proved that he had the authority from God to forgive sins without an atonement offering being made at the temple. His actions and words clearly, and without leaving anything to be misinterpreted, proved that Jesus and the Father were one. His authority was confirmed by healing this man. Jesus proved that he was God to all watching and listening. Mark 2: 1-12. The Messiah’s Secret D Newton Published 2001      

God’s plan to reveal the truth, through Jesus accomplishing the resurrection from the dead. God would prove through false witnesses the truth of Jesus’ words. After Jesus was arrested, he was taken to Caiaphas the high priests’ house, where the council came and Jesus stood trial before them, Matthew writes, “The whole council sought false testimony against Jesus.” Two witnesses came forward and accused Jesus of saying that he would destroy the temple and build it in three days.  

Matthew records,  Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’ ” And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus was silent.” Matthew 26: 59-63.                                                                                                                  

These two witnesses spoke the truth as John in his gospel recorded the incident. “Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?”  But he was speaking of the temple of his body.  After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.” John 2: 19-22.  

 The question arises, why did Matthew refer to the two men false witnesses when they spoke the truth? The two witnesses were casting aspersion on Jesus’ words. Aspersion meaning – slander – defamation of words spoken – to speak evil of.

 They were using Jesus’ words against him, “And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus was silent.” The two witnesses were implying that Jesus really had something more sinister in mind.  This is why I understand Matthew used the words – ‘false witnesses.’

God’s purpose Jesus bore on the cross all aspersions. The two witnesses highlighted the truth in John’s words, “But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.”  John 2: 21,22.   The Messiah’s Secret Revealed  2024

God’s plan Jesus was born a king, whereas kings are crowned kings at their coronation The significance of Jesus entering Jerusalem riding on an ass and being hailed by the people as they spread their garments before him. It indicates how Jesus was both born, and died, acknowledged as a King, the King of the Jews.  

A King has a kingdom, and God’s purpose for Jesus to bear witness to the truth, and to witness to the kingdom that is to come. Mark writes, “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ Mark 11: 10. The kingdom of God that John the Baptist prepared the nation to receive through his baptism of repentance. Jesus’ baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost fulfilling Joel’s prophecy.                                                                         

God’s plan did not allow the leaders and people  to crown Jesus and install him on King David’s throne before he had accomplished the purpose of his death, which was to redeem all humanity from the devil’s power over death, by him taking sin that leads to eternal death upon himself. Jesus bore all sin on the cross and in his resurrection his life’s blood has redeemed all who come to him in repentance and faith, and by grace will receive God’s forgiveness and become a child of God. Entrance into God’s eternal kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ.

God’s plan to involve the Gentile Romans through their occupation of Israel. Pilate asked the Jewish leaders, why the Jews had not passed sentence on Jesus themselves. The leaders told Pilate that it was not lawful for them to put any man to death.(Roman rule)  Pilate summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”  Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me; what have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world.”  Pilate said to Jesus, “So you are a King,” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a King. For this purpose, I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness of the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.” John 18: 29-37.19: 19.

The Messiah’s Secret. 

God’s purpose in keeping the Jewish leaders in ignorance, was because Jesus had to die and if they had realised he was their Messiah before his death, God’s plan would have failed. The Jews did not believe that the descendant of King David, the Messiah would come and die. The man in the crowd when he heard Jesus say, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. ”He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up, who is this Son of man?” John 12: 32-34. God did not reveal the scriptures that alluded to the Messiah’s death and resurrection until the evening of his resurrection. Luke 24: 44-46. (Jesus clarified the identity of the Son of man Matthew 16: 13-16.)                                                                                                                                                                              

God planned for Jesus’ return within the lifetime of his apostles. Mark 13: 30. Jesus must have discussed his return with his disciples during the 40 days before his ascension, because Peter said to the crowd at Solomon’s Portico, “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.” Acts 3: 17-21.

God’s purpose: Peter would not have said those words on his own authority. If the leaders had recognised Jesus as their Messiah at and after Pentecost and repented, Jesus would have returned and restored the land and throne of King David as Israel’s King. (The times of refreshing)

Even though the Jewish leaders had treated Jesus with contempt casting aspersions upon him by accusing him of blasphemy, they had fulfilled the plans and purposes of God by Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension of the Messiah.

                                                                                                                                                                                        

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The Very Great and Precious Promises

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PART 2

Peter wrote that God has granted Christians his very great and precious promises. Peter in his second letter writes, “By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion and become partakers of the divine nature. “ 2 Peter 1: 4. RSV Bible.

The very great and precious promises that Peter referred to were those in connection with the Messiah and establishing the New Covenant. I personally believe that every promise is very great and precious, but it is reasonable to assume the promise of God sending the anointed Saviour, the Messiah is the first very great and precious promise.

The very great and precious promise – God’s promise to the Jewish people of the coming of the Messiah– Jeremiah writes, “Behold the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfil the promise, I made to the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous branch to spring forth for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.” Jeremiah 33:  14,15.

The apostles identified Jesus as their Messiah, the appointed Saviour, a descendant of King David and they proclaimed this message for the first time at Pentecost. “Let the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him (Jesus) both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. Acts 2: 36-39

The very great and precious promise – God’s promise of redemption – God’s chosen people, the descendants of Abraham.

Isaiah wrote, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43: 2.

Ezra proclaimed that the Jews leaving Babylon under King Cyrus’ decree were allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. “Thus says the King of Persia: The Lord the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house (Temple) at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. “Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him and let him go up to Jerusalem.” Ezra 1: 2,3.  It was in this context that Isaiah wrote, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43: 2. God redeemed the Israelites from captivity in Babylon.

Jesus the Son of God and the Messiah’s commission to redeem humanity from eternal death through the redemption from sin – Jesus bore all sin (including curses) and its causes on the cross. The cross is significant because there on the cross, Jesus bore everything that separates humanity from knowing God our creator and Father.

This very great and precious promise – Jesus promised – “If a man (a person) loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14: 23. God in his great love for humanity sent Jesus to pay the ultimate cost of laying down his life’s blood for humanity when he suffered and died on the cross. Under the Law of Moses sacrifices were brought to say sorry to God for sin, this could be a bird or a lamb or a goat or the very poor brought grain, this happened every time sins were committed. Hebrew Scriptures state that without the shedding of blood there’s no forgiveness for sin against God.  Leviticus 17: 11. Hebrews 9: 22. God sent Jesus to be the final offering for sin, he became a personal substitute for every person’s sacrifice for sin and all that separates a person from God. Through faith in Jesus in what he has done for us on the cross, we receive a free pardon, forgiveness for our sins. In addition to being set free from sin, by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour: Father God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit make their home within every believer.

The very great and precious promise – Jesus promised the resurrection – Jesus would rise on the third day. “Jesus began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” Mark 8: 31

On the third day, two of the followers of Jesus left the house at Jerusalem to go to Emmaus. As they walked along the road a stranger joined them. “One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened.” Luke 24: 18-21. The two disciples found out that the stranger was Jesus, when they invited him to have a meal with them at the Inn, There as they sat at the table Jesus broke the bread, and at that moment their eyes were opened, they knew then the stranger was Jesus, whereupon, he vanished from their presence. Cleopas and the other disciples returned to the house at Jerusalem and told what had happened on the road and at the Inn. it was on the third day when Jesus rose from the dead.

The very great and precious promise – The promise of receiving the Holy Spirit from Jesus. Hosea wrote, “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn, that he may heal us; he has stricken, and he will bind us up. ” After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his going forth is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6: 2  Jesus fulfilled Hosea’s prophecy of God’s promise the disciples were raised on the third day when they received the Holy Spirit from Jesus who reveals God the Father and their redeemer and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The very great and precious promise – Jesus promised the comforter, the Holy Spirit – Jesus said to his disciples, “But when the Councillor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness of me.” John 14: 16,17.

Jesus fulfilled his word on the evening of the day of his resurrection, “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20: 21,22.

John the Baptist said, “I baptise you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the throng of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Luke 3: 16. 

Paul’s letter to the Galatians 3: 14. “In Christ Jesus ,the blessings of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3: 14.

The very great and precious promise – Jesus promises every Christian by accepting his invitation to come to him and they will receive from him, ‘living water,’ “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 7: 37-39.

Ezekiel’s vision of water streaming out of the temple becoming a river and this water giving life and healing. The trees along its bank providing food and healing in their leaves. When the water reaches the Dead Sea the stagnant saltwater becomes fresh water and swarms of fish live in the water. The fishermen spread their nets and catch all kinds of fish.  Jesus’ body the temple of God and the living water that Jesus spoke of quenching thirst, this water drawn from the wells of salvation, that speaks of the Holy Spirit being poured out. The apostles filled with the living water pouring out the word of God and people being healed and receive Jesus baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Dead Sea is 53 miles from Jerusalem and  in the Acts of the Apostles we read that people from the surrounding villages came to the apostles at Jerusalem to hear the gospel message and were healed. “The people also gathered  from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. Acts 5: 16 Ezekiel 47: 1-12.  

The disciples received the Holy Spirit from Jesus on the day he was glorified, resurrected from the dead. There in the house at Jerusalem he came and stood among his disciples saying, “Peace be with you, . . .” and he breathed om them the Holy Spirit. Jesus described the Holy Spirit to Nicodemus as being like the wind. “ Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew. The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3: 7,8.

The very great and precious promise – Jesus’ promise of sending the Holy Spirit from the Father into the world –  The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost like a rushing mighty wind and filled the house and all the disciples in the house at Jerusalem. The disciples went onto the streets, the Holy Spirit empowering them to speak in the languages of the people they met. They shared the good news about Jesus’ resurrection. Peter addressed the crowd, telling them that it was in the foreknowledge of God that Jesus was crucified, but they were still required to repent as they had acted in ignorance. “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles,  “Brethren, what shall we do?“ Peter said, “Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and your children and those afar off.” Acts 2: 37,38.3: 17. Joel 2: 28.

The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin and enables them to recognise the righteousness of God in Jesus and are justified through their faith in Jesus.

The very great and precious promise – Jesus promised eternal life for all who believe in him – John recorded in his gospel Jesus’ prayer, “Since thou hast given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him. And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” John 17: 2,3.

Jesus in conversation with Nicodemus promised – “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” John 3: 16,17.

Every Christian who has died in the flesh, their Spirit in Christ enters eternal life. When Jesus calls out his church those who have died in the faith will receive their own resurrected body. Romans 6:5. Luke 24: 39.

The very great and precious promise – Gods promised to Abraham, “And by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves.” Genesis 12: 3 Paul in his letter to the Galatians writes, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” Galatians 3: 28,29.

John the apostle writes, “To all who receive him who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God.” John 1: 12,13.

Paul in his letter to the Romans writes, “When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ provided we suffer with him in order that we might be glorified with him.” Romans 8: 15,16.

Christians are children of God through faith in Jesus. Paul reminds us that Jesus suffered, one of these occasion after the feeding of the five thousand, “Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.” Matthew in his account states that he brought this problem to his Father in prayer. Matthew 14: 23.

The very great and precious promise of Jesus’ calling out of his Bride, the church, before he returns:  Jesus tells us that we need to be ready and watching as the Lord will call out the church in a moment in the twinkling of an eye. “Then two men will be in the field; one is taken the other left. Two women grinding at the mill; one is taken the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” Matthew 24: 40-42. The two people called out to meet the Lord in the air are Christians, The two left behind are not yet Christians. Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians writes, “The Lord himself will descend from heaven with cry of command. . . . then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” 1 Thessalonians 4: 15-17. The Lord will call the church to a wonderful event ‘The fetching of the Bride, his church,’ to his home in heaven. It follows the sequence of a Jewish wedding: the virgins make sure everything is ready and all the guests are arriving, especially those gathered into the Banqueting Hall from the throughfares. Matthew 25: 6. 22: 9. The marriage of the Lamb takes place in heaven before Jesus’ return. Revelation 19: 7.

The very great and precious promise of his return:  At the ascension of Jesus into heaven, two men said to the apostles, Luke writes from his eyewitness accounts,  “And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount called Olivet, which was near Jerusalem.” Acts 1: 10-12.

Zechariah prophesies, “Behold, a day of the Lord is coming, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in the midst of you. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women ravished; half of the city shall go into exile, but the rest of the people (the remnant) shall not be cut off from the city. Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives which lies before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley; so that one half of the Mount shall withdraw northward, and the other half southward. And the valley of my mountains shall be stopped up, for the valley of the mountains shall touch the side of it; and you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord your God will come, and all the holy ones with him.” Zechariah 14: 1-5.

I understand the ‘holy ones’ are the angels in heaven, but I believe that the church is in this category as John writes in Revelation 19 verses 11-16 “He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed which no one knows but himself. He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed him on white horses.  From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh, he has a name inscribed, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Revelation 19: 11-16. 2 Kings 6: 17.Joshua 5: 14. Ephesians 6: 11-18.

Only Almighty God knows when the Lord Jesus will call out the church and return to the Mount of Olives.

Apostle John writes, “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” Revelation 22: 21.

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God’s Very Great Promises

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God’s Promises in the Hebrew Scriptures. Part 1

The disciples experienced God’s promises in the Hebrew Scriptures being referred to and acted upon by Jesus.  

The sermon on the mount Jesus taught: ”Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” Matthew 6: 31,32

God’s promise of bread – “God will abundantly bless her provisions;  I will satisfy her poor with bread. Psalm 132 : 15. “The righteous eat to the satisfying of his soul.”  Proverbs 13: 25. “ Behold my servants shall eat.” Isaiah 65: 13.

Thirst – “I will pour water upon him who is thirsty. Isaiah 44: 3. “The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give rain.” Deuteronomy 28: 12.

Clothing – “I will clothe thee with raiment.” Zechariah 3: 4. “Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.” Nehemiah 9: 21. He will keep the feet of the saints.” 1 Samuel: 2: 9.

Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” Matthew 6: 33. “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so, you will dwell in the land, and enjoy security.” Psalm 37: 3

Jesus said, “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.” Matthew 6: 34 “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou dost preserve my life.” Psalm138: 7 “ Fear not, but let your hands be strong.” Zechariah 8: 13.

“The Lord recompense you for what you have done, and a full reward be given to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Ruth 2: 12.

Jesus sends out his disciples to experience for themselves God’s promises.

Jesus authorised his disciples to preach the gospel, the Kingdom of God and he and gave his authority to cast out demons and power to heal diseases. To take no money with them to pay for lodging or food or extra clothing. (God would provide for their needs.)

 “And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. . . . .And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.” Luke 9: 1-3,6.

The promises in the Hebrew Scriptures that became the disciples experience.

The disciple’s message of repentance: ”Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases.” Psalm 103: 3. “ I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31: 34.

The disciples proclaimed the kingdom message: “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light  to my path.” Psalm 119: 105. “For  the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light  and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life.” Proverbs 6: 23. “

The disciples pray for people to be healed: Jesus said, “The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” John 6: 63.   “I am the Lord that health thee.” Exodus 15: 26. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34: 19

The disciples trusted in the Lord’s provision: Jesus said, “Take nothing for  your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics”  Luke 9: 3. “For thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23: 4. “Thou preparest a table before me.” Psalm 23: 5. Jehovah Jireh – the Lord will provide” Genesis 22: 14

The New Covenant gives us greater promises as well as these and many more in the Old Testament.

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Jesus Fulfilled Hosea’s Prophecy “On the Third Day he will raise us up.”

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“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead.” Luke 24: 44-46

One of these scriptures, a prophecy found in Hosea the prophet who lived in the Northern Kingdom (Israel) in the eight century B.C. His ministry overlapped that of Amos, Isaiah and Micah. All four prophets were calling the Kings of Judah and Israel to ‘repent and turn away from apostacy and be restored back to the God of Abraham, Jacob, Moses and King David. 2 Kings 15: 1, 4,17,18. 17: 5,6,9,21,22.18-20. Amos 9: 11,12. Isaiah 52: 7-10. Micah 7: 18-20.

“Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn, that he may heal us; he has stricken, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his going forth is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6: 1-3.

“The NIV Theological Dictionary of New Testament Words.” Editor Verlyn D Brugge Page 120   Zondervan 2000 “The historical background of this passage is the Syro-Ephraimite War (735-734 B.C 2 Kings 15: 18; Isaiah 7: 8) and the passage constitutes a call to national repentance in faith in Yahweh for restoration, using the language of healing after being stricken for apostasy. Perhaps Hosea is consciously using the language and idioms of Baal worship polemically against the Baals. If so, Hosea’s point is that it is Yahweh, not the Baals or their cults, who will restore Israel to health and vitality.”

Jesus, the Messiah, the Saviour of Israel and the Universe, the world, fulfilled Hosea’s prophecy.

“Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn, that he may heal us; he has stricken, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his going forth is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6: 1-3.

Day 1. “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn, that he may heal us; he has stricken, and he will bind us up.”

“Israel’s prophets Hosea, Amos, Isaiah and Micah called their Kings to turn back to God, but because of the influence of the powers of darkness they continued to follow Baal.

“18And Azari’ah king of Judah did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart all his days from all the sins of Jerobo’am the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.” Israel had fallen into the snares of the devil by continuing to worship Baal on the high places. 2 Kings 15: 18.

Israel had fallen into the snares of the devil by continuing to worship Baal on the high places.

“In the second year of Pekah the son of Remali’ah, king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzzi’ah, king of Judah, began to reign. 33He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jeru’sha the daughter of Zadok. 34And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzzi’ah had done. 35Nevertheless the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.” 2 Kings 15: 32-35.

The supreme moment in the history of the universe and world that Jesus accomplished, when he personally fought and won the greatest battle against Satan, (the devil) and his principalities and powers. The battle took place when Jesus wrestled with his willingness to die. He was betrayed by Judas to the authorities. After his arrest and while Jesus was on the cross and when he was dead in the tomb.

Jesus suffered whilst praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, he asked his Father God if it were possible for this cup to taken from him, the cup of suffering and death. Jesus was betrayed by Judas to the authorities for money. His betrayal by Judas led to his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. Afterwards, he was taken to Caiaphas, the high priest’s house where he stood trial before the council. Jesus, was condemned by the council accused of blasphemy and making himself a king. He was brought before Pilate to pass sentence upon him. Pilate questioned Jesus and then sent him to Herod, where the soldiers mocked him and they put on him a robe, and sent him back to Pilate.

Pilate could not decide, so he asked the crowd to release Barabbas or Jesus? The crowd responded to crucify Jesus. The Roman soldiers took Jesus to the Praetorium, where the soldiers mocked him, and they placed upon him in a scarlet robe and put on his head a crown of thorns and a reed in his hand. After the soldiers had ridiculed him, they took off the robe and put on him his own clothes and led him away to be crucified. Jesus carried the cross until he was too weak. Jesus’ death on the cross took place on the Day of Preparation, the day before the Passover, when the lamb sacrifices were killed. Jesus the Lamb of God was slain, he bore on the cross the entire sins of humanity and the causes of sin. Matthew 13: 41. Mark 9: 41-47.

Including Moses’ story of creation, where Adam and Eve were in fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden, They were tempted by the serpent (the devil) to become like God knowing good and evil. But God had warned them not to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Eve succumbed to the serpent’s temptation, and she gave some of the fruit to Adam. After eating the fruit, they became aware of the presence of evil and their relationship with God changed from being in fellowship with God to knowing about  God. They were sent out of the garden to work and live in the world. Genesis 3: 1-7,23,24.

Day 2. “After two days he will revive us.”

When Jesus died he was taken down from the cross by Joseph and Nicodemus, they carried his dead body to the tomb. The two of them wrapped his body with the spices and strips of linen cloth. From there he descended to Hades, to the departed dead and preached the gospel of redemption through faith in him and revived those who believed in him. We read that the graves were opened and they witnessed in Jerusalem, Matthew records, “The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” Matthew 27: 52,53. Peter wrote in his first letter, “For Christ also died[ for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison.” 1 Peter 3: 18,19. The Psalmist prophesied, “O Lord, thou hast brought my soul from Sheol,(hell)  restored me to life from among those gone down to the pit.” Psalm 30: 3

Day 3. “On the third day, he will raise us up, that we may live before him; let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his going forth is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”

Day 3. On the third day, he will raise us up, that we may live before him.

Jesus told his disciples that he would suffer death and rise on the third day. “And taking the twelve, he said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written of the Son of man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon;  they will scourge him and kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”  But they understood none of these things; this saying was hid from them, and they did not grasp what was said.” Luke 18: 31-34.

The apostles witnessed those three days that Hosea prophesied, but they did not understand until the evening of the third day, that Jesus had won the battle over Satan’s power over death until after they received the Holy Spirit from Jesus.

Apostle John writes, “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” The disciples were taken by surprise and their fears were stilled by his words. During the conversation Jesus breathed on his disciples the Holy Spirit, And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” John 20: 19-23. Jesus had fulfilled Hosea’s prophecy the disciples were raised on the third day when they received the Holy Spirit from Jesus. The indwelling presence of God, Hosea’ prophecy “Coming into God’s presence living before him.”

Hosea prophesied the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. “The showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”

At Pentecost Hosea’s, John the Baptist’ and Joel’s prophecy were fulfilled, Hosea’s – “The showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6: 3 John the Baptist – He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Matthew 3: 11. Joel’s – “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.” Joel 2: 28,29.”

The Apostles and followers where gathered at the house in Jerusalem, when they heard the sound of a rushing strong wind filling the house. Luke records from eyewitness accounts that everyone present received the Holy Spirit and they saw tongues of fire upon their heads, and they spoke in a language that was given to them by the Holy Spirit. Acts 2: 1-4.

Through repentance the forgiveness of sin for all who come to God seeking forgiveness and healing.

 “Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his going forth is sure as the dawn.”

Jesus rose from the dead and in his resurrection attained reconciliation between humanity and God, from knowing about God to personally knowing God. When a person seeks God, they find in the Old Testament Hebrew prophesies in the Scriptures have been fulfilled by Jesus. Isaiah writes of one man’s suffering and death and resurrection.

Isaiah’s prophecy of suffering and death, “4Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. “ 5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities…. he shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities. 12Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:4,5,11,12. God allowed Jesus to suffer because of his love for us. Jesus was willing to lay down his life for our sin, to die a horrible death on the cross and through it redeem us from the devil’s power over sin and death. “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” Hebrews 2: 14.

Isaiah’s prophecy of the resurrection of the dead, “Thy dead shall live, their bodies shall rise. “O dwellers in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For thy dew is a dew of light, and on the land of the shades thou wilt let it fall. Isaiah 26: 19.  

Without the resurrection no one can be saved from eternal darkness and without the warmth of God’s love. God’s promise to those who seek God. John writes, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3: 16

Today, a person can receive from God the Father, through faith in Jesus forgiveness of sin and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

If you would like to begin a personal relationship with Jesus today, please say this prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. I ask your forgiveness.       Thank you, for dying on the cross for me to set me free from my sins. sins.   Please come into my life and fill me with your Holy Spirit and be with me forever.          Thank you, Lord Jesus, Amen

Worldwide. UCB’s Prayer ucb@contactforchrist.org.uk  

 

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The Magnitude of Jesus’ Resurrection

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Jesus said, “The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth.” John 16: 12

I wish to explain the magnitude of Jesus’ resurrection, by demonstrating that Jesus, in fact, raised himself from the dead. Currently, it is widely accepted by the church that God raised Jesus from the dead, but I wish to develop this belief to a new level and hope to transform people’s interpretation of the resurrection.

Peter at Pentecost said that God had raised Jesus from the dead of whom they were Jesus’ witnesses. “King David foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.” Acts 2:31,32. The apostles tell us that God raised Jesus from the dead. Acts 4: 10. 13: 30. Romans 6: 4. 8: 10,11. 1 Peter 1: 21.

The New Testament writers all state the same message that God raised Jesus from the dead. So, when the Holy Spirit revealed the word May 22, that Jesus raised himself from the dead, I still questioned the legitimacy of what was being shown to me in the word. I examined the Bible texts were Jesus indicated that he raised himself from the dead.

John 10: 17, 18 “Jesus said, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I (Jesus) lay down my life, that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I received from my Father.”

John 10: 30,37,38.  “Jesus said, “I and the Father are one,” Jesus one in being with the Father. 15: 23,24. The one Godhead consisting of three persons: God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. Acts 16: 6,7,10. Titus 3: 4-8.

John 11: 25. “Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

John 2:19- 22 “Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you will raise it up in three days.” But he spoke of the temple of his body. When therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.” Therefore, Jesus said that he would raise himself, the temple of his body. Also, when he referred to his body, his risen body being the same body as he had during his life on the earth. But with one exception it was without blood.                                                                          

Matthew 12: 40. 27: 62-64. The chief priests and Pharisees came before Pilate and said, while he was still alive, he said, “After three days I will rise again.” They had heard Jesus say, that he would be like Jonah and rise from the dead after three days.

Jesus was born having an immortal body, The Holy Spirit planted God’s seed and egg in Mary’s womb. John Wesley’s hymn confirms this when he wrote, “Tis mystery all, the immortal dies.” What John was saying: Jesus could have lived for ever on the earth, had he chosen to do so.  Jesus chose to lay down his immortal body, as a final sacrifice for sin and its causes, Jesus was spiritually separated from God on the cross (Mark 15: 34) and he took the burden of sin upon himself in that moment of death (his task was to do this alone). Jesus died on the cross. But Jesus himself was innocent, therefore, death had no dominion over his immortal body.

Jesus raised himself from the dead, this was indicated in his conversation with Mary Magdalene at the tomb, Jesus asked Mary not to hold him, as he had not yet ascended to his Father. “Jesus said to her, “Mary. “She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabboni” (which means teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” John 20: 16,17. Mary recognised it was Jesus when he called out her name, “Mary.”

It was in the evening of the day of his resurrection when he gave his disciples permission to touch his resurrected body. Luke wrote, Jesus said, “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” While the disciples were rejoicing, Jesus asked if they had anything to eat, so they gave him some grilled fish and he ate it in the presence of his disciples. Jesus’ resurrected body consisted of flesh and bones. (without blood.) I believe his blood was poured out for the forgiveness of sins at Calvary. Luke 24: 39-43.                                                

Jesus did a complete work of reconciling humanity with God, in his death and resurrection. Jesus paid for our reconciliation by laying down his life’s blood, death had no dominion over him, he raised himself from the dead to complete our reconciliation with Father God. At his ascension Jesus said, “All spiritual authority had been given to me.” This underlines the fact that he did a complete work of salvation: Jesus has personally conquered death and dealt with sin by his resurrection from the dead. Matthew 28: 18. Daniel 7: 13,14.

                                                                                                                                                                         

Jesus’ indestructible Life (Indestructible meaning not able to be destroyed)

Over twelve months after receiving ‘Jesus raised himself from the dead’ I received another word, when I read in Hebrews 7 verse16 “This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest not according to legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.” The Holy Spirit revealed ‘by ‘The power of his indestructible life, ’which I believe confirmed the previous word ‘Jesus raised himself from the dead,’ it was ‘by the power of his indestructible life. ’Jesus’ life which included his body that was indestructible.

Jesus’ risen body was without blood, Jesus the High Priest, of an eternal order of priesthood, (Jesus was not Melchizedek reincarnated) Jesus, as high priest offered his blood to God for humanities sin and as our intercessor for forgiveness of sins. (for all those who come in true repentance and faith to him.)

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews, explains that Jesus was not a high priest like Aaron and the Levites. When the high priest died, he was succeeded by the next in line and this happened throughout the generations. “For it is fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; Jesus did this once for all when he offered up himself.” Hebrews 7: 26. Jesus’ sacrificial offering: of his life’s blood to reconcile humanity to God and when he offered up himself in person, having raised himself up from the dead, to appear before his Father with the offering of his blood.

Jesus’ indestructible, resurrected body had the marks of crucifixion.

The apostles witness, that Jesus’ resurrected body was his own body, “Jesus said, “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.” Luke 24: 39. This proves that his own body was indestructible.

Jesus through being born in the flesh, suffered and was killed by crucifixion. He was buried in a tomb, and he rose from the dead on the third day. Jesus having in his resurrection his own body, that has enabled humanity to enter eternal life, through faith in Jesus.

By Dorothy Newton