RainingTruth

What About the Animals

rainingtruth — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 00:38:58 +0000

We pet owners’ desire answers concerning the fate of our dear pets, which we love. As we search the scriptures we find there is no concrete, beyond the shadow of doubt evidence as to what happens to them. But, as we search deeper, we find the clues are there.

We read from I Corinthians 15:39 that all flesh is not the same. We were told there are four different types of flesh: man, animal, fish and birds. Throughout the scriptures it is made clear that God is pleased with, and places great value on, the animals he has created. He says, “For every beast of the forest is mine and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.” (Psalms 50:10-11)

There are countless animals and birds on this earth, and we discover that records are also being kept of them. Jesus spoke of the insignificant sparrow as having value. “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.” (Matthew 10:29) and also “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?” (Luke 12:6)

God loves and is proud of his creation. We are able to read and more fully understand that admiration in Job 39, where he speaks to Job out of a whirlwind and elaborates on several different animals including goats, donkeys, peacocks, ostriches, horses and hawks and also the dinosaur, if you look closely.

We also read in the book of Numbers how the Lord made Balaam’s donkey to speak with him. It is amazing. A person has to wonder, if all animals could speak what they would have to say. Would many speak of unfair treatment? It is amusing and fascinating that poor Balaam could not see the angel, but the donkey could.

Another donkey which not much thought is usually given to was used to fulfill prophecy. Several hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ the Prophet Zechariah spoke these words, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Zechariah 9:9)

That insignificant colt of an ass, or donkey, played a very significant roll in the life of Jesus Christ. Two miraculous things to consider is the fact that it is not normal for a person to ride a colt which has not been ridden previously and also the instructions of what exact words to use to acquire the donkey from those with whom it belonged. You could say it all appears arranged which it was.

And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. (Matthew 21:1-10)

An interesting observation from the Bible is the fact that the animals were created before man was created. In the book of Genesis it reads, “And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:24-25) It was good.

The vast number of animals that were created is mind boggling. The descriptions are unending. A person has to believe that God had a lot of fun creating the animals. The book of Genesis continues on to explain that, just as with man, the animals were given food to sustain them. “And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.” (Genesis 1:30) We also discover that, just as he did with us humans, God formed the animals from the ground. “And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field.” Genesis 2:19-20)

We read from the scriptures that the animals were also destroyed along with man during the flood of Noah. “And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” (Genesis 6:7) “And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:” (Genesis 7:21)

What is interesting to consider is that the promise, which God made after the flood, was not only to man, but to the animals as well. “And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you and with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.” (Genesis 9:9-11)

As a gift, the animals were delivered into the hands of man. Man was given dominion over all God’s creation. We read, “And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.” (Genesis 9:2) This is also declared in the Psalms. “Thou madest him (man) 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 fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.” (Psalms 8:6-8) With this gift, we were also given the responsibility to respect the authority given to us over the animals and never to be cruel. “A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” (Proverbs 12:10)

Another surprising discovery is that animals, as well as man, are to give an account for the shedding of man’s blood. The scripture reads: “And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” (Genesis 9:5-6)

Adding to the uniqueness of animals, we read in the book of Jeremiah how the animals appear more able to follow their instincts than man is able to use common sense. “Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.” (Jeremiah 8:7)

In the Psalms we are informed that God takes care of the animals as well as man. “Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.” (Psalms 36:6)

It is hard to imagine, as we read at the beginning of this writing, that not one bird falls without it being recorded. The birds and animals are also in the books. So what can we conclude happens to the animals? God promises, in the world to come, that the animals will exist and that they will be at peace with man and with each other. It is not easy for us to envision the cows, bears, wolves, leopards and lambs hanging out together, but the scriptures say it is so. In the book of Isaiah it reads: “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.” (Isaiah 11:6-7) There will be no more carnivores. And, again it is written in Isaiah: “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.” (Isaiah 65:25)

The book of Hosea may help shed some light on the fate of the animals. Hosea stipulates that God is going to make a covenant of peace with the animals. For all of us with pets, here is where I believe our confirmation, as far as what happens to our pets, can be found. Hosea writes: “And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things on the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.” (Hosea 2:18) If we consider this, it is logical to conclude that this pertains to the animals alive on the earth, then and now. Why make the promise to them if it doesn’t pertain to them?

Paul concludes that all creation has the desire for that day when they will be redeemed. He writes: “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:22-23)

For all of us who have loved and lost animals we read again, “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?” (Luke 12:6)

He remembers them. Why remember them if they were just to be tossed and forgotten? Why keep records if there were no future for them?

THE SEALING

rainingtruth — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 09:41:25 +0000

Watering the Garden
THE SEALING

Just prior to the return of Jesus Christ and the day of the Lord, the book of Revelation describes a sealing that is to take place in the foreheads or in the minds of 144,000 of his servants from the tribes of Israel. These would have to be followers of Jesus Christ or they wouldn’t be his servants.

And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea. Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them, which were sealed; and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Revelation 7:1-4

Seven seals are described. It would be profitable to familiarize yourself with them by reading the scriptures. After the sealing has taken place the 7 trumpets begin to sound and the action begins. Continuing on we read of the 7 vials and 7 thunders. The 7 seals are an advance warning of what is about to happen, but are not necessarily in chronological order.

After the sealing takes place the instructions are given that the only ones that can be harmed are those who do not have the seal of God in their forehead.
Revelation 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have NOT the seal of God in their foreheads.

We find a similar situation occurred in the book of Ezekiel only Ezekiel describes a mark instead of a seal. The important thing to note is the reason for the mark. It was to identify the people who cared and shed tears about what was going on in the world.

And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brazen alter. And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side; And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women; but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin with my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men, which were before the house. And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city. And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! Wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem? Then said he unto me, the iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not. And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head. And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me. Ezekiel 9:2-11

We have to ask ourselves, do we care? Do we know? Have we been sealed with
the truth concerning the trumpets, vials and thunders?

Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this
study of His word, Amen.
Susan

Trees

rainingtruth — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 09:20:11 +0000

Watering the Garden
TREES
There are many references to trees in the Bible. In searching the scriptures more in depth, it was surprising to discover that there are a lot more then can be put in this writing, but we will cover many.

Throughout the Bible Our Father often uses nature as a symbol or example. We find that the tree and/or trees are used as a description of God, of man, Satan and Jesus. It begins with the story that we are all familiar with in the first book in the Bible, Genesis, and ends in the last book in the Bible, Revelation. The tree of Life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil are described in Genesis, but interestingly we find that only the tree of Life is mentioned in the book of Revelation. “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)
The warning is given to Adam and Eve by God not to partake of the tree of good and evil or they would die. “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:17)
This is where the first deception began. They were deceived by the serpent, or Satan, who told Adam and Eve that God was lying to them and they would not die, but that they would become wise and they believed the lie. “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” (Genesis 3:6)

It is verified in other scriptures that the serpent in the Garden was Satan. One of the places this is revealed is in the book of Ezekiel. “To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 31:18) Another is in Revelation. “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” (Revelation 12:9)

In the world to come the promise is given to those who overcome by keeping His commandments that they will eat of the tree of life which has leaves that are said to heal the nations. “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) and also, “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” (Revelation 22:2) “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.” (Revelation 22:14)

It is revealed that at the return of Jesus Christ the trees will sing. “Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth.” (1st Chronicles 16:33) We find also in the Psalms, “Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.” (Psalms 96:12-13)

We find a heartwarming example of Jesus and his relationship to the church in the book of the Song of Solomon. “As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.” (Song of Solomon 2:3-4)

In God’s promise concerning the destruction of Lucifer the fir trees and cedars are described as rejoicing. “Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us. Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!” (Isaiah 14:3-12)

In this beautiful scripture found in Isaiah the trees are described as clapping their hands as the word of God is revealed. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” (Isaiah 55:6-13)

Speaking of the glory of Jesus Christ in the book of Isaiah we read that the meek, those who mourn, and the brokenhearted, as well as the captive who are bound and whose spirits are heavy will one day be called the trees of righteousness. “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)

An impressive description of trees is found in the book of Ezekiel. All the trees are said to one day KNOW that the Lord God will do what he purposes by bringing down the high tree, exalting the low tree, drying up the green tree, and making the dry tree to flourish “Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent: In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell. And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.” (Ezekiel 17:22-24)

In a prophecy concerning the latter days Joel describes the damage caused by the enemies of God who will strip his tree bare and burn his trees. “The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten. Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth. For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion. He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.” (Joel 1:1-7) and it is continued, “O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.” (Joel 1:19)

We discover further words of prophecy are revealed concerning Two Olive trees that are described to represent two witnesses or two anointed ones who are to appear in the end times. “Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” (Zechariah 4:11-14) In addition we find in the book of Revelation. “These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.” (Revelation 11:4)

In the books of Matthew and Luke Jesus presents a dire warning using trees as an example. “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Matthew 3:10) (This is also found in Luke 3:9)

We find a blind man, who is in the process of being healed by Jesus, making a curious statement comparing man to trees. We have to ask, why did he see this? “And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.” (Mark 8:22-26)

After Jesus had made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem and completed a visit to the temple he and his twelve disciples went to Bethany. The next day, just prior to his overthrowing the tables in the temple, we hear him speak a strange message to a fig tree teaching us a lesson concerning prayer, faith and forgiveness, but also as is found in the following scripture, a deeper message concerning the fig tree. “And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. And when even was come, he went out of the city. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:12-26)

Again the fig tree is used by Jesus to provide us with prophecy concerning a sign of the end times. It is believed by most scholars that this is representative of Israel returning to its homeland and becoming a nation once more. “And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:29:36)

More intriguing information concerning the fig tree can be found in the 24th chapter of Jeremiah. Again, Bible scholars believe this is speaking of what happened in 1948 when Israel returned to her homeland. A question we need to ask ourselves is, “Who are the bad figs”? “The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon. One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad. Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil. Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.” (Jeremiah 24:1-5) For additional information read the entire chapter.

We discover a message concerning evil angels and those who are evil in the last days in the book of Jude. These evil ones are described as trees whose fruit has withered. “These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;” (Jude 1:12)

In the book of Revelation an angel with the seal of The Living God gives this message to the four angels sent to hurt the earth. “Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” (Revelation 7:3) Could these trees be mankind? Continuing it reads in chapter seven. “The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.” (Revelation 8:7)

Speaking of backslidden Israel in the book of Hosea God says they will be as an olive tree and that he is like a green fir tree. “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.” (Hosea 14:4-9)

I encourage you to observe a tree. Take a closer look at all the trees. The trees are full of Y’s. Every tree is made up of Y’s and V’s. Fix your eyes upon them and consider Our Father. We see him in every tree. We have a lot in common with the tree. What a blessing! Our Father’s name in the King James Bible is JAH which in the Hebrew is YAH. “Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, (YAH) and rejoice before him.” (Psalms 68:4)

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Psalms 1:1-3) If we delight in His Word this comparison and promise is given to us.

Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this
study of His word, Amen.
Susan

The Locust Army

rainingtruth — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 17:58:06 +0000

Watering the Garden
THE LOCUST ARMY

The Bible speaks of a powerful group of people that are to appear on the scene in the latter days. They are described as being strong, having the power to rip apart as a lion and causing days of darkness upon the earth. The palmerworm and the cankerworm are different stages of the locust. On their heads they have crowns which indicate they have power, or perhaps some sort of headdress. These “locusts” are to completely strip bare the people. This brings to mind the words of Jesus to Peter when he stated that Satan wished to “sift him as wheat”.

Joel instructs the people to pass this information on from generation to generation.

Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten. (Joel 1:3-4)

They are going to desecrate or strip his vine, the church.

For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion. He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white. (Joel 1:6-7)

God admonishes his followers to blow the trumpet and warn the people that these enemies are more powerful then any have ever been throughout all history. These are to be a facet of the “Day of the Lord”.

Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. (Joel 2:1-2)

In the book of Revelation we find that they are given power resembling a scorpion. How does a scorpion operate? He regurgitates on has pray and they become as mush. Remember these are men and they can only harm those that do not have the seal of God.

And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. (Revelation 9:3-4)

These locusts are prepared for battle. The have power and they appear as glorious princes of the people but note they will only be able to be in control for five months. The same amount of time as an actual locusts which is May through September. Their leader is also revealed; Abaddon and Apollyon which means destroyer.

And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails; and their power was to hurt men 5 months. And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. (Revelation 9:7-11)

Let’s take a look at what the Hebrew and Greek Dictionary has to say concerning LOCUST AND LOCUSTS.
First used in Old Testament as Locusts and in the
New Testament as locust.

HEBREW Meaning of word (arbeh) #697 in Strong’s Concordance Hebrew Dictionary
PRONOUNCED – arbeh
a kind of locust, locust swarm

From root word etymology 7235 which means:
1) Be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous

GREEK Meaning of word (akris) #200 in Strong’s Concordance Greek Dictionary
PRONOUNCED – a-kre
Description is interesting:
1) a locust, particularly that species which especially infests oriental countries, stripping fields and trees. Numberless swarms of them almost every spring are carried by the wind from Arabia into Palestine, and having devastated that country, migrate to regions farther north, until they perish by falling into the sea. The Orientals accustomed to feed upon locusts, either raw or roasted and seasoned with salt (or prepared in other ways), and the Israelites also were permitted to eat them.

Could we possibly be seeing the beginning of this by what is called the Arab Spring we have heard much about? Are the sons of Ismael the locust army? Could they be swarming? Could they be working in conjunction with others in this world who would like to bring down the free world? We as Christians need to be watching and praying. Ismael, Abraham’s first son was born to him through his wife, Sarah’s handmaiden, Hagar, who was an Egyptian.

“And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. (Genesis 16:11-12)

Concerning the two sons of Abraham, God made it clear what the position of each would be.

“And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year. (Genesis 17:18-21)

Our Father gives this promise concerning the Locusts army.

“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.” Joel 2:25

It is interesting to note that God states he sent them among us.

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
We have learned that during the time of the “Day of the Lord”, an army of powerful men called locusts will appear along with and given power by the anti-christ for 5 months and bring harm to those who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads.

Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this
study of His word, Amen.
Susan

Bible Word Origanation – Locust – Locusts

rainingtruth — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 17:00:36 +0000

BIBLE WORD ORIGANATION

LOCUST AND LOCUSTS

(Locusts) First used in Old Testament in Exodus 10:19
Last used in Joel 2:25 and in the
New Testament as (locust) and ends in Rev. 9:7

HEBREW Meaning of word (arbeh) #697 in Strong’s Concordance Hebrew Dictionary
PRONOUNCED – arbeh
a kind of locust, locust swarm

From root word etymology 7235 which means:
1) Be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous

Could this be the Arab Spring???

The Three Earth Ages

rainingtruth — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 09:09:42 +0000

Watering the Garden
THREE EARTH AGES

This world is millions of years old. Christians have caused a lot of confusion and lost many souls, especially our youth, in our attempt to convince them that this world is only six thousand years old. It does not fit. Our young go off to college and often begin to believe that all that they have been taught concerning God is not true because they see evidence to the contrary concerning the age of this earth. Evidence does confirm that flesh man has been here for approximately six thousand years, but that this earth has been around for millions of years.

From the scriptures we discover that there are three periods of time, or ages, described. We are now in the second age. Finding ourselves in this age is a result of what took place in the first earth age and where we end up in the third earth age is determined by what we do in this period of time. There is evidence that animals were present in the flesh during the first earth age because of the fossils that are found. There are places in this country such as the Ashfall, Nebraska Park where fossils that are not normal to the US have been found. You can check this out at http://ashfall.unl.edu/. In Siberia and Alaska Wooly Mammoth have been discovered with buttercups still in their stomach showing that something happened quickly to cause their demise.

God spoke to Job concerning the first earth age. It must have been a pleasant time for man. “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7)(Note the word “stars”)

Something went terribly wrong which angered Our Father and the beautiful first earth age came to an end. Scriptures indicate that Satan was the culprit who rebelled and caused all of this to come about. Note again the word “stars” described in Isaiah which reads, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?” (Isaiah 14:12-16)

In documentaries on the History Chanel or on the Discovery Channel, scientists confirm that something catastrophic happen approximately twelve to fifteen thousand years ago. The book of Jeremiah speaks of this catastrophic event when everything was destroyed. This is not Noah’s flood because in this scripture there was no man or bird left. “I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger. (Jeremiah 4:23-26) Note that there were cities that had existed. Peter also spoke of this upheaval when he wrote, “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: (2nd Peter 3:5-6) That world age ended.

One small word in the first verse of the Bible clears up a lot of the confusion concerning this. The scripture reads, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2) What word is it? It is the word “was”. Many of the King James Bible’s have that word marked out to the side indicating that the word could also mean “became”. Check out some older King James Bibles and you will see this to be true.
Let’s take a look at that word in the Hebrew Strong Concordance. It is the word hayah, pronounced ha-ya. Here are the meanings described:
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
b) to come about, come to pass
2) to come into being, become
a) to arise, appear, come
b) to become
1) to become
2) to become like
3) to be instituted, be established
3) to be
a) to exist, be in existence
b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
d) to accompany, be with
b) (Niphal)
1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Now let’s take a look at the scripture with the word changed to “became” and see the difference it makes. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth became without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Scripture does not say when the beginning was, only God knows when and how, but he did not create the earth void and without form. It became void and without form after Satan’s rebellion.

The Bible teaches us that a thousand years is as a day to the Lord, “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. (Psalms 90:4) And, also in the book of Peter we find, “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.” (2nd Peter 3:8)

The book of Genesis teaches that the creation of this earth age took seven days. If this were to be considered one day as if a thousand years then creation or the first seven days would have actually been seven thousand years including the day that God rested. This helps make things fall into place a lot clearer. It is believed that man has been here approximately six thousand years and we tack on the seven thousand years of creation that would make this earth age approximately thirteen or fourteen thousand years old, which coincides with what scientists say that the great catastrophe which took place.

In no way is this indicating reincarnation only that we continue to exist. In the first earth age as a spirit soul, in the second earth age as a flesh soul and in the third earth age as a spirit soul once more. Also, since God said, “Let us make man in our image,” we continue to look the same. That is why the angels that appear off and on in the Bible look just like us only in their spiritual form. Consider also the many scriptures in the Old Testament, which, when speaking of death state that those who have died “returned to their fathers” or were “gathered to his people” or “join the fathers”.

The exciting part of our existence is the world age to come. There are many, many promises in the Bible concerning this. John writes in the book of Revelation. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 21:1-7)

In conclusion, “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this
study of His word, Amen.
Susan

End of the World

rainingtruth — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 18:00:34 +0000

Watering the Garden
THE END OF THE WORLD

Two thousand years ago Jesus used the expression, “the end of the world”. What does this mean and what is going to happen at the end of the world? Jesus compared the end of the world to a harvest where he states good will be separated from evil.
Speaking of evil seeds, Jesus says, “The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.” (Matthew 13:39-40) And also he continued, “So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just.” (Matthew 13:49) We have to ask ourselves which of the two categories would we fit into, the wicked or the just.

The disciples did not fully understand what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 24 when he gave the signs to watch for before the end of the world and they came to him privately with questions. Notice they included the return of Jesus with the end of the world. “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world” (Matthew 24:3)

Jesus describes to them the signs and what it will be like at the end of the world and concludes with this prophecy. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14)

We discover before his departure from this earth Jesus spoke of the end of the world once again with a charge and a promise to believers. “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20)

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

Over the years most have come to believe that the end of the world” is a time in which the world will disappear from existence and we will all be destroyed by some great calamity. But, light is shed on the expression when we take a look at the word used for world and what is really going to happen. The word used in the original text is aion which is pronounced i-on or our word, “eon” and according to the Strong’s Greek Concordance it means the following:
1) for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity
2) the worlds, universe
3) period of time, age

Because of this we are able to conclude that Jesus was speaking of the end of this period of time or the end of this earth age. This conclusion fits with several other scriptures that describe this time as ending and a new time beginning. The book of Revelation reads, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” (Revelation 21:1) and also “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelation 21:5)

We again see this verified in book of 1st Peter, “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2nd Peter 3:13)

Also from Isaiah the prophet, “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” (Isaiah 65:17) and once more, “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.” (Isaiah 66:22)

There are several signs which you can read of in Matthew 24, Luke 21 and Mark 13 concerning what it will be like at the end of the world, or of this earth age, if you would like more information.

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
We have learned that when we read of the “end of the world” in the scriptures, it is speaking of the end of this earth age or time and that a new age will begin.

Bible Word Origanation – UNICORN (Video)

rainingtruth — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:55:55 +0000

The Song of Moses

rainingtruth — Fri, 20 May 2011 19:12:10 +0000

In the book of Revelation it is revealed that just prior to the seven last plagues, believers are standing before the throne of God singing The Song of Moses and the Lamb.

And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. Revelation 15:1-4

Moses knew as he spoke with the children of Israel that after his death they would become corrupt. He even goes on to insert a prophecy of their outcome in the latter days. He says that evil will befall them because of the evil that they are doing.

INTRODUCTION TO THE SONG OF MOSES

For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands. And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended. Deuteronomy 31:29-30

These words were important then and as the book of Revelation announces, they will be important in the end. That is why we need to pray and read these words, perhaps over and over again. Decipher and dissect and make sure we understand. Our future depends on our understanding of these words. This is Our Father speaking. It is important to him. If you don’t understand something, pray, and if you are sincere, he will make clear to you what you do not understand. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5

THE SONG OF MOSES

1 Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
3 Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.

4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
5 They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.
6 Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

7 Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.
8 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.
9 For the LORD’S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.
11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:
12 So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.
13 He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;
14 Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.

15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.
17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.
18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.

19 And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.
20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
23 I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them.
24 They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.
25 The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.

26 I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:
27 Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the LORD hath not done all this.
28 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.
29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
30 How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?
31 For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.
32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:
33 Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.
34 Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures?
35 To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
36 For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.
37 And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,
38 Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.

39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
40 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.
41 If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.
42 I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.
43 Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.

44 And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.
45 And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel:

What about JERUSALEM

rainingtruth — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:57:53 +0000

WHAT ABOUT JERUSALEM

Jerusalem was originally called Jebus and was inhabited by the Jebusites before David conquered it.“And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.” (1st Chronicles 11:4)

In the following scriptures we find that much is written in the book of Zechariah, Ezekiel and Isaiah pertaining to the city of Jerusalem. We discover information concerning now, in the future and in world to come. Although Jerusalem is to become a burdensome stone for the entire world, which it is, and all will be gathered against her, which they are, God declares that He will defend and strengthen her and will destroy all that come against her and will set her as His city in the world to come.

The entire chapter 16 of the book of Ezekiel describes the birth of Jerusalem and God’s love for her and how he married her by putting his skirt over her. It continues on to describe how Jerusalem turned from God and he rejected her. Yet, in the end he reunites with Jerusalem again.

The Psalms inform us that they shall prosper that love Jerusalem. Micah as well as many other scriptures, which are not listed here, speak of a day when Jesus will rule from Jerusalem.

We read of Jesus’ love of Jerusalem by his passionate words spoken in the book of Luke “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!” (Luke 13:34)

The final triumph of Jerusalem is the New Jerusalem described for us in the book of Revelation.

Scripture:
Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, (Ezekiel 16:1-2)

Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine. (Ezekiel 16:8)

But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.
(Ezekiel 16:15)

Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant. Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant. And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 16:60-63)

In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. (Zephaniah 3:16)

Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. (Zechariah 8:3)

And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut to pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. (Zechariah 12:3)

In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:6)

In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. (Zechariah 12:8)

And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:9)

In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the morning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. (Zechariah 12:11)

In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. (Zechariah 13:1-2)

And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. (Zechariah 14:8)

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. (Psalms 122:6)

And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3)

Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously. (Isaiah 24:23)

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem. (Isaiah 27:13)
As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it. (Isaiah 31:5)

And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. (Isaiah 62:7)

At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. (Jeremiah 3:17)

And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Micah 4:2)

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (Revelation 21:1-3)

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
We have learned that Jerusalem is a city that is at the center of God’s plan and will be the location where Jesus will rule from in the future.

Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this
study of His word, Amen.
Susan

God’s Promise to Abraham and His Seed

rainingtruth — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:20:26 +0000

RAINING TRUTH WATERING THE GARDEN

Watering the Garden
GODS PROMISE TO ABRAHAM AND HIS SEED

God was pleased because Abraham believed and obeyed him and God made several promises directly to Abraham. God promised he would multiply Abraham’s seed and that his descendants would be a blessing to the entire earth.
Where are all these children of promise which God said would be numerous as the dust of the earth or the stars of the heavens? There are those who believe these are the ten lost tribes which are called Anglo-Saxon (Isaac’s sons) or the Caucasians which crossed over the Caucus Mountains and later settled in Europe? God also says he will bless those that bless Abraham’s descendants and curse them that curse his descendants.

Scripture:
Now the Lord had said unto Abram. Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:1-3)

And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward and eastward, and westward For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it and to thy seed forever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. (Genesis 13:14-16)

And he brought him forth abroad, and said, look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:5-6)

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between thee, and me and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made of thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. (Genesis 17:1-8)

And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou has done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son; That in blessing I will bless then, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou has obeyed my voice. (Genesis 22:15-18)

Inspired by God Balaam spoke these words concerning Israel.

“How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters. He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows. He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee. (Numbers 24:5-9)

And there is this promise in the Book of Isaiah.

But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end. Isaiah 45:17

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
Our Father promised Abraham that his children would be a blessing to the entire earth and would be as numerous as the stars of heaven and that those who blessed Abraham’s seed would themselves be blessed.

Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this
study of His word, Amen.
Susan

Israel Comes Into Being

rainingtruth — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:11:50 +0000

RAINING TRUTH WATERING THE GARDEN

Watering the Garden
ISRAEL COMES INTO BEING

The promises given to Abraham were continued to Abraham’s son, Isaac. He was told that his children would be as numerous as the stars of heaven and that the world would be blessed because of them. And, then to Isaac’s son, Jacob, the promise continues that all the families of the earth would be blessed because of his seed. That seed is Jesus Christ.
God then changed Jacob’s name to Israel and the nation of Israel came into being. The word Israel according to the Strong’s Concordance means “God prevails”.

Scripture:

(TO ISAAC) And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham they father; And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed: Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statues, and my laws. (Genesis 26:2-5)
And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake. (Genesis 26:24)

(TO JACOB) And, behold the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. (Genesis 28:13-15)

(TO ISRAEL) And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him. And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. And God said unto him, I Am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land. And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him. (Genesis 35:9-13)

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
God spoke the same promises to Abraham’s son, Isaac, and grandson, Jacob, concerning the fact that their children would be as numerous as the stars of heaven and that the world would be blessed because of them. God then changed Jacob’s name to Israel and the nation Israel came into being.

Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this
study of His word, Amen.
Susan

Abraham’s Seed Scattered

rainingtruth — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:07:27 +0000

RAINING TRUTH WATERING THE GARDEN

Watering the Garden
ABRAHAM’S SEED SCATTERED

In The Song of Moses we are given the reason why the children of Israel were scattered. It is because, in spite of all that God had done for them, they forgot God and had no faith. It also informs us that the remembrance of them would be forgotten. Several other scriptures verify that they were scattered amoung the nations. It is a mystery who or where 10 of the tribes are. They are forgotten. Even they don’t know who they are.
God also said he would hide his face from them and see what their end would be. We find in Revelation 15:3 this Song of Moses is being sung. “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.”

Scripture:
(From the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32)
Verse 18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
Verse 20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
Verse 26 I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:
Verse 28 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.
Verse 29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!

Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen. (Psalms 44:11)

Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. (Jeremiah 31:10)

Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones. (Jeremiah 50:17)

Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries. (Ezekiel 6:8)

Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. (Ezekiel 11:16)

My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. (Ezekiel 34:6)

And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them. (Ezekiel 36:19)

I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. (Joel 3:2)

But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate. (Zechariah 7:14)

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
Because the children of Israel forgot God and had no faith they were scattered amoung the nations and it has been forgotten who most of them are.

Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this
study of His word, Amen.
Susan

Israel Divided

rainingtruth — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:01:16 +0000

RAINING TRUTH WATERING THE GARDEN

Watering the Garden
ISRAEL DIVIDED

King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, after building the temple of God, took foreign wives and participated in the worship of their strange Gods. This removed God’s blessing from Solomon and God declared that he would separate Judah from the other tribes of Israel which he did. Later because of the sins of the people of Israel we find that these tribes were also scattered throughout the world.

Scripture:
And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen. (1st Kings 9:9-13)

So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. (1st Kings 12:19)
And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents. (2nd Chronicles 10:16)

And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. (2nd Chronicles 10:19)

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
We have learned that as a result of King Solomon’s sins the tribe of Judah was separated from the rest of Israel.

Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this
study of His word, Amen.
Susan

Enemies War Against Israel in the Latter Days

rainingtruth — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:57:03 +0000

RAINING TRUTH WATERING THE GARDEN

Watering the Garden
ENEMIES WAR AGAINST ISRAEL IN THE LATTER DAYS

Ezekiel speaks in depth about a group of nations, in the latter days that will come against the nation called Israel. He describes it as a nation which is brought back from war and is gathered out of many people; a land with no walls, which is dwelling safely.
God states at that time He is going to intervene in such a spectacular way with overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone, as to cause those who don’t believe in him to know him. He will intervene so dramatically that bugs, birds, animals and man will be shaken and the nations will know that he is the LORD.

Scripture: WORDS FROM EZEKIEL 38
After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.

Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates. To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land,
Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? Hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? To carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land: it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?

And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my Jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.

And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 38:1-23)

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
Ezekiel describes a group of nations that will come against the tribes of Israel in the latter days and that God is going to intervene in such a spectacular way as to cause nations and nature to see and know that he is God.

Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this
study of His word, Amen.
Susan

Israel and Judah Reunited

rainingtruth — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:50:05 +0000

RAINING TRUTH WATERING THE GARDEN

Watering the Garden
ISRAEL AND JUDAH REUNITED

From the scriptures we see that the separated tribe of Judah will one day be reunited with the scattered tribes of Israel and they will again become one. They will at that time see the truth and will have one leader, Jesus Christ, called the Branch. They will describe him as THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. According to Hosea the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will in the latter days turn to God.

Scripture:
At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers. (Jeremiah 3:17-18)

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jeremiah 23:5-6)

For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. (Jeremiah 30:3)
And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first. (Jeremiah 33:7)

In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God. (Jeremiah 50:4)

Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and for all the house of Israel his companions: (Ezekiel 37:16)

Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. (Ezekiel 37:19)

Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel. (Hosea 1:11)

Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king: and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days. (Hosea 3:5)

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
In the latter days Judah and Israel will reunite again and Jesus Christ will be their King. They will call him THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this
study of His word, Amen.
Susan

Video – Israel and Judah United

rainingtruth — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 12:14:14 +0000

So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. (1st Kings 12:19)

And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents. (2nd Chronicles 10:16)

And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. (2nd Chronicles 10:19)

Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king: and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days. (Hosea 3:5)

God’s Vehicles – Clouds, Whirlwinds, Pillars (Part 1)

rainingtruth — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:53:05 +0000

When reading about modes of transportation in the Old Testament, we need to remember that the only vehicles that the writers were familiar with were a horse or donkey and a cart. We have to try to visualize what they described. Whirlwinds and chariots were often mentioned. The book of Psalms proclaims, “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.” (Psalms 68:17)

An interesting scripture to first look at is in the book of Exodus. During the time of the exodus out of Egypt, God placed himself as a protection between the Hebrews and the Egyptians. It says that God looked through the pillar of fire and of the cloud. We have to ask ourselves, what was this column of fire that was combined with a cloud? It states that the Egyptians were troubled. I would think they would have run as fast as they could in the other direction the minute they saw it, which they did not, and ended up perishing. “And It came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians.” (Exodus 14:24)

It is written several places in the scriptures that as Moses and the people exited out of Egypt they were led by “The Cloud of the Lord”, by day and the “Pillar of Fire” by night. If the cloud was not raised off of the tabernacle, then they would not continue their pilgrimage that day. This cloud-pillar must have been quite tall, or high, because it says it was visable in the sight of all the house of Israel. “Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.” (Exodus 40:34-38) This same situation, of continuing their journey only when the cloud was lifted, is described for us in the book of Numbers. “So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents. And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not. And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed. And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.” (Numbers 9:16-23)

Moses made mention of this while scolding the people for their lack of belief. “Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.” (Deuteronomy 1:33)

During their second month, after departing from Egypt, the people began to grumble against Moses and Aaron. Moses told the people, because he had heard their grumbling, they were about to see the glory of the LORD. I’m curious as to what they saw in the cloud? “And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings. And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.” (Exodus 16:9-10)

The experience of the people at Mount Sinai is one like no other group of people in history have had or seen. Moses took the people to meet God. God informed the people, through Moses, that he would come to them in a “thick cloud.” Was the thick cloud hiding something? Prior to his appearing, God cautioned the people several times that they would be killed if they crossed a certain point. Could there have been some kind of electrical type force protecting the area, or permeating off of a vehicle in the dark cloud on the mountain? It says there was thunder and lightning, and the mountain quaked. It would take an enormous vehicle to cause the mountain to shake. The Lord then descended upon it in the fire. Can you imagine experiencing something like that today? It’s hard to understand, after seeing such an incredible sight, how the people so quickly doubted and rebelled. God said the people would believe forever. What a disappointment we must be to God.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.”
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes, And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
“And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
“And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. And the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze and many of them perish. (Exodus 19:9-21)

We discover that the “Cloud,” referred to in verse sixteen, is mentioned other times in the scriptures. Most involved Moses during his time at Mt. Sinai. “And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. And the glory of the LORD abode upon Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.” (Exodus 24:15-16)
In one circumstance, Moses spent forty days and forty nights up on the mountain in the cloud. “And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.” (Exodus 24:18)

In another instance, a cloudy pillar is described as standing at the door of the tabernacle and speaking with Moses. Again, I have to ask, was the cloud hiding something or in this case someone? This particular cloud was in the form of a man, which the people worshipped. “And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.” (Exodus 33:9-10)
The LORD himself is described, in another verse, as descending down in the cloud. “And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.” (Exodus 34:5)

At another time, the appearance of the cloud over the tabernacle was a reminder to the people not to rebel against Moses. “And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.” (Numbers 16:42)

Here again, in the book of Numbers, it speaks of the LORD ascending down in the cloud. “And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.” (Numbers 11:25)

When disciplinary action was about to be taken against Moses’ sister, Miriam, the pillar of the cloud appears. “And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.” (Numbers 12:5) When the cloud departed, Miriam had become leprous, and stayed that way for seven days.

God’s Vehicles – Clouds, Whirlwinds, Pillars (2)

rainingtruth — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:36:54 +0000

God warned Moses’ brother, Aaron, that he would die if he went into the holy place of the tabernacle, because he, the LORD, was going to be in a cloud upon the mercy seat. “And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.” (Leviticus 16:2)

In II Samuel, David, in a prayer, describes God as being in the dark clouds. “And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.” (II Samuel 22:11-12) The clouds are spoken of in the Psalms. “Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.” (Psalms 97:2) “Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:” (Psalms 104:3)

Elijah the prophet, who was depressed at a certain time in his life had an extraordinary thing happen to him in the end. He never died a physical death, but instead was taken by God. We read of him later appearing with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration in the New Testament. How was he taken? What was it that took him? Elisha the prophet, his successor, witnessed Elijah’s departure. He described him as being taken up in a whirlwind. “And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elisha went with Elijah from Gilgal.’ (II Kings 2:1)“And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (II Kings 2:11)

The word “whirlwind” is used 22 times in the Old Testament. We find that Job, at two different instances, spoke with God through something that appeared to be a whirlwind. What was it? “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, ” (Job 38:1)“Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind,” (Job 40:6)

Isaiah also describes seeing what he called seraphims as well as The LORD. “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Isaiah 6:1-8

Ezekiel gives the most intriguing description of a type of vehicle found in the scriptures. It’s a little difficult to understand, but remember a donkey and a cart are the extent of his knowledge at that time. Again he begins with a whirlwind. He speaks of wheels that are on their sides, and then describes a wheel inside the wheel. The color amber, mentioned in verses four and twenty-seven, is described in the Strong‘s Hebrew dictionary as a shining substance, amber or electrum or bronze (highly polished bronze). In verse eighteen, Ezekiel describes the wheels as being “very terrible”, meaning awesome, as well as very tall or high. Could the “rings full of eyes” be something like windows? The expression, “turned not as they went,” to Ezekiel could have meant they didn’t turn their heads like he would think of a horse turning their head as they turn. These just went one way or the other, without turning their heads. When reading this description, we need to consider that part of the time he was speaking of the vehicles and part of the time of the beings on the vehicles. The part where he speaks of the “straight legs” or their “wings coming down,” could mean some sort of landing gear coming down. One other thing to consider is the mentioning of four heads. These were also symbols used by the twelve tribes of Israel. These creatures could have been vehicles with the four symbols on each side. We can’t know for sure what it all means. Perhaps you can decipher more information from it when you read it.
“And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. And every one had four faces, and everyone had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straightforward. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. And they went every one straightforward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures: and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of flash of lightning.
“Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went. As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above. And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies. And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings. And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.
“And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness of the appearance of a man above upon it. And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.” (Ezekiel 1:4-28)

A brief statement, concerning the throne and the wheels, is what Daniel described in the 2nd part of Daniel 7:9 “His throne was like the fiery flame and his wheels as burning fire.”

Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Zechariah the prophets, all three speak of the Lord coming in spectacular vehicles. Would we be prepared, if and when this was to happen? “For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.” (Isaiah 66:15) “Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! For we are spoiled.” (Jeremiah 4:13) “And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.” (Zechariah 9:14) And, as we read previously of God coming with twenty thousand chariots or vehicles. Repeating: “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.” (Psalms 68:17)

There are several places in the scriptures, which speak of Jesus coming on the clouds. One being in the book of Revelation, we read: “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:7-8)

The Book of Life

rainingtruth — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:35:58 +0000

THE BOOK OF LIFE
The Bible speaks of books and records that are being kept. With the advancements in technology the last several years, it is much easier to understand the concept of keeping such a large amount of information. If we can do it, God can do it much better. Jesus said, “Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid that shall not be known.” Matthew 10:26 Also Paul writes in I Corinthians 4:5 “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”

While pleading to God on behalf of the people Moses speaks of a book that God has written. God says those who have sinned against him will be blotted out of his book. Exodus 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. 33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

Our times of tears and sorrows are written in a book.
Psalms 56:8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle; are they not in thy book?

All our members are written in a book. Jesus said in Matthew 10:30, “The very hairs of your head are all numbered.” The word unperfect in the following verse means embryo or fetus. He sees us when we are still an embryo.
Psalms 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Troubled times, worse then any man has ever faced, are to take place in the end times. Daniel says all those whose names are written in the book will be delivered.
Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Malachi says that God hears our discussions about him and keeps record of it. He even keeps record of those who “think” about him. He knows what we are thinking!
Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another; and the LORD hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

Extreme importance is placed on a name being written in the book of life. It is indicated that a name can be blotted out of the book.
Psalms 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the Book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Paul in the Book of Philippians mentions the book of life.
Philippians 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

When the anti-Christ appears here on the earth all those whose names are not written in the book of life will worship him.
Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

The books of Daniel and Revelation speak of a day of judgment when the books will be opened.
Daniel 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

We are given eternal life through Jesus Christ, but in the end when the books are opened we are going to be judged by our works. We will answer for what we have not repented for and be given credit for the good that we have done in this life. Judgment is not all about the bad. It will be fair and just. There will be rewards.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will be allowed to enter into the city God has prepared.
Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

This final warning:
Revelation 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Journey to the Long Home by S.L. Honeycutt