01/26/17 ~ Left, Right ... or "in the middle"?

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" {Isaiah 5:20 KJV}

Source - Google Images

Let me define some terms for you FROM THE BIBLE:
*LEFT - cold, goats, tree of the knowledge of good and evil,
wide and broad, many, corrupt tree with evil fruits,
satan's worldly ways, error and lies
*RIGHT - hot, sheep, tree of life,
straight and narrow, few, good tree with good fruits,
God's ways, righteousness and truth

And then there's this:
*Center - somewhere in the middle, neutral, undecided, double minded, lukewarm

As I've said plenty of times, we've had at least two choices from the beginning of man's creation. Here's what Jesus {Yeshua} has to say about left, right, and lukewarm. When you see the plain sense of the biblical terms you see that being extreme (aka: *far*) on either end ... is either really bad, or really good.

.:: TWO TREES ~ TWO CHOICES ::.
"And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil." {Genesis 2:9 KJV}

We know from the biblical account that Eve, and Adam, chose the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, causing the downfall of mankind whereby sin has entered into the world. In other words, of the TWO CHOICES they had ... they both made the WRONG choice. The result of that sin (transgression of the law) is death, and every human being (except those alive when Jesus comes for His church) will suffer it. You should notice that sin, being the transgression of the law, means that Adam & Eve HAD the law already, they knew right from wrong, thus in doing wrong they hid themselves from God ... but that's another story I'll not go into now.

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" ... {Romans 5:12 KJV}

"What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" {Romans 6:15-16 KJV}

.:: LEFT -or- RIGHT ::.
"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." -JESUS {Matthew 25:31-46 KJV}

.:: LUKEWARM ::.
"A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways." {James 1:8 KJV}

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded." {James 4:8 KJV}

"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." -JESUS {Revelation 3:15-16 KJV}

In my honest opinion, the reason people prefer to take an "in the middle" stance is for their own perceived safety & self-preservation. They don't want to rock the boat. They don't want to suffer the wrath of their fellow misguided friends or family. They don't want to end up in jail because their gov't says to keep silent! God calls that "double minded", and lukewarm. You are either FULLY *for Him* or FULLY *against Him*, you can't be both. There is the broad gate that leads to a wide way (path), and there is a straight gate that leads to a narrow way (path). Which one are you on? Are you of the good tree, or the corrupt tree?

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." -JESUS {Matthew 7:13-14 KJV}

"Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." -JESUS {Matthew 7:17-20 KJV}

My advice? Make up your mind, preferably on the *right* side of the biblical spectrum. Also, there's no such thing as *far left* (goat) or *far right* (sheep); you are either left (goats), or you are right (sheep), there is NO *middle* ground to the Lord. He makes it clear that if you think you're *in the middle* you are actually on the *left* and He will literally VOMIT {spue} you out of His mouth and appoint you to the same punishment as the goats on the left at His coming.

What makes a person a goat or a sheep? That depends on the source(s) you rely on for your information. Is the bible all true, partially true, well I don't understand it so I'll sit on the fence awhile? It's ALL true. That means when it says certain things are an abomination or a sin to God then I/we are to proclaim it from the rooftops because that's what the bible says is truth and that is what I (and you) should align with, not some fluffed up human cause or alternate belief, which is idolatry. Whether I or you agree with the bible or not is irrelevant. His word is final no matter how we may *feel* about it.

Christians should NEVER base their decisions of wrong or right on *how they feel* about a particular topic, if the bible says something is wrong, then it's wrong! God has given us His word IN WRITING as a testimony of wrong or right. Jesus is the word (bible) made flesh, and since He is sinless then we can be confident that His written word (the bible) is also sinless, and fully righteous. If God can't get His word down to you intact then you've got the wrong god.

Either the bible is true in all its wording, and understanding that Jesus IS the "word made flesh", or it's not, that's for YOU to decide. But sitting on the fence, being "in the middle" (aka: moderate or some other form of non-decision) is not going to be blessed according to Jesus.

"[As for] God, his way [is] perfect; the word of the LORD [is] tried: he [is] a buckler to all them that trust in him." {2 Samuel 22:31 KJV}

"In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me." {Psalms 56:4 KJV}

"Every word of God [is] pure: he [is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him." {Proverbs 30:5 KJV}

"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." {1 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV}

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." {2 Timothy 2:15 KJV}

Yes folks, there are only two choices in the end, left (goat, tree of knowledge of good and evil) or right (sheep, tree of life). Anything in between is lukewarm and we've read above what will happen to those people. Either God's word is true, in its entirety, or you make God a liar. It's YOUR choice as always ...

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." {Joshua 24:15 KJV}

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." {Revelation 2:7 KJV} ...and... "Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." -JESUS {Revelation 22:14 KJV}

I'm sorry if this article offends *many* of you but I must speak the truth in love, as the prophets of old likewise did, even if it's not perceived as such. I pray you seek the Lord on this. If you say, "I don't know", that's one thing, but, the Lord wants you to earnestly seek Him out (through His written word) for the answer and not to just "sit on the fence". Whether we're talking about humanity, politics, or spiritual beliefs ... there are only TWO CHOICES: wrong or right.

Don't rely on our modern culture (NEWS, magazines, articles, posts, videos, etc) to dictate to you what is truth; for they (those who don't obey God's word) just need to slip in a little poison (lie) mixed in with your drink of choice (truth) to kill you BOTH physically and spiritually. It's up to YOU to watch what goes into your own ear and eye gates!

As for me, I choose to be REALLY (extreme, far) right (hot, sheep, tree of life, God's ways, straight and narrow, good tree, good fruit).

Thanks for reading ;o}

 

 

 

 

{Curly bracket comments are mine. Red letter text is Jesus speaking. This article is Firefox's "Reader View" friendly as of the date of its posting.}

01/24/17 ~ Rachel {Israel} & Leah {the church} ...

.:: WHO's WHO ::.
The people in the story are {a type or foreshadowing of} ...
Jacob {= God and/or Jesus, Yeshua}
Rachel {= Israel}
Leah {= the church during the "times of the Gentiles"}
God {= Himself}
Jesus {= Yeshua, Himself}

If you study the story of the sisters, Rachel & Leah, whom Jacob married, you will see a type and shadow of the two brides of God/Christ: Israel {Rachel} and the church {Leah}. I am not speaking to the life of either of these women specifically, only of their marriage to Jacob and what those represent in relation to Israel and the church. For instance, Israel's harlotry (idolatry against God) is not a reflection in any way of Rachel, although she did carry her father's idols around for some time before Jacob found them and buried them, but that's another story. Nor is this page a reflection of the person of Leah, who was the lesser wife (so to speak), the wife Jacob got instead of the one he expected to get. But in a sense perhaps their lives do reflect Israel and the church to some degree ... we'll not get into that now tho. You can read the story of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah in Genesis 29-49.

I believe that when God met with Israel at Mount Sinai (after Moses led them out of Egypt), they (Israel) were at that time betrothed to Him (God). Being betrothed in the bible is to be married, but living separately. You were to live a pure, chaste life in preparation for your husband to come for you and bring you to his father's house whereby he (the husband) had spent the time of your separation building a home for you and he to begin your family life together. When your husband came to take you home, then the marriage would be consummated at your new place in his father's house.

So, in the story, Jacob {a type or foreshadowing of God} married Rachel {a type or foreshadowing of Israel} at that time {covenant at Mount Sinai}, which, by the way, was at the time of Pentecost/Shavuot! Israel was married to God at that time and expected to keep covenant (marriage contract) with Him while He was away building a place for them in his father's house. Yes, God {Jesus, Yeshua} went away to build a place for His intended bride {Israel} in His Father's house, see Matthew 22 KJV {quoted below}. You can also read the story of Israel meeting with God at Mount Sinai here in Exodus 19.

In Exodus 19:8, we see that Israel verbally accepts the contract/covenant by collectively saying ... "And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD." To this day we accept our marriage contract by saying "I do."

The contract (covenant) that God made with Israel was the ten commandments, you can read those in Exodus 20. And then the LORD spends the next few chapters expounding on what the ten commandments mean to the people and what will happen should they choose to accept, and what will happen should they accept but then turn from His contract/covenant and serve idols (false gods). Exodus 24 goes on to have Moses go up to Mount Sinai to meet with God and to receive the written copy of the contract (the two tablets of stone for which the ten commandments were written by the finger of God). And the people of Israel once again confirm their contract/covenant when, after forty days/nights, Moses comes down to them with the written contract/covenant as we see here "And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do." {Exodus 24:3 KJV}

*Rabbit Trail* ... I believe the forty days/nights are significant and relate to jubilees, whereby the 40 days represent 40 years and the jubilee of 50 years represents 50 jubilees, 40 x 50 = 2000 years. I've *gone there* (done the math) in other posts so I'll not go there in this post.

So, Israel (as like Rachel) becomes God's wife and that's how God identifies her, and as Jeremiah confirms, Israel also backslid and became idolatrous with the surrounding nations, in other words, she broke the contract/covenant of marriage to God and went a-whoring among the nations ...

"And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah. Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; [and] I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I [am] merciful, saith the LORD, [and] I will not keep [anger] for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." {Jeremiah 3:11-15 KJV}

"Surely [as] a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD." {Jeremiah 3:20 KJV}

Think this through folks. How would you feel ... and perhaps some of you know this first hand ... if your wife or husband went a-whoring after another? Would you not be righteously and properly angry with your spouse? This is why Israel (9 & a 1/2 of the 12 tribes/sons of Israel/Jacob), and later Judah (2 & a 1/2 of the 12 tribes/sons of Israel/Jacob) were dispersed among the nations. Israel went after *other gods* and left her first Love. Would this not provoke you to anger? Would you not *put away* the evil from you? Of course you would!

Even so, God loves His bride Israel and He will bring her back to Himself, yet future, as He's promised. But first she must go through many troubles and tribulations in order to see and understand why He's put her out. At some point she will realize that she rejected her Husband when He came to consummate their marriage in (approximately) 33AD! Oh the whaling and weeping that is to come, the mourning! when the whole of Israel realizes that the last 2,000 years didn't have to happen as they have! Read Zechariah 12-14 if you want to understand how the fulfillment of the "times of the Gentiles" and the saving of Israel will unfold!

*Rabbit Trail* ... Another interesting thing about contracts/covenants, it takes the death of one of the parties to nullify that contract. Thus to this day when a marriage takes place, we say ... "until death us do part." ... whereby, the contract of marriage ends at the death of one of the spouses. Some people believe that this is one of the reasons Jesus had to die, to *officially* release Israel from her marriage contract.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ BEGIN BRIEF INTERLUDE ~

Many people try to separate God & Christ as two different beings. I believe Christ is the physical manifestation of the ONE true God. Jesus is how we *see* God, in the flesh; just like we have a body and that's how we *see* each other. God says He made man(kind) in His own image and likeness. He is three-in-One: Spirit, Soul, Body = Father, Holy Spirit, Son (not necessarily in that order). Jesus is God with us, which is what Emmanuel or Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23) means. Likewise, man(kind) being made in God's image and likeness are body, soul & spirit ... three-in-one. So, Jesus came as the physical aspect of God. This is why Jesus said the following:

"If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." {John 14:7 KJV}

Jesus saith unto him, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father?" {John 14:9 KJV}

"I and [my] Father are one." {John 10:30 KJV}

It took doubting Thomas' seeing Jesus AFTER His resurrection before he understood that he had spent time with God in the flesh! "But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: [then] came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace [be] unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed." {John 20:24-29 KJV}
~ END BRIEF INTERLUDE ~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OK, so ... understanding that God & Jesus are One and the same, but shown as different aspects, we move on. To be *betrothed*, in God's eyes, is to be married. It's a commitment for which both parties sign ...OR... verbally agree to a contract/covenant. And from that signing, and a bride price being paid, they are considered as one. The bride price Jesus paid was His own life's blood. Then the groom takes leave of his bride and goes to build a home for her at his father's house. This is a type and shadow of what Jesus did with: 1) Israel at Mount Sinai at Shavuot in the days of Moses, and 2) the church at Pentecost/Shavuot in (approximately) 33AD.

I believe that Jesus' FIRST COMING was Him coming to consummate the marriage with Israel, but they were asleep; they totally missed their own consummation because they'd gone into harlotry chasing after worldly goods and idols (other gods)! So then the Lord began to receive the church, for whom we are willing and readily waiting for His return. Even so, many of us are asleep and will miss Him when He comes a SECOND TIME to consummate our marriage. We are married to Him NOW, but when He comes for us, just before Jacob's trouble begins, He will take those of us that are ready to His Father's house to consummate the marriage contract we've signed. How did we sign that contract/covenant? By believing that God sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins, to be the sacrificial Lamb once and for all. Salvation is what Jesus' Hebrew name, Yeshua, means. He is coming for His church/bride. I pray you are ready having nothing in this world more important to you than His soon appearing!

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." {Hebrews 9:28 KJV} See also the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13.

Jesus relates the entire story in a parable in Matthew 22 ...
"And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and [my] fatlings [are] killed, and all things [are] ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of [it], and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated [them] spitefully, and slew [them]. But when the king heard [thereof], he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few [are] chosen." {Matthew 22:1-14 KJV}

In the parable above we see that the King is God, His Son is Jesus, the bride that the Son came for was Israel, but she was not worthy/ready. So He sends out into the world for those that are ready & willing, the church throughout the "times of the Gentiles", to come to the marriage. His servants were the prophets of the old covenant through whom God spoke to stiffnecked Israel; but in the new covenant era they were the apostles and disciples, and to this day are the followers of Jesus who proclaim the Good News of salvation into all the world as a witness. I believe, that the man without a wedding garment is satan and he will be thrown into the bottomless pit for 1,000 years while Christ and His bride rule & reign on earth from Jerusalem, Israel. Notice that 1) all things were *ready* when Jesus came the FIRST time; 2) He said, "The wedding is ready." ... when the Son came the FIRST time for His intended bride, Israel, they would not come, they weren't awake nor ready, and for the most part they'll miss Him when He comes again for His ready, wise church bride. Matthew 25:1-13 is not only for the sleeping, foolish virgins of the church but it's also yet another warning *sign* to Israel!

"Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD." {Jeremiah 8:12 KJV, read the whole chapter!}

Speaking of Jesus as He entered into Jerusalem for what would turn out to be His crucifixion instead of His marriage ... "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things [which belong] unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation." {Luke 19:41-44 KJV}

The church {a type of Leah} is also the bride of Christ ...
"For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ." -Paul {2 Corinthians 11:2 KJV}

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also." {John 14:1-3 KJV}

This IS the "times of the Gentiles", and at the "fulness of the Gentiles" God will again turn His attention back to His first bride, Israel.

"And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." -Jesus {"they" = Israel, Luke 21:24 KJV}

"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." -Paul {Romans 11:25 KJV}

Make NO mistake, we are very near the fulfillment of the "times of the Gentiles" right NOW!

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen [doth gather] her brood under [her] wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until [the time] come when ye shall say, Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord." -Jesus {Luke 13:34-35 KJV}

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn." {Zechariah 12:10 KJV}

.:: SUMMARY ::.
Jacob {Jesus, Yeshua} is betrothed to Rachel {Israel} but, he gets Leah {the church} instead.
After consummating his bridal *week* with Leah {the church}; he gets his intended bride, Rachel {Israel}.
After Jesus and His (ready church) bride are in heaven for one week (7 years)
during which, a time called Jacob's trouble will befall Israel,
and at the conclusion of that trouble, Israel will call on her Messiah, Jesus.
Only THEN will He return for His intended bride Rachel {Israel}.
At that time, Jesus will be King over all the earth
and His bride will rule and reign with Him for 1,000 years

 

 

 

 

{Curly bracket comments are mine. Red letter text is Jesus speaking. This article is Firefox's "Reader View" friendly as of the date of its posting.}

01/23/17 ~ Abraham, Isaac, and a ram ...

.:: WHO's WHO ::.
The person in the story is {a type or foreshadowing of} ...
Abraham {= Father, God}
Isaac {= son, Adam, mankind}
Ram {= sacrificial Lamb, Jesus, Yeshua}
God {= Himself}

Source - Google Images

In the story {Genesis 22} where Abraham is told to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice, we see that just as he is about to do so, an angel tells him to stay his hand; and then we see "a ram" caught in the thickets by its horns. Many people allege that Isaac is a 'type' of Jesus but this is not so. Isaac was NOT sacrificed.

Abraham of course represents God in this story, and I've come to understand by many biblical scriptures that Jesus {Yeshua} is the sacrificial Lamb of God. If you fully grasp that concept, then you see that Isaac could not be a 'type' of Jesus. Rather, Isaac is a foreshadow of mankind in general: Adam and his offspring throughout the ages, the fallen, sinful, human race.

Jesus {Yeshua} is the ram. Interestingly enough, the book of Enoch shows in the "Prophecy of the Animals" (chapters 89 to 93, link below) that a ram is always a king or leader (of the sheep). This, to me, confirms that "the ram" in the story of Abraham and Isaac is in fact a representation or foreshadowing of the coming sacrificial Lamb of God, Jesus {Yeshua}.

Because Abraham was faithful, God promised to make of him many nations and to bless him and those nations through his *seed*, Jesus {Yeshua}. Yes indeed, God {Himself} provided, a Lamb; a blameless, sinless offering for all of sinful mankind, should they choose to believe in what He's done for them with His own blood. God always keeps His word!

"And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." {Genesis 22:7-8 KJV}

"And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here [am] I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son] from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind [him] a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son." {Genesis 22:11-13 KJV}

"Grace [be] to you and peace from God the Father, and [from] our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen." {Galatians 1:3-5 KJV}

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

Click the links below and decide for yourselves if what I say makes sense or not, in comparison to the *standard* teaching.

Abraham, Isaac, and the ram ... Genesis 22
https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/gen/22/1/s_22001

Book of Enoch (1-Enoch), translated by R H Charles, 1912
Chapter 89-93, begins the Prophecy of the Animals
{pay particular attention to where ever "ram" or "rams" is or are mentioned}
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/boe/boe089.htm

And yes, I know, Enoch is *not Cannon* (not accepted as scripture), but it's a fascinating read all the same and I do believe it helps give understanding of many things that the scriptures don't fully explain! Even so, take it with a grain of salt &/or put it on the back burner.

 

 

 

 

{Curly bracket comments within scriptures are mine. This article is Firefox's "Reader View" friendly as of the date its posted.}

01/11/17 ~ DREAM: Married & APRIL 12

I had TWO dreams on January 11, 2017. I have documented them in a PDF file and uploaded that file to my own domain. I've thought long & hard as to whether I should put this dream on my blog &/or make it public. Until now, I've only shared it with a few on my FB group. I've decided that I should share it because the truth must be told, if indeed this has any meaning at all. Thus, on January 16, 2017 {today}, I've decided to share this dream with whoever will be reading it. Please, read the whole document, especially the message {interpretation} that I & my husband have gleaned from it, it's not what you -may- initially think. What I dreamt in the first dream was so that I would think it through rather than just dismiss it. I'm sure you will agree, we all have those *weird* dreams! Had I of dismissed the first dream, I would likewise have to dismiss the second.

Please NOTE: I am NOT saying Jesus is coming for His church on APRIL 12 *this year* ... all I am saying is that He showed me APRIL 12 on a sign in the second dream that almost immediately followed the first dream. I don't know what it all means. It -might- mean that He's coming for His church, or -maybe- it means a war begins on that date, or it -could- mean any number of things. It -may- be *this year*, it -may- be a future year, I simply don't know.

But, because APRIL 12 *this year* has not yet occurred I dug up what might be significant on that day this year. Again, I don't -know- what it means. I'm simply speculating. I am NOT date setting.

If you wish to save the PDF to your own harddrive for future reference, please make a note of the url and link back to this page so others can find it. Give credit where credit is due. To download this PDF, right click on the link below and click SAVE AS, and save it to your own harddrive. Also, this page is Firefox "Reader View" friendly ;o} And now, without further ado, here's the dream {PDF}, both embedded in this page and in link form below.

Dream ~ 01/11/17 Married & APRIL 12

Maranatha {Come quickly} to the King, my Ishi {Husband}, Yeshua {Jesus}, whenever that may be! I'm going to continue to be *ready* and *watching*! Thanks for reading.

01/07/17 ~ Firefox's "Reader View" ...

This is a *test* page to see if I can get Firefox's Reader View to read my blog pages. If I'm successful I'll Publish this page but you can just ignore it unless you too are struggling with this issue. I am writing this in Compose mode and am simply adding the tags suggested (see links below) in hopes it'll work!

UPDATE: OK, Compose mode did not work as I have to do the HTML tags manually from HTML mode, so I'm now in HTML mode and removing blog type tags and replacing them with HTML type tags.

From what I can tell from reading other websites on this issue ... the issue being that I can't see or use the Reader View book icon from my blog ... seems to be a simple fix whereby you add start & end HTML tags such as < article > < div > and < p > (remove spaces) in your content instead of a blog's default blog tags. So I begin the page with the *article* tag at the top of this post, the *div* tag under that, and then the *paragraph* start & /end tags for each paragraph. And then at the bottom of the page where I don't need reader to read I've got the end tags for */div* and */article*. In the Options settings at the left be sure you have "Show HTML literally" radio button selected. Reader View should see and read all content within the article, div, &/or paragraph tags but won't read stuff outside of them (or so the pages I've read say).

This is a great feature and I'm hooked! I especially love how it has a text-to-speech (text-to-voice) feature that with the click of a button will read the entire page to me! Thus the desire to have it working on my own blog so you can enjoy it too ;o}

According to the pages I've read, the reader heavily relies on the start & /end *paragraph* tags so that seems to be an important thing to be sure you've added to your page/s.

.:: LINKS OF INTEREST ::.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-reader-view-clutter-free-web-pages
http://weblog.zumguy.com/read.php?tid=56
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/30661650/how-does-firefox-reader-view-operate-ff-version-38-0-5/30688312#30688312

Don't like Reader View? You can disable it ...
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/30615447/how-to-disable-firefoxs-reader-view-from-my-website

Well, that's all for now, let's see if this worked!? It did not *work* in PREVIEW mode so I will have to Publish the page but will remove if I can't get it working.

UPDATE: Editing the HTML directly does show Reader View from the PREVIEW window! SUCCESS!!! Yay n stufff! My only disgruntle is having to write the page in HTML with tags rather than in the simple & fast Compose mode. Se la vie. I probably won't do this for every article (because I'm way too lazy LOL) but at least now I know how to get Reader View working for my blog! The final step will be to add screencap images of the actual HTML for this page, feel free to use it as a guide.

TIPS: Add your pictures or graphics to your blog article first, then go back and put in your article's text with tags, etc, around the pix or however you want to arrange it (I didn't screencap after adding pix, sorry). Also, MAKE A NOTEPAD (TEXT) COPY OF YOUR WORK IN HTML MODE BEFORE YOU SAVE & PREVIEW OR PUBLISH! When I went back to Compose mode it wiped out all my hard work, thankfully I was thinking ahead and copy/pasted it into Notepad before switching modes! 0.o You can *right click* each pix and open in a new window or tab to see larger versions. NOTE: The pix won't show in Reader View; just turn RV off by clicking the book icon in the address bar to see the original page w/pix.

Screencap 1 of 2 - HTML mode

Screencap 2 of 2 - HTML mode

Reader View book icon seen in PREVIEW, currently it is OFF (greyed)

Reader View is ON (orange), click the wave icon to the left to LISTEN

Does the *happy dance* and then *waves n poofs*!

01/07/17 ~ As in the days of Noah ...

Jesus IS coming for His church (bride) as we read in the Parable of the Ten Virgins {Mat 25:1-13 KJV}.

After we're gone, the seventh seal {of the scroll in Rev 5-8 KJV} is opened and the WRATH of the Lamb (judgments upon the world) begins. Within the final (seventh) seal are: the seven trumpets, the three woes, and the seven vials (bowls) that are filled up with the WRATH of God; each successive event leads to the next. These judgments will happen during "Jacob's (Israel's) trouble" {Jer 30:7 KJV}.

You don't want to be here for these, trust me!

.:: THE WRATH OF GOD IS REVEALED ::.
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." -Paul {Rom 1:18-32 KJV}

Nothing has changed; as it was in Paul's day some 2,000 years ago, so it is today ... as it's been even from the time of the world-wide flood some 4,000 years ago that swept all but 8 souls off the earth. We're coming up on the next judgment, this time by fire. Watch for it.

.:: AS THE DAYS OF NOE {NOAH}::.
"But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." -Jesus {Mat 24:37-44 KJV, the "taken" are the church/bride, the "left" are those that remain who will suffer judgments & God's wrath.}

.:: IN FLAMING FIRE ::.
"Seeing [it is] a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day." -Paul {2Th 1:6-10 KJV}

.:: AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT ::.
"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." -Peter {2Pe 3:3-13 KJV}

At the opening of the seventh seal of the scroll that the apostle John saw, we see the fire from heaven spoken of whereby the WRATH of God is poured out onto the earth in the form of trumpets, woes and vials (bowls) of judgment on an ungodly world. The Lord will take His people off the earth {Mat 25:1-13 KJV, parable of the 10 virgins - the five *wise*} before this falls on those left behind.

Please give your heart & life to Jesus NOW ... the clock is ticking ... BUT there is precious little time left. https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/rev/8/7/s_1175007

Maybe I've said all this before in other articles but I feel we are so close to His coming for His church that this WARNING is necessary. So -many- are *asleep* &/or just don't understand the imminent danger that is soon to arrive! Dark days are ahead says the doomsday *porter* (watcher).

It won't be said of me that I didn't try to warn you. Again I say, come to Jesus ...

.:: MORE ::.
"The thing that hath been, it [is that] which shall be; and that which is done [is] that which shall be done: and [there is] no new [thing] under the sun." {Ecc 1:9 KJV} https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/ecc/1/1/s_660001
{see also Mat 24-25, Mark 13 & 17,Luke 21, Revelation}




{Curly bracket comments are mine or show scripture references. Red letter text is Jesus speaking.}