#Lord Commander Racas

[wecanbeperfect]

DEFILEMENT COMES FROM WITHIN

Matthew 15:10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear and understand:

A COMFORTER WILL COME

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

THE SCRIBES AND THE COMMANDMENTS

Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other greater than these.

TEACHINGS ON LOVING ONE'S ENEMIES

Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

TEACHINGS ON TEMPTATION

Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

TEACHING ON MURDER AND ANGER

Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgement:

Matthew 5:21 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in a danger of the judgement: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

DEFILEMENT COMES FROM WITHIN

Matthew 15:4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

#The Ten Commandments in The New Testament #Words of Jesus Christ #A More Perfect Tabernacle #The Son of God #Jesus Christ #Glory to The Father #God #Christian Faith #Biblical #End Times #Last Days

[childofchrist1983]

Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. - Matthew 5:21-22 KJV

Okay, who of us hasn't called someone a fool? Jesus Christ gives us a whole different understanding of the Commandments than we get from taking them literally. This is only one of the commandments that He delves further into.

Most people don't resort to murder and most of those that do don't usually start that way. If you were never angry, you wouldn't get to the level of murder and if you didn't call people names, you might not get angry. Violence often begins with the mouth. Jesus understood that there is a certain progression to sin. If we have a quick temper, we are more apt to strike out first with the mouth and then physically, then with greater violence. This applies to most of the Commandments.

In another place, Jesus mentions how Lust is the first step toward breaking the commandment concerning Adultery. It is not a surprise that the seven deadly sins are at the root of most evil. We all know them: Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy (Jealousy), Gluttony, Wrath (Unrighteous Anger or Rage) and Sloth (Laziness). We need to take a better look at all the Commandments and see what bad habits we might have developed and work to change them.

God has given us rules to live by in His Word - the Holy Bible - that will bring us peace and happiness in our lives if we only are willing to follow them. Begin and end your days by seeking Him in prayer and His Holy Word and walking in His Holy Spirit and its fruits and exalting His holy name! Keep the faith and keep moving forward in your faith with Jesus! May the LORD help us to be faithful to His will and Holy Word. May He help us to remember that He is always there ready to give us all that we need to come to Him and spread His Gospel message of Truth and salvation to others. May we never forget to thank Him for this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a wonderful Lord, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in the Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!

Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!

[bills-bible-basics]

JEWISH COUNCIL OF SEVENTY, OR SANHEDRIN -- KJV (King James Version) Bible Verse List Visit https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/ to see more. "And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off . . . Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:" Exodus 24:1, 9, KJV "And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee . . . And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle. 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 11:16, 24-25, KJV "And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about. And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth." Ezekiel 8:9-12, KJV In the New Testament, we find the counterpart to these Seventy Elders in such verses as the following; however, they were definitely not the same God-fearing people who comprised the Sanhedrin under Moses' leadership. If they had been, they wouldn't have killed Jesus Christ: "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." Matthew 5:22, KJV "Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;" Matthew 26:59, KJV "And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate." Mark 15:1, KJV "And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought." Acts 5:21, KJV "On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them." Acts 22:30, KJV Please note that the word "council" is derived from the Greek form of the word "Sanhedrin", which is transliterated from Greek as "sunedrion". If you would like more info regarding the origin of these KJV Bible verse lists, go to https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/. Thank-you! https://www.billkochman.com/Blog/index.php/jewish-council-of-seventy-or-sanhedrin-kjv-king-james-version-bible-verse-list/?feed_id=145609&JEWISH%20COUNCIL%20OF%20SEVENTY%2C%20OR%20SANHEDRIN%20--%20KJV%20%28King%20James%20Version%29%20Bible%20Verse%20List

#All_Posts #Bible_Verse_Lists #bible #bible_study #bill_kochman #bills_bible_basics #council #council_of_seventy #jewish #king_james_version #kjv #list #sanhedrin #scripture #scriptures #seventy #topical #verse #verses

[bernardo1969]

After announcing the beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount, according to the gospel of Saint Matthew, Jesus taught about everything that opposes to God's plan for men; the heresies, that is, the teaching of error, the passions, and the ignorance are those things that oppose to the spiritual progress of man, and reduce him to suffering and hopelessness. Lord Jesus was aware of this reality of man, and taught about the importance of the commandment of love ("Love your neighbor as yourself" Mark 12:31), a spiritual love that must be taken to the ultimate consequences. But he also said something else, people who are prone to anger cannot enter into the Kingdom of God, the empire or dominion of divine perfections; if people want to follow the spiritual path of Jesus, the path of righteousness, they must be willing to forgive unconditionally, and not hold grudges against others. This is why Jesus warned that men must be attentive to their thoughts and words, and not cultivate destructiveness, because God's punishment surpasses the reach of the law, God is a spirit and does not enter into the souls that practice sin, and so Jesus expressed with wisdom: "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ´You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.´ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ´Raca,´ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ´You fool!´ will be in danger of the fire of hell." Matthew 5:21-22.

#jesus said #gospel of matthew #christian faith

[walaw717]

I was looking for something else today and stumbled upon this, and it is worth sharing - especially for all those thinking calling anyone anything - including Karen, is ok.

Matthew 5:22 is the only passage in the Bible where the term raca is used. Raca comes from the Aramaic term reqa. It was a derogatory expression meaning “empty-headed,” insinuating a person’s stupidity or inferiority. It was an offensive name used to show utter contempt for another person. Jesus warned that the use of such a word to describe someone was tantamount to murder and deserving of the severest punishment of the law.

In Matthew 5:21, Jesus recalled the sixth commandment, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). In characteristic fashion, Jesus took the old law one step further by explaining the true significance of the law—a deeper, spiritual meaning they had never seen.

First, Jesus warns that the very act of murder finds its roots in an angry, murderous spirit: “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment” (Matthew 5:22a). God, who examines the very thoughts and intents of the heart, will issue judgment upon unrighteous anger. Next, Jesus warns against name-calling, using “raca” as an example (verse 22b). Then He issues a third warning against those who call someone a “fool” (verse 22c).

The first-century Jews recognized that “anyone who murders will be subject to judgment” (Matthew 5:21), but Jesus warns that even calling another person insulting names such as “raca” is sinful. Murder begins in the heart, and epithets such as “raca” are signs that there is hatred lurking within. The hatred that causes one person to hurl insults is the same hatred that causes another to commit murder. The attitude of the heart is the same, and it’s this attitude that makes a person morally guilty before God.

Jesus not only warns us against expressing unrighteous anger, which can lead to murder, but clearly commands that disparaging denunciations and name-calling be avoided. Such abusive words reveal the true intents of one’s heart and mind for which we will be held in judgment: “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve” (Jeremiah 17:10; cf. 1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Chronicles 28:9).

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[treenahasthaal]

Dark Times: The Story So Far

Dark Times

A Summary

Before I post any new content, I thought a brief summary may be called for.

Chapter 1: NetworkTwo years after the battle of Yavin, Luke is part of an X-Wing squad on a mission to destroy an Imperial Munitions factory on the planet Escaal. He is shot down, hides his lightsaber, and is rescued by the local resistance lead by a man named Dade, who Luke does not meet (or so it seems). Luke is hidden in safe house and his injuries treated. Unfortunately, his hiding place is discovered and after a chase he his shot, injured and captured and brought to the local Imperial prison where Interrogation Specialist Erwin Rhovan questions him using enhanced interrogation techniques and torture.

Rhovan finds Luke’s lightsaber at his crash site.

Vader finds out that Luke is captured and heads to Escaal to claim his son. However, just as he arrives and when Luke is near breaking point Rhovan reveals himself to be the leader of the resistance, Dade. Vader only has a few moments with Luke as during the transfer between the detention centre, Artoo causes the turbolifts to malfunction and Rhovan takes the opportunity to rescue Luke.

Chapter Two: Pale ShelterRhovan takes Luke to the Rebel base on Ra’imar where he is reunited with Wedge Antilles and the rest of Rogue Squadron. He is severely injured (do I sense a theme?) and receives treatment. We find out that Han Solo had tried to get to Escaal, but with the planet on lockdown (we know how that feels) it had been impossible. He and Leia board the Falcon to go to Ra’imar.

It turns out that General Rieekan knows Rhovan and that it seems that they had been friends. Luke and Rhovan are debriefed on the events on Escaal and it starts to become obvious that Luke is struggling with PTSD.

Luke senses that Vader and the Empire are on their way and tries to warn High Command. He lies and says that he broke during Interrogation and told Vader of the base hoping to give the Alliance time to evacuate, but it’s too late. The Empire arrives and lands forces with Vader leading.

Luke is placed in the custody of two rebel troopers, Haslam and Thecla. Before they can get to the evacuation ship it leaves without them. Against orders Luke persuades the soldiers to get to the hangers and an x-wing. However, by the time they get there it is ablaze from an Imperial bombing run.

Han and Leia arrive and join the battle, shooting down TIE Bombers and Fighters. Rhovan is evacuated.

Luke and the two soldiers are trapped on the planet with no way off. Luke realises that it is he who Vader wants and prepares to give himself up. Just before Vader takes him, however Artoo (Yay again!) lands in between father and son and with Thecla and Haslam’s help Luke gets into the fighter. Han brings the Falcon down and Thecla, injured by a flying lightsaber, is taken onboard with Haslam.

Again, Vader is left empty handed.

Chapter Three: RhovanThe surviving Alliance Forces head to Ardalii VI, a new base set up on the side of a volcano. On the landing pad Rhovan, now intrigued by Luke, watches as he lands and is arrested for disobeying orders; much to Han and Leia’s, and Rogue Squadron’s anger.

Rhovan is introduced to Mon Mothma. It’s revealed that Rhovan is from Chandrila. During their meeting she seems interested on what may have passed between Luke and Vader on Escaal and she explains to him that after Bail Organa died, Artoo Detoo came to her with a holographic message from the late Viceroy. Bail told her about Anakin Skywalker and Senator Amidala’s relationship and the birth of their children. She explains that Luke and Leia do not know of their relationship and no knowledge of the truth of their parentage. She is fearful that should Luke discover his true identity that he will join his father against them. She tasks him with watching them both, but particularly Luke, and if it looks like Luke may betray them, Rhovan is to kill Luke.

Luke is fully debriefed by a panel led by Major Ehlen Anders, on Escaal and the events on Ra’mar. It is decided that instead of a full court martial, Luke would be reprimanded for disobeying orders. During a brief, tense meeting, Rhovan returns Luke’s lightsaber to him.

Chapter Four: ConflictThe Empire is clearing up on Ra’imar and Vader ruminates on his past and on his illusive son. Palpatine makes contact and is unhappy, but gives Vader the task of moving refugees from the planet Cusrean to an old orbiting research facility. Vader is perplexed by the order, but it turns out that it is a trap for the Alliance. Fake intelligence will be passed to the Alliance that the facility is researching weaponizing a deadly disease. This will allow him to root out spies within the Empire, and set up the Alliance who will destroy the station and kill refugees, thus the Rebellion will lose support.

It ends with Palpatine savouring the conflict in the galaxy, and the potential conflict between Vader and Luke. It is revealed that Palpatine has a spy in the Rebel ranks who Palpatine tasks with reporting on Luke.

Chapter Five: A Legitimate Target Luke is not yet passed for active flight duty and is still grounded. Han does try to lift his spirits and suggests joining him on supply runs, but Luke declines. Instead he decides to train himself and finds a natural hollow (an old lava flow) surrounded by forest in which to practise with his lightsaber. He is watched.

The Alliance find out about the orbiting research station and the disease the Empire is “planning,” on releasing. They plan to attack, however they are short on pilots and Leia suggests allowing Luke back in the air despite concerns for his mental health. Rhovan backs her up and Luke is welcomed back to the squad.

The Alliance attack the space station, Vader’s forces defend it with the Darth Lord himself in the battle. The fighting is furious. Luke is given the task (the order) of firing the shot that will take out the space station; but all he feels in the Force is innocence. He hesitates, initially disobeying, but his squad are dying around him. He takes the shot and the research facility is destroyed.

The Alliance fighters turn tail and bug out, but Luke’s X-Wing is tagged and Vader tries to capture him, but Luke eludes him again and jumps out of the system. He returns to Adralii VI to find the place subdued and during a debrief of the mission he is told he killed over 20000 innocent civilians due to bad intel. Luke is devasted and is haunted because he enjoyed destroying the space station.

The volcano begins to spew ash and the base in locked down. Luke gets drunk with Han on the Falcon, but later he can’t sleep and leaves the ship. Thecla finds Luke wandering in the ash fall and takes him to the hanger and the rest of the squad. He dreams of watching bodies floating in space; one in particular upsets him. It’s a little girl tumbling in space.

Mothma and Rhovan discuss Luke and the possible danger he presents to the Alliance.

Vader senses Luke’s turmoil through the Force. He decides if he cannot get Luke through battle or capture then another path may be possible.

Palpatine converses with his spy.

Later Luke is helping with the ash clear up, when Han is given the task of taking Leia on a diplomatic mission to try and repair some of the damage done to the Alliance. Luke finds himself in the mess hall with the rest of the squad and the holonet is playing footage (from Vader’s ship) when the image of a dead little girl appears – the one from Luke’s dream. It is then that one of the squads mentions that the faulty intel came from Rhovan.

Luke, in a fugue like state, attacks Rhovan; drawing his saber on him before Wedge tackles him to the ground. Han helps remove Luke to the Falcon before returning to punch out Rhovan himself. Luke gets away from the rest of the squad and goes to his training places and loses himself in the Force as he trains. He has vision of a man standing by his grandmother’s grave

A search party is sent out to find him and secure him (and the squad for helping him get away). Thecla find him and they talk for a while before Luke agrees to go in with her. He finds Han, Wedge and the rest of the squad in lock up, too.

Rhovan meanwhile is perplexed as to where the Executor is going after Cusrean.

Chapter Six, Absolute: It turns out that Leia and Han’s proposed mission is to the planet Horaarn, who is one of the Alliances suppliers. They want to know what happened at Cusrean, and they want Luke to tell them. Luke agrees to go. However, on landing and after tense standoff Luke agrees to give himself into Horaarn custody.

Rhovan is sent by Mon Mothma to Horaarn. But is arrested. He is transferred to Vader’s ship.

Leia is given diplomatic rooms along with Threepio and Artoo. Han, Thecla and Haslam have to remain on the landing platform. However, they manage to get Thecla off the platform and into the city.

There is to be a public hearing at which Luke has to account for his actions. During this hearing Vader arrives and accuses Luke of murder and requests his extradition to Imperial custody.

Luke is taken back into custody (this time criminal proceedings), Leia loses diplomatic status and is return to the Falcon. On Horaarn it is guilty before proved innocent and Leia cannot find any Legal Representative who will take on Luke’s case. She has to do it herself, via hologram from the Falcon.

Luke has a “face to face,” with Vader where he confesses that he felt pleasure when he destroyed the space station. He tells Vader that he won’t win.

Meanwhile, the events on Horaarn are broadcast to the Galaxy on the holonet and the Alliance sends in the X-Wings to help rescue their people.

Stuck in the city, Thecla uses her comlink to contact her handler, revealing herself as Palpatine’s spy.

During a tense trial Luke loses and is given to Vader.

It is revealed that Rhovan has been reinstated into the Empire due his special status and codes. There is more to this man than meets the eye.

The Falcon and it’s occupants are ordered off planet and it’s a tense battle to get past the Imperial blockade, but Wedge et al, join the fray and the Falcon jumps to lightspeed.

Luke learns that his friends are safe and feels that he can face whatever Vader has in store for him as long as Han and Leia are safe. He is walked to Vader’s shuttle and as he steps on board he is faced with Thecla who is pointing a blaster at him. He tells her to “do it,” and Thecla shoots him in the chest.

Cradled in Vader’s arms and dying, Luke understands the visions he’s had, he hears Vader called him “my son,” and he dies after telling Vader, “I win, father.”

Dark Times: Interludes.A series of “quick” one-shots that takes us through the events of “Hoth,” during which Haslam dies and Rieekan is missing.

Leia grieves for Luke, has started a relationship with Han and in her dreams she hears a voice stating, “I am your master.”

Rhovan ponders is fate while thinking of Thecla now in his cells. Thecla, likewise, ruminates on events and on who she had really killed. Vader arrives and takes Thecla from her cell as the Emperor has a special task for her.

Leia remembers something that Threepio had translated from Artoo during her attempts to save Luke on Horaarn. While plugged into the Horaarn computer systems Artoo had been “forced,” to give information to a third party when a code from a previous owner was used. Leia askes the little droid about it, and after much protestations Artoo informs her that the code was Anakin Skywalker’s. He confirms that Anakin is alive and that it was he who used the code on Artoo. He confirms that Anakin was on Horaarn. Leia asks Artoo where Anakin was during Luke’s trial and is informed that he was in the court room with Luke and Leia realises that Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader as one and the same person.

And that Luke is alive.

Luke is indeed “alive.” He suffered a catastrophic brain injury through lack of oxygen, but his body was saved. Through manipulation of the midiclorians Palpatine was able to regrow brain tissue. However, Luke is comatose and vulnerable to Palpatine’s machinations.

Chapter 7, For Darkness Restores: Please go back to the start of this chapter as I have reworked and edited much of it. Sadly my writing is not what it once was… ☹

ooOOoo

Did I miss anything?

#Star Wars #Fan Fic #Luke Skywalker #Darth Vader #Anakin Skywalker #Leia Organa #Han Solo #Chewbacca #Artoo #Threepio #Erwin Rhovan #Thecla #Lord Commander Racas #Wedge Antilles #Its Alive #sort of #Its breathing and has a heart beat #Writers block #I'm terrified it sucks

[blessedarethebinarybreakers]

What's your take on swearing as a christian? Also thanks for running this blog!!! i've weathered many a storm going through your FAQ and poetry tags,,,

i personally swear all the dang time!!! ...offline, that is. i say the f word at least 20 times a day haha. my opinion is this: if you choose to swear, be respectful in your swearing:

avoid swearing in front of kids, especially if you don’t know how their parents/guardians are choosing to raise them when it comes to swearing (you don’t wanna get them in trouble by teaching them a New Word lol) .

avoid swearing around people who have a reason to be uncomfortable with swearing (when i’m with someone new and am about to use a swear word, i’ll check in with them -- “are you okay with swearing?” If they aren’t, I don’t press them to tell me why -- I simply avoid swearing. Ya know, like a baseline decent human being) .

do NOT use slurs that aren’t aimed at an identity you belong to!! my white ass is never ever ever gonna use the N word. i also avoid the b word and c word because i’m not a woman. in my mind, slurs don’t even belong to the same category as swear words -- they’re way worse. (this should go without saying but ya know how people are)

i also recommend that you make a conscious decision about whether or not you want to swear at all and if so, in what situations. Don’t just sorta “fall into it” without giving it some thought, if possible. Do you want to be someone who saves swear words for Big Situations? Or do ya pepper ‘em into everyday sentences (like i do lmao) so that they lose a lot of their bite and are just kinda fun?

Gonna close this with a ~ Fun Bible Fact!!! ~ 

There are some swear words / instances of vulgar language peppered throughout the Bible!!

There is a word used in Judges 3:22 that is used nowhere else, and therefore scholars debate how to translate it. In the verse, my left-handed fave Ehud has just stabbed King Eglon in the abdomen, and הפרשדנה spills out from Eglon...whatever could that be? Some translate it euphemistically as “dirt.” But my seminary teacher (and I quite agree with her) argues that it is indeed a vulgar word for “shit.”  It makes sense that a vulgar swear word would be used in this passage because the whole story is dripping in irony and humor -- it’s a very irreverent story crafted to humiliate King Eglon. .

For more “shit” in the Hebrew Bible: I actually love this article from the Game for Good Christians site when it comes to the 6 uses of the Hebrew word peresh in the Bible. It does a great job of explaining how in 5 of those 6 uses, peresh ( “shit” ) is just used as like, a technical term -- talking about what to do with your bull’s shit (heh) in a sacrificial sense. But the sixth time, in Malachi 2:3, this word is clearly being used in a much more vulgar sort of way -- making it more logical to choose the word “shit” over “dung” or “poop” when translating it: “And now, O priests, this command is for you. If you will not listen, if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then...I will rebuke your offspring, and spread shit (peresh) on your faces, the shit (peresh) of your offerings, and I will put you out of my presence.” .

In Isaiah 64:6, meanwhile, the prophet laments that “our righteousness is like filthy rags” -- or so it’s commonly translated. However, that word “filthy” (or “stained”) is more specific in Hebrew: it’s about rags used during menstruation. So not a swear word, but pretty vulgar. .

Gendered slurs (like “whore”) are unfortunately pretty common among some of the prophets. i’m Not A Fan. (come AT me Hosea and Jeremiah i’ll FIGHT ya! Jeremiah you’re like 12, do you kiss your poor mother with that mouth!?) .

Paul himself uses a vulgar Greek word for shit!! In Philippians 3:8 he explains that everything that came to him before Christ he now regards as σκύβ��λα (the accusative plural of the word σκύβαλον for any Greek lovers out there who wanna know how to say shit in the nominative form. Oh, and in our letters that’s skubalon.) Translators often pick a nice gentle word like “refuse” or at the very most “excrement” for this word....but nope, it’s a much terser word, no euphemisms in Paul’s writing here. It’s straight-up shit -- alternatively, I do love this translation I saw here: “I forfeited all things; and I consider them crap so that I may gain Christ.” .

Jesus, meanwhile, uses a slur -- *gasp!!* -- but don’t worry, he only names it to condemn those who use it against others (whew): “But I say unto you...whosoever shall say to his brother, Ῥακά (Raca), shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Μωρέ (Moré), shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matthew 5:22). Scholars debate whether this term raca was A Very Bad Word or just a kinda mean one (similar to English words like “idiot” or “fool”). The Gospels are all in Greek, but this word raca is actually from Jesus’ own first language, Aramaic. And yeah, it seems to have mean something like “empty-headed.” Meanwhile that second term Jesus denounces, Moré, is in Greek -- the nominative form is μωρὸς (moros) and is where we get the word moron (a word that I avoid in English because it’s got a super ableist history, btw). Paul also uses this word μωρὸς in some of my favorite biblical passages, such as in 1 Cor 1, when he proclaims that God’s foolishness is wiser than any wisdom of human beings, etc. It’s good stuff but i’m just rambling now

#feedback tag #swearing #Anonymous #swear words #bible tag

[lovepeacefaithjoy]

Matthew 5

Sermon on the Mount

1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when menshall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The New Law

21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:22but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast itfrom thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 31It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32but I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34but I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.41And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

#Woe #Rockaway #People & #Associates #World

[loveofyhwh]

January 8: Genesis 16–17; Matthew 5:17–48; Psalm 8; Proverbs 3:9–10

New Post has been published on https://loveofyhwh.com/january-8-genesis-16-17-matthew-517-48-psalm-8-proverbs-39-10/

January 8: Genesis 16–17; Matthew 5:17–48; Psalm 8; Proverbs 3:9–10

Old Testament:

Genesis 16–17

Genesis 16–17 (Listen)

Sarai and Hagar

16 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain childrenHebrew be built up, which sounds like the Hebrew for children‘>1 by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.Hebrew her mistress was dishonorable in her eyes; similarly in verse 5‘>2 5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.

7 The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” 11 And the angel of the LORD said to her,

  “Behold, you are pregnant     and shall bear a son.   You shall call his name Ishmael,Ishmael means God hears‘>3     because the LORD has listened to your affliction. 12   He shall be a wild donkey of a man,     his hand against everyone     and everyone’s hand against him,   and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.”

13 So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,”Or You are a God who sees me‘>4 for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.”Hebrew Have I really seen him here who sees me? or Would I have looked here for the one who sees me?‘>5 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi;Beer-lahai-roi means the well of the Living One who sees me‘>6 it lies between Kadesh and Bered.

15 And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

Abraham and the Covenant of Circumcision

17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty;Hebrew El Shaddai‘>7 walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram,Abram means exalted father‘>8 but your name shall be Abraham,Abraham means father of a multitude‘>9 for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

Isaac’s Birth Promised

15 And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but SarahSarai and Sarah mean princess‘>10 shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will giveHebrew have given‘>11 you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac.Isaac means he laughs‘>12 I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.”

22 When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. 23 Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. 27 And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

Footnotes

[1] 16:2 Hebrew be built up, which sounds like the Hebrew for children [2] 16:4 Hebrew her mistress was dishonorable in her eyes; similarly in verse 5 [3] 16:11 Ishmael means God hears [4] 16:13 Or You are a God who sees me [5] 16:13 Hebrew Have I really seen him here who sees me? or Would I have looked here for the one who sees me? [6] 16:14 Beer-lahai-roi means the well of the Living One who sees me [7] 17:1 Hebrew El Shaddai [8] 17:5 Abram means exalted father [9] 17:5 Abraham means father of a multitude [10] 17:15 Sarai and Sarah mean princess [11] 17:16 Hebrew have given [12] 17:19 Isaac means he laughs

(ESV)

New Testament:

Matthew 5:17–48

Matthew 5:17–48 (Listen)

Christ Came to Fulfill the Law

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Anger

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brotherSome manuscripts insert without cause‘>1 will be liable to judgment; whoever insultsGreek says Raca to (a term of abuse)‘>2 his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hellGreek Gehenna; also verses 29, 30‘>3 of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.Greek kodrantes, Roman copper coin (Latin quadrans) worth about 1/64 of a denarius (which was a day’s wage for a laborer)“>4

Lust

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

Divorce

31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.Or the evil one‘>5

Retaliation

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin‘>6 let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Love Your Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers,Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters‘>7 what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Footnotes

[1] 5:22 Some manuscripts insert without cause [2] 5:22 Greek says Raca to (a term of abuse) [3] 5:22 Greek Gehenna; also verses 29, 30 [4] 5:26 Greek kodrantes, Roman copper coin (Latin quadrans) worth about 1/64 of a denarius (which was a day’s wage for a laborer) [5] 5:37 Or the evil one [6] 5:40 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin [7] 5:47 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters

(ESV)

Psalm:

Psalm 8

Psalm 8 (Listen)

How Majestic Is Your Name

To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith.Probably a musical or liturgical term‘>1 A Psalm of David.

8   O LORD, our Lord,     how majestic is your name in all the earth!   You have set your glory above the heavens. 2     Out of the mouth of babies and infants,   you have established strength because of your foes,     to still the enemy and the avenger. 3   When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,     the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4   what is man that you are mindful of him,     and the son of man that you care for him? 5   Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beingsOr than God; Septuagint than the angels‘>2     and crowned him with glory and honor. 6   You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;     you have put all things under his feet, 7   all sheep and oxen,     and also the beasts of the field, 8   the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,     whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9   O LORD, our Lord,     how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Footnotes

[1] 8:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [2] 8:5 Or than God; Septuagint than the angels

(ESV)

Proverb:

Proverbs 3:9–10

Proverbs 3:9–10 (Listen)

9   Honor the LORD with your wealth     and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10   then your barns will be filled with plenty,     and your vats will be bursting with wine.

(ESV)

[jesus-thenameaboveeveryname]

19 Reality of the shadow

1. The reality of the shadow

Matt.5:17 "Don't think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn't come to destroy, but to fulfill.

Matt.5:18 For most assuredly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.

†  The Son is the reality of the commandments spoken through the law or the prophets.[1] The law given through Moses was only a limited description of God the Son who would reveal Himself to His creation world as a creature.

Matt.5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matt.5:21 "You have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not murder;' and 'Whoever shall murder shall be in danger of the judgment.'

Matt.5:22 But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council; and whoever shall say, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.

Matt.5:27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery;'

Matt.5:28 but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Matt.5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

Matt.5:45 that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.

†  God the Creator Himself tells us the true intention of the law, which was limitedly expressed to Moses through angels.[2] He sheds perfect light.[3] The law, the commandments, is the very life of the Son who leaves the example of loving God and neighbors.[4] We can be with God only if we must have not only the outward conduct as seen by the scribes and Pharisees but also the heart that makes the conduct true.[5] This is possible only through the power of God the Holy Spirit, and good deeds are the fruits of life that can only be produced when connected to the life of God.[6]

Matt.7:12 Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.

†  Love is the substance of the law, and Jesus is the manifestation of love.

Mark12:29 Jesus answered, "The greatest is, 'Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one:

Mark12:30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the primary commandment.

Mark12:31 The second is like this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

†  God reigns by love, and God's love is revealed by the law.[7]

John1:14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Rom.13:10 Love doesn't harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

†  The law is fulfilled only through love. He/She who does not love God and does not love his/her neighbors can never obey the law. It is just a hypocrisy that only imitates. Our Lord Jesus will complete creatures with those who love God and love their neighbors, and burn the rest of the trash that refuses to be completed[8], leaving only those who love God and love their neighbors.

①     The Son was offered as sacrifices.

Humans were judged because they broke the commandments. In order to atone for the humans who broke the commandments, God must sacrifice someone with a value equal to or higher than the value of the commandments. Thus, there is no one who can redeem humans among angels or other creatures in the creation world. There is no other being who can redeem humans except the Son of God who is the Creator Himself and the reason for the existence of creatures.[9]

A. The Son was offered as a burnt offering.

Lev.1:8 and Aaron's sons, the priests, shall lay the pieces, the head, and the fat in order on the wood that is on the fire which is on the altar;

Lev.1:9 but its innards and its legs he shall wash with water. The priest shall burn the whole on the altar, for a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor to Yahweh.

†  Burnt offerings are received by God as an aroma.

Eph.5:2 Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.

†  The Son was offered to God as a fragrant offering for a sweetsmelling savour. He offered as a burnt offering.

B. The Son was offered as a sin offering.

Lev.4:3 if the anointed priest sins so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer for his sin, which he has sinned, a young bull without blemish to Yahweh for a sin offering.

Lev.4:4 He shall bring the bull to the door of the Tent of Meeting before Yahweh; and he shall lay his hand on the head of the bull, and kill the bull before Yahweh.

Lev.4:5 The anointed priest shall take some of the blood of the bull, and bring it to the Tent of Meeting.

Lev.4:6 The priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle some of the blood seven times before Yahweh, before the veil of the sanctuary.

Lev.4:7 The priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of sweet incense before Yahweh, which is in the tent of meeting; and he shall pour out all the blood of the bull out at the base of the altar of burnt offering, which is at the door of the Tent of Meeting.

Lev.4:8 He shall take all the fat of the bull of the sin offering off of it; the fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards,

Lev.4:9 and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away,

Lev.4:10 as it is taken off of the ox of the sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering.

Lev.4:11 The bull's skin, all its flesh, with its head, and with its legs, its innards, and its dung,

Lev.4:12 even the whole bull shall he carry forth outside the camp to a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on wood with fire. Where the ashes are poured out it shall be burned.

†  Usually, the blood of a sin offering offered by a ruler or commoner is put on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and the rest of the blood is poured out at the base of the altar. But, the blood of the sin offering of the priest or whole Israelite community is sprinkled 7 times in front of the curtain before pouring it out at the base of the altar. Also, once a year, the blood of the sin offering on the Day of Atonement enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, the fat is burned on the altar, and the bodies are burned outside the camp. They lay their hands on the sin offering. The scene of laying hands is missing from the sin offering on the Day of Atonement in Lev.16. But, since the sin offering is generally offered after laying on hands[10], it is presumed that in addition to the Azazel scapegoat on the Day of Atonement, the goat offered to Yahweh was also laid on hands. However, according to Jewish tradition, the goat offered to Yahweh on the Day of Atonement was not laid on hands.

†  In any case, the Son redeemed my sins[11], and since the cause of sin is Satan[12], the ultimate responsibility for sin falls on Satan. In other words, it is clear that our Lord Jesus symbolized as the goat for Yahweh, took my sins and the curse of the sins I ought to face.[13] And it is also evident that Satan symbolized as the Azazel goat, is liable for deceiving the Israelites who are the repentant saints, and causing them to sin. Through the laying on of hands, the doubts about God which the Azazel goat sowed upon the Israelites, are returned to the Azazel goat. Suspicion about God leaves a willingness for sin and eventually becomes a possibility of sin. Hence, doubts are passed on to the Azazel goat through laying on hands, which means that the Israelites will never sin again. When God judges sins, the saints who are repentant and atoned, can avoid punishment for sins they have committed. However, Satan who deceived the saints to sin, will not be able to escape the punishment for his own sins and for deceived his neighbors to sin.

Heb.13:11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside of the camp.

Heb.13:12 Therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside of the gate.

†  The Son was offered as a sin offering. The blood of the Son entered into the most holy place and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.[14] And the body of the Son suffered as if burned outside the city gate.

C. The Son was offered as a guilt offering.

Is.53:10 Yet it pleased Yahweh to bruise him; he has put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Yahweh shall prosper in his hand.

D. The Son was offered as a fellowship offering.

Rom.5:10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life.

Rom.5:11 Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

2Cor.5:18 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;

2Cor.5:19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Col.1:20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross. Through him, I say, whether things on the earth, or things in the heavens.

E. The Son offered as a grain offering.

Lev.2:11 "'No meal offering, which you shall offer to Yahweh, shall be made with yeast; for you shall burn no yeast, nor any honey, as an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

†  The Son has no yeast, the false teachings.[15]

Lev.2:12 As an offering of firstfruits you shall offer them to Yahweh: but they shall not come up for a sweet savor on the altar.

†  Yeast or honey can be offered as the firstfruits, but they are not to be offered as a pleasing aroma.

Lev.2:13 Every offering of your meal offering you shall season with salt; neither shall you allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your meal offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.

†  Salt symbolizes the everlasting covenant.[16] The Son is peace.[17] The Son is the salt of the world.[18] Salt is the conversation full of grace.[19]

Lev.2:14 "'If you offer a meal offering of first fruits to Yahweh, you shall offer for the meal offering of your first fruits grain in the ear parched with fire, bruised grain of the fresh ear.

Lev.2:15 You shall put oil on it, and lay frankincense on it: it is a meal offering.

Lev.2:16 The priest shall burn as its memorial, part of its bruised grain, and part of its oil, along with all its frankincense: it is an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

1Cor.15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep.

†  The Son is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.[20]

②     The Son is the sabbath and the jubilee.

†  Wherever the Son goes, there is rest. The Son is the reality and the substance of the sabbath, the jubilee, the temple, and the heaven.

Matt.12:3 But he said to them, "Haven't you read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him;

Matt.12:4 how he entered into the house of God, and ate the show bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for those who were with him, but only for the priests?

†  The rest of the law is for life. Even if the bread is forbidden to eat except for priests[21], it is not a sin to give or eat if it is to save life. Mercy comes before sacrifice. Because there are sacrifices to accomplish mercy.[22] The sacrifices is to remove sin and destroy the work of the devil.[23] The Son obeyed His Father so that His creatures would never sin.[24] For the sake of substance to get rid of sin and destroy the work of the devil, there is symbol of regulations.[25] The regulation which is merely a symbol, is meaningless in itself unless it is for the sake of its substance. Sacrifices are of no value unless they are offered to fulfill God's law of mercy.[26] Since the fulfillment of mercy is the true meaning of sacrifices, the act of sacrifice is meaningful only when it is offered to live a life of fulfilling mercy.[27] Therefore, it is a part of the true sacrifice to give a dying man the consecrated bread, even if he violates the regulations to achieve mercy.[28] If the dying person had been left to die in order to keep the regulations, it would have been to make the sacrifice dirty. Cain offered sacrifices, but he did not fulfill mercy[29], and eventually became a person who did not offer any sacrifices.[30] Cain could not destroy the work of the devil.

Matt.12:5 Or have you not read in the law, that on the Sabbath day, the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless?

†  In the temple where life is always given by rest, the meaning of the day of rest, the sabbath, is lost. So the temple is larger than the sabbath.

Matt.12:6 But I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.

†  The temple is greater than the sabbath, but the Son who is the reality of the temple[31], is greater than the temple. Therefore, those who are in the Son do not violate the rest even if they work on the sabbath. Even working in the temple was not breaking the rest, but how can working in the Son who is the reality of rest, be breaking the rest? The building temple is just a symbol of the Son who is the true temple.

†  The Son > the temple > sabbath

Matt.12:7 But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.

†  To heal the sick in order to achieve true rest on the day of rest, the sabbath, is not breaking the law, but fulfilling the law.

Matt.12:8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

Num.28:9 On the Sabbath day two he-lambs a year old without blemish, and two tenth parts [of an ephah] of fine flour for a meal-offering, mixed with oil, and the drink-offering of it:

Num.28:10 this is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, besides the continual burnt-offering, and the drink-offering of it.

†  Priests work in the couryard and the sanctuary of the temple slaughtering and offering sacrifices on the sabbath.

Mark2:26 How he entered into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the show bread, which it is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and gave also to those who were with him?"

Mark2:27 He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

†  It was expressed as the sabbath that God would accomplish the rest in the creation world., precisely for the Son and broadly for the creatures. It is for the Son that God accomplishes the rest in the creation world[32], but God of love also does not rest if His creatures fail to rest.[33] Only when God judges Satan fraudswarms and establishes the reign of love and justice in the creation world, the creatures in the creation world can finally rest. It is the sabbath, the 7th year sabbath of rest, and the jubilee year that is given as the symbol of rest. On the 7th day[34], the 7th 1000 year[35], the 1000-year kingdom[36], this rest will come true. Since God has given the sabbath as the symbol and the promise that God will surely fulfill the rest in the creation world, it is rather to deviate from the purpose that God gave us the sabbath when people lose their rest while trying to keep the sabbath.

Mark2:28 Therefore the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."

†  The sabbath was a foreshadowing of the rest that the Son would come and fulfill. The Son is the true rest, the rest is confirmed in the Son. Through God the Holy Spirit who came in the name of the Son, the rest is fulfilled to us now[37], and will be completed in the 1000-year kingdom in history and finally.[38] During the 1000-year kingdom, Satan will be confined in the abyss, and at the end of the 1000-year kingdom, Satan will be set free for a short time and thrown into the lake of fire.[39]

†  Rest is judgment. Only when sin is judged, rest can be found in the creation world. The Son is the rest because the Son will judge Satan fraudswarms and take away sin from the creation world. The Son is the image of God[40], and the images of God who keep the commandments like the Son will come out.[41] These are the firstfruits[42], especially the firstfruits who are purchased from among men.[43] When the appointed number of martyr witnesses who keep the commandments without saving their lives until death[44], is completed[45], the truthfulness of the commandments is finally confirmed, and the commandments stand as the proper basis for judgment. After that, judgment is finally executed against the wicked who are under sin and have been trampled on their neighbor creatures.[46]

†  The sanctuary, the temple, symbolizes the creation world. Judgment for sin is made in the courtyard and the sanctuary. The place where judgment for sin is directly carried out is the courtyard where the beast symbolizing Satan is slaughtered.[47] The altar of burnt offering in the courtyard symbolizes Hades[48], the bronze sea[49] symbolizes the sea of glass.[50] And the sanctuary beyond the bronze sea symbolizes the heaven of angels.[51] The creation world is an area where sin can exist, a place where the existence of sin itself is extinguished, and a space where creatures who obey the Son are completed according to the purpose originally intended by the Creator God.

†  Sin is burned at the altar of burnt offering. The altar of burnt offering symbolizes both the 1st and the 2nd deaths. The 1st death is forsaken on the cross and gave up His life[52] and the 2nd death is the lake of fire.[53] On the cross that the altar of burnt offering had foreshadowed, the Son took the sins of those who repented instead and abandoned by the Father to fulfill the Atonement. Satan fraudswarms will also be burned in the lake of fire symbolized by the altar of burnt offering. The blood of the Son who was abandoned by His Father on behalf of the repentant is raised up to the most holy place, and the atonement for the repentant is made. And as Satan fraudswarms burn in the lake of fire, judgment for sin is executed.

†  The Son is God[54] who is in the flesh.[55] The Son is the temple itself, the most holy place, the dwelling place of God. Because the Son is God, and because God the Holy Spirit is with the Son, the body of the Son is the most holy place.[56] Since God the Holy Spirit is in the body of the saint, the body of the saint also becomes the temple of God the Holy Spirit.[57] The Son who came in the flesh and became the temple, atones, judges, and completes the rest of the creation world.[58]

†  Just because the Son is the temple and fulfills judgment for sin in the creation world which symbolized as the temple and the courtyard, it does not mean that the Son is the creation world itself. It is true that the creation world is in the Son[59] and is continued its existence through the Son.[60] However, just because the Son came into the creation world, it does not mean that the entire creation world becomes the temple. (It may be true in a broad sense. The Son will purify the creation world, the temple where the Son dwells, by judging and removing sin. He makes the unworthy of the temple into the worthy of the temple. After the great white throne judgment and throwing Satan fraudswarms into the lake of fire, I think that the entire creation world can become the temple. The Son will present the inherited and completed creation world to His Father.[61] However, it is not possible to identify the Son with His creation world. Even in the 1000-year kingdom where Satan is confined in the abyss, the most holy place is divided as the new Jerusalem.) The meaning that the Son is the temple means that the place where the Son dwells, is the most holy place. Just as the entire sanctuary is not the most holy place, the entire creation world is not the most holy place just because the Son came into the creation world. It is not the most holy place where there is sin. Hades where sin is confined is not the most holy place. Hades, the courtyard, will be thrown into the lake of fire with death, the wages of sin.[62] Although the most holy place where the Son dwells, came into the courtyard, the courtyard where sin is confined, is not the most holy place.

†  God who will come to His creation world and sit on the throne of the true temple, first puts on the flesh and becomes the most holy place in the courtyard of the creation world.[63] After that, through the saints who received God the Holy Spirit, He made small temples[64] to actualize the reign of light in the courtyard where the forces of darkness are confined.[65] Following the way in which the Most Holy Place judged Satan[66], small temples also go on the way to judge Satan.[67] And the Most Holy Place come to the courtyard again, remove sin from the courtyard and transforms it into the new world without sin.[68] The Son who is the Creator, completes creation by entering into the creation world and actualizing rest upon the creation world. Therefore, the Son is the rest of the creation world and heaven itself.[69]

†  The Son will judge and eliminate sin from the creation world. Those who were slaves of sin but repented, will be freed from sin through God the Holy Spirit who came upon the blood of the Son.[70] The ground that cursed by sin and covered with thorns and thistles[71] under the tyranny of sin[72], will be freed from the curse when the Son comes again.[73] Eventually, the creation world will be completely free from sin at the time of the great white throne judgment throwing Satan fraudswarms into the lake of fire. Because the Son accomplishes these things, the Son is the rest of creatures.[74] Only in the Son who reigns by the commandments of love, can the creatures rest.[75]

③     The courtyard and the temple: The creation world where the Son came

John2:19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

John2:20 The Jews therefore said, "Forty-six years was this temple in building, and will you raise it up in three days?"

John2:21 But he spoke of the temple of his body.

†  The body of our Lord Jesus is a temple because the Creator Son is in the human body. God sits on the throne of the most holy place. The body that hides the glory of the Son sitting on the throne of the most holy place, like the curtain, declined due to death, and the glory of the Son who is God, was revealed. As the curtain is torn, God the Son who sits on the throne, appears beyond the curtain.[76]

Ex.3:2 The angel of Yahweh appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

Ex.3:3 Moses said, I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

Ex.3:4 When Yahweh saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said, "Moses! Moses!" He said, "Here I am."

†  After Adam's transgression, the earthy body produces thorns and thistles.[77] God the Son came to this earth, being clothed with a body that produces thorns and thistles, the sinful desires. God showed it through an angel who appeared in the flames of a burning bush.[78]

Matt.1:23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, And shall bring forth a son. They shall call his name Immanuel;" Which is, being interpreted, "God with us."

†  God became a human.

Is.9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Is.9:7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Hosts will perform this.

†  The Creator has determined to come as a creature and rule the creation world with the commandments of love.[79]

John1:14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

†  The Word became flesh.

Rom.9:5 of whom are the fathers, and from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen.

†  God the Son who is the reason and purpose of the creation world, came as a human among other creatures.[80]

A. The Son is the way to the life of the most holy place.

John14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.

†  Creatures can come to the Father only through the Son.

Acts4:12 There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, in which we must be saved!"

†  Creatures can be saved only through the Son.

Heb.7:24 But he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood unchangeable.

Heb.7:25 Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.

†  The Son saves completely those who come to God the Father through the Son who is the permanent high priest.

Heb.9:8 The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn't yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing;

Heb.9:11 But Christ having come as a high priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,

Heb.9:12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption.

†  The way into the most holy place is now disclosed by the blood of the Son.

Heb.9:24 For Christ hasn't entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

†  The Son entered into the true most holy place as the true high priest who sprinkles His own blood on the true throne.[81] The way to the true most holy place which is in heaven is opened through the Son.

Heb.10:19 Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,

Heb.10:20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

†  A sinner can enter into the most holy place through being forgiven of his sin by the blood of the Son.

1John2:22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

1John2:23 Whoever denies the Son, the same doesn't have the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also.

†  Creatures can acknowledge the Father only through the Son.[82]

1John5:11 The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1John5:12 He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn't have God's Son doesn't have the life.

†  Since there is life only in the Son, only those who receive the Son, can have life.

B. The Son died on the cross as the sacrifice.

Is.53:4 Surely he has borne our infirmities, and carried our diseases; yet we esteemed him stricken, struck by God, and afflicted.

Is.53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was on him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Is.53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Is.53:10 Yet it pleased Yahweh to bruise him; he has put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Yahweh shall prosper in his hand.

Is.53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many; and he shall bear their iniquities.

Is.53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Gal.3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,"

Eph.1:7 in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

Titus2:14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.

Heb.9:12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption.

Heb.9:26 or else he must have suffered often since the foundation of the world. But now once at the end of the ages, he has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

1Pet.1:18 knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers,

1Pet.1:19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, the blood of Christ;

Rev.1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood;

Rev.1:6 and he made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Rev.5:9 They sang a new song, saying, "You are worthy to take the book, And to open its seals: For you were killed, And bought us for God with your blood, Out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,

Rev.5:10 And made them kings and priests to our God, And they reign on earth."

C. The Son is the basin, the sea of glass.

John13:8 Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I don't wash you, you have no part with me."

John13:9 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!"

John13:10 Jesus said to him, "Someone who has bathed only needs to have their feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you."

†  The priests wash their hands and feet at the basin before entering the sanctuary.[83] The Son became the basin and washed His disciples' feet. Through the Son, disciples, the royal priests, can enter the sanctuary. Only those who have received the Son can escape judgment by passing through the water above the expanse.[84] The Son is the criterion to escape Hades by passing through the water above the expanse.[85]

Col.2:11 in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;

Col.2:12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

†  As the saints pass through the water, they put off of the sinful nature and are raised with Christ. God the Holy Spirit comes upon those who are in the body of death[86], and they overcome sin.[87] A person who put on a soulish body is resurrected or transformed with a spiritual body[88] and pass through the sea of glass.[89]

Eph.5:26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,

†  Wash with the blood of the Son in order to be raised from death[90], and wash with the water of the word in order not to die again.

Heb.10:22 let's draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,

†  Sprinkled with the blood and washed with the water of the word. The first sprinkling is the cross, the altar of burnt offering, and next washing is the sea of glass, the bronze sea, the bronze basin.

Is.4:3 It will happen, that he who is left in Zion, and he who remains in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even everyone who is written among the living in Jerusalem;

Is.4:4 when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from its midst, by the spirit of justice, and by the spirit of burning.

Is.4:5 Yahweh will create over the whole habitation of Mount Zion, and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy.

†  Those who remain in Jerusalem where the truth is[91], are washed by the Spirit, the word of God.[92] Even now, this washing is done within the saints, but historically, it will be accomplished when our Lord Jesus comes again. Our Lord Jesus will resurrect and transform those who overcome Satan, with the spiritual bodies through God the Holy Spirit.[93] The Spirit of judgment and the Spirit of fire mean not only the word of truth, but also God the Holy Spirit. After the resurrection, the 1000-year kingdom, symbolized by the Feast of Tabernacles which covering with a canopy, will be established. Only those who are washed with the truth are resurrected or transformed through God the Holy Spirit. Only those who have been resurrected or transformed can stand beside the sea of glass out of Hades, when God pours out 7 plagues of His wrath on Hades.[94] Only those who are washed with the word and God the Holy Spirit, can pass through the sea of glass, the water above the expanse.[95] Perhaps that is why the sea of glass is used to symbolize the word that wash away sins.

Ezek.36:24 For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.

†  God sprinkles water on us to take us out of all the countries, the 1st heavens and the 1st earth, and into our own land, the new heavens and the new earth.[96] This is the baptism of the sea of glass.[97]

Ezek.36:25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

Ezek.36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.

Ezek.36:27 I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my ordinances, and do them.

†  In God the Holy Spirit, this purifying is still performing now[98], but the exact time this purifying completed is the 1000-year kingdom.[99] When the Son comes again, the remnant will be brought into their own land, the garden of Eden, the paradise[100], and God the Holy Spirit will make them the bride, the wife of the Lamb. These are royal priests who can enter the new Jerusalem and will rule the 1000-year kingdom under the Son. Since they will never sin again, they will not be hurt at all by the 2nd death.[101] Accordingly, there is no need for a test to prove their sincerity again.[102] These are already those who love God more than their lives.[103]

†  God will burn the present heaven and earth which were trampled by Satan[104], and form new heavens and a new earth. These new heavens and earth are perfected Eden.[105] Although defiled Eden is burned[106], God will form a new Eden. The former garden of Eden that could be contaminated with sin was only a model for the latter garden of Eden, the new Jerusalem which cannot be contaminated with sin. Although, if God releases Satan from the abyss after 1000 years, there will be a brief delusion but until then, there will be no Satan's delusion in Eden, and thus there will be no sin.[107] When God releases Satan, the test will be given to the people outside the new Jerusalem, who have not confirmed the choice between light and darkness. God will verify them to bring them into the world of eternal righteousness. Sadly, most of the people will be against God to take possesion of the new Jerusalem.[108] However, in the new Jerusalem, the completed garden of Eden, there will be only those who have passed the test[109], so even with Satan's deception, the interior of the new Jerusalem will still be a realm of light. After the final test is over and God judges sinners before the great white throne, He will burn death and even Hades, the realm separated to judge sin and Satan fraudswarms, in the lake of fire.[110] When God burns Hades, I don't know what will happen to the new Jerusalem, the capital of the creation world with the throne. However, since God thought we did not need to know that, He did not write it down, so we do not have to wonder about what is going on after that.[111]

Zech.13:1 "In that day there will be a spring opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.

Zech.13:2 It will come to pass in that day, says Yahweh of Hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they will no more be remembered; and also I will cause the prophets and the spirit of impurity to pass out of the land.

†  This will happen in the 1000-year kingdom, but it is accomplishing now in God the Holy Spirit.[112] The fountain of cleasing from sin and impurity is baptism. It is expressed as baptism that those who have overcome death and have been resurrected or transformed pass through the water above the expanse.[113] When the fountain of cleansing is opened to God's people, the resurrction and transformation take place, and those who have reached this 1st resurrection escape Hades[114] and sing the song of the Lamb standing beside the sea of glass. And after the Son judges the 1st heaven and the 1st earth[115], He forms new heavens and a new earth.[116] Because Satan and the evil spirits are confined in the abyss[117], there is no crime in the new heavens and the new earth until they are released. The Son accomplishes the reign of love by the commandments.[118]

Ex.30:18 "You shall also make a basin of brass, and the base of it of brass, in which to wash. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it.

Ex.30:19 Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in it.

Ex.30:20 When they go into the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water, that they not die; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

Ex.30:21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they not die: and it shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his descendants throughout their generations."

†  The priests wash their hands and feet at the basin before entering the sanctuary. The basin is later called as the sea after the temple is built, and it symbolizes the sea of glass which is the water above the expanse that is the boundary between the heaven of angels and Hades. There are also basins in the temple, but it is the bronze sea in the temple that has the meaning of the basin of the Tabernacle.[119]

1Kin.7:23 He made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and the height of it was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits compassed it round about.

1Kin.7:24 Under the brim of it round about there were buds which did compass it, for ten cubits, compassing the sea round about: the buds were in two rows, cast when it was cast.

1Kin.7:25 It stood on twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east; and the sea was set on them above, and all their hinder parts were inward.

1Kin.7:26 It was a handbreadth thick: and the brim of it was worked like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily: it held two thousand baths.

1Kin.7:27 He made the ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth of it, and three cubits the height of it.

1Kin.7:28 The work of the bases was on this manner: they had panels; and there were panels between the ledges;

1Kin.7:29 and on the panels that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubim; and on the ledges there was a pedestal above; and beneath the lions and oxen were wreaths of hanging work.

1Kin.7:30 Every base had four brazen wheels, and axles of brass; and the four feet of it had supports: beneath the basin were the supports molten, with wreaths at the side of each.

1Kin.7:31 The mouth of it within the capital and above was a cubit: and the mouth of it was round after the work of a pedestal, a cubit and a half; and also on the mouth of it were engravings, and their panels were foursquare, not round.

1Kin.7:32 The four wheels were underneath the panels; and the axles of the wheels were in the base: and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit.

1Kin.7:33 The work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel: their axles, and their rims, and their spokes, and their naves, were all molten.

1Kin.7:34 There were four supports at the four corners of each base: the supports of it were of the base itself.

1Kin.7:35 In the top of the base was there a round compass half a cubit high; and on the top of the base the stays of it and the panels of it were of the same.

1Kin.7:36 On the plates of the stays of it, and on the panels of it, he engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, according to the space of each, with wreaths round about.

1Kin.7:37 After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one form.

1Kin.7:38 He made ten basins of brass: one basin contained forty baths; and every basin was four cubits; and on very one of the ten bases one basin.

1Kin.7:39 He set the bases, five on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward, toward the south.

Rev.4:6 Before the throne was something like a sea of glass, like a crystal. In the midst of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.

†  After passing through the sea of glass, it is the throne covered by cherubim, the 4 living creatures.[120] (It may be argued that these 4 living creatures are seraphs.[121])

Rev.15:1 I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God's wrath is finished.

Rev.15:2 I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, and his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.

Rev.15:3 They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations.

†  Fire is mixed in the sea of glass. This is because the 7 plagues of judgment pour out on Hades under this sea of glass. The saints escape Hades through the sea of glass.[122] Beside the sea of glass, the saints who have overcome the beast sing the song, the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. Just as the Israelites escaped through Moses from Egypt under Pharaoh's reign and sang the song of Moses, the saints escaped through the Lamb from Babylon the Great under Satan's reign and sing the song of the Lamb.[123]

D. The Son is the truth.

John1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

John1:3 All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made.

John1:4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

†  All things were created for the Son[124], and in the Son all things hold together even now.[125]

Col.1:16 For by him were all things created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him.

Col.1:17 He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.

†  The Son who continues the creation world even now, is the Word.

John1:17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

†  The law given to Moses through an angel was to condemn sinners and put them under judgment. The grace and truth given through the Son are the law to save repentant sinners from judgment and give them the power to overcome sin.[126] Through the law of Moses[127], sinners come to the law of the Son[128], the grace and truth.

John8:32 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

†  If we know the truth, we will not put the meaning of existence or the hope of living in the lies that Satan has made.[129] The truth is that God is love and God invites me into His love. It is my choice whether to accept the truth or reject it, but the one who accepts the truth is freed from sin and Satan and even from death and eventually comes to the eternal life.

John8:45 But because I tell the truth, you don't believe me.

John8:46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

John8:47 He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don't hear, because you are not of God."

†  A creature that does not belong to God, does not stop rebelling against God and does not stop trampling on its neighbors and does not obey the word of God. God does not force the creatures to obey God, by forcibly forcing the free will of the creatures that oppose God.[130] God pours out His grace of obedience only to the creatures who choose to obey God[131] with their free will[132] and makes them obedient to God.[133]

John3:35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.

John3:36 One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won't see life, but the wrath of God remains on him."

†  Only those who receive the Son, are freed from sin and live forever, saved from the judgment and continued their existence.

Ps.2:12 Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, For his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him. A Psalm by David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

†  Only those who obey the Son avoid the judgment and survive.

John5:24 "Most assuredly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn't come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

John5:25 Most assuredly, I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God's voice; and those who hear will live.

John5:26 For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself.

†  Anyone who rebel against the Son is judged. Only those who believe in the Son obey the Son's commands, so only those who believe in the Son are saved from the judgment.[134] Only those who believe in the Son avoid death and survive from the judgment. They are not thrown into the lake of fire. They do not burn at the cost of their sins. In other words, they are continued to exist.[135]

John14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.

†  Only through the Son, we can come to the Father.

1John5:11 The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1John5:12 He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn't have God's Son doesn't have the life.

†  Since the Father gives life to creatures only through His Son, only those who have the Son have life.

Matt.16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any man desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Matt.16:25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.

Matt.16:26 For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?

†  Creatures can receive the life of the Creator only through the cross.

Col.1:20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross. Through him, I say, whether things on the earth, or things in the heavens.

†  If a creature sin, he/she will be burned with the sin he/she committed.[136] According to justice, he/she will be burned for the amount of evil he/she has committed.[137] It is unlikely that he/she will face the same punishment as Satan who committed many sins.[138] The lake of fire can last forever in space and time, but it is speculated that the creatures burning in the lake of fire will probably be vanished if all of their sins are burned.[139] Even if he/she is burned with his/her sins, he/she is still a person who will sin if the circumstances are given. He/She rejected every opportunity and rebelled against the Creator to the end. God rules His creation world by love, but he/she does not want to obey the commandments of love. He/She affirmed his/her will to the extent that the Creator no longer had to do anything to change his/her will. He/She is not the one who will turn his/her will and love his/her Creator. It means that paying the price of sin does not make him/her a person who will not sin again. A creature who submits for fear of punishment is bound to sin again someday when the fear of punishment disappears. Therefore, at the end of the hour of suffering given to him/her, it is speculated that God will return him/her to non-existence as he/she wanted so much. (Since the infinite and almighty Creator can always call out anything into being, the God of existence is also the God of non-existence.) Either angel or human can be at peace with the Father only through God's love revealed through the cross. Creatures can be separated from their sin hidden in their free will only through the cross of the Son and be continued their existence forever.

John17:17 Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.

†  Truth is sincerity without lies. For creatures truth is the life that separates them from sin and saves them from judgment. Only those creatures who receive the Son and submit to the Son, the truth who came to His creation world as a creature, can be continued their existence. Satan lies that the creatures can become gods and continue their existence on their own, and that they can avoid judgment and continue their existence without obeying God.[140] However, there is no God who is self-existing other than the One who is[141], and creatures can be continued their existence only through the One who is.[142] The I AM surely judges those who rebel against the I AM who reigns with love and justice. Creatures can persist in existence only through submission to the I AM.

John17:3 This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

†  The Son announced the truth to His creatures that there is no other gods but Yahweh, and that those who do not obey God are under sin and must be judged. Those who accept the truth spoken through the Son[143], obey the Son, and give up their sins, will escape judgment and live forever.

John18:37 Pilate therefore said to him, "Are you a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. To this end I have been born, and to this end I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."

†  Only those who listen to the word of truth spoken through the Son, those who obey the Son, can avoid judgment and be continued their existence.

1John5:20 We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

†  The Son is I AM WHO I AM.[144] The Son is the Self-Existing[145] and Ever-Existing Eternal One[146], the eternal life that save His creatures who obey Him from the judgment.[147]

E. The Son is the gate of the temple.

John10:7 Jesus therefore said to them again, "Most assuredly, I tell you, I am the sheep's door.

John10:8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn't listen to them.

John10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture.

†  God is in the most holy place, and those who come to God without permission die.[148] The Son is the door to the most holy place. Only through the Son can we enter into the most holy place where God dwells.[149] Creatures receive life from God in the most holy place. God alone is the life of creatures. Only through the Son can we enter into the most holy place and receive life from God.

John14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.

John14:7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him, and have seen him."

†  Only through the Son who is God can we know God the Father and come to the Father. Creatures cannot dare to see the Creator.[150] God the Son Himself becomes a creature so that creatures can see with their own eyes[151] who the Creator is.[152]

Heb.10:19 Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,

Heb.10:20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

Heb.10:21 and having a great priest over the house of God,

Heb.10:22 let's draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,

†  The Son is the curtain, the gate that leads to the most holy place. Only through the Son taking the cross can we enter the most holy place through the torn curtain.[153]

Ex.26:31 "You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. The work of the skillful workman shall it be made.

Ex.26:32 You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, on four sockets of silver.

Ex.26:33 You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil: and the veil shall separate the holy place from the most holy for you.

Ex.26:35 You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand over against the table on the side of the tent toward the south: and you shall put the table on the north side.

Ex.26:36 "You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer.

†  The curtain that blocks the most holy place was made of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen with cherubim worked into it. The curtain of the most holy place is hung with gold hooks on 4 posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on 4 silver bases. The cherubim in the true temple were expressed as the cherubim form embroidered on the tabernacle.

Ex.26:36 "You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer.

Ex.26:37 You shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold: their hooks shall be of gold: and you shall cast five sockets of brass for them.

Ex.36:37 He made a screen for the door of the tent, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer;

Ex.36:38 and the five pillars of it with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold, and their five sockets were of brass.

†  Even though the entrance curtain of the sanctuary was made of the same blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, there is no saying that the cherubim were embroidered on it. However, the tabernacle was covered with curtains embroidered with cherubim.[154] It means that cherubim are active throughout the true temple. The bronze sea which symbolizes the sea of glass, is also supported by 12 bulls. These bulls are likely to represent cherubim.[155] We can enter the sanctuary which is the heaven of angels, only through the water basin, the sea of glass. The fallen angels are confined in Hades under the sea of galss. Not only the fallen angels are in Hades, but the angels belonging to God also work in Hades to carry out God's command.[156] In the heaven of angels, around the water above the expanse, or in Hades, in all the realms of the creation world, angels are active and carry out the command of God. The entrance curtain of the sanctuary is hung with gold hooks on the 5 posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on 5 bronze bases.

John5:2 Now in Jerusalem by the sheep gate, there is a pool, which is called in Hebrew, "Bethesda," having five porches.

John5:3 In these lay a great multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water;

John5:4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain times into the pool, and stirred up the water. Whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was made whole of whatever disease he was afflicted with.

John5:5 A certain man was there, who had been sick for thirty-eight years.

†  Those who are disbled cannot enter the temple.[157] In other words, those who are guilty cannot enter the temple as well as the most holy place beyond the curtain.[158] The Son who becomes the gate of the temple, has come to sinners who cannot enter the temple and are forced to stay outside the temple gate. The Son is Bethesda, the house of mercy. A sinner who was blocked by his/her sin and was unable to enter the temple, finally enters the temple through the Son who is the gate.[159]

Acts3:1 Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

Acts3:2 A certain man who was lame from his mother's womb was being carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask gifts for the needy of those who entered into the temple.]

†  All humans are sinners, so no one can enter into the temple. All people are blind, cripped, paralyzed and sick who cannot work to fulfill the will of God.[160] Only those who come to the Son who is the gate and pass through the Son enter the temple.[161] We can know whether he/she is a sheep of God or not by whether he/she passes through the Son or not.[162] The Son is the standard, and He separates the creatures that will survive and the creatures that will be thrown into the lake of fire.[163] The Son is the criterion of salvation and judgment.[164]

F. The Son is the light shining from the golden lampstand.

Rev.4:5 Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

†  God the Holy Spirit is the 7 Spirits of God.[165]

Rev.5:6 I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.

†  The Son has the 7 Spirits of God. He has filled with the light of the 7 Spirits.[166]

Matt.3:11 I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit.

Matt.3:12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire."

†  The Son is the One who baptizes with God the Holy Spirit.

John16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don't go away, the Counselor won't come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

John16:8 When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment;

†  The Son sends God the Holy Spirit. The Son is the 1st Counselor[167] and God the Holy Spirit is the 2nd Counselor.[168]

John14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.

†  The Father sends God the Holy Spirit in the name of the Son. God the Holy Spirit reminds us of everything our Lord Jesus have said to us, the word of God, the bible.

John14:16 I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever, --

John14:17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world can't receive; for it doesn't see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you.

†  The Son asks the Father, and the Father gives us God the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, in the name of the Son. Since God the Holy Spirit is in the body of saints, the body of the saint who has received God the Holy Spirit becomes the temple of God the Holy Spirit.[169]

John3:34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure.

†  The Son was filled with God the Holy Spirit.[170] Since the Son is the truth[171], and God the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth[172], the Son proclaimed the word of the Father, the truth.[173]

John2:22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this, and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

John2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name, observing his signs which he did.

†  The Son is the One who gives God the Holy Spirit. The Father sends God the Holy Spirit in the name of the Son.[174] God the Father sends God the Holy Spirit through the Son.[175]

G. The Son is the shewbread on the golden table.

Lev.24:5 You shall take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes of it: two tenth parts [of an ephah] shall be in one cake.

Lev.24:6 You shall set them in two rows, six on a row, on the pure table before Yahweh.

Lev.24:7 You shall put pure frankincense on each row, that it may be to the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

Lev.24:8 Every Sabbath day he shall set it in order before Yahweh continually; it is on the behalf of the children of Israel, an everlasting covenant.

†  The bread on the golden table is to be set out before Yahweh. This bread represents the life-giving word of God. Our Lord Jesus is the bread of life.[176]

Lev.2:11 "'No meal offering, which you shall offer to Yahweh, shall be made with yeast; for you shall burn no yeast, nor any honey, as an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

Lev.2:12 As an offering of firstfruits you shall offer them to Yahweh: but they shall not come up for a sweet savor on the altar.

Lev.2:13 Every offering of your meal offering you shall season with salt; neither shall you allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your meal offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.

†  Perhaps no yeast was added, and salt may have been added. Yeast refers to the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees[177], and salt refers to the everlasting covenant.[178]

Ex.13:7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and no leavened bread shall be seen with you, neither shall there be yeast seen with you, in all your borders.

†  They ate unleavened bread at the Passover.[179]

John6:48 I am the bread of life.

John6:49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.

John6:50 This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, that anyone may eat of it and not die.

John6:51 I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world."

†  The reality of the shewbread or the unleavened bread that was eaten at the Passover, is the life-giving word of truth, the Son. Manna which was miraculously rained down from the sky, was the bread that sustained only the life of the flesh. But the Son who is the reality of the bread, is the word that gives life to the soul.[180] Creatures are sustained only by the word of the Creator.[181] Creatures are sustained by the word of our Lord Jesus.[182]

1Cor.11:23 For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread.

1Cor.11:24 When he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me."

1Cor.11:25 In the same way he also took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me."

1Cor.11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

†  The flesh of the Son torn from the cross is the bread of life. The flesh of the Son, the Word who became flesh, is the bread of life. In other words, the word is the bread of life. The word is the life-giving Spirit.[183] The flesh of the Son is sometimes used to mean the word who appeared as a creature in the flesh[184], but it is also used to mean a cursed body[185] in which the desires of sin rise.[186] Sometimes the body of the Son means the word, and sometimes it means the desires of sin, so it should be accepted according to the context. Here, it is used to mean to eat the flesh of the Son and to receive life, so the flesh of the Son we should eat means the word. It does not mean that it is real human flesh that is cursed and the desires of sin rise.[187] When the body is used in the sense that the desires of sin rise, it is when the body is symbolized as a curtain to be torn.[188] The blood of the Son which we must drink, symbolizes God the Holy Spirit, the Spirit who gives life to creatures.[189] It does not mean that we must drink the blood of the cursed flesh that our Lord Jesus was actually clothed with. What we must drink is the One symbolized by the blood of the Son, God the Holy Spirit, the true drink that gives life to the creatures.[190]

†  With or without creatures, the Word is eternal and infinite Word, and God the Holy Spirit is the eternal and infinite God the Holy Spirit. Thinking in the way of creatures who are confined in space and time, we are creatures that were originally non-existent before the Creator calls us into existence, so what would the Creator be affected if He simply returned His creatures back to non-existence?[191] Why does the Creator have to keep alive His creatures that He can recreate at any time?[192] Why must the Creator continue to pour out His life on His creatures?[193] Why must the Word and God the Holy Spirit be the life of the creatures? Anyway, God the Creator determined to pour out His life on His creatures through the flesh and blood of God the Son who will become a creature, through the word and God the Holy Spirit, and finally created the creatures.[194] We are only creatures that God can return to non-existence at any time[195], but because of the blood that God the Son poured out for us[196] when He was cut off from God the Father and abandoned[197], we were given the meaning to sustain our existence. The blood of the Son who is the only meaning of God the Father[198], was covered over His creatures.[199] The Father's love for His Son came to be engraved on His creatures.[200]

†  A human cannot receive the word of God in his/her sinful condition and cannot receive God the Holy Spirit in his/her sinful condition. In order for God the Holy Spirit to come upon humans, God the Son must first take humans' sin upon Himself and be cut off from God the Father in place of humans and be rejected.[201] The Son must first pay the wages of our sin which is death[202], for us[203], through being abandoned by the Father on behalf of us. A human who sinned, must first be forgiven by the blood of our Lord Jesus before he/she can receive the word of God and God the Holy Spirit.[204] In other words, a human must be forgiven of his/her sins before he/she can eat the flesh of our Lord Jesus and drink the blood of our Lord Jesus.[205] Regardless of creatures' choice, had our Lord Jesus not wanted His flesh and blood to be given to His creatures, creatures would not have been able to eat and drink the flesh and blood of our Lord Jesus.[206] But our Lord Jesus determined to come as a creature and give creatures His flesh and blood, and then created the creation world.[207] (I am thinking with the thoughts of creatures confined in space and time.) By seeing the love of the Creator demonstrated through the cross[208], creatures come to love the Creator[209], and when creatures love the Creator, they do not sin.[210] For this reason, through the cross, creatures are finally reconciled to the Creator God.[211] The love of the Creator, that is, the blood of the Son shed on the cross, perfects the free will granted to the creatures.[212]

H. The Son is the incense of the golden altar of incense.

Lev.16:12 He shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before Yahweh, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil:

Lev.16:13 and he shall put the incense on the fire before Yahweh, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the testimony, so that he will not die.

†  The Son conceals the atonement cover above the Testimony with the smoke of the incense burned by the burning coals from the altar of burnt offering. The Son conceals the throne by putting incense on the fire that burns sin. This incense contained in the golden censer is offered on the golden altar before the throne with the prayers of all the saints contained in the golden bowls. The saints are crying out, demanding judgment on the enemies who destroy the earth.[213] These are the prayers of the saints.[214] The prayers of the saints are contained in the golden bowls. The golden bowls represent the wrath of God.[215] Accordingly, when the prayers of the saints are offered, the answers to those prayers appear as judgment against Satan fraudswarms who shed the blood of the saints. The souls of the saints who had been slain by Satan fraudswarms, are calling out in a loud voice to judge Satan fraudswarms and avenge their blood under the bronze altar[216] of burnt offering[217], Hades.[218] When the angel takes the golden censer filled with fire from the bronze altar, and hurls it on the earth, and there come peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. It seems as if God accepts the incense offering of the golden bowls and the golden censer and pouring out judgment in response.

Rev.8:3 Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.

Rev.8:4 The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand.

Rev.8:5 The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it on the earth. There followed thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake.

Rev.8:6 The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

†  The incense, the prayers of the saints[219], is contained in the golden bowls[220], and the incense received from the altar of burnt offering is contained in the golden censer. The smoke of the incense of the golden censer and the golden bowls go up before God. It is thought that the golden bowls contain the incense of judgment[221], and the golden censer contains the incense of salvation. Perhaps the incense of the golden censer might also be the incense of judgment. When the Lamb opens the 7th seal, an angel comes out and offers the incense of the golden censer and the golden bowls before the throne. And after that, the angel fills the censer with fire from the altar and hurls the censer on the earth. Then there come peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. The incense which was given the angel from the bronze altar and was offered by the angel on the golden altar, might also be the incense of judgment, because at the very altar where the incense was given, fire is also given to the angel. The angel hurls the censer which is filled with fire, on the earth, there come judgments. The flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder come from the throne.[222] It was a similar situation when God gave the law to Moses on Mount Sinai through an angel.[223] After hurling the censer filled with fire on the earth, the 7 trumpets begin to sound. Even just before the 7th angel sounds his trumpet and the 7 angels come out and pour out the plagues of the 7 golden bowls on the earth, God's temple in heaven is opened and there come flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.[224] And even after the 7th angel pours out his bowl of plague, there come flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake.[225] From these I guess, it seems that this phenomenon occurs when God who is seated on the throne, reveals Himself. Therefore, the fire of the altar of burnt offering that is filled in the golden censer and hurled on the earth, is thought to symbolize the judgment that our Lord Jesus who is seated on the throne, begins to reveal Himself to the earth in due time. If viewed in this way, the incense of the golden censer might also be the incense of judgment, not salvation.

†  When the Lamb opens the 7th seal and the 7 trumpet angels come out, and when the 7th trumpet sounded and the 7 bowl angels come out, and after the 7th bowl poured out, there come flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake are all the same, when the 7th seal, the 7th trumpet and the 7th bowl are finished. When the most holy place opened and the ark of the covenant under the throne, the word that is the basis of judgment, is revealed[226], there come flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder from the throne.[227]

†  There are only 2 altars in the creation world, the bronze altar of burnt offering and the golden altar of incense. Is the altar with incense for the golden censer, the bronze altar of burnt offering or the golden altar of incense? Is the altar that the angel received incense to offer, the bronze altar or the golden altar? From which altar did the angel receive the incense to fill it with the golden censer? Since the temple is a copy of the heaven of angels[228] and the courtyard with the altar of burnt offering is a copy of Hades[229], the true altar of burnt offering is in Hades, and the true altar of incense is in the heaven of angels. When we see the words that an angel was given incense at the altar and offer the incense on the golden altar before the throne[230], the altar where the angel received the incense is the bronze altar of burnt offering. Because the golden altar before the throne means the golden altar of incense.[231] (It is distinctly expressed as 'stood at the altar to be given incense to offer on the golden altar'. Isn't it strange to see that the incense received from the golden altar is offered again on the golden altar? The altars are not just the golden altar.) On the Day of Atonement, a high priest fills a censer with burning coals from the altar of burnt offering and brings it to the most holy place with incense.[232] There are even utensils for handling the fire of the altar of burnt offering.[233] Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unathorized fire before Yahweh.[234] The altar of incense is before Yahweh[235], but the altar of burnt offering is also before Yahweh.[236] It is expressed that the curtain of the sanctuary is also before Yahweh.[237] Our life is also before Yahweh.[238] The altar before Yahweh does not mean only the golden altar of incense. The altar of burnt offering is also before Yahweh, and the fire that burns incense is the fire of the altar of burnt offering. The incense placed on the fire symbolizes the intercession of the Son.[239] To put an end to the plague of the Israelites, Moses ordered Aaron to make atonement by putting incense on the fire from the altar.[240] This fire would also have been the fire of the altar of burnt offering.[241] The angel was given incense from the altar of burnt offering, to offer the incense on the golden altar before the throne, with the prayers of all the saints contained in the golden bowls. If the prayers of the saints cry out for the judgment of Satan[242], the incense from the altar of burnt offering, the cross, probably pleads for the salvation of the saints.

†  God has revealed that sin will be burned at the altar of burnt offering. In the time of judgment, the Son will burn Satan and all the creatures under sin in the lake of fire, the altar of burnt offering. We can think that burning at the altar of burnt offering symbolizes Satan, and burning outside the camp symbolizes our Lord Jesus[243]. However, the burnt offering that burns even flesh and goes up as a pleasing aroma also symbolizes our Lord Jesus.[244] In addition, the fellowship offering also symbolizes the sacrifice of the Son which is offered as a pleasing aroma, even if only fat is burned on the altar.[245] Therefore, it is believed that the sacrifice burning on the altar of the burnt offering does not always necessarily mean Satan. There are times when the sacrifices burned at the altar of burnt offering represent our Lord Jesus who was abandoned in my place. The point of the lake of fire judgment is to be completely abandoned rather than just referring to burning itself. Since I was also a slave to sin[246], I had to be abandoned with other sinners[247] and burned in the lake of fire.[248] The altar of burnt offering on fire symbolizes the lake of fire that will burn all the sinners.[249] And the cross, the altar of burnt offering, symbolizes the redemption of our Lord Jesus who was cursed[250] and abandoned[251] in place of me who should be abandoned and burned like Satan. The blood of our Lord Jesus entered into the most holy place, and the flesh of our Lord Jesus suffered like burned outside the city gate.[252] Would God regard Satan's burning as a pleasing aroma? It is thought that it may be fragrant to God in terms of burning sin and ending suffering of the creatures trampled by Satan.[253] Still, it is a little too far to compare the smell of Satan with the fragrance of the Son who gave up everything to save me from death.

†  If the incense received from the altar of burnt offering symbolizes the sacrifice of the Son, it is certainly the incense of salvation because that sacrifice saved me. The incense of the sacrifice of the Son will be a fragrance of salvation for those who receive the Son and repent, and it will be a fragrance of judgment for those who kill the Son and sin.[254]

I. The body of the Son is the curtain of the temple.

Heb.10:19 Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,

Heb.10:20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

†  The curtain was torn by the blood of the Son, and we were able to enter into the most holy place.[255] Now the Son who sits in the most holy place in the name of the Father that is above every name[256], sends God the Holy Spirit in the name of the Son.[257] Those who receive God the Holy Spirit become the most holy place because God the Holy Spirit dwells in their bodies.[258] The most holy place is the place where the reign of God is done completely. When the demons are cast out from those who have become the most holy places, the reign of God comes upon them. Whenever they go, who have become the most holy places, the reign of God comes upon there.[259]

J. The Son is the life in the most holy place.

John14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.

†  Through the Son, creatures exist.[260] The creatures to survive and the creatures to be burned are divided through the Son.[261] To the Father[262], only the creatures in the Son are of value.[263] The creatures that rebel against the Son and trample on their neighbors[264] are only garbage to God.[265] God the Son will burn them in the lake of fire.[266]

1John1:1 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we saw, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life

1John1:2 (and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us);

†  The Son is the life of His creatures.[267] Through the Son creatures are made[268], and through the Son creatures have their being.[269] Any creature that opposes the Son will surely die.[270]

1John5:20 We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.]

†  The Son is the Creator God[271] who revealed Himself to His creatures[272]. The Son is the life of the creatures and the One who maintains their being. Only with the life of the Son, creatures are continued their existence.[273]

K. The Son is the completion of the commandments.

Rom.10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

†  The law was merely a pattern of God the Son who would come as Christ the Messiah.[274] The law was a description and symbol of what the Son to come would be. God gave the law to receive the Son to come and obey the Son to come.[275] When God the Son Himself comes, the symbols that were given in advance to perceive and receive God the Son who will come, lose their meaning.

Heb.10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.

†  God the Son who will come as an adam is the reality, not the animal sacrifices. The animal sacrifices were only symbols that explained God the Son to come. If God the Son does not become the sacrifice, no matter how many animals are sacrificed, the redemption will not be fulfilled. If there is no substance, no matter how many symbols there are, it is of no use at all.

Matt.5:17 "Don't think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn't come to destroy, but to fulfill.

John5:39 "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.

†  The Son is the commandments. The commandments are merely models that explain what the Son is like so that we can easily undertand Him.[276] Obedience to the Son who reigns through love[277] is the commandments given by the Creator to His creatures.[278] As the Son loves God the Father, so we must love God.[279] As the Son loves His creatures, so we must love our neighbors.[280] The Son is the image of God who appeared in the creation world[281], and creatures must resemble the image of the Son.[282] The Son is the Creator who revealed Himself to His creation world.[283] Creatures who are confined in space and time and see only limited things, can only truly realize what God is like by looking directly at the life of God who became a creature with their own eyes that God has given them.[284] God indicated that the Son would come again and judge after His resurrection, through the feast beginning with the Passover. The days and months and seasons and years were all just patterns that showed the way of the Son in advance.[285] The model temple on earth was just a symbol of the Son[286] who is the true temple.[287] The Son is the God who sits on the throne in the temple and is glorified forever.[288]

L. The Son is the real manna, the bread of life.

John6:47 Most assuredly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal life.

John6:48 I am the bread of life.

John6:49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.

John6:50 This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, that anyone may eat of it and not die.

John6:51 I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world."

John6:53 Jesus therefore said to them, "Most assuredly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don't have life in yourselves.

John6:54 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

John6:55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

John6:56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him.

John6:57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he who feeds on me, he will also live because of me.

John6:58 This is the bread which came down out of heaven -- not as our fathers ate the manna, and died. He who eats this bread will live forever."

†  The reality of the manna that came down from heaven and kept the Israelites alive, is our Lord Jesus. Manna which was merely a model, kept only the life of the body alive, but our Lord Jesus who is the reality of manna, resurrects and transforms the saints[289] so that not only their bodies but also their souls[290] can live.[291] Our Lord Jesus who was symbolized by manna, was also symbolized by the fruit of the tree of life.[292]

M. The Son is the staff that produced almonds.

Num.17:8 It happened on the next day, that Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds.

†  Amond is a symbol of resurrection.

Ex.25:33 three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower; and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bud and a flower, so for the six branches going out of the lampstand;

Rev.4:5 Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

†  The almond flowers are the 7 lamps of the golden lampstand inside the tabernacle. These 7 lamps are before the throne, and the reality of these 7 lamps is the 7 Spirits of God, the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the almond flowers symbolize God the Holy Spirit.

Rev.5:6 I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.

†  The 7 eyes symbolize God the Holy Spirit, and the Son has these 7 eyes, the 7 Spirits of God.[293] Therefore, the Son who has the 7 Spirits of God, is the staff produced almond which symbolizes the fruits of God the Holy Spirit.[294] Just as fruits are produced from a dead staff, the Son was raised from the dead and became the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.[295]

Zech.3:9 For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the engraving of it,' says Yahweh of Hosts, 'and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

†  There are 7 eyes on the one stone, and this stone is the Son.

Is.28:16 therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner -[stone] of sure foundation: he who believes shall not be in haste.

†  The Son is the precious cornerstone for a sure foundation.

Dan.2:34 You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.

†  The Son is the rock cut out of a mountain by the hands of God.[296] The Son who is the rock, will judge Satan fraudswarms and break them to pieces.

N. The Son is the God who sits on the throne and is glorifed.

Rom.9:5 of whom are the fathers, and from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen.

†  Our Lord Jesus is the Creator God who, being in very nature God, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a creature.[297]

Rev.5:11 I saw, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands;

Rev.5:12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, riches, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing!"

Rev.5:13 I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen."

Rev.5:14 The four living creatures said, "Amen!" The elders fell down and worshiped.

†  Together, the Father and the Son receive the same worship and glory from creatures.

Rev.7:9 After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.

Rev.7:10 They cried with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

Rev.7:11 All the angels were standing around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures; and they fell before his throne on their faces, and worshiped God,

Rev.7:12 saying, "Amen! Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might, be to our God forever and ever! Amen."

†  Our Lord Jesus is the Creator God who receives worship and praise equal to God the Father.

Rev.22:1 He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,

Rev.22:3 There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants serve him.

†  The throne is called the throne of the Father and the Son. This is because the Son inherits the Father's name which is above every name, the highest name placed in the creation world, and sits on the throne with that name. The creation world is always owned only by the Creator God. Since God the Son is also the Creator God, the creation world belongs not only to God the Father but also to God the Son.[298] However, since God the Son made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a creature, in order for the Son to rule the creation world, the Son must inherit the creation world from His Father.

Rev.3:21 He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne.

†  On the throne of the Father placed in the creation world, the Father placed His name.[299] The Son becomes a creature, inherits the name of His Father placed on the throne, and sits on the throne placed in the creation world.[300] The Father's throne is also the Son's throne. To those who have overcome death[301] after the Son[302], the Son who has been seated on the throne of the creation world as a creature, will entrust the sovereignty to rule the 1000-year kingdom in the name of the Son. These are the royal priests[303], the martyr witnesses[304] who have part in the 1st resurrection.[305] These are those who have the name of the Son and the Father written on their foreheads. They will sit around the throne where the Son is seated and serve the Son.[306]

O. The place where the Son dwells is the most holy place, the kingdom of God.

John4:23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshippers.

John4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

†  The Son is the God who is glorified.[307] The place where the Son dwells is the most holy place. This Samaritan woman is now before the throne where God is sitting, and this is the time for this woman to worship. Although the curtained Creator[308] walked on the earth, few people offered the worship that our Lord Jesus deserves.

John2:21 But he spoke of the temple of his body.

†  Since the Son is God, the body clothed by the Son was the temple. The true temple, the reality that the model temple foreshadowed, has come. God gave the building temple as a model to recognize the true temple when the true temple comes. However, those who were confined in their own righteousness were bound by models and could not recognize the true temple.[309]

Luke11:20 But if I by the finger of God cast out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come to you.

†  The place where the Son dwells becomes the kingdom of God where the Son reigns.

P. The son who sits on the throne, is the light of glory.

2Cor.4:6 seeing it is God who said, "Light will shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

†  Creatures cannot dare to see the glory of God.[310] Therefore, God Himself becomes a creature so that the creatures can see the glory of God without dying.[311] The Creator paid the unspeakable price to show His creatures the image of God.[312]

Matt.4:15 "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, Toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,

Matt.4:16 The people who sat in darkness saw a great light, To those who sat in the region and shadow of death, To them light has dawned."

†  The Son is the light of the creation world. The light we see with our eyes, such as sunlight and starlight, is an educational material placed in the creation world to help us realize that our Lord Jesus is the true light.[313] Althrough God allows the sunlight a model of true light, to give life to the creatures of the earth, that life only sustains their flesh.[314] Sunlight cannot be true life. Plants that receive sunlight produce fruits, but the fruits only preserve the body.[315] The only true life is our Lord Jesus who made creatures and keeps them alive even now.[316] Creatures are sustained their existence only by the Word.[317]

John1:3 All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made.

John1:4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John1:9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.

John1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn't recognize him.

John1:14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

†  There is no creature who can see the Creator God. Creatures cannot escape the limitations of space and time. Even if the free will of the creatures is completed and perfected with things that will never sin, we cannot be sure that we will be able to see the Creator God. How much more, can the imperfect things that still have the possibility of sin, dare to see the Creator God?[318] But the Creator God revealed Himself to His creatures by becoming a creature.

John1:9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.

†  The Son is the light that illuminates the creation world. All creatures, no matter who they are, can be sustained their existence only by the life of our Lord Jesus[319] who keeps them alive.[320]

John3:19 This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.

John3:20 For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.

John3:21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God."

†  Those who reject the truth seek to escape judgment from the light. Because the Son is the light, those who reject the truth try to escape from judgment by the Son and kill the Son.[321] But those who reject the Son cannot escape the judgment.[322]

John8:12 Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life."

†  Only the Son is the true light in the creation world. Every light is given only through the Son. The Son is the commandments[323], and the commandments are the life.[324] Only through the commandments of light can creatures gain life and be continued their existence.[325]

John12:46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness.

†  Only through the Son can we escape from darkness. Darkness is lies[326] and death that leads to judgment[327].

2Cor.4:4 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.

†  When humans receive the light of our Lord Jesus and be resurrected or transformed into the perfect images of God, the truthfulness of the commandments is finally confirmed.[328] Satan's blasphemous assertion that “God compels His creatures to keep the commandments of love that cannot be kept. The commandments are the law that creatures cannot keep in the first place, so it is not sin to violate the commandments[329], and his crimes of trampling on his neighbor creatures do not need to be judged.[330]” is exposed as lies. Only those who keep the commandments can overcome death, and only those who overcome death are resurrected or transformed[331], so the resurrection and the transformation prove the truthfulness of the commandments. If the truthfulness of the commandments is proved, the commandments are established as the basis of judgment, and judgment is executed against all offenders who trample on their neighbors.[332]

Heb.1:3 His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

†  The Son is the radiance of the Father's glory and the exact representaion of His being. All creatures are being sustained even now by the powerful word of the Son. Just as the Father is the light, the Son is the light that sustains the creation world.[333] Through the Son the Father gives life to the creatures[334], and through the Son He sustains the creation world.[335] Although God the Son, being in very nature God, is equal to God the Father, He made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a creature.[336] To His creatures created in space and time, God the Son is revealing Himself as a creature confined in space and time. I believe that we creatures cannot dare to know[337] how God the Creator who created space and time[338] and still maintains the creation world[339], can now exist as a creature confined in space and time.[340]

2Pet.1:16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

2Pet.1:17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

†  Witnesses testify that the Creator became a creature.[341] We are the witnesses.[342] Those who believe in the testimony through the witnesses[343], submit to the Creator who has become a creature, and are forgiven of their sins.[344] If they remain in the forgiveness of their sins until the end[345], and do not pour out grace in vain[346], they will even reach salvation.[347] But the garbage that rebel against the Son and trample their neighbors[348] will surely be thrown into the lake of fire.[349]

1John1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

1John2:8 Again, I write a new commandment to you, which is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shines.

†  The Son is the light of glory that illuminates the creation world.

[1] 

#model and shadow #Messiah #Christ

[jannis-world-connection]

Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:21-22 In this passage Jesus frames anger in terms of the sixth commandment (“You shall not murder,” Exodus 20:13), knowing that most of his listeners would think they hadn’t broken it. But rather than congratulating them for being obedient, Jesus explains how they have violated the spirit behind the command. He does this by giving two examples of angry speech that are judgmental or condemning. The Aramaic word Raca can be translated as “idiot” or “stupid”—it’s a way of questioning the mind of someone who has wronged you. The second word Jesus uses, which is translated as “fool,” is a judgment on another person’s character. It may seem like a stretch to compare angry speech with physical murder, but Jesus wants us to understand the power of our words. Angry speech is destructive against another person made in God’s image. It can push them into shame or self-loathing, rather than leading to fruitful repentance. And oftentimes our angry words create a cycle of retaliation and escalating anger. So we must learn to control our anger and not to speak rashly. Thankfully, through Christ, we can find the grace to root anger and its hurtfulness out of our lives, and to become the peacemakers we are called to be. Prayer!!! Lord, help me not to rush into judging people out of anger. Move me to greater grace and compassion for everyone, even those who might hurt me. Amen 🙏♥️ https://www.instagram.com/p/CVU5p5irHkB/?utm_medium=tumblr

[bills-bible-basics]

JEWISH COUNCIL OF SEVENTY, OR SANHEDRIN -- KJV (King James Version) Bible Verse List King James Version Bible verse list compiled by Bill Kochman concerning the topic "Jewish Council of Seventy, or Sanhedrin". Visit my page at https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/ to see all the lists I've compiled to date. Thanks! King James Version Bible verse list compiled by Bill Kochman concerning the topic "Jewish Council of Seventy, or Sanhedrin". Visit my page at https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/ to see all the lists I've compiled to date. Thanks! "And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off . . . Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:" Exodus 24:1, 9, KJV "And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee . . . And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle. 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 11:16, 24-25, KJV "And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about. And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth." Ezekiel 8:9-12, KJV In the New Testament, we find the counterpart to these Seventy Elders in such verses as the following; however, they were definitely not the same God-fearing people who comprised the Sanhedrin under Moses' leadership. If they had been, they wouldn't have killed Jesus Christ: "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." Matthew 5:22, KJV "Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;" Matthew 26:59, KJV "And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate." Mark 15:1, KJV "And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought." Acts 5:21, KJV "On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them." Acts 22:30, KJV Please note that the word "council" is derived from the Greek form of the word "Sanhedrin", which is transliterated from Greek as "sunedrion". If you would like more info regarding the origin of these KJV Bible verse lists, go to https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/. Thank-you! https://www.billkochman.com/Blog/index.php/jewish-council-of-seventy-or-sanhedrin-kjv-king-james-version-bible-verse-list/?feed_id=20318&_un

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Personal Relationship—Murder Matthew 5:21-26

Here Christ teaches that murder is simply the manifestation of what is taking place in the heart and not just the act of physical murder. 

George Whitefield Clark—Verse 21: “Ye have heard. In the public reading and exposition of the law by the scribes. That it was said by them of old time. Correctly translated, ‘to those of old,’ or ‘to the ancients.’ Jesus is referring to the tress put upon the mere letter of the law by the scribes. They taught that this was the full meaning of the law, as given to the ancient people of God, and as confirmed by tradition. Christ is not speaking in opposition to Moses, or to the Old Testament, but to the false exposition of the Pharisees. Going beyond the mere letter, he shows the spirituality and the depth of the law, which in its application reaches the mind and the heart. Compare Paul's experience, Rom. 7:7-12. Thou shalt not kill. Ex. 20:13. Jesus begins with the second table of the law concerning duties to our neighbor; aud with the Law of Murder, a most obvious precept. The relation of man to man is more easily apprehended than that of man to God. And if men fail to come up to the requirements of the law in regard to their neighbor, much more would they be likely to fail to meet those higher requirements in regard to God. Indeed, failure in the former would be proof of failure in the latter, 1 John 4:20. And whosoever shall kill, etc. This was added by the traditions of the scribes, limiting the law to actual murder—the outward act—and making it merely an external legal enactment. Danger of the judgment. An inferior court among the Jews; constituted in every I city, in conformity with Deut. I6:18, consisting, according to Josephus, of seven persons, and having the power of slaying with the sword. Joseph. Ant. iv.8, 14.”  24 Philip Doddridge—Verse 22: “But I say unto you, That it was the design of God in this precept to prohibit extravagant passions and abusive language, as well as the most fatal effects of them in destroying the lives of each other: so that whosoever shall, without just cause, be angry with his brother, so as secretly to wish him evil, shall be obnoxious to the judgment, or shall be liable to a worse punishment from God than any that your common courts of judicature can inflict and whosoever to his secret anger shall add opprobrious and contemptuous words; or, for instance, shall say to his brother, Raca, that is, Thou worthless empty fellow, shall be exposed to yet more terrible effects of the Divine resentment, and be obnoxious to a yet severer punishment, that will as far exceed the former as that inflicted by the Sanhedrim, which extends to stoning, does that which follows on the judgment of the inferior courts, which only have the power of the sword, but whosoever, in his unreasonable passion, shall presume to say unto his brother, Thou fool, that is, Thou graceless wicked villain, thereby impeaching his moral character, as well as reflecting on his intellectual, shall be obnoxious to the fire of hell, or to a future punishment more dreadful even than that of being burnt alive in the valley of Hinnom, from whence you borrow the name of those infernal regions.”  25 Charles John Ellicott—Verses 23-24: “(23) If thou bring thy gift to the altar.—Literally, If thou shouldst be offering. Our Lord was speaking to Jews as such, and paints, therefore, as it were, a scene in the Jewish Temple. The worshipper is about to offer a ‘gift’ (the most generic term seems intentionally used to represent any kind of offering), and stands at the altar with the priest waiting to do his work. That is the right time for recollection and self-scrutiny. The worshipper is to ask himself, not whether he has a ground of complaint against any one, but whether any one has cause of complaint against him. This, and not the other, is the right question at such a moment—has he injured his neighbour by act, or spoken bitter words of him? (24) Leave there thy gift.—The words describe an act which would appear to men as a breach of liturgical propriety. To leave the gift and the priest, the act of sacrifice unfinished, would be strange and startling, yet that, our Lord teaches, were better than to sacrifice with the sense of a wrong unconfessed and unatoned for, and, a fortiori, better than the deeper evil of not being ready to forgive. The Talmud gives a curious rule, to which the words may perhaps allude: ‘If a man is on the point of offering the Passover, and remembers that there is any leaven left in the house, let him return to his house, and remove it, and then come and finish the Passover’ (Pesachim, f. 49). What the scribes laid down as a duty in regard to the ‘leaven of bread,’ our Lord applies to the leaven of malice and wickedness. Be reconciled.—It is not enough to see in this only a command to remove ill-will and enmity from our own mind, though that, of course, is implied. There must be also confession of wrong and the endeavour to make amends, to bring about, as far as in us lies, reconciliation, or at-one-ment..”  26 John Bird Sumner—Verses 25-26: “25. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. The only way of subduing the evil passions of envy, hatred , and malice, is to repress every hostile feeling in the first bud. Even acts of religious duty, however needful, are not so urgent as this; and till this is done, are displeasing rather than acceptable to God. It was an act of duty to bring a gift to the altar; Moses had commanded, (Deut. xvi. 16 .) ‘Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty; every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.’ This, then, was an appointed, acknowledged duty. But ill-will rankling at the heart would corrupt all: ‘for if a man love not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?’ How can he entertain that humble, lowly spirit which a befits a sinner in the presence of his Judge, a creature in the worship of his Creator, while towards his brethren on earth he cherishes a malicious, unrelenting disposition? What then is to done? Must the feeling remain, and excuse the neglect of God? as is sometimes implied , in the reasons which men plead for absenting themselves from the Church, or from the Lord’s Table? The way of duty is very different. First be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. But be reconciled without delay; common worldly prudence requires you to agree with an adversary quickly; we know the consequences which often follow obstinate and persevering hostility even in this world; it often involves men in difficulties from which they endeavour to extricate themselves in vain. How much more serious is delay, when every day, during which you cherish an unforgiving temper, increases your condemnation before God? If thou fallest within the verge of his wrath, how shalt thou escape? Thou hast nothing at all to pay, and yet the uttermost farthing shall be required. If man is our adversary, prudence warns us to seek a timely reconciliation . Let this remind us how dreadful it would be to remain with God for our adversary. ‘Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.’”  27 Endnotes 24   George W. Clark, Clark's Peoples Commentary: The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1 (Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, 1896), 73-74. 25   Philip Doddridge, The Works of the Rev. P. Doddridge, Volume 6 (Leeds: Edward Barnes, 1804), 214-207-208. 26   Charles John Ellicott, A New Testament Commentary for English Readers (Matthew-John), Volume 1 (Edinburg: The Calvin Translation Society, 1884), 26. 27   John Bird Sumner, A Practical Exposition of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark, in the Form of Lectures (London: Hatchard & Son, 1831), 51-52.

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Is abortion the only pro-life issue?

Is abortion the only pro-life issue?  This isn't the first time I've written about abortion.  Or about other issues that should be of concern to Christians.  But it hit me during a conversation earlier today.  Why is it that so many Christians make abortion the litmus test - seemingly the only pro-life issue for Christians?  It makes no sense to me.  None at all. Is abortion the only pro-life issue? is article #1 in the series: Abortion vs Pro-life Issues Series. Click button to view titles for entire series Is abortion a pro-life issue?

Well, yes, abortion is a pro-life issue.  But is it the only pro-life issue?  We'll go through the abortion part of what I believe pro-life should be about.  In quite a bit of detail.  Not from the medical side.  Nothing gory.  Also nothing on when a fetus has a so-called moment where it becomes a living person. Instead, this is strictly a Biblical viewpoint of both the woman (or girl) having the abortion.  And also the Christian whose primary goal is to stop the abortion from taking place. If a woman has an abortion, obviously there will be no living baby as a result of the pregnancy.  I leave it to your conscience - something between you and whatever "god" you believe in.  For the Christian reader though - this is between you and Jesus. So, assuming that most Christians consider this to be killing, murder, ending a potential life, whatever you'd like to call it - you most likely do consider abortion to be a sin. But what about that sin?  Will Jesus forgive a woman for having an abortion?  With apologies to some Catholics who think the answer is no - sorry but the Biblical answer is yes.  No, the Bible doesn't say that anywhere.  You won't find the word abortion in the Bible.  However, consider a couple passages. Is abortion murder First of all, if you think abortion is murder, which most Christians probably do, then what about when Jesus said: Is considering abortion the same as murder? Guess what?  Remember this part of what Jesus said?   22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. Sure, we remember the murder part.  Most of us have never murdered anyone.  But how many of us can say honestly, to God, that we've never done the other things?  We'd all better hope Jesus forgives every one of those things. Also consider this passage.  For the Catholic readers, I have something following the passage to more clearly define the difference between mortal and venial sins. Can someone who had an abortion be forgiven? There's a lot of good stuff in that passage, but for this topic, notice: Mt 12:31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. Every sin will be forgiven, except one - blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The Greek word for blaspheme that Matthew wrote is: 988 βλασφημία n f. From 989; TDNT 1:621; TDNTA 107; GK 1060; 19 occurrences; AV translates as “blasphemy” 16 times, “railing” twice, and “evil speaking” once. 1 slander, detraction, speech injurious, to another’s good name. 2 impious and reproachful speech injurious to divine majesty.  Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship. So let's remember that, and also look at something Paul wrote. Living as Children of Light Eph 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. Eph 4:20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Eph 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Eph 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Eph 5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. ... Are there other sins committed in the abortion / anti-abortion process? Once again, there's a lot in that passage - and I even left off the last portion since it wasn't needed for context.  However, notice this paragraph: Eph 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Paul wrote:  do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.  In his book The Forgotten God, Francis Chan views this as refusing the promptings of the Holy Spirit too many times.  Not like there's an absolute number, but when it gets to the point where the routine normal thing to do is saying no to God.  I really like the book - and I agree that saying no too often would grieve the Holy Spirit. Keep in mind that we are to be disciples of Jesus, followers.  And that the Holy Spirit, as Paul also writes, is the mind of Christ.  Therefore, continuously saying no to the Holy Spirit amounts to essentially refusing to follow Jesus. That leads to a conclusion about the relationship between the two passages we just looked at - one by Jesus and one by Paul.  But let's look at the Greek word that we read as "grieve". 3076 λυπέω v. From 3077; TDNT 4:313; TDNTA 540; GK 3382; 26 occurrences; AV translates as “be sorrowful” six times, “grieve” six times, “make sorry” six times, “be sorry” three times, “sorrow” three times, “cause grief” once, and “be in heaviness” once. 1 to make sorrowful. 2 to affect with sadness, cause grief, to throw into sorrow. 3 to grieve, offend. 4 to make one uneasy, cause him a scruple.  Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship. So - if we compare the two passages, and the two Greek words (not necessarily the current meaning of the English words) - it seems reasonable that grieve the Holy Spirit is at least part of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. Frequently saying "no!" to Jesus seems to fit under evil speaking.  Seems like it to me, anyway. Next, for the Catholic readers.  You may think that mortal sins are not forgiven.  The excerpt below is from the second edition of The Catechism of the Catholic Church. IV. THE GRAVITY OF SIN: MORTAL AND VENIAL SIN 1854 Sins are rightly evaluated according to their gravity. The distinction between mortal and venial sin, already evident in Scripture, became part of the tradition of the Church. It is corroborated by human experience. 1855 Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God's law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him. Venial sin allows charity to subsist, even though it offends and wounds it. 1856 Mortal sin, by attacking the vital principle within us - that is, charity - necessitates a new initiative of God's mercy and a conversion of heart which is normally accomplished within the setting of the sacrament of reconciliation: When the will sets itself upon something that is of its nature incompatible with the charity that orients man toward his ultimate end, then the sin is mortal by its very object . . . whether it contradicts the love of God, such as blasphemy or perjury, or the love of neighbor, such as homicide or adultery. . . . But when the sinner's will is set upon something that of its nature involves a disorder, but is not opposed to the love of God and neighbor, such as thoughtless chatter or immoderate laughter and the like, such sins are venial.  1857 For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: "Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent."  1858 Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments, corresponding to the answer of Jesus to the rich young man: "Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and your mother." The gravity of sins is more or less great: murder is graver than theft. One must also take into account who is wronged: violence against parents is in itself graver than violence against a stranger. 1859 Mortal sin requires full knowledge and complete consent. It presupposes knowledge of the sinful character of the act, of its opposition to God's law. It also implies a consent sufficiently deliberate to be a personal choice. Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart do not diminish, but rather increase, the voluntary character of a sin. 1860 Unintentional ignorance can diminish or even remove the imputability of a grave offense. But no one is deemed to be ignorant of the principles of the moral law, which are written in the conscience of every man. The promptings of feelings and passions can also diminish the voluntary and free character of the offense, as can external pressures or pathological disorders. Sin committed through malice, by deliberate choice of evil, is the gravest. 1861 Mortal sin is a radical possibility of human freedom, as is love itself. It results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace. If it is not redeemed by repentance and God's forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ's kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices for ever, with no turning back. However, although we can judge that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God. 1862 One commits venial sin when, in a less serious matter, he does not observe the standard prescribed by the moral law, or when he disobeys the moral law in a grave matter, but without full knowledge or without complete consent. 1863 Venial sin weakens charity; it manifests a disordered affection for created goods; it impedes the soul's progress in the exercise of the virtues and the practice of the moral good; it merits temporal punishment. Deliberate and unrepented venial sin disposes us little by little to commit mortal sin. However venial sin does not break the covenant with God. With God's grace it is humanly reparable. "Venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness."  While he is in the flesh, man cannot help but have at least some light sins. But do not despise these sins which we call "light": if you take them for light when you weigh them, tremble when you count them. A number of light objects makes a great mass; a number of drops fills a river; a number of grains makes a heap. What then is our hope? Above all, confession. 1864 "Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven." There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss. Now, having said all that, notice #1864, at the end of it all. 1864 "Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven." There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss. What is the real unforgivable sin in Catholicism? The Catholic Catechism uses the same verse as I did, from the passage we looked at, titled Murder in the NIV.  The very same one.  And if you read the intent of the Catechism, rather than getting stuck on what we might think it says, the result is exactly what I pointed out earlier. There is one - repeat one - unforgivable sin.  The mortal sins talked about in the Catholic church are the ones that lead us to a point of saying "no!" to the Holy Spirit.  Saying "no!" to Jesus.  It's not any one, two, or any other absolute limiting number of "mortal" sins that's unforgivable.  Rather, the unforgivable thing is when we start saying "no!" to the Holy Spirit without even a second thought. Finally. I also want to point out what the Catechism says about venial sins. Deliberate and unrepented venial sin disposes us little by little to commit mortal sin. However venial sin does not break the covenant with God. With God's grace it is humanly reparable. "Venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness."  Venial sin, in and of itself, isn't something that will separate us from God.  However, they can have the effect of leading us to think they're pretty much nothing to worry about.  We just commit them, time after time after time ...  Next thing you know, we're on to bigger and worse things.  Then we end up saying "no!" more and more often.  Sound familiar?  It's about the condition of our hearts, not about the actual sin.  Why isn't it about the sin?  Simple, it's because every sin is forgivable, except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.  Period.   What about the deadly sins? I have to say, this has been a good refresher for me.  Having left the Catholic Church many, many years ago, it's hard to remember all the gory details of something I no longer follow.   Anyway, here's the thing on those so-called deadly sins, from Christianity.com. The seven deadly sins, as identified by Pope Gregory 1 in the late sixth century, are considered categories of sin: pride, envy, wrath, gluttony, lust, sloth, and greed. Many think the deadly seven are recorded in the Bible. Surprisingly, even though each of the seven is a sin, this list is not contained in Scripture. The history of the sin categorization began in the year 400. Evargius Ponticus a fourth century monk, described eight evils to resist. Two centuries later Pope Gregory 1, refined the inventory to seven. Almost every sin can be placed in one of these seven categories. Isaiah 14:13-14 tells us pride and selfishness are related to each of the seven and are viewed as the root causes of all sin. The Christianity site also addresses the question of whether these "deadly" sins can be forgiven. Yes, God can forgive all sins. No sin is greater or more deadly than another (Romans 6:23). There are some sins that bear more earthly consequences than others. For instance, murder has larger consequences than sinful anger. No matter the sin, the eternal consequences are the same— a separation from a holy God. But no sin too big or too bad that God cannot forgive (1 John 1:9). Rather than make you look them up, here are the referenced verses, with the entire passage for context. Slaves to Righteousness Ro 6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. Ro 6:19 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Again, the specific verse is the last one: 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The wages of sin is death.  Ultimately, my question is going to be about who is / are the sinner(s) in this whole abortion process - whether one actually happens or not. What's the difference between actually having an abortion versus considering one? In that light, let's also not forget what Jesus said about thinking something evil versus actually doing it. So adultery isn't really any different from looking at a woman the wrong way.  In that light, is having an abortion any different from seriously considering having one?  You may think, what's the big deal?  Surely the woman who actually had an abortion is worse than the one who didn't.  However, Jesus says that's not true.  Both have the same impact.  If anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart then it only seems reasonable that anyone who seriously considers having an abortion has already had an abortion in their heart. And if that's the case, what has been accomplished by preventing the abortion?  Some Christians might feel better about themselves for having prevented one, but isn't the "heart" of the problem long before the abortion actually takes place?  Hold that thought as we continue.   Here's the other passage referenced in the excerpt about the deadly sins.  The full passage is even longer, but I've kept enough of it go give context to what John is saying.  Remember - the quoted verse is 1Jn 1:9. Walking in the Light 1Jn 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1Jn 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1Jn 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1Jn 2:3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1Jn 2:7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. 1Jn 2:9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. ...  Are there unconfessed sins in the abortion / anti-abortion process? In light of what we've seen, and of what's coming next, pay attention to that verse: 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. My question will be - who has sinned in the process of having an abortion?  And just as importantly, in the ways that Christians often act in the process of trying to prevent an abortion?  And while we're at it - after the abortion?  Or even after an abortion doesn't take place?  Food for thought.  Some of those will be addressed later in this series. I said at the very beginning that we'd look at two things in here.   ... this is strictly a Biblical viewpoint of both the woman (or girl) having the abortion.  And also the Christian whose primary goal is to stop the abortion from taking place. So after all this, what about the Christian whose primary goal is to stop the abortion?  If that's you, I have a question for you.  By now, you know I consider abortion to be a sin.  You also know that I believe the Bible says even considering having an abortion is a sin.  And that the penalties for either one - considering an abortion and actually having one - are the same?  I wrote a little about that in If you stop abortion – so what?  I'll be going into greater detail later in this series.  Just want to get my viewpoint up front right away.  Before I ask that question.  Because the question is - do you think there's any sin involved in preventing an abortion and then walking away?  Depending on the statistics you read, it seems that about half of the pregnancies are done by unwed mothers.  About 3/4ths of the total number of abortions are for poor people.  Based on the numbers, many of those unwed mothers are, therefore, also poor. Conclusion - Is abortion the only pro-life issue? Now, consider something Jesus said. I don't want you to get lost in the weeds here, but there's something about when Jesus said  that you may not be aware of.  It's not obvious in the English translation.   You probably think it only says not to prevent the little children from coming to Jesus.  In the Greek, it actually says we should help them.  If we think about that for a moment - it actually makes more sense that we should help them. Of course, where it gets really messy is when we consider who is the "child".  Of course, in my discussion - it's not the fetus / baby.  It's the mother.  The mother who wants to follow Jesus - but is in a place where she doesn't know what to do.  She's not married.  She's too poor to support a baby.  And she can't work two or three part-time low paying jobs and still take care of her baby.  She doesn't know what to do.  She doesn't really want to have an abortion.  But doesn't know what else to do, because the Christians are screaming at her to not have the abortion.  But then if she has the baby, she also knows those many of those same Christians have, under the name of their political party, made it pretty much impossible for her to support the child.  And, few of them will offer any kind of help. Tell me.  Who all sinned in that scenario? We'll get into the answers to that question in the next part of this series on abortion. Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay   Read the full article

#abortion #Bible #Christ #Christian #Christianity #fear #forgiven #forgiveness #forgiving #God #Jesus #love #mercy #pro-life #religion #sin

[treenahasthaal]

Although he perhaps wouldn't admit it, Vader/Anakin was excited to train with his son, he had seen the boy in battle and he already knew he was talented.

The Lord Comander Racas stood in the middle of the training hall, head bowed, stance relaxed. He didn’t look up until Vader was standing less than a metre away, then he raised his head, blue eyes flashing with the anticipation of a fight. 

“Are you sure you want to do this? I won’t hold back, not now.”

The Dark Lord was impressed with the calm that he felt from his son, the readiness. “Nor will I,” he promised, feeling a twist of pride. 

Racas’ lips curled into a smirk and he unhooked his lightsaber from his belt, adopting a side on ready stance, unlit sword held firmly in both hands.

Vader retrieved his own weapon from his belt, immediately igniting it and sweeping the blade up. The red hue played over his mask and flashed in Racas’ eyes.

It was Vader who moved first; swinging the sword toward his son’s head. Racas dropped, rolled, and deftly rose to his feet out of his father’s range; sword still unlit.

Another lunge from the Dark Lord, another dodge. 

Lunge. Dodge.

Lunge. Dodge.

Each stroke missed. Each step was met with a duck and a dive. Racas was quick, nimble, feet squeaking and rapping on the floor as he moved.

Vader could feel his rage build, his anger rising hot and fiery. 

“Sword play demands the use of a sword,” he growled in frustration. 

Racas’ eyes narrowed, lips curling back in a feral sneer. “Who says we’re playing?” he teased, with a laugh.

Enraged Vader lashed out, he was out of range for the back hand, but the Force delivered the powerful blow and Racas’ head snapped to the side, he staggered, dropped the lightsaber and fell to one knee. 

“Get up,” Vader told him, “pick up your sword and use it.”

A breath from the boy, a trembling hand reached for the fallen saber but stopped in mid air and the fingers balled into a fist. Vader could feel his son fighting for control of his finer motor functions, could feel him wrapping the Force around him, in him, through him. 

It appeared that despite all of Palpatine’s manipulations and alterations the boy still suffered from periodic ataxia . 

Finally, Lord Racas’ fingers curled around the hilt of his sword and he drew himself to his feet. He centred himself, lifted his head and Vader could see the blooming bruise already swelling and darkening his son’s cheek.

Racas swallowed, licked his lips, and fixed his eyes on his opponent. “So, we’re using the Force after all?” 

Vader didn’t hesitate he swung his lightsaber, bringing it around in a wide arc, a brutal stroke, one powered by anger, frustration and...

Regret. This was his son! His son! 

... provocation. Racas threw his sword up and to the side, the flash of the hilt catching Vader’s eye, distracting him mid move, and the boy took advantage of the micro seconds of diversion. He jumped, somersaulted over Vader’s head and landed with precision, hand reaching out; his lightsaber landed in his palm. He lit it.

Committed to his move, Vader staggered forward, and with a snarl he came back around to find his son’s red blade a centimetre from an eye lens. 

“Drop your sword, my Lord,” Racas told him as Palpatine cackled from the gallery above.

(Dark Times: For Darkness Restores)

ooOOoo

Give me one sentence and I’ll write the rest. 

I have to be honest though and say that I haven't been entirely accurate to the Ask. Vader won't have seen Luke in battle in Dark Times.

#Dark Times #Luke Skywalker #Lord Commander Racas #The Emperor's Protector #Red Guards #Darth Vader #Palpatine #WiP #i need to finish this story #Star Wars #Fanfic #My Fic #Teaser

[tinagw1]

Day 19 of Commentaries on the Words of Jesus from the Book of Matthew By J. C. Ryle “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” ~Matthew ‭5:21-24‬ These verses deserve the closest attention of all readers of the Bible. A right understanding of the doctrines they contain lies at the very root of Christianity. The Lord Jesus here explains more fully the meaning of His words, "I came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill." He teaches us that His Gospel magnifies the law, and exalts its authority. He shows us that the law, as expounded by Him, was a far more spiritual and heart-searching rule than most of the Jews supposed. And He proves this by selecting three commandments out of the ten as examples of what He means. He expounds the sixth commandment. Many thought that they kept this part of God's law, so long as they did not commit actual MURDER. The Lord Jesus shows, that its requirements go much further than this. It condemns all angry and passionate language, and especially when used without a cause. Let us mark this well. We may be perfectly innocent of taking life away, and yet be guilty of breaking the sixth commandment. Now all this is very instructive. It ought to raise very serious reflections in our minds. It calls us loudly to use great searching of heart. And what does it teach? It teaches us the exceeding holiness of God . He is a most pure and perfect Being, who sees faults and imperfections, where man's eyes often see none. He reads our inward motives. He notes our words and thoughts, as well as our actions. "He requires truth in the inward (continued below) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0QYV00FT5J/?igshid=1hfltuqat1u33