Podcasts about Ahasuerus

Jesus Is The Way - Humility To Glory (5)  (audio)  David Eells – 3/30/25  I'm going to continue with our study on Jesus is the Way – Humility to Glory and talk with you today about who and what is blessed of God and what it truly means to be blessed.   Father, in the Name of Jesus, we ask that You open our understanding. Help us, Lord, to retain the things that You say to us. We need the Holy Spirit to bring to our remembrance everything, Lord, to protect us, to guide us, and to give us wisdom in the days to come. We hold fast to that promise because we need so much, Lord, that Your Spirit will bring these things to our remembrance again. Thank You, Lord, for blessing our minds. We know that our minds were created to be much more useful than they have been under the curse. We also know that according to Galatians 3:13, Jesus bore the curse for us and, therefore, Lord, we know that You're working to restore our minds today. We thank You for that, Lord. Father, we want to understand what Jesus did for us. We want to be able to exercise faith in Your Will. And in order to know Your Will, we need to have knowledge, Lord, so we ask You to open our knowledge and give us understanding, in Jesus' Name. Thank You, Father! Praise You, God!   Now some people may be wondering, “David, what does that word ‘blessed' actually mean? What is it to be ‘blessed?'” So let's go first to Deuteronomy 28 because the first 14 verses speak of that, and we can translate these into what they mean for us in our day.   (Deu.28:1) And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God (“Hearken” there is the Hebrew shama meaning “to hear and obey.” Not just be hearers of the Word but be doers of the Word {James 1:22}.), to observe to do all his commandments which I command thee this day (We know that the Lord has given us commandments in our Covenant, too. We need to be diligent to study them and obey them, and we know that by faith, God's Grace gives us power to do just that.), that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all the nations of the earth. This not talking about our physical nation where we live; this is talking about our spiritual nation. We are the nation of Israel. We who have been born again and believe in the sacrifice of Christ, according to Romans 11, have been grafted into the olive tree called “all Israel.” So we are Israel, not physical Israel, but spiritual Israel.     (Deu.28:2) And all these blessings shall come upon thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. (3) Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. (4) Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy beasts, the increase of thy cattle, and the young of thy flock. (5) Blessed shall be thy basket and thy kneading-trough. That was very important to them in those days, and this could translate into a few different things for us today, but basically, this was their livelihood and their food.    (Deu.28:6) Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. (So whether you're coming or whether you're going, meaning just about everywhere you are, you're going to be blessed.) (7) The Lord will cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thee… Now, we know that our enemies are both natural and spiritual, and Paul tells us this in (Eph.6:12) For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. The Lord has promised us victory if we will “hearken” diligently unto His Voice, meaning if we will keep His commandments.     (Deu.28:7) The Lord will cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thee: they shall come out against thee one way, and shall flee before thee seven ways. In the midst of the trial, “hearken” unto the Word. Accept the good report, and the devil won't know what to do with you, and neither will your physical enemies (Numbers 13:30). Our physical enemies come against us as persecutions and a matter of crucifixion, so the best thing to do is lay down your life. Stop trying to save yourself by man's methods. Put your trust in the Lord and “hearken diligently” unto His Word.    (Deu.28:8) The Lord will command the blessing upon thee in thy barns, and in all that thou puttest thy hand unto; and he will bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. (9) The Lord will establish thee for a holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee; if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways. (10) And all the peoples of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee. Wow! That certainly doesn't sound anything like Psalm 2, where we are told all the nations are going to come against God and against His people. Let's look at that.     (Psa.2:1) Why do the nations rage, And the peoples meditate a vain thing? (2) The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord, and against his anointed, [saying,] (3) Let us break their bonds asunder, And cast away their cords from us. And it's a far cry from what Jesus said in (Mat.24:9) Then shall they deliver you up unto tribulation, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all the nations for my name's sake. Instead, the Lord says the nations will fear you if you hearken unto His Voice.     (Deu.28:11) And the Lord will make thee plenteous for good, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee. (12) The Lord will open unto thee his good treasure the heavens, to give the rain of thy land in its season, and to bless all the work of thy hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. That's certainly contrary to what a majority of people believe about the Will of the Lord nowadays: “thou shalt not borrow.” The Lord says you'll lend, but you won't borrow, and that's part of the blessing, saints. If you hearken unto His Voice and believe what He says, He will provide your needs.     (Deu.28:13) And the Lord will make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if thou shalt hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do [them,] (14) and shalt not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. “Other gods” there is the word elohim, and many, many people today choose to follow another “Jesus” of their own making.  Paul complained about that even back in his day, didn't he? (2Co.11:3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. (4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, [or] if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with [him]. And if we follow after something other than the commands of God, He's not making any promises about blessing here. The blessing comes from our finding the Will of God in the Word and then walking in it through faith.    So who is it that receives the blessing of God? Let me remind you of the text we were studying last time in Matthew 5. (Mat.5:1) And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him: (2) and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying … (4) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Evidently, the people who are obedient “to the Lord thy God,” who do His Will, and seek to be submissive to His commandments, are a people that mourn. Now how could that be? In what way is mourning righteous and just? The thought that comes to my mind is that the first thing we need to mourn about is our own life. As David said, “I will not be satisfied until I awake in thy likeness” (Psalm 17:15). The first thing we have to mourn about is not manifesting the Life of Christ.   James also speaks about this. (Jas.4:6) But he giveth more grace. Wherefore [the scripture] saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. Grace is all we need to walk with the Lord. We've learned that grace is His favor in our life; His favor makes us able. He's putting in us the desires that we need and giving us the power that we need. Grace is all we need, and God says He gives it to the humble.     (Jas.4:7) Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (8) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded. (9) Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. (10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you. In whatever ways the Lord reveals to us that we're walking contrary to His commandments, that we're not hearkening unto His Voice, that we're not representing Jesus Christ to the world as true Christians, we have something to mourn about. And it should be grievous to us to not walk in His Steps because that's what it is to “abide in Christ” (1 John 2:27- 28; 2 John 1:9; etc.). It should be grievous to us to be anything contrary to the Will of God.    Of course, repentance always precedes faith. Faith alone won't overcome our own lack of repentance, and repentance is what mourning is all about. However, after we mourn what the Lord shows us about ourselves, we need to be careful not to spend too much time in condemnation. We confess our sin to the Lord, He forgives us, and then He cleanses us from it. (1 John 1:9) We need to go from there to faith. We need to reckon ourselves to be dead unto sin but alive unto God (Romans 6:11). So you repent and you mourn because of what the Lord shows you in your life, but He doesn't reveal everything all at once, or He would overwhelm us with grief. Thank God, it's “line upon line; here a little, there a little” (Isaiah 28:10). Otherwise, we probably would never come to faith because we would be overcome with condemnation. So He's very merciful. He leads us through our promised land to conquer one enemy at a time.     This reminds me of a vision my wife received in which she and her sister were standing underneath an apple tree, and worms were hanging out of the apples, just eating away at them. So my sister-in-law got a can of pesticide spray and started broadcasting it over the whole tree, but my wife said, “No, that won't work.” She took the can from her sister and told her, “This is how you do it.” She sprayed each one of those worms in the mouth, and as she did that, she realized that they were all little serpents, not worms. And, of course, that's what we have to do. We attack these things one at a time as the Lord shows them to us, and the first thing we have to change is our mouth as we're told in (Rom.10:10) for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. We have to put that wickedness to death. We have to use the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17).    And what does God promise us if we humble ourselves in His sight, if we cleanse our hands and are afflicted and mourn concerning this problem, and turn our laughter into mourning? He says that He will exalt you. Humbling ourselves is the first step. Yes, we can be grieved over other people's sins, and there's a place for that, but first, we need to get the board out of our own eye, so we can see clearly to get the mote out of our brother's eye (Matthew 7:3-5; Luke 6:41-42). Certainly, we can cry out to the Lord to give us the grace to humble ourselves, because working in us to will and to do of His good pleasure is something that comes from Him, too (Philippians 2:13). It's not a case of picking ourselves up by our bootstraps. We're not deceiving God by mourning over something that we don't feel. He knows if our repentance is sincere or not. The Lord wants to give us a conviction of sin. He wants to put that mourning in our hearts concerning sin. He wants us to hate sin as He hates sin (Psalms 1:5,5:5-6; Romans 1:29- 32; etc.)     Needless to say, there is a place of mourning because of the persecutions and the tribulations that come upon us through the wicked people around us. Jesus told us in (Luk.6:21) Blessed [are] ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed [are] ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. (22) Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you [from their company,] and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. We don't see that as a blessing, but it's listed here as one of God's blessings because when we're hated of the world, that means we're loved of God. If we weep because of what we're giving up in the natural, because of persecutions that we're suffering and enduring for Christ's sake, persecutions that we endure because of the crucified life, this is good.  The Lord is going to bless us for this.   Going on, He says (Luk.6:23) Rejoice in that day, and leap [for joy]: for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same manner did their fathers unto the prophets. (Luk.6:24) But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. (25) Woe unto you, ye that are full now! for ye shall hunger. Woe [unto you,] ye that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. It's better to weep and mourn now, while the world is rejoicing, while the world's been given the high hand, so to speak.     We're heading into a time when, other than the judgments that are falling upon them, the world is going to think they have everything going their way. They will be given authority over the saints to bring them to their crosses. You and I are going to be hated; we're going to be ostracized. They will cast out our names as evil, and God says we can certainly mourn over that, but He also says to rejoice because your names are written in the Lamb's book of life (Luke 10:20; Revelation 20:12,15; etc.) and your reward is great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Hallelujah!    (Luk.6:26) Woe [unto you,] when all men shall speak well of you! for in the same manner did their fathers to the false prophets. There is a time coming of much weeping and mourning, but He also commanded us in the midst of that to rejoice and leap for joy because, when the world hates you, that means God loves you. You're on His side, and you're on your way to His Kingdom. When we're loved of the world, and we love the world, then we're departing from God.     Let's look at another good example of what God considers to be righteous mourning. (2Pe.2:6) And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, having made them an example unto those that should live ungodly (God's judgment is coming upon the wicked, but, at the same time, He will save those who are His.); (7) and delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked… If we're not grieved by and mourning over the wicked life of the people around us, it's because we don't have the conviction of God in our hearts. The Lord Jesus wept over Jerusalem. (Luk.19:41) And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it, (42) saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. He was grieved at the hardness of heart in the people to not receive His Words from the Father.     It's right for us to be grieved because of the people around us who won't listen, won't submit to God, and who won't be convicted of sin, just as Lot was “sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked.” “Lasciviousness” is their license to “unbridled sensuality and excess.” Basically, it's their license to do what they want to do, and even among Christians, this is common. Their doctrines that promote lasciviousness and permit a person to live any way they want to live while still thinking that they are a disciple of Christ and are going to heaven are common. This is a strong delusion among major portions of Christianity, and it's just not the Truth. It's a deception that comes to people who are living after their own lusts and being bribed by self-will to please their flesh. Lot was sore distressed seeing this in the people around him, and we should be grieved today over people who call themselves “Christians” yet who walk in this way with the Lord.    (2Pe.2:7) And delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked (8) (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed [his] righteous soul from day to day with [their] lawless deeds): (9) the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment… That is so true! People wonder why they're living under a curse, and it's because they have turned the grace of God into lasciviousness (Jude 1:4).     They're living the way they want to live, and they're paying the penalty for their unrighteousness because the blessings come upon the people that “hearken to,” that “hear and obey,” the “voice of the Lord thy God.” The blessings come upon the people who are diligent to keep His commandments. This should be highly motivating for us to get into the Word to find out what the Will of God is and come out from under the curse. Yet, sadly, multitudes of people have insulated themselves with lascivious doctrines that permit them to live the way they want.    We know that Jesus wasn't talking about what we loosely call “Christians”; He was talking about “disciples,” which means “learners and followers.” We need to lead people into discipleship, but if they desire to live in the lusts of their flesh, they will believe and promote these flesh-pleasing doctrines. And I tell you, the “Lots” in this world will be grieved. They will mourn. They will be distressed over these kinds of things. The text says that it “vexed [his] righteous soul,” but the Greek basanizó translated as “vexed” is actually “tormented, tortured.” It tormented Lot's soul to see the “lascivious life of the wicked.”     The lasciviousness being spoken about here is not referring to the wicked because we know that's how the wicked live. It's talking about those who are promoting the lifestyle among Christians, and the rest of the text agrees with that. (2Pe.2:9) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment; (10) but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion… The Numeric Bible states the word here for “dominion” is “lordship.” These people “that walk after the flesh” despise anybody ruling over their lives. They just want to do what they want to do, which is why they despise dominion, whether it be the dominion of those whom God has sent to be leaders or the dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. They would rather make up their own mind about what the Scripture says and their own “Jesus” that smiles upon their lifestyle.    (2Pe.2:10) But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities: (11) whereas angels, though greater in might and power, bring not a railing judgment against them before the Lord. These self-righteous people, here, are the ones that are going to persecute the saints. They're self-righteous in their religion, and they rail at people who are dignities. The Greek word dóksa, translated there as “dignities,” actually means “glories; majesties; brightness.”     And who are the glories being spoken of here? (2Co.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. As we manifest Christ to a greater and greater degree, we grow from glory to glory: from star glory to moon glory, to sun glory. Paul pointed out the three different bodies that are given to the people who manifest the different glories (1 Corinthians 15:35-49). We grow into these glories, and the closer you get to Christ and manifest His life, the more that religious people will rail at you and come against you. But remember this: the fact that some people hate you is a good sign, and the Lord says to “leap for joy.”     (2Pe.2:12) But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed, (13) suffering wrong as the hire of wrong-doing; [men] that count it pleasure to revel in the day-time, spots and blemishes, revelling in their deceivings while they feast with you… Some people are actually trying to deceive us. They're “pretend Christians.” They live in the world because they love the world, but they like to “talk the talk” when they're among Christians. They're sons of perdition hidden in the midst (John 17:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:3) whom the Lord is going to reveal for what they truly are.     And they love the hire of wrong-doing because they've been bribed by their flesh, which they love to please. (2Pe.2:13) Suffering wrong as the hire of wrong-doing; [men] that count it pleasure to revel in the day-time, spots and blemishes, revelling in their deceivings while they feast with you; (14) having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; enticing unstedfast souls; having a heart exercised in covetousness; children of cursing; (15) forsaking the right way (We can see here that he's talking about people who profess Christianity.), they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the [son] of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing… Yes, just as Balaam did, these people love the pay, love the advantage gained by wrong-doing.    So, whom did Jesus cry over? It was God's people because they wouldn't come to Him (Luke 19:41). He grieved over them, saying, (Luk.13:34) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen [gathereth] her own brood under her wings, and ye would not! Much of our grief, too, is for Christians. It's for lost loved ones that we've prayed for to come into the Kingdom. It's like the grief that Lot felt about the people being led astray around him. If we have a holy heart and we are seeking to be pleasing unto the Lord, then we will be convicted by the Word of God, and we will feel the same thing.     (2Pe.2:15) Forsaking the right way they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the [son] of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing; (16) but he was rebuked for his own transgression: a dumb ass spake with man's voice and stayed the madness of the prophet. (17) These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved. (18) For, uttering great swelling [words] of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error… That's very true. Many so-called “pastors” preach wonderful words, but they're enticing people with lascivious doctrines. They're full of greed for tithes and offerings, but they're just filling churches with tares, as Peter says. (2Pe.2:3) And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not.    We've studied and taught a lot about sanctification. We've been given warnings that there is a great falling away coming for those who are enticed away by lasciviousness (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1). Nothing will be able to stand above the water in the flood that's coming except for those that are righteous. They are walking with the Lord, and they have grace and faith. Nothing else is going to preserve God's people in the days to come.    (2Pe.2:18) For, uttering great swelling [words] of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error; (19) promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage. Multitudes of Christians are in bondage in Babylon! They may think that, through their knowledge of Christ, they've come out of the world and they've escaped the corruption in the world, but in reality, they've just been brought into bondage again with something that is not Christianity.     (2Pe.2:20) For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first. When people come back into bondage and they stay there, they become worse than the people in the world. They still walk in wickedness, yet they justify themselves because now they're self-righteous. They have knowledge but they're rejecting that knowledge. They're worse in God's eyes than the people in the world, and they're going to suffer greatly.     (2Pe.2:21) For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it (So these people have knowledge.), to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them. When somebody has knowledge and yet they continue to do the things that are contrary to that knowledge, they're a deceiver. We just read, “their deceivings while they feast with you” (2 Peter 2:12). These people are deceivers, and the Bible says, (Jas.4:17) To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.    (2Pe.2:22) It has happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog turning to his own vomit again, and the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire. This is heartbreaking! Great judgments are coming to the nations soon, and it's going to take away multitudes of people who consider themselves to be Christian. And because they don't have the mark of God, multitudes of Christians are going to take the mark of the beast.     (Rev.13:16) And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead; (17) and that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, [even] the name of the beast or the number of his name. (18) Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six. However, we also see the people that have the mark of God in (Rev.14:1) And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads.     Ezekiel also talks about God judging who is righteous and who is not righteous, based on whether they mourned and were grieved over the ungodliness that they saw around them. Let's look at that text first. (Eze.9:4) And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof. Again, we see this is not talking about the sin in the world, but the sin in the church. And the people that are marked in the forehead because they “sigh and cry over all the abominations,” are the people that are going to escape the wrath of God, the judgment of God, that's coming.     Chapters 5, 6, 7, and 8 repeatedly mention the “abomination” and the “desolation,” all leading up to chapter 9 and the mark of God. In chapter 8, we even see the image of the beast. And notice, when we read these chapters, how we don't find the theology that we hear in Christianity nowadays. In every case, the “abomination of desolation” described is God's people walking in the flesh in the Temple. They are the flesh man, and they are the beast ruling in the Temple of God. This is what God calls an “abomination.” And what does He give them for that? Desolation. The holy people of God grieve for them; they grieve for these people who walk abominably before the Lord.    (Eze.8:1) And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth [month]… Notice that these chapters are leading up to a time that's identified with six-six, and in the next chapter, six men come with their slaughter weapons in hand. That's six-six-six. And what does this identify? It identifies the end time, the time of the beast, the time of the abomination of desolation (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14). Now remember, in the New Testament there is no temple made with hands that God is interested in or concerned about being holy (Job 4:19; Matthew 26:61; Mark 14:58; etc.) It's the Temple “made without hands” that God requires and expects to be holy (Acts 7:48; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 9:11; etc.), and this is the only temple that can have an abomination of desolation.   Only the Temple of the Body of Christ can have an abomination that “maketh desolate,” because every other temple out there is desolate. God has departed from them. He will never again dwell in temples made with hands, and so they are desolate (Acts 17:24). But we are the New Testament temple; we can become desolate, “twice dead, plucked up by the roots” (Jude 1:12). That's the temple we need to be concerned about.     Paul told us, (Php.2:12) So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; (13) for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. And Peter exhorted, (2Pe.1:10) Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: (11) for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It should be the Lord Jesus Christ Who lives in us and Who manifests His holy Life in us.     Returning to our text in Ezekiel, God asks him (Eze.8:6) … Son of man, seest thou what they do? (All throughout these texts, it's always “what they do” and that's the abomination.) even the great abominations that the house of Israel do commit here (So the “beast” in the Temple is the corporate body of these people that walk in the flesh and are in rebellion against God.), that I should go far off from my sanctuary? (Or, in other words, “leave it desolate.”) but thou shalt again see yet other great abominations. (7) And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall.     (8) Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold, a door. (9) And he said unto me, Go in, and see the wicked abominations that they do here. (10) So I went in and saw; and behold, every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts… This is just as Solomon said in (Ecc.3:18) … It is because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are but as beasts.    Peter was given the same revelation. (Acts 10:11) And he (This is Peter.) beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth: (12) wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven. (13) And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. (14) But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean. (15) And a voice [came] unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common. Then Peter was given the understanding that God was speaking to him of the Gentiles, because all lost people are beasts, and so he preached the Gospel to Cornelius and his family (Acts 10:34-48). So we can see clearly from these texts that the “abominable beasts” in the Temple of God are these people who walk in the flesh.    Back to (Eze.8:10) 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, portrayed upon the wall round about. (11) And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel; and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, every man with his censer in his hand… Those 70 men are the Sanhedrin. They were the corporate body of the false prophet that ruled over the people of God in Jesus' day, and God calls this the “abomination.” (12) Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in his chambers of imagery? (There's the image of the beast in the Temple.) for they say, the Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the land. (13) He said also unto me, Thou shalt again see yet other great abominations which they do. Again, notice there is no individual man.     There is a corporate body committing these abominations that make desolate, and that body is not only the priests; it's also the people. (Eze.8:14) Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord's house which was toward the north; and behold, there sat the women weeping for Tammuz. (Tammuz was a false “Jesus” worshiped by Babylon. God is saying that in the midst of the Temple are those who worship “another Jesus” {2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:6}.) (15) Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen [this,] O son of man? thou shalt again see yet greater abominations than these. Well, this chapter goes on to speak of abomination after abomination, all committed by the people of God in rebellion against the worship of the true God. In their idolatry, they were creating gods after their own liking and in their own image.    (Eze.9:1) Then he cried in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause ye them that have charge over the city to draw near, every man with his destroying weapon in his hand. (2) And behold, six men… That's the third six. This represents the beast, and all throughout history, the Lord has given the beast charge over God's people when they were in rebellion. Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, and Rome each had authority over God's people in their day. Today we have a revival of Rome and, just as the Lord gave those earlier beasts authority over His people, He is going to do that again because the beast is in the Temple and there has to come a desolation.   In 70A.D. God brought the Roman armies into Jerusalem to slaughter those who hadn't already slaughtered each other. Multitudes of the Jews were so full of the beast that they were killing each other off, and when the Romans came into Jerusalem, they just finished the job. [Editor's Note: Referenced from The Works of Josephus, translated by William Whiston, Hendrickson Publishers, 1987.] But, once again, it was the corporate body of the wicked in the Temple that was an abomination to God, and so He destroyed both them and their Temple.    (Eze.9:2) And behold, six men came from the way of the upper gate, which lieth toward the north, every man with his slaughter weapon in his hand… The Hebrew word for “slaughter weapon” is also translated “battle-ax,” and who does God call His “battle-ax”? Let's look at that. (Isa.10:5) Ho Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, the staff in whose hand is mine indignation! (6) I will send him against a profane nation (This is Israel.), and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. (7) Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few… (Well, the Assyrian beast thought this was their great idea to plunder Israel, but God says, “No, no, I put it in their hearts,” and He called these people His “ax.”) (15) Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith?… The Assyrians thought it was by their own might, but God says, “No, I gave you the strength to do this, and I sent you against these vain, abominable people, to judge them and bring them to their cross and, hopefully, to repentance.”     Truly, we're going to see a repetition of history come upon us in our day, although people with their lascivious doctrines teach that this is something which is only going to happen to little Israel far away from them. They refuse to understand that Christians are New Testament spiritual Israel. They are blind to the corporate beast body coming upon Christianity.     (Eze.9:2) And behold, six men; and one man in the midst of them clothed in linen… I believe this is Jesus in the Man-child. Revelation 12 tells us the man-child ministry is coming in the end times, and it's coming again like Moses, like Jesus, to show God's people the correct way. What the Man-child teaches is going to separate the sheep from the goats. It's going to define who is going to be judged and who is not going to be judged.     (Eze.9:2) And behold, six men; and one man in the midst of them clothed in linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side. And they went in, and stood beside the brazen altar. (3) And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the house: and he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer's inkhorn by his side. (4) And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem (So notice that He is not bringing judgment upon the world. He's bringing judgment upon God's house, upon those who profess to be His people.), and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof. Does it grieve you that God's people have been so led astray, so deceived by their leadership, and so lured into sin by their own self-will? Now listen, nobody can be deceived by another man if they don't first have a lust to live in that way and accept these false and lascivious doctrines.    People are going to be self-deluded and self-deceived because, just like Balaam, they love the hire of wrong-doing. They love to please their old flesh. And they're being bribed by the flesh to accept a doctrine, a teaching, a lifestyle that is permitting the old man to live. Saints, we're here to live the crucified life (Matthew 10:38; Mark 8:34; Luke 14:27; Hebrews 13:13), and if we don't lose our life, we won't gain our life (Matthew 16:26; Luke 9:25).    (Eze.9:5) And to the others he said in my hearing, Go ye through the city after him, and smite… He is speaking to the beast here, the six men. Six is the number of the beast, and six is the number of man. In fact, the sixth chapter of the sixth verse of the sixth book in the New Testament talks about the old man. (Rom.6:6) Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [him,] that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin.    (Eze.9:5) And to the others he said in my hearing, Go ye through the city after him, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity; (6) slay utterly the old man, the young man and the virgin, and little children and women; but come not near any man upon whom is the mark … Now the mark being spoken of here is the mark of the Lord, and it identifies those who are members of the body of Christ, just as the mark of the Beast identifies those who are members of the body of the Beast. Jesus said there are only two men in the earth, Christ and anti-Christ (Matthew 24:40; Luke 17:36). The truth is that people love to identify themselves as “Christian”, but these marks will prove in the coming days who really are Christians and who are not.     (Eze.9:6) Slay utterly the old man, the young man and the virgin, and little children and women; but come not near any man upon whom is the mark: and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the old men that were before the house. (In other words, they've lived longer, and they know more, so they're more guilty than anyone else.) (Eze.9:7) And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. Great destruction is coming against Christianity because it doesn't reflect what was given to us through Jesus Christ. We are to (Jud.1:3) … contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints. The faith of our day won't count because religion has turned people away, through their own lustful desires, from true discipleship. (1Jn.2:6) He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked. “Discipleship” is walking in the Master's Steps, and that means a disciple studies their Master to walk as He walked.    (Eze.9:7) And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and smote in the city. (Eze.9:8) And it came to pass, while they were smiting, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord God! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy wrath upon Jerusalem? Well, we know this is coming again because it says in (Ecc.1:9) That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. The Israelites were types and shadows of the end time, and a great falling away will happen just as the Bible says (2 Thessalonians 2). And notice this is old Jerusalem receiving judgment. This is the old city and the people that belonged to it. This is not born-again Jerusalem.    Then in (Eze.10:2) And he spake unto the man clothed in linen, and said, Go in between the whirling [wheels], even under the cherub, and fill both thy hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city… In other words, he brings judgment. The Man-child ministry is coming to bring judgment upon the city of God. These judgments are going to cleanse it of the goats and cleanse it of the tares. The Lord Jesus Himself spoke words that separated the goats from the sheep, separated the wheat from the tares. His Words brought judgment in His day, and the ministry of the Manchild will do the same in these days, but the people that will escape are the people who have been, and are going to mourn. They are the ones that are blessed, according to Jesus. While the world is rejoicing, they will mourn because of the great wrath and the judgment of God upon the people that call themselves “Christians.” They will mourn because of the great falling away of the people who had no faith.     We need to see and understand that the judgment that's coming is going to prove who has faith and who does not have faith. The judgment that's coming is going to prove who is a believer and who is not a believer. The wilderness tribulation for Israel was to prove whether they had faith or not. And, of course, Joshua and Caleb, who had faith, went to the Promised Land (Numbers 32:12). They didn't have to die in the wilderness because they had faith. They believed in the Lord. They spoke His Word, and they didn't die like the men who spoke the bad report, they spoke against the Lord and died in the wilderness (Numbers 26:65). Once again, today we are coming to a “wilderness” that God is going to use to prove who is truly of Him and who is not. The Word of God is going to separate the sheep from the goats. We need to put the Word in our hearts so that we have the conviction of Jesus Christ, so that sin is sinful to us, so that the rebellion of rebellious people grieves us.     Father, in the Name of Jesus, we're asking You, Lord, that You convict those “Christians” who have created a religion and a doctrine that pleases them because they don't have to give up anything. They don't believe they have to live a sacrificial life; they don't have to deny themselves; they don't have to take up their cross. Lord, we ask that You convict them mightily and that You bring them to You, Father, in the Name of Jesus. Thank You so much, Lord. Amen.  Now, I'd like to share some other scriptures about the blessings that will come from the Lord for those who have mourned, as we've been discussing. When the Man-child ministry begins, Jesus is coming with His reward!  Zion, the Bride, has gone through their time of mourning and warfare to get rid of their sins and their enemies within. To get rid of the leaven. Jer.9:17 Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for the skilful women, that they may come: 18 and let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters. 19 For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we ruined! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because they have cast down our dwellings. 20 Yet hear the word of Jehovah, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth; and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbor lamentation. 21 For death is come up into our windows, it is entered into our palaces; to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets. 22 Speak, Thus saith Jehovah, The dead bodies of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman; and none shall gather them.     23 Thus saith Jehovah, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; 24 but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he hath understanding, and knoweth me, that I am Jehovah who exerciseth lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith Jehovah. 25 Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will punish all them that are circumcised in their uncircumcision: 26 Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, (All of the faction) and all that have the corners of their hair cut off, that dwell in the wilderness; for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart.    Zec.12:10-11 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born. 11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.  Psa.35:11-17 Unrighteous witnesses rise up; They ask me of things that I know not. 12 They reward me evil for good, To the bereaving of my soul. 13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I afflicted my soul with fasting; And my prayer returned into mine own bosom. 14 I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother: I bowed down mourning, as one that bewaileth his mother. 15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: The abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; They did tear me, and ceased not: 16 Like the profane mockers in feasts, They gnashed upon me with their teeth. 17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, My darling from the lions.  The sorrow of persecution and crucifixion is now turning into joy for those of the remnant Bride. Est.4:1-3 Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; 2 and he came even before the king's gate: for none might enter within the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. 3 And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.   Est.9:20 And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, 21 to enjoin them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, 22 as the days wherein the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. (Down goes the DS and religious factions.) Isa.40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem; and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she hath received of Jehovah's hand double for all her sins.    Psa 30:2 O Jehovah my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. 3 O Jehovah, thou hast brought up my soul from Sheol; Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. (Like Joseph, who came out of prison to the lies that were told about him by the harlot, to rule and preserve the people through the tribulation famine.)    4 Sing praise unto Jehovah, O ye saints of his, And give thanks to his holy memorial name. 5 For his anger is but for a moment; His favor is for a life-time: Weeping may tarry for the night, But joy cometh in the morning. (Here is the joyful saints again) 6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, I shall never be moved. (But through much tribulation shall we enter the Kingdom) 7 Thou, Jehovah, of thy favor hadst made my mountain to stand strong: Thou didst hide thy face (As in the crucifixion of Jesus the Man-child type.); I was troubled. 8 I cried to thee, O Jehovah; And unto Jehovah I made supplication: 9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth? 10 Hear, O Jehovah, and have mercy upon me: Jehovah, be thou my helper. (Been there)    11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; Thou hast loosed my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Jehovah my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. (Joy of the David's and the Bride.)    Joh.16:20-24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament (Because Jesus was crucified), but the world shall rejoice: ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. (Because He is coming again in the Man-child reformers.) 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow (This is the Woman Church in Revelation 12 in our day.), because her hour is come: but when she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for the joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye therefore now have sorrow: but I will see you again (in the Man-child reformers of Rev.12), and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one taketh away from you. 23 And in that day ye shall ask me no question. Verily, verily, I say unto you, if ye shall ask anything of the Father, he will give it you in my name. 24 Hitherto (Meaning until this time) have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be made full.    Psa.30:1-12 A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication of the House. (Representing the true house of God, not that of Babylonish captivity) A Psalm of David. I will extol thee, O Jehovah; for thou hast raised me up, And hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. (This is the David Man-child but also Joseph the Man-child was resurrected from prison, like Jesus the Man-child was, to rule those who lied about him.)  Isa.61:1 The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of Jehovah's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified…  6 But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. 7 Instead of your shame ye shall have double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be unto them. 8 For I, Jehovah, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 And their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Jehovah hath blessed.  10 I will greatly rejoice in Jehovah, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with a garland, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth bringeth forth its bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord Jehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.     Isa.51:3 For Jehovah hath comforted Zion; he hath comforted all her waste places, and hath made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Jehovah; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.  Isa 51:11 And the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: …    Isa.57:15-18 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. 16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls that I have made. 17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him; I hid my face and was wroth; and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart. 18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.      Isa.66:10-14 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn over her; 11 that ye may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. 12 For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and ye shall suck thereof; ye shall be borne upon the side, and shall be dandled upon the knees. 13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. 14 And ye shall see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like the tender grass: and the hand of Jehovah shall be known toward his servants; and he will have indignation against his enemies.    Isa.12:1-6 And in that day thou shalt say, I will give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah; for though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away and thou comfortest me. 2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for Jehovah, even Jehovah, is my strength and song; and he is become my salvation. 3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day shall ye say, Give thanks unto Jehovah, call upon his name, declare his doings among the peoples, make mention that his name is exalted. 5 Sing unto Jehovah; for he hath done excellent things: let this be known in all the earth. 6 Cry aloud and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great in the midst of thee is the Holy One of Israel.    Rev.21:2-4 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God: 4 and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away. 

9 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. 3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. 8 To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. 12 He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. 14 Therefore the Lord has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 16 “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.” Gabriel Brings an Answer20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the Lord my God for the holy hill of my God, 21 while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. 23 At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision. The Seventy Weeks24 “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Da 9:1–27.

Alan Radecki leads our celebration of Purim. The worship will lift our hearts before the Lord. We have a special worship-in-dance presentation, we read through portions of the book of Esther in a special “Reader's Theater” format, and use our "groggers."One of the peculiarities of the book of Esther is that there is no explicit mention of the name of God, nor of God himself. While at the outset this might strike us as odd, upon further reflection it serves to reinforce one of the book's major points, the veracity or trustworthiness of God and his word.The omission of God's name and reference to God himself in the book of Esther underscores what God had foretold Moses would come upon His people: He would hide his presence from them as judgment for their sin.The events of Purim reveal that while Israel may forget their God, God will not forget Israel. In the book of Esther, he acts behind the scenes unseen through his providence and sovereignty to demonstrate his love for and faithfulness to his Chosen People.YouTube: https://youtu.be/QIBbNqjDstoSend us a text

The Setting: After the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, the Jewish people are subjects under King Ahasuerus of Persia. The story begins with the king throwing a grand party, during which Queen Vashti is banished for her refusal to display her beauty to the guests.Esther's Rise to Queen: Seeking a new queen, Ahasuerus holds a beauty contest. Esther, a Jewish girl raised by her cousin Mordechai, is chosen despite her reluctance and without revealing her Jewish identity.Mordechai's Discovery: Mordechai uncovers a plot to assassinate the king and reports it, saving Ahasuerus's life.Haman's Plot: Haman, the prime minister and a Jew-hater, becomes infuriated with Mordechai's refusal to bow to him. He convinces the king to issue a decree to annihilate all Jews on the 13th of Adar.Esther's Courage: Upon learning of Haman's decree, Mordechai convinces Esther to intervene. Esther bravely approaches the king, revealing her Jewish identity and exposing Haman's plot.The Turn of Events: The king orders Haman's execution on the gallows originally intended for Mordechai. Esther and Mordechai then write a new decree allowing Jews to defend themselves.Victory and Celebration: The Jews defeat their enemies across the empire, and the day of their victory, the 14th of Adar, is established as the joyous holiday of Purim, celebrating the miraculous turn of events that saved them.Eye-Opening Moments PodcastEye-Opening Moments are stories of adversity, encounters, and perspectives. They are...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath's work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

TETZAVEHWhat You Wear, MattersThe entire world watched in astonishment at the confrontation between Trump and Zelensky over the weekend. Media reports indicated that one of the reasons for Trump's anger was the attire Zelensky wore to the White House. Instead of a suit and tie, as befitting a high-level diplomatic meeting, Zelensky arrived in the black shirt he has worn since the beginning of the war—a symbol of his ongoing battle rather than a step toward the peace agreement the American president sought.The question is: how important is clothing in world-changing disputes? More broadly, why do we invest so much energy in the garments we wear?Even in the Torah, in this week's Parsha we might find a similar curiosity. Why does Parshas Tetzaveh dedicate a lengthy chapter—43 pesukim, to instructions on designing the priestly garments? What is so important about clothing that it warrants such extensive detail?Moreover, the sages teach that throughout history, people have sought to lay their hands on the priestly garments. From Adam, to Yaakov and Esav, to Achasverosh—each adorned himself with these sacred garments. This naturally raises the question: what is the significance of donning these garments? Does wearing the priestly clothing turn Ahasuerus into a priest?

Istrouma Baptist Church (BR) Feb 9, 2025 ========== February 9 - Daniel Welcome! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org. We glorify God by making disciples of all nations. ========== Connection Card https://istrouma.org/myinfo February 9, 2025 - Tim Keith ‭‭Daniel‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭3‬‬ In the first year of Darius,  the son of Ahasuerus, a Mede by birth, who was made king over the Chaldean kingdom #— # in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the books according to the word of the Lord to the prophet Jeremiah that the number of years for the desolation of Jerusalem would be seventy.  So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. The prayer that is heard is the one prayed directly from God's word. Daniel 9:1-3 Jeremiah 29:10-14 Daniel 9:17 Daniel 9:19 The prayer that is heard is the one prayed directly from God's word. 1 John 5: 14 This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will(WORD), he hears us.15 And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him. John 15:7 – Jesus said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.” The prayer that is heard is the one prayed directly from God's word. When my failure meets God's compassion, hope is restored. Daniel 9:4 Daniel 9:9 Daniel 9:18 When my failure meets God's compassion, hope is restored. 1 Corinthians 1:27 -- God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. Daniel 9:23 Know what God has done, then ask Him to do it again. Daniel 9:15 >The prayer that is heard is the one prayed directly from God's word. >When my failure meets God's compassion, hope is restored. >Know what God has done, then ask Him to do it again. Want to receive weekly announcements in your inbox each week? https://istrouma.org/email Give Online Text ISTROUMA IBC to 73256 or go to: https://istrouma.org/give Our Website https://istrouma.org

01.18.25Move up to about 7:40 into the timeline to bypass the techical issue I was working through.What lies ahead with the changing of the actors? Let's have a look at the history and the the Biblical folklore, the celebratory death ceremony known as the Purim.Subscribe over on https://FTJMedia.com/channel/BaalBusters as well as on BitChute here: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/RkYZSLIwFdZbBEST HOT SAUCE of the Realm:https://SemperFryLLC.com to get Priestcraft: Beyond Babylon, AWESOME Hot Sauce and Creatine-HCL. Use code 1STOPSHOP for 10% OFFSTRIPE: https://buy.stripe.com/cN28wSelp30wgaA288BMC: https://BuyMeACoffee.com/BaalBustersGiveSendGo: https://GiveSendGo.com/BaalBustersGet a Signed Hellstorm NOW!https://www.moneytreepublishing.com/shop/hellstormCode: BAAL for 10% Off!Do It For Your Health! Join Dr. Glidden's Membership site:https://leavebigpharmabehind.com/?via=pgndhealthUse Code baalbusters for 50% OFF - LIMITED TIMEEuropean Viewers You can support here: https://www.tipeeestream.com/baalbusters/GET COMMERCIAL FREE and Exclusive Content: Become a Patron. https://Patreon.com/DisguisetheLimitsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ba-al-busters-broadcast--5100262/support.

We Reap What We Sow, Unless… (Audio) David Eells 12/29/24 Gal 6:7… whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. …Unless  Bear with me while I share how we got into this quagmire of reaping …and then the solution. The night of the 24th of December I saw in my mind the rich men who used their chemicals in train cars to wreck, spilling these deadly chemicals into streams to poison the land and people downstream. And the Lord was saying they would reap what they have sown in this life and in the next, forever. I saw the men and women who raped and killed children and babies and men and women, that they will reap what they have done here and for eternity they will be raped by demons. I saw the men and women who used their technology to destroy the lives and property of their victims in hurricane Helena through weather manipulation, and the FEMA murderers who killed them. They would all reap forever what they sowed. When I got up, I read of a couple of righteous people whose land and property were stolen by the IRS and a corrupt judge through prosecution, who broke every law with what they thought was impunity to make a political point. And we know that these will all reap what they sowed. You may say, “In what way will they reap what they have sown?” “Every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward.” Heb 2:1-3  Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; 3 how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard. Anyone can prove this for themselves. What happens to people who smoke? COPD and Cancer! What happens to people who trust in pharmakeia, also known as witchcraft in the bible? They die by the millions of many diseases because they destroyed their immune system because they trusted in man and not God. Jer 17:5-6 Thus saith Jehovah: Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from Jehovah. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, a salt land and not inhabited. What happens to gluttons? Various diseases! What happens to the depopulation cult that poisoned all the food? Gitmo! What happens to an economy when communist fornicators are in political office? Lack and starvation. Get ready. This is where the “Unless” comes in our title. God offers a way of escape. So listen to the Word of the Lord Who is never wrong! Rom 2:5-9 5 but after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 who will render to every man according to his works: 7 to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life: 8 but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation, 9 tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek; Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. We create our own future this way. Now I know that many prosperity preachers use this to get rich while they see others in desperate need in their own congregations. Jesus gave us an answer to this self-justified lust: Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another's (It is all God's because Jesus said we are stewards of 100% and not owners of 90%. “Except you renounce everything you have you cannot be my disciple.”), who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 14 And the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things; and they scoffed at him. 15 And he said unto them, Ye are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God... Verse 19 Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day: 20 and a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table; yea, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried. 23 And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted, and thou art in anguish. And Paul gave answer to this prosperity doctrine too. Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Pro 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; For he giveth of his bread to the poor. 2 Cor 9:6 But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. This is true in this life and the next. Of course those who charge the tithe are thieves for our Lord said “freely you have received freely give.” And many others answer this lie too. Job 4:8 According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, And sow trouble, reap the same. Proverbs 22:8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity; And the rod of his wrath shall fail. Mic 6:15 Thou shalt sow, but shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but shalt not anoint thee with oil; and the vintage, but shalt not drink the wine. Ecc 11:4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. If we look at the world and fear the future we will miss an eternal reward. ...6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. Ecc 12:13-14 This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Ecc 5:10-14 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase: this also is vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, save the beholding of them with his eyes? 12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much; but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. 13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt: 14 and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand. Hos 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. We are God's land and we should be bearing the fruit of the spiritual man. Here we have the sowing and the breaking-up of the fallow ground which is the hardhearted earth that doesn't receive the seed through lack of repentance. Hos 10:13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies; for thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. Psa 52:1…Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endureth continually. 2 Thy tongue deviseth very wickedness, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. 3 Thou lovest evil more than good, And lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. 4 Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. 5 God will likewise destroy thee for ever; He will take thee up, and pluck thee out of thy tent, And root thee out of the land of the living. (They are all dead) Selah. 6 The righteous also shall see it, and fear, And shall laugh at him, saying, 7 Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness. 8 But as for me, I am like a green olive-tree in the house of God: I trust in the lovingkindness of God for ever and ever. Mat 25:31 But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: 32 and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats; 33 and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; 36 naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink? 38 And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me. 46 And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life. Mat 7:1-2 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: (See, judgment is an outcropping of, and a fruit of, unforgiveness. And this man judged his fellow servant unworthy of forgiveness, so God judged him unworthy of forgiveness. It was a like judgment. What you sow, you reap, right?) and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you. However you measure it out to others, it's going to be measured back to you. Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? So, you think you're in a position to straighten somebody else out, and God says, “But, you have a beam in your eye.” 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. Basically, the Lord is saying, “If you don't forgive from your heart if you put yourself in the position of a judge, then I will judge you.” God will be unforgiving to you and you'll miss out on your Covenant right of forgiveness. And Verse 12 All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets. If the Lord speaks a judgment, it is from Him and not you. But don't dare judge if you are sinning. 2Co 10:6  and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full. 1Co 4:5 Wherefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise from God. Rev 2:23 …; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works. Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. Rev 22:12 Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is. Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them. 11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God, is evident: for, The righteous shall live by faith; 12 and the law is not of faith; but, He that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Jas 2:1 My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, and there come in also a poor man in vile clothing; 3 and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool; 4 do ye not make distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 8 Howbeit if ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: Jas 2:12 So speak (In other words, from yourself, speak grace if you want grace.) ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty. He's using the Law here by way of an example. If you want to use the Law, if you demand the Law be used on someone else, instead of giving them the same grace that the Lord offered to you, but you don't want to demand the Law be used to judge you, then you need to remember that the Lord will do the same to you; He will use the Law on you. 13 For judgment [is] without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment. What you sow, you reap, according to the universal law that the Lord has given us. If you sow mercy and if you sow forgiveness, and you refuse to judge (as Romans 14 warns against doing), then God will do so unto you. Do not be deceived, my brothers and sisters – whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. If you sow unforgiveness, you will ultimately reap the curse of Father's unforgiveness. Jesus said: Mar 11:25 And whensoever ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one; that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Many people are sick or cursed in other ways because of unforgiveness and judgment of others. Mat 18:34-35  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors (demons), till he should pay all that was due.  35  So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts. Jas 1:19-21 Ye know this, my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath (unforgiveness and judgment): 20 for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. Psa 62:12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth lovingkindness; For thou renderest to every man according to his work. Eph 2:8-10 for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not of works, that no man should glory. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them. Tit 3:8-9 Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men: 9 but shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. Col 1:10 to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Psa 128:1 Blessed is every one that feareth Jehovah, That walketh in his ways. 2 For thou shalt eat the labor of thy hands: Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Pro 18:20 A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. 1Sa 25:32-33 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, who sent thee this day to meet me: 33 and blessed be thy discretion, and blessed be thou, that hast kept me this day from bloodguiltiness, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. Pro 31:30-31 Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in the gates. Pro 11:16 A gracious woman obtaineth honor; And violent men obtain riches. Luk 21:1-4 And he looked up, and saw the rich men that were casting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And he saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than they all: 4 for all these did of their superfluity cast in unto the gifts; but she of her want did cast in all the living that she had. Mat 26:6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 7 there came unto him a woman having an alabaster cruse of exceeding precious ointment, and she poured it upon his head, as he sat at meat. 8 But when the disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? 9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. 10 But Jesus perceiving it said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. 11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. 12 For in that she poured this ointment upon my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. Act 9:36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. 37 And it came to pass in those days, that she fell sick, and died: and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber. 38 And as Lydda was nigh unto Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men unto him, entreating him, Delay not to come on unto us. 39 And Peter arose and went with them. And when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand, and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 1Ti 2:9 In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment; 10 but (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works. 1Ti 5:9-10 Let none be enrolled as a widow under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 well reported of for good works; if she hath brought up children, if she hath used hospitality to strangers, if she hath washed the saints' feet, if she hath relieved the afflicted, if she hath diligently followed every good work. Rom 16:1-4 I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church that is at Cenchrea: 2 that ye receive her in the Lord, worthily of the saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever matter she may have need of you: for she herself also hath been a helper of many, and of mine own self. 3 Salute Prisca and Aquila my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles: 1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 each man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire. 16 Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye. Pro 11:17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. 18 The wicked earneth deceitful wages; But he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward. 19 He that is stedfast in righteousness shall attain unto life; And he that pursueth evil doeth it to his own death. Jer 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it? 10 I, Jehovah, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. Eze 18:30-32 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord Jehovah. Return ye, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, wherein ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord Jehovah: wherefore turn yourselves, and live. Jer 32:17 Ah Lord Jehovah! behold, thou hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power and by thine outstretched arm; there is nothing too hard for thee, 18 who showest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them (children of sinners suffer); the great, the mighty God, Jehovah of hosts is his name; 19 great in counsel, and mighty in work; whose eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men, to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings: Pro 11:18 The wicked earneth deceitful wages; But he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward. Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. 28 A man that hath set at nought Moses' law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses: 29 of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 2 Cor 9:10 And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness: Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens, that they sow not, neither reap; which have no store-chamber nor barn; and God feedeth them: of how much more value are ye than the birds! Those who hoard up fall under a curse. Pro 6:6-11 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; Consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no chief, Overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her bread in the summer, And gathereth her food in the harvest. 9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man. Pro 10:5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son; But he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. Hos 8:7 For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: he hath no standing grain; the blade shall yield no meal; if so be it yield, strangers shall swallow it up. Isa 3:10 Say ye of the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him; for what his hands have done shall be done unto him. Oba 1:15 For the day of Jehovah is near upon all the nations: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee; thy dealing shall return upon thine own head. 16 For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the nations drink continually; yea, they shall drink, and swallow down, and shall be as though they had not been. 17 But in mount Zion there shall be those that escape, and it shall be holy; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. 18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall burn among them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining to the house of Esau; for Jehovah hath spoken it. Those who hate and curse their brother will die as Esau. Hag 1:5 Now therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith Jehovah. 9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith Jehovah of hosts. Because of my house that lieth waste, while ye run every man to his own house. Joh 4:34-38 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work. 35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white already unto harvest. 36 He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal; that he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 For herein is the saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye have not labored: others have labored, and ye are entered into their labor. Psa 7:12 If a man turn not, he will whet his sword; He hath bent his bow, and made it ready; 13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; He maketh his arrows fiery shafts. 14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity; Yea, he hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. 15 He hath made a pit, and dug it, And is fallen into the ditch which he made. 16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, And his violence shall come down upon his own pate. Est 3:5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. 6 But he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai. Verse 8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those of every people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them. 9 If it please the king, let it be written that they be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those that have the charge of the king's business, to bring it into the king's treasuries. Verse 13 And letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey. And we know that Mordecai and all the Jews, Esther and her maidens fasted and prayed. Then Esther went before the king and found favor with him and things were turned around for the Jews. 9:23-25 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them; 24 because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them; 25 but when the matter came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he had devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.  Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.  Jas 5:1 Come now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your silver are rusted; and their rust shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye have laid up your treasure in the last days. 4 Behold, the hire of the laborers who mowed your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth out: and the cries of them that reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 Ye have lived delicately on the earth, and taken your pleasure; ye have nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 Ye have condemned, ye have killed the righteous one; he doth not resist you. Jer 12:10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. 11 They have made it a desolation; it mourneth unto me, being desolate; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart. 12 Destroyers are come upon all the bare heights in the wilderness; for the sword of Jehovah devoureth from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh hath peace. 13 They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns; they have put themselves to pain, and profit nothing: and ye shall be ashamed of your fruits, because of the fierce anger of Jehovah.  14 Thus saith Jehovah against all mine evil neighbors, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit: Behold, I will pluck them up from off their land, and will pluck up the house of Judah from among them. 15 And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them up, I will return and have compassion on them; and I will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land. 16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, As Jehovah liveth; even as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built up in the midst of my people. 17 But if they will not hear, then will I pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it, saith Jehovah. 1Co 9:11-12 If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 If others partake of this right over you, do not we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. Gal 6:6 But let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Luk 13:6 And he spake this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none. 7 And he said unto the vinedresser, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why doth it also cumber the ground? 8 And he answering saith unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 and if it bear fruit thenceforth, well; but if not, thou shalt cut it down. The fruitless have not sowed the Word into their hearts. Luk 13:23 And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that are saved? And he said unto them, 24 Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence ye are; 26 then shall ye begin to say, We did eat and drink in thy presence, and thou didst teach in our streets; 27 and he shall say, I tell you, I know not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. (Those who are not saved from sin have not sowed the Word in their heart.) 28 There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and yourselves cast forth without. 29 And they shall come from the east and west, and from the north and south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. (Who have sowed the Word in their lives.) 30 And behold, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last. Remember what happened to the servant who was given the one talent? Mat 25:14 For [it is] as [when] a man, going into another country, called his own servants (The Greek word there is doulous and it actually means “bondslaves.”), and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey. 16 Straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents. 17 In like manner he also that received the two gained other two. 18 But he that received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. (Those who do not bear fruit with the Lord's talents are not acceptable and He is not their Lord.) 19 Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them. 20 And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 And he also that received the two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  24 And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter; 25 and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own. (He did not know the Lord and will reap no reward but the curse.)  26 But his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter; (But He did scatter but it was seed by the wayside.) 27 thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest. The servant with the one talent didn't bring forth any fruit from what was given to him. The Lord took away the one talent from him and gave it to the servant who had the 10 talents. Mat 25:28 Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath (fruit) shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not (fruit), even that which he hath shall be taken away. Again, a person who doesn't bear fruit is not “harkening,” which means “to hear and obey,” unto the voice of the Lord and even what they do have is going to be taken away from them Psalm 126:1-6 When the Lord brought back those that returned to Zion, We were like unto them that dream. 2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing: Then said they among the nations, The Lord hath done great things for them. 3 The Lord hath done great things for us, Whereof we are glad. 4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord, As the streams in the South. 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again in joy, bringing his sheaves with him. Our Zion is, in one parable, abiding in Jesus and His Word. Jas 5:6 And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell. The tongue defiles the body when our faith is in what we are told by the world and by the devil; therefore, it is what we believe and what comes out of our mouth that defiles the body. The “wheel of nature” or, as otherwise interpreted, “cycle of life,” is sowing and reaping. You speak things that are a curse and cursing comes upon you. You speak things that are a blessing and a blessing comes upon you. There is a cycle that tends to be upward and a cycle that tends to be downward. Pro 16:7 When a man's ways please Jehovah, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. The David ministry has won the peace. The Solomon, or peaceful, ministry will enjoy it with the Bride. Rom 13:1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: 4 for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience' sake. 6 For this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God's service, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Eph 6:5 Servants, be obedient unto them that according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 not in the way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 with good will doing service, as unto the Lord, and not unto men: 8 knowing that whatsoever good thing each one doeth, the same shall he receive again from the Lord, whether he be bond or free. 9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, and forbear threatening: knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him. Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord: 23 whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men; 24 knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 For he that doeth wrong shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. 1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to each man's work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear: 18 knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers; 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, even the blood of Christ: Mat 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 2 When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee. 5 And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee. Mat 7:24 Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock: 25 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the rock. 26 And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: 27 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof. Joh 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and so shall ye be my disciples. Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds. Luk 6:35 But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. 36 Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Luk 12:35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning; 36 and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord, when he shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may straightway open unto him. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, and if in the third, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his house to be broken through. 40 Be ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh. Most of Christianity did not know when He came for them. We must always be presentable. Luk 12:41 And Peter said, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even unto all? 42 And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath. 45 But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken (as many have); 46 the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the unfaithful. As happened with the faction. 47 And that servant, who knew his lord's will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes; 48 but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more. Luk 14:12 And he said to him also that had bidden him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest haply they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. 13 But when thou makest a feast, bid the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: 14 and thou shalt be blessed; because they have not wherewith to recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed in the resurrection of the just. 2Co 5:9 Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him. 10 For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 1Co 15:58 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord. Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God: 13 but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin: 14 for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end: Heb 6:4 For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance (as we have seen); seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7 For the land which hath drunk the rain (the good Word from heaven) that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God: 8 but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned. Heb 6:10 for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence unto the fulness of hope even to the end: 12 that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Heb 10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings; 33 partly, being made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, becoming partakers with them that were so used. 34 For ye both had compassion on them that were in bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your possessions, knowing that ye have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Cast not away therefore your boldness, which hath great recompense of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise. 37 For yet a very little while, He that cometh shall come, and shall not tarry. 2Pe 1:3 seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue; 4 whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence in your faith, (the comma should be after ‘faith') supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; 6 and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness; 7 and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. 10 Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: 11 for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city. 1Co 9:24 Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. 25 And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: 27 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected. 2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in his sight. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you; 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and for ever. Amen. Heb 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward. Pro 23:17 Let not thy heart envy sinners; But be thou in the fear of Jehovah all the day long: 18 For surely there is a reward; And thy hope shall not be cut off. Psa 94:11 Jehovah knoweth the thoughts of man, That they are vanity. 12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Jehovah, And teachest out of thy law; 13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, Until the pit be digged for the wicked. 14 For Jehovah will not cast off his people, Neither will he forsake his inheritance. 15 For judgment shall return unto righteousness; And all the upright in heart shall follow it. Ruth 2:5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? 6 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: 7 and she said, Let me glean, I pray you, and gather after the reapers among the sheaves. So she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, save that she tarried a little in the house. 8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither pass from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens. 9 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. 10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found favor in thy sight, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a foreigner? 11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thy husband; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people that thou knewest not heretofore. 12 Jehovah recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of Jehovah, the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to take refuge. 13 Then she said, Let me find favor in thy sight, my lord, for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken kindly unto thy handmaid, though I be not as one of thy handmaidens.  Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. 12 This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you. Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment; 10 so that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offence unto the day of Christ; 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. 1Th 4:9 But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another; 10 for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren that are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more; 11 and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you; 12 that ye may walk becomingly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing. Php 2:12 So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and questionings: 15 that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world, 16 holding forth the word of life; that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labor in vain. Amen! Note: All of the judgments spoken of in these texts sadly will come to three out of four Christians according to the parable of the sower. But for the one part out of four, this is where the “Unless” part of the title would come in.  Unless we repent and hold to the faith of the Gospel that Jesus bore our sins and took them all away. Then we will see no judgment for sin at the end as we look in the mirror and see Jesus and become justified through faith. He bore the curse of our breaking His law. Mic 7:19  He will again have compassion upon us; he will tread our iniquities under foot; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Heb 8:12  For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And their sins will I remember no more.

Daniel 9:1-23 (ESV) 1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to […] The post The Prayer of Daniel (Daniel 9:1-23) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.

“Seeking the wealth of his people.” — Esther 10:3 Mordecai was a true patriot, and therefore, being exalted to the highest position under Ahasuerus, he used his eminence to promote the prosperity of Israel. In this he was a type of Jesus, who, upon His throne of glory, seeks not His own, but spends His […]

Send us a textIn II Corinth 2:14 there is a verse that speaks directly to our Pastor's present series of sermons. It reads as follows:“Thanks be to God who in Christ always leads us in triumph and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere.”These words sum up what the Christian life is all about. The apostle Paul wrote these words, after a terrible experience in which he had been abused so badly that he feared for his life. Yet, out of that, he writes that victory is the normal condition in the lives of believers.In this series of sermons, our Pastor has attempted to show us that true Christians will experience trouble from time to time but God's will for us is this: that we walk in victory. And that is the great truth the book of Esther shares with us.It is the marvelous story of how God delivers His people. We have seen how Haman plotted the destruction of the people of God by convincing Ahasuerus, the Emperor of Persia, to issue an edict to annihilate all Jews in the Empire. We have seen how Mordecai moved to prevent this by convincing Esther to inform Ahasuerus of what was happening. When this plot was exposed, the Emperor hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then, last episode we saw a new edict being issued, one that permitted the Jews to defend themselves when the enemy came against them. As our Pastor demonstrated, this provides a beautiful picture of Romans 7 in the New Testament, known as the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which sets us free from the law of sin and death.Support the show

REMEMBERING GOD'S DELIVERANCE #RTTBROS #Nightlight "And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, To establish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly" (Esther 9:20-21) Throughout Scripture, God has placed great importance on remembrance. From the Passover to Purim, the Lord established feasts and celebrations to help His people recall His mighty acts of deliverance. These weren't merely historical markers, but living memorials designed to strengthen faith and pass down spiritual heritage from generation to generation. In the story of Esther, we see how God turned the Jewish people's sorrow into joy, their mourning into celebration. What began as a plot for genocide became a testament to God's faithful protection of His people. Through Mordecai's decree, this deliverance was to be commemorated yearly through the feast of Purim, marking it as a time of "feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor." As Christians, we too are called to be a people of joyful remembrance. Our celebration of the Lord's Supper, for instance, serves as a profound reminder of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. These acts of remembrance aren't meant to be somber obligations, but rather opportunities to rejoice in God's faithfulness and share that joy with others. Just as the Israelites built memorial stones after crossing the Jordan River, we too should create lasting reminders of God's work in our lives. These spiritual markers serve not only to strengthen our own faith but also to testify to future generations of God's enduring faithfulness and power. The practice of remembrance requires intentionality. In our fast-paced digital age, we can easily fall into the trap of documenting everything while truly remembering nothing. We must purposefully identify and commemorate those pivotal moments when God has shown Himself mighty in our lives. Community plays a vital role in this spiritual remembrance. When we gather together to share our testimonies of God's deliverance, we strengthen one another's faith and create a tapestry of witness that spans generations. Whether around a family dinner table or in church fellowship, these shared stories become part of our collective spiritual heritage. True remembrance should always lead to thanksgiving. When we recall God's faithfulness in our past, it cultivates gratitude in our present and builds faith for our future. Like David, we should regularly recount the Lord's benefits and "forget not all his benefits" (Psalm 103:2). This practice of remembrance also serves as a powerful evangelistic tool. When we joyfully celebrate God's goodness in our lives, it presents a compelling witness to a world searching for hope. Our genuine joy in the Lord can draw others to seek the source of our peace and satisfaction. The transmission of faith from one generation to the next requires both personal testimony and corporate celebration. Like a relay race, each generation must faithfully pass the baton of faith to the next, sharing not just religious traditions but living testimonies of God's continuing work in their lives. Finally, as we cultivate these habits of remembrance, we build spiritual muscle memory that helps us respond to life's challenges with faith rather than fear. By regularly recounting God's past faithfulness, we strengthen our confidence in His present care and future promises, knowing that He who delivered us before will surely do so again. Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out. https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Throughout this year, we have been looking at undesirable couples of the Bible seeing that most of them struggled because they did not have a oneness in marriage. This is beyond physical oneness, but also spiritual and emotional.  We come to Ahasuerus and Esther, and we discuss what to do when a spouse is unequally yoked with a non-believer. Esther gives a beautiful example of God's love and grace as she interacts with her heathen husband.    Scriptures Referenced: The book of Esther II Corinthians 6:14   Resources Referenced: NHC Family Podcast Series: Undesirable Couples of the Bible NHC Shop Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Saviour is Born   Follow my  journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org   

Send us a textWe have traced the events which have led up to a climactic point for Emperor Ahasuerus, Queen Esther, Mordecai, and Haman to the point where the Emperor's eyes had at last been opened. He could now clearly see the true nature of Haman, and the deception which he sought to perpetrate. The king knew that his enemy was the person he once thought to be his closest friend. Of course, Ahasuerus struggled mightily with what he should do, but he eventually decided to treat Haman exactly as he deserved to be treated. He decided to hang Haman upon the very stake that Haman had erected for Mordecai earlier.Recognizing the true nature of Haman was the first step of the Emperor in freeing his Empire from the very thing that threatened its ultimate destruction. As Pastor will point out this morning, this has always been the first step in achieving victory our Haman; our fleshly natures. It begins at the moment we stop justifying and excusing our faults and failures; the moment we stop shutting my eyes to these faults and failures; the moment we stop passing our faults and failures off as being something else, and resolve to hang them on the tree where God put all of our sins, past, present, and future when Jesus Christ died. That is the beginning of living in victory in all our lives. This will be our Pastor's theme for today. We will examine Esther 8, where we will trace the steps that follow any decision we make to crucify our flesh. The sermon will open by reviewing the transfer of power when Haman was crucified, and the new authority structure that would be put in place.Support the show

Esther Ch 1-4:3, We examine the court of Ahasuerus, discuss his identity, and meet Esther, Mordecai & Haman the Agagite. Which Persian king is Ahasuerus? Cyrus? Darius? The first, second, the third? The great or not so great? We elucidate … Continue reading →

0122 亞哈隨魯 Ahasuerus by 靈修廣播站

Send us a textAt his current place in the=is series of sermons from the story of Esther, our pastor has now introduced to us an Emperor called Ahasuerus. He was the grandfather of Cyrus the Great. This Emperor had married a young Jewish girl named Esther, a captive taken from the city of Jerusalem, years earlier. Her cousin Mordechai later became a judge in the city of Susa the capital city of the Persian Empire.In the court of the king was an oily character whose name was Haman who managed to pull the wool over the King's eyes and deceived him into signing a decree to destroy all the Jews in his kingdom. The Jewish people are called “the people of Mordechai.”We should be aware that the book of Esther is true history. It can be confirmed by the Jewish celebration called “the Feast of Purim, named for the casting of the PUR, which our Pastor described last week. It was cast before Haman to fix the day upon which the Jews would be exterminated. This feast is still celebrated today some twenty-five hundred years after these events.However, the startling thing we learn is this: the events in Esther also a glimpse into our own hearts. Each of us has a king dwelling in the capital city, the capital city being our bodies, and reigning over an Empire which touches everyone we know. If we are a believing Christians, at the moment we were born again we gained a queen---a spirit made alive in Jesus Christ to serve as a place of communion between the Holy Spirit who dwells in your hearts, and ourselves.As pastor will demonstrate this morning, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is symbolized in the story in the person of Mordechai.Support the show

Send us a Text Message.Last week, our Pastor began a new series of sermons taken from the book of Esther. In his introductory sermon, he introduced us to three persons, the first being the emperor of Persia, AHASUERUS. Our Pastor suggested that this man represents each one of us. He also introduced two women, a pair of queens, named VASHTI and Esther. Pastor suggested that VASHTI represents our spirit person when it is dormant; dead in trespass and in sin. AHASUERUS and VASHTI had no relationship; they were dead to one another.This lack of relationship left the Emperor empty and alone. But the day would come when he would meet a Jewish girl named Esther. Last week, Pastor also suggested that Esther represented our regenerated spirit persons. The meaning of this will be seen in the sermon for this morning as he introduces us to this young Jewish girl.Pastor will also introduce us to a fourth person. He, too, will have a crucial role to play. His name is Mordechai and he is the cousin of Esther. He is described as being the son of Jair, of the Hebrew tribe of Benjamin. Finis Dake, in his famous Dake's Study Bible, interprets Esther 2:5–6 as follows:"Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jeconiah king of Judah.” This means that Mordecai himself was exiled by Nebuchadnezzar meaning that he was quite aged. We do know this; according to Esther 2:7, he adopted the young girl Esther when she was orphaned at a young age, and brought up as if she were his own daughter. It is on this young girl, Esther, and this elderly man, Mordechai, that Pastor will focus on in this message.Support the Show.

Then Esther answered, “My wish and my request is: If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.” - Esther 5:7-8   This Episode's Links and Timestamps: 00:00 – Scripture Reading 03:01 – Thoughts on the Reading 33:58 - Kamala Blasted After Unveiling ‘Soviet' Style Price Controls To Stop Inflation: ‘Kamalanomics' – Ryan Saavedra, DW 40:21 - Opinion  The times demand serious economic ideas. Harris supplies gimmicks. – Editorial Board, The Washington Post 1:03:46 - Trump just dropped a new ad on X about Kamala's price control plan and it is devastating – Edward Teach, NTB 1:09:08 - NEW: Kamala Harris vows to get food prices back to what they were before she came to the White House – Edward Teach, NTB 1:09:08 - I honestly can't believe WaPo ran this opinion piece – Cardinal Pritchard, NTB 1:13:14 - AllSides Issues Open Letter to Google on Misleading Harris Campaign Ads – AllSides Staff 1:19:27 - The times demand serious economic ideas. Harris supplies gimmicks. – AllSides.com 1:27:56 - There's Never Been a Better Time to Be a Man in America – Aaron M. Renn

Bride, Chosen and Revealed (Audio) David Eells 8/7/24 The Glorified Bride Donna Loftus  8/3/24  (David's notes in red) I dreamed that there was a man (acquaintance) in the other room that called me and said look and I looked and there was a miniature city on a table with a golden light shining on it from above (l knew it was new Jerusalem) (Whom John said in Revelation was the Bride.) He said, “look it is the golden city coming alive”.  I then saw a piece of paper that was laying on a desk or table in the room start to flutter and move as well as other things. I started to go up in the air and kept repeating “He is risen”, “He is risen “, “He is risen”!  (Jesus' Bride will have His resurrection life.)     There is No More Time Debbie Fenske 8/4/24 Yesterday I heard the Lord speak, “There is no more time” when I was praying and doing spiritual warfare. I sat waiting and listening for Him to say more. But I didn't hear any more until today when I purposed, with my pen and tablet, to hear what more he had to say on that. Then I heard: My dear ones, you are my pearls, my prized gems. You are the love and desire of my heart. You are my chosen from before the very beginning. You are my choice. I want you as my Bride. And so, I say to you, “There is no more time.” I say again, “ There is no more time.” it is now, or never. Now is the time for groundbreaking overcoming. Let it be witnessed among you, all things being of divine newness. I have cleansed from you those who were seriously lacking, those who were lagging, and those who would not touch the divine. They have been taken out from among you. Your perfecting is almost complete. No more looking back at anything to hinder you in my purpose that I have for each of you. Only look within your hearts for any need of repentance, and repent, and be wholly new. Now is the victory over your enemies, these demon spirits that have been speaking unworthiness to you. But, now is the time to boldly proclaim, unrelentingly, that they are liars. They are against what is divine. This fight goes on, but not the fight within your own mind and heart. That time has ended. There is no more time for that. There is only time for engaging in spiritual warfare, knowing you are the victor in casting Satan and his demons down, and putting them under your feet. Yes! It is time for My desire of the ages to come forth in fighting victory. Know who you are. Speak who you are. Speak to each other who you are. Call out to the enemy who you are. You are my perfected, divine overcomers. I see the lights of my divine ones covering the earth, all joining together in one soul, one mind, and one spirit, with one purpose. I am rising up in all of you. For I Am your strength to engage, and to overcome. No more defeat. Defeat is forbidden. For it is only I in you, and you in Me. Weaknesses in you are defeated. There cannot be defeat, and there is no time for defeat. Now is the time for victory. For I have prepared you. I have cleansed and healed you of so much. You have overcome in your own sufferings, battles, and all constant attacks against you. Now, see and encourage each other as being what I am saying of you, and seeing in each of you. Always encourage one another. This is part of your overcoming. You will continue in your pursuit of only Me. There is no time to pursue any lesser thing. Remember, I have said, “There is no more time.”     Those Culled From the Bride David Eells  8/3/24 Last night I saw that people were being disqualified and removed from the Bride running. I saw the spirit of Jezebel who ruled over her husband were to be removed. I saw those who were judging others by spirits of criticism and pride were to be removed. I saw that those who were cold in their relationship to the body were removed. (This reminded me of those who got closer and closer to the back door and then were gone.) I saw those who were in willful sins are to be removed.     Removed For Willful Disobedience Marie Kelton 7/26/24  (David's notes in red) During the meeting, I had asked the Father where a certain backslider from UBM was with him. And then I had an open vision of a beautiful tree with leaves on it on a hill. I then saw a hand come from heaven and shake the tree until there were no leaves on it. (They were not capable to take in the Son for life.) And then snap the tree from the trunk. And pull it up. The roots were still in the ground though. (At this point there was still a possibility to return.) Luke 13:6-9 And he spake this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none. And he said unto the vinedresser, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why doth it also cumber the ground? And he answering saith unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: and if it bear fruit thenceforth, well; but if not, thou shalt cut it down. I wasn't sure if I was seeing clearly. (She was not wanting to make a mistake on something so important.) So the lord gave me another vision of the same tree with a rope being tied around it, being pulled up from the roots this time. I still wasn't sure so the lord gave me a vision of him standing next to me with a little potted plant in his hand and he pulled the plant up from the pot showing the roots. And yet still I wasn't sure if I was seeing clearly. So the Lord gave me another vision of me sitting in my house sitting on my couch, having an open vision of the tree with the rope around the trunk being pulled from the ground with the roots showing.  Jude 1:12 These are they who are hidden rocks in your love-feasts when they feast with you, shepherds (No numeric pattern) that without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn leaves without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots. The Lord then gave me another open vision during the meeting of 3 pieces of silver hitting the floor. I immediately thought of the 30 pieces of silver that Judas threw down before the Pharisees. (This person was a Judas to the Body of Christ.) Matthew 27:3-5 Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to it. And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. (He was removed from among those who John the Baptist said were the Bride. “He that hath the Bride is the bridegroom.”)     Those Who Repent Will Find Grace Marie Kelton  7/19/24 During the meeting I had an open vision of me carrying a black back pack on my back (Representing the weight of mistakes and sins with condemnation and a spirit of heaviness.) I saw the Lord walk up to me and take the back pack off my shoulders and He started to carry it. We were walking on a road. As we were walking the back pack turned white and merged into the Lord. (The Lord took away condemnation for sins and the spirit of heaviness on the cross. When this happened I physically felt lighter in the meeting.) The Lord and I reached a body of water. The black back pack then appeared again on the Lord's back. He then took it off and dropped it into the water. I knew the body of water was the sea of forgetfulness.  Micah 7:19-20 He will again have compassion upon us; he will tread our iniquities under foot; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the lovingkindness to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.     Beast Changing Human DNA to His Marie Kelton 8/5/24  (David's notes in red) During the meeting, I had an open vision. Of my spirit man, being translated to a red rocky cliff. There was a warring angel with wings standing beside me. On top of the cliff was a giant red stone that had been carved out. (The stone which the builders rejected and crucified.) A door was in the stone and a keypad was next to the door. (Jesus is the door and the key is faith.)  The Lord appeared, and opened the door which led to an elevator. Then the Lord, the angel, and I went on an elevator down to a lower level in the Earth. When the doors opened,  I saw a science lab. The Lord and I walked through the science lab. To a second door. The Lord opened that door and I saw demons working in the lab. The demons couldn't see the Lord and I.  I knew we were there on a mission to get human DNA that had not been tampered with by the demons. (The demons using the DS scientists are in the process of changing the DNA of mankind to make them their servants. The cure is to have the Lord's DNA through faith in His blood.) The Lord and I walked up to a stand where there was a double helix of human DNA in an oblong container. The Lord took the container and put it in a white satchel bag that was around him. Then we walked through the doors. And translated back to the top of the entrance on the cliff where we started. (Some will be rescued from the beasts DNA either by refusing their shots, chemtrails, or by healing. The rest will be marked by the Beast.)     The Bride is Being Chosen Marie Kelton  8/3/24  (David's notes in red) During the meeting, I had an open vision. I saw the Lord walking toward me with a nice red pillow (the blood of Jesus) with gold trim and gold tassels hanging from the four corners of the pillow.  It had a tiara on it. The tiara had a sheer white veil on it. I went to go grab the tiara. But the Lord told me that "You do not choose yourself to be in the Bride. I choose who is in the Bride. (Not by my works, but by the Lord's grace will we be in the Bride). Then the Lord, took the tiara and put it on my head. After that I saw, a bigger pillow with a bigger tiara and veil on it like the first one. I knew it was for the corporate Bride body. I turned my head in the vision and saw a really huge tall lady, next to me with blonde hair. (The corporate Bride body.)  I saw the Lord put put the tiara on her head and fix the veil. I then had another vision, of a woman walking down an aisle, with a white dress on and a veil with a long train behind her.  The woman was walking towards a really bright light, I knew there were rows of white chairs next to her on both sides. When she was walking, at first it looked like she was walking on mud or dirt, but then it turned into grass. (Peter said, “All flesh is as grass.”)(The bride has the flesh under her feet).      How to be Chosen David Eells Esther is a prophecy of the Church Age, a prophecy that is hidden (“Esther” in Hebrew means “hidden” or “secret”) and, of course, Esther is the Bride – she's hidden and secret. Also, in the Song of Solomon, the Bride was furiously running after her Beloved. It was more important to her to seek the Lord than it was to the rest of the queens, concubines and virgins. It was rather ho-hum with them, but with the Bride, this was serious business. She was desiring earnestly to come into the presence of the Master.  Looking at the type and shadow in Esther how when the Lord came and called Israel, His Old Testament Bride, to come before Him, they refused, just as Vashti refused Ahasuerus. When we read in Esther chapter 2, we see that a new Bride is to be chosen for the King.  (Est.2:1) After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. (2) Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: (Notice; the Bride did not come out of the people but the fair virgins, who came out of the people of God.)(3) and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hegai the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them.   I believe that Hegai, the King's chamberlain here, represents the Holy Spirit. He is the “keeper of the women.” It is his job to make sure that these women are beautiful to the King. The Holy Spirit's job is to manifest Jesus Christ in us and that is what is beautiful to the King: Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col.1:27). So, many fair young virgins were gathered together and a Bride was going to be chosen from among these.  In the Song of Solomon, it is the Bride who is running after her Beloved, while the rest of the queens, concubines and virgins didn't seem to be so excited about this. They even questioned her, What is thy beloved more than [another] beloved, O thou fairest among women? (Son.5:9). In other words, “What makes your Jesus any better than our Jesus?” And like what it says here: (Son.6:8) There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, And virgins without number. (9) My dove, my undefiled (that's the word for “perfect”), is [but] one; She is the only one of her mother (Meaning she's the only one who has come out of the mother; the rest of these are still a corporate body of the mother.); she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and called her blessed; [Yea,] the queens and the concubines, and they praised her. It's going to be that way because this is also a prophecy of the end-time and, even though there are many virgins who are contending to be in this Bride, not everyone is going to be.   Back in (Est.2:4) And let the maiden that pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so. A Bride will be chosen out of virgins of His New Testament people that we call the Church and that's why this is so important. (Est.2:5) There was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace, whose name was Mordecai…. The name “Mordecai” in Hebrew means “little man” and in Persian it means “little boy,” both of which mean “Man-child.” Mordecai is the Man-child. The Man-child ministry is about to start again and the exact same thing is going to happen, except this time it's a corporate Man-child, a much larger one that covers the earth.   (Est.2:7) And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther…. “Brought up” here means “nourished”; not just fed, but nourished. All the queens and concubines get fed, but not everybody is nourished. (7) And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.  Here are more verses about the Bride: (Psa.45:9) Kings' daughters are among thy honorable women: At thy right hand doth stand the queen in gold of Ophir. Notice that the king's daughters are not the queen. They are honorable women, but they're not the queen. (10) Hearken, O daughter, consider, and incline thine ear; Forget also thine own people, and thy father's house: (11) So will the king desire thy beauty; For he is thy lord; and reverence thou him. Who is the Lord? When we leave father and mother, we need to submit to our Lord, submit to our Husband, Who is the Lord God. The Bride is beautiful to the King because she completely submits to His Lordship since the head of every man is Christ” (1Cor.11:3). “Thy father's houses” represent the apostate denominations, or queens and concubines, of Christianity.  Back in Esther, after her mother and father were dead, Mordecai the Man-child nourished her. Who was following Jesus when John the Baptist said, He that hath the bride is the bridegroom (Joh.3:29)? Who was it was walking with Jesus, learning of Jesus, sitting at His feet? It was the Bride, but where did she come from? She came out of the apostate denominations of Judaism. We also see this in (Rev.14:4) These are they that were not defiled with women (The “women” are the queens, the concubines, the denominations, the groups, the sects.); for they are virgins…. The meaning of this is that they don't received any seed of man. (Rev.14:4) These [are] they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. Remember, the Shulamite, or “perfect one,” in the Song of Solomon was only interested in following after the Bridegroom. (Rev.14:4) …These were purchased from among men, [to be] the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb. And they're not defiled with the “women.”  Now turn back to our text in Esther. (Est.2:8) So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai (Who is, the King's chamberlain, representing the Holy Spirit), that Esther was taken into the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. (9) And the maiden pleased him…. What do we do to please the Holy Spirit? Obviously, we can grieve the Holy Spirit. Scripture speaks about that, but just the opposite is true of those who please the Holy Spirit. We can't be pleasing unto God without having faith. The Bible says, Without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing [unto him] (Heb.11:6) and the Holy Spirit is God's Spirit. (Est.2:9) And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him (We need the kindness of the Holy Spirit. We need the favor of the Holy Spirit because we're doing what is pleasing unto Him.); and he speedily gave her her things for purification….   The Bride will have a more glorious garment than the virgin bridesmaids. (Rev.19:8) And it was given unto her (the Bride) that she should array herself in fine linen, bright [and] pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. This garment is called lampros in Greek, meaning bright, glowing, or brilliant. This bright lamp represents her pure works. On the other hand, those invited to the marriage supper have only a “white” garment. Obviously, what the Lord is looking for is a purified Bride. Esther cooperated and the Holy Spirit gave to her the things that she needed for purification speedily. (Est.2:9) … and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with her portions, and the seven maidens who were meet to be given her out of the king's house….   The seven maidens were given to her because she pleased the Lord. I believe that the Lord showed me years ago that this was talking about the seven beams of light in the spectrum. Jesus said, I am the light of the world (Joh.8:12) and a prism breaks down the light into seven different attributes that we call “colors.” Joseph's “coat of many colors” (Genesis 37:3) designated him as a type of the Man-child reflecting Jesus Christ, a garment that he put on. The Bible says, Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom.13:14).  Also, this represents the seven attributes of Christ spoken of by Peter: (2Pe.1:5) Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith…. In the original, there was no comma after “diligence.” It was put there by translators who thought it needed to be there, but there is no comma there. It is “adding on your part all diligence in your faith.” Faith is a gift of God. (5) Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence in your faith, supply virtue; and in [your] virtue knowledge. (6) And in [your] knowledge self-control; and in [your] self-control patience; and in [your] patience godliness;   (7) and in [your] godliness brotherly kindness; and in [your] brotherly kindness love. (8) For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near (The Greek wording there actually means “near-sighted”; “not seeing things from afar”; not seeing what God has given us from afar.), having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. Have you forgotten that Jesus took away your sins – that you don't have those attributes that are contrary to Christ? You have now been given Christ. (2Co.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory…. What we're saying is, “Jesus lives in me because the Book says so.” He's given us this free gift of His righteousness.  Getting back to Esther, the first-fruits to enter into the Kingdom is the Man-child, and he is raising up the Bride to enter into the Kingdom. Jesus is being manifested in His first fruits, Man-child, in order to fellowship and mature the Bride and that's what He desires greatly. (Est.2:9) … And he removed her and her maidens to the best place of the house of the women. (Praise God!) (10) Esther had not made known her people nor her kindred; for Mordecai had charged her that she should not make it known. (11) And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what would become of her. Notice that Mordecai followed her and, actually, he was her leader all the way through the Book of Esther.  (Est.2:12) Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Ahasuerus (to be inspected; to see who was going to be the Bride), after that it had been done to her according to the law for the women twelve months (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, [to wit,] six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and with the things for the purifying of the women), (13) then in this wise came the maiden unto the king: Whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house. This is very important, that “Whatsoever she desired was given her.” Do you have a desire? If you read Song of Solomon, you see something about the difference between the Bride and the virgins. There was a difference in desire. The desire of the Bride was to fellowship with her Lord, her King, her Beloved. Her desire was to constantly run after her Beloved, to appropriate more of Him.   Notice also that it says here very plainly that Whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house. Everything we need has been supplied to us. (2Pe.1:2) Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; (3) seeing that his divine power hath granted (Everything we need has been given to us. This is what you see in the Spirit, with your eyes exercised to discern good from evil, by the Word of God. This is how you are supposed to see.) unto us all things that pertain unto life (God's life, zoë life) and godliness (He's given us all things that we need for life and godliness, or purification. That was what the virgins were going through, purification, to be ready.), through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue.  It's not just any knowledge that you can get at any church. It's God's knowledge, the knowledge of His Word. It cannot be changed; it will not be changed for the Bride. She is accepting the Word just exactly as it is, not perverting or twisting it for her ego's sake; she's not twisting it for her own doctrine's sake. She's not “adding to, or taking away from,” the Word (Rev 22:18-19).  She's a virgin, so she has not received the seed of men. (4) Whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature (He's already given us what is necessary; He's given us His “promises.”), having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.  See, it's already been done. The only thing we have to do is exercise faith. If we exercise faith, we please the Holy Spirit. If we please the Holy Spirit, He quickly gives us purification, the “seven maidens” which we just read in 2 Peter 1:5-8. The only thing that impresses the Holy Spirit is faith in the true promises of God. That's why He gives us authority. That's why He empowers us. The Holy Spirit comes to us for the purpose of manifesting Christ in us. That's what He's there for. He's our helper, our Paraclete. (2Co.7:1) Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. This is what the Bride is doing!  Going on in (Est.2:13) … Whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house. (14) In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain (This is a different chamberlain here. This one has charge over the women's house, not the King's house.), who kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name. And, of course, Esther was the one who was called by name. (15) Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. We need nothing but what the Holy Spirit will give unto us – the Word of God – and nothing else. It behooves us to really seek after the truth and run after the Word.   The Bible says that we don't even have need for any man to teach us, that we have an anointing from the Holy One: (1Jn.2:27) And as for you, the anointing which ye received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that anyone teach you; but as his anointing teacheth you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, ye abide in him. However, the Holy One uses men to teach us and to preach and to lead and to guide, but He has to be in it. We have no need for men to do this; we have to make sure that we're receiving from the Lord. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God (Rom.8:14).  So, Esther took advantage of the fact that all she needed came from the Holy Spirit, represented in type by Hegai, the King's chamberlain, she didn't have anything but what was appointed of Him. Esther received the favor of the chamberlain, as we already read, because she pleased him in the works that she was doing, in desiring the right things. (Est.2:15) … And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her. (16) So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. We are now in the seventh year. We've already started the seventh year, or the 7000th year, of His reign. (Est.2:17) And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.  (18) Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release (the word “release” here means “rest”) to the provinces, and gave gifts…. The “rest” that the Lord promises to give unto us, which most Jews did not enter into, is referred to in Hebrews chapters three and four. We enter into this rest by ceasing from our works and believing the promises. (Heb.4:3) For we who have believed do enter into that rest…. The Lord is offering this wonderful rest, the rest from your enemies, the rest from your problems, from the curse, etc. It's a rest because the Lord has already provided everything. There's never been a time like that last seven years of the Marriage Feast, when God's going to hand out such great gifts – never in history! He's going to be celebrating with the Bride, just as John the Baptist said: He that hath the bride is the bridegroom (Joh.3:29).

'In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land. O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those near and those far off in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You. “O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him. We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets. Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him. And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; for under the whole heaven such has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem. “As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth. Therefore the Lord has kept the disaster in mind, and brought it upon us; for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works which He does, though we have not obeyed His voice. And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have done wickedly! “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us. Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord's sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”' Daniel 9:1-19

Esther risks her life to approach the king, Haman plots to hang Mordecai from the gallows, and the great reversal of Esther begins at a dinner party with Ahasuerus and Haman. Read along with the story. Today we're reading Esther 4-10.Thank you to our generous patrons who makes this show possible. The Bible Brief is listener-supported and brought to you by the Bible Literacy Foundation, dedicated to helping people like you learn the Bible. Looking for more? Check out our website at biblelit.org.Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.Support the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the PRISM Bible App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWebsite: biblelit.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.orgThis episode primarily uses the ESV Bible translation, but may also use CSB, NASB, and NKJV.Search Tags: bible, beginner, bible verse, god, verse of the day, prayer, jesus, bible study, scripture, learn, bible introduction, introduction, intro to the bible, introduction to the bible, beginner bible, bible overview, how to read the bible, what is the bible about, bible story, bible stories, what is the bible, bible study, walkthrough, bible walk...

Matthew 24:15 (ESV)Daniel 10:14 (ESV)Daniel 11:2 (ESV)1. Ahasuerus, Artaxerxes, or Xerxes (Esther's Husband)Ezra 4:6 (ESV)AlexanderDaniel 11:3-4 (ESV)The 4 windsMacedon and Greece went to CassanderThrace and Asia Minor went to LysimachusSyria and Babylon went to SeleucusJudah and Egypt went to PtolemyThe City of TyreEzekiel 26:1-7 (ESV)Antiochus III the Great: takes the throne at 18Daniel 11:10-12 (ESV)Daniel 11:13-14 (ESV)Daniel 11:17 (ESV)Daniel 11:18-20 (ESV)4. Antiochus EphiphiniesDaniel 11:21-27 (ESV)Daniel 11:28-30 (ESV)5. Anti-ChristDaniel 11:35-45 (ESV)Daniel 12:1 (ESV)Holy SpiritPsalm 2:1-5 (ESV)GodPsalm 2:6 (ESV)JesusPsalm 2:7 (ESV)GodPsalm 2:8 (ESV)Holy SpiritPsalm 2:10-12 (ESV)

Blessings Follow Sanctification (6)  (audio)  David Eells (7/7/24)  We've been studying sanctification and its resulting blessing, and we've seen that the Church and the Bride are coming to such great maturity in their sanctification that they are as (Isa.62:1) … as a lamp that burneth. All of the true Church is going to grow 30-, 60- and 100-fold in the fruit of Jesus Christ, and the Bride gloriously comes into His image, as we studied in Isaiah 62. But Isaiah 63 is a different story because it tells you about those who are not sanctified.   I'd like to back up a little bit first and review what I shared about last time. (Isa.63:1) Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. (2) Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winevat? (3) I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yea, I trod them in mine anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my raiment. We noticed in Revelation 19 that the Lord does come back with a garment that is sprinkled with blood and it is the blood of His enemies.   The enemy that He is speaking about in this chapter is Edom. He is coming from Bozrah of Edom and bozrah means “sheepfold.” We saw in our previous study that the Lord Jesus came to the sheepfold in a time when the Old Testament Church was very apostate and He called His sheep by name and led them out of the sheepfold. Shortly after that, those people who refused to come out of their apostate sheepfold were hardened and rejected, and then the Beast came and devoured the Harlot. We know that same history is going to repeat in our day and this is who Isaiah 63 is talking about; it's talking about the Harlot. We also learned that Edom, or the seed of Esau, represents the opposite of Jacob. (Gen.25:29) And Jacob boiled pottage: and Esau came in from the field, and he was faint:   (30) and Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red [pottage]; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. (31) And Jacob said, Sell me first thy birthright. (32) And Esau said, Behold, I am about to die: and what profit shall the birthright do to me? (33) And Jacob said, Swear to me first; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. (34) And Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: so Esau despised his birthright. At the time when Esau decided to sell his birthright, he was called “Edom,” which means “red,” and “red” is the color of sin. As it says in (Isa.1:18) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.   Remember what it says in Hebrews. (Heb.12:14) Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord (When Jacob was sanctified, or separated, from Esau, he bore so much fruit that it shocked his brother.): (Heb.12:15) looking carefully lest [there be] any man that falleth short of the grace of God (Many people fall short of the grace of God for the same reason that Esau fell short of the grace of God.); lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you,] and thereby the many be defiled.... A root of bitterness will defile many people because a person who has it will export it and Esau certainly did. If nothing else, he exported it to all of his seed because the sins of the parents are passed on to the children to the third and fourth generation (Deuteronomy 5:9).   When a person sins by allowing a demonic spirit of bitterness, or criticism, or unforgiveness toward their brother, which was Esau's problem, then that sin is passed on to their seed. The sin of Esau is the sin of the Edomites, whom the Lord says He will destroy, He will trample (Isaiah 63:3). “The many be defiled” is what happened from Esau's sin and even today there are Esaus, so Paul warns us that we need to make sure that no one falls after that same example of disobedience. Esau was the brother of Jacob and he was a son of Abraham, and he represented a son of God, but still he sold his birthright because of this root of bitterness. (Heb.12:16) Lest [there be] any fornicator, or profane person (We discovered that “profane” here means “permitted to be trodden.” In other words, this is someone who was “trampled underfoot,” someone who was conquered by his spiritual enemies.), as Esau, who for one mess of meat (I liken that to “flesh” because I don't think it was an accident that they used the word “meat” there.) sold his own birthright.   Because he walked after the flesh, because he submitted to these spirits of criticism, anger and bitterness against his brother, Esau sold his own birthright. (Heb.12:17) For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind [in his father] (Literally, it doesn't say “in his father,” but “found no place for a change of mind.” The phrase “change of mind” is the Greek word metanoia and it means “repentance.” Esau could not repent and we saw in 2 Peter 2 that unrepentant people can't cease from sin.), though he sought it diligently with tears.   He found no forgiveness in himself, he found no repentance in his life and he could not cease from sinning because he was bitter. He was turned over to the tormentors and the tormentors made him what he was. Jesus told us in, (Mat.18:32) Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me: (33) shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee? (34) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due. (35) So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.   When we see that the people whom the Lord is judging here is Edom, we are not seeing the whole story. Edom specifically represents those who are brothers of Jacob and sons of Abraham, whether physical or spiritual, but who sell their birthright through walking after the flesh and go on to persecute their brother. In the case of Edom, they sell their birthright because of bitterness. The whole story is found in Revelation 19, where He is judging all of the nations at the time of the wrath of God. (Rev.19:11) And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteous he doth judge and make war. (12) And his eyes [are] a flame of fire, and upon his head [are] many diadems; and he hath a name written which no one knoweth but he himself. (13) And he is arrayed in a garment sprinkled with blood: and his name is called The Word of God.   (14) And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white [and] pure. (15) And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. (16) And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written, KINGS OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Also, notice how He uses the same language in Isaiah. (Isa.63:3) I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yea, I trod them in mine anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my raiment. (4) For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.   What is this “day of vengeance”? What is this “day of wrath”? And what is the “year of my redeemed”? Well, the “day of vengeance” and the “day of wrath” are the same day. They are a day that we're told is a year; they are the “year of my redeemed,” when God is judging all those who have persecuted His people. (Isa.34:8) For the Lord hath a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion. (9) And the streams of [Edom] shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. In the days of Noah, God brought His wrath upon the earth and this “day of wrath” was the year in which the flood waters were upon the earth to destroy lost mankind (Genesis 6-8).   God told Noah, (Gen.7:4) For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the ground. So after seven days the flood waters came. In type, the flood represents the “great and terrible day of the Lord” (Joel 2:31 KJV) that comes after seven years of the Tribulation. And we can see this again in Daniel's 70th week where each day is a year. (Dan.9:27) And he shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease; and upon the wing of abominations [shall come] one that maketh desolate; and even unto the full end, and that determined, shall [wrath] be poured out upon the desolate.   There was a continual wrath from the Edomites against Israel and here we see in Isaiah 63 that God is judging this. The spiritual Edomites today cannot stand holiness, they cannot stand purity, they cannot stand truth and they are just like Esau, who continually persecuted his brother. A great persecution is coming from the religious Harlot against the true Church and the Lord is going to deal with that in the “day of vengeance” or “day of wrath.” It will be the “great and terrible day of the Lord” (Jeremiah 46:10; Joel 2:11,31; Acts 2:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10).   Another thing that's going to happen before this “day of vengeance” is that there's going to be a great “falling way” (John 16:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; Hebrews 3:12) and, as a matter of fact, in Revelation 6 it is very plain. (Rev.6:12) And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as blood. We know that the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the “great and terrible day of the Lord,” which is a year, as we've seen in Isaiah 34:8.   The Bible also says that the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood after the Tribulation period. (Mat.24:29) But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. (Act.2:20) The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the day of the Lord come, That great and notable [day]. In other words, after the seven days, which is exactly what God told Noah, there would be another year. Between the seventh and eighth year, the sun is turned into darkness and the moon into blood, but at the beginning of the eighth year is when the ark lifted off and the floods came down and judged the world.   So when the sun and the moon are darkened, which is the beginning of the great and terrible Day of the Lord, what happens? (Rev.6:13) And the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her unripe figs when she is shaken of a great wind. That's when the “stars” of heaven fall to the earth and we're told Abraham's seed are as the stars of heaven. (Gen.15:5) And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and number the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And Scripture also likens God's people to a fig tree (Jeremiah 29:17; Matthew 24:1-10; Isaiah 28:4; Nahum 3:12; etc.)   Also in (Hos.9:10) I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig-tree at its first season: but they came to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves unto the shameful thing, and became abominable like that which they loved. So then, who is this who's falling away? As a type and shadow, these are the Edomites. Even though they are as the stars in heaven, they still will fall away. (Rev.6:13) And the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her unripe figs when she is shaken of a great wind. You see, we have only a certain amount of time to become mature, to bear fruit, to be ripe figs.   What is it that's going to cause this great falling away? We read in (Rev.6:13) And the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her unripe figs when she is shaken of a great wind. God said that He would “shake” the heavens and the earth. (Heb.12:26) Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven. This shaking is the one that is coming and it both causes the falling away and brings in the Kingdom. (Rev.6:14) And the heaven was removed as a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.   (15) And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; (16) and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: (17) for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand? So, again, when the sun and moon are darkened, we know that this is before the great and terrible Day of the Lord. (Mat.24:29) But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.   Then the Lord sends forth His angels and gathers together His elect as it says in, (Mat.13:24) Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his field: (25) but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away. (26) But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. (27) And the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it tares? (28) And he said unto them, An enemy hath done this. And the servants say unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? (29) But he saith, Nay; lest haply while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat with them.   (30) Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn. (36) Then he left the multitudes, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field. (37) And he answered and said, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; (38) and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil [one]; (39) and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels.   (40) As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world. (41) The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, (42) and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. (43) Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear. The Lord sends forth His angels and gathers together His elect, just like with Noah. Noah lifted off at the beginning of the “great and terrible day of the Lord,” which was the year when the water came down and put to death the wicked.   Obadiah has something to say about this Day of the Lord concerning the Edomites, but first I want to point out that he is talking about the time of the Day of the Lord. (Oba.15) For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee; thy dealing shall return upon thine own head. The Lord Jesus said when He came back, He was going to render to every man according to his works. (Mat.16:27) For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds. He said, “every man”! Some people think, “Well, that's not necessarily speaking about God's children,” but the Edomites sold their birthright as sons of God. I'm talking more specifically about the spiritual Edomites, those who are speaking against their brothers, those who are persecuting them as the Harlot persecutes the true Church.   And when the Lord comes back, He is going to render to those Edomites according to their works. (Oba.8) Shall I not in that day, saith the Lord, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau? The mount of Esau is Mount Seir, just as Mount Zion is the Mount of Israel, and it represents a kingdom, the kingdom of Esau. (Oba.9) And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one may be cut off from the mount of Esau by slaughter. Everyone! How is it possible that every Edomite could be cut off? It's possible when we understand that these Edomites are a type and shadow. (1Co.10:11) Now these things happened unto them by way of example (The Greek word for “example” here is “type” or “figure.”); and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.   “To the end that every one may be cut off from the mount of Esau by slaughter” is a type or figure; it's a parable. It was in the “letter” according to natural Israel, but is to be understood in the Spirit according to spiritual New Testament Israel. We also have our brothers who are persecuting, critical, unforgiving, bitter, railing against the truth and fighting against those who walk in holiness and sanctification. God is going to deal with them when He is through using them to bring His people to their cross and this is what He is talking about when He says He's going to cut off every one of them. If you're saying, “That will be a real slaughter against an awful lot of humans,” that's true, naturally speaking. Of course, that slaughter is coming in the great and terrible Day of the Lord, too. It's coming in the “flood” of judgment that is going to destroy multitudes of people. And that flood is also going to destroy these spiritual Edomites, those who have persecuted their brothers.   Going on in (Oba.10) For the violence done to thy brother Jacob, shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off forever. (11) In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away his substance, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them. In other words, the Edomites sided with the Beast kingdoms that came against Israel; this is a historic fact. They did this constantly. Herod was an Edomite who was put there by the Romans to rule over Israel and they called it “Palestine” to insult the Israelites because there wasn't really a Palestine; the land belonged to Israel. “Palestine” is the Latin version of the name “Philistine.”   Once again, in our day, brethren from our midst will side with the Beast kingdom against us, just as Judas did from the midst of the disciples. He sided with the Beast and betrayed the body of Christ. (Oba.12) But look not thou on the day of thy brother in the day of his disaster, and rejoice not over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither speak proudly in the day of distress. (13) Enter not into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, look not thou on their affliction in the day of their calamity, neither lay ye hands on their substance in the day of their calamity. (14) And stand thou not in the crossway, to cut off those of his that escape; and deliver not up those of his that remain in the day of distress. That's exactly what Judas did; he delivered up Christ to the Beast.   In the previous teaching, I shared a dream concerning soldiers dressed in red uniforms, who parachuted down from heaven and were trying to block God's people from escaping into the wilderness. It was very interesting and that is actually what Obadiah is saying here. Those soldiers dressed in red are Edomites because, as we saw, “Edom” means “red.” And they were parachuting down because they were like those figs being cast down when a fig tree is shaken of a great wind and like the stars of heaven falling to the earth. This is a great falling away about which the Bible speaks and it will come through deception and delusion. And who can fall away, except a people who have known the Lord? Here was Esau, a son of Abraham, a son of God, who was in the position of the firstborn and yet he fell away.   We see this again in Ezekiel concerning the Edomites being betrayers of their brethren and it also appears very much like the destruction of the Harlot. Let's read that in (Eze.35:1) Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, (2) Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir (Again, that represents Esau's kingdom.), and prophesy against it, (3) and say unto it, Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I am against thee, O mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against thee, and I will make thee a desolation and an astonishment. (4) I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. (5) Because thou hast had a perpetual enmity, and hast given over the children of Israel (who was Jacob, his brother) to the power of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time of the iniquity of the end....    We know that at the end of the Roman Beast kingdom, the Edomites sided with the Romans against their brother Jacob and they are going to do it in these days, too. America, the “great eagle” at the very top of the image of the Beast (Daniel 3), is ultimately going to side with the Edomites against Israel. We know that from Jeremiah, where he speaks about Babylon, the great eagle, conquering all of the nations. First, all the nations drank of the cup of wrath that came from Babylon and then, ultimately, at the end, Babylon itself drank of the cup of wrath (Jeremiah 25:1-33). So the Lord said, “Those of you who side with the world against your brothers in the day of their calamity, you are going to be judged in the time of the iniquity of the end.”  Going on in (Eze.35:6) Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: since thou hast not hated blood, therefore blood shall pursue thee. (7) Thus will I make mount Seir an astonishment and a desolation; and I will cut off from it him that passeth through and him that returneth. (8) And I will fill its mountains with its slain: in thy hills and in thy valleys and in all thy watercourses shall they fall that are slain with the sword. (9) I will make thee a perpetual desolation, and thy cities shall not be inhabited; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. This is the iniquity of the end! (Eze.35:10) Because thou hast said, These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it (Even today, the natural Edomites are claiming those two nations and yet the land doesn't belong to them.); whereas the Lord was there:   (Eze.35:11) therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, I will do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which thou hast showed out of thy hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I shall judge thee. (12) And thou shalt know that I, the Lord, have heard all thy revilings which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to devour. This is what's going to happen to natural Israel and, of course, the Church. The Church, being spiritual Jacob or spiritual Israel, is going to become desolate. War is going to be made against the saints and the Church, as we have known it, a prosperous, somewhat respected entity in the world, is going to go by the wayside.   The whole world is going to be against the Church and the Harlot, the Edomites, are going to side with the world. The Edomites will do this for the sake of advantage and because of their hatred of their brother. (Eze.35:13) And ye have magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard it. (14) Thus saith the Lord God: When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate.   When the whole world comes against natural and spiritual Israel, and think that they have finally done away with their voice when the Two Witnesses are killed, the Bible says they will be rejoicing. As it says in (Rev.11:7) And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that cometh up out of the abyss shall make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. (8) And their dead bodies lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. (9) And from among the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations do men look upon their dead bodies three days and a half, and suffer not their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. (10) And they that dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and make merry; and they shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwell on the earth.   And yet God says at that time, “I will make thee desolate,” because that is what the great and terrible Day of the Lord is; it is the time for Him to render the “day of vengeance.” (Eze.35:15) As thou didst rejoice over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Edom, even all of it; and they shall know that I am the Lord. All of it! All of Mount Seir! How is that possible, except that God is almighty and He will do according to His Own will? (Dan.4:35) And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?   Nothing can restrain His hand and one thing He has determined is to destroy the Edomites, both the spiritual and the physical Edomites. Back in (Oba.15) For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee (He will render to every man according to his works.); thy dealing shall return upon thine own head. (Oba.16) For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the nations drink continually; yea, they shall drink, and swallow down, and shall be as though they had not been. This is speaking about the Jeremiah 25 scenario, where God offered this cup of wrath to all the nations and made them drink it.   The last one to drink it was Babylon, the “great eagle,” which was God's vessel to bring this judgment to those nations, and yet it is all going to be turned around in the end. (Oba.17) But in mount Zion there shall be those that escape.... Again, we're seeing that there are going to be certain people who are going to escape. And in the dream that I shared last time, the brother saw that I and the others with me had all escaped. (Oba.17) But in mount Zion there shall be those that escape, and it shall be holy.... Notice this. The reason that people are going to escape is because they are holy; they don't need any more sanctification and they don't need any more crucifixion. Crucifixion is for the purpose of putting to death the old man to bring forth a people who will walk holy before the Lord.   In other words, crucifixion is so they will sanctify themselves from the world and repent of their sins, and turn to God. This is the place of safety and the people who will do this are the people who will escape. (Oba.17) But in mount Zion there shall be those that escape, and it shall be holy; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. Yes! God's New Testament spiritual Jacob, or Israel, the true born-again Church, and especially the Bride who has been sanctified and is holy, will “possess their possessions.” We have been without our possessions for a long time now and the Lord has promised through Joel to restore everything that has been taken from us. He says, Joe 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, my great army which I sent among you. Praise be to God for that!   (Oba.18) And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble.... God's people are going to have something to do with the destruction of Esau, or the Edomites, in the great and terrible Day of the Lord. Remember that for the first 40 days the ark set on the earth in that Day of the Lord, which was a year. Then, after 40 days, it lifted off. That represents the Lord coming for His people and He isn't coming back alone. At that time, when He returns to gather the saints and to bring judgment upon the earth, He has the armies of Heaven behind Him. (Rev.19:15) And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure.   This is when He tramples the “winepress of the wrath of God.” In (Rev.14:18) And another angel came out from the altar, he that hath power over fire; and he called with a great voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Send forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. (19) And the angel cast his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and cast it into the winepress, the great [winepress], of the wrath of God. (20) And the winepress was trodden without the city, and there came out blood from the winepress, even unto the bridles of the horses, as far as a thousand and six hundred furlongs. The Lord and the armies of Heaven with Him are bringing judgment to destroy the flesh of men.   (Rev.19:17) And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid heaven, Come and be gathered together unto the great supper of God; (18) that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit thereon, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, and small and great. One group in that list of the unregenerate nations is the Edomites, who had the birthright but sold it and they should not have been there in the first place.   Do you remember what the Lord said about the lukewarm? (Rev.3:16) So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth. When does that happen? Here in (Rev.12:3) And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems. (4) And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child. The lukewarm are spewed out when the stars fall from heaven.   Some people think that the “stars” are angels, but, (Isa.9:15) The elder and the honorable man, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. (16) For they that lead this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. “The prophet that teacheth lies ... is the tail.” And the Bible also says that the “stars” of heaven are Abraham's seed (Genesis 15:5). So one-third of the “stars” of heaven are going to fall away. The dragon Beast is going to deceive and conquer them, and the spewing-out from the body of Christ of the lukewarm is that falling away.  Back to (Oba.18) And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall burn among them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining to the house of Esau; for the Lord hath spoken it. Some people have the idea that this is all natural. They don't understand that it's a parable because they don't see anything in the spirit, but those who go up in the great and terrible Day of the Lord are not a physical people anymore. God is giving them the power to destroy the Harlot, the Edomites, but they are no longer in the flesh.   I am not saying that natural Israel won't be upon this earth fighting against the nations that are brought against her. I believe that is absolutely true and Zechariah 12-14 speak of that. (Zec.12:6) In that day will I make the chieftains of Judah like a pan of fire among wood, and like a flaming torch among sheaves; and they shall devour all the peoples round about, on the right hand and on the left; and they of Jerusalem shall yet again dwell in their own place, even in Jerusalem. This has both a spiritual and natural meaning. When the Lord returns with all of His saints at the end of the great and terrible Day of the Lord, it will be to defend and preserve a remnant of natural Israel, and destroy the nations that come against it, including Edomites.   (Zec.14:5) And ye shall flee by the valley of my mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azel; yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah; and the Lord my God shall come, and all the holy ones with thee. Notice it says “all the holy (or ‘sanctified') ones with thee.” Obviously, the unsanctified are on the earth and going through the great and terrible Day of the Lord. (Zec.14:12) And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the peoples that have warred against Jerusalem: their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their sockets, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. I know that in the natural this could be speaking about nuclear weapons, but also it's like the “pan of fire” (Zechariah 12:6).   It's like the fire that is coming out of the mouth of the Lord and out of the mouth of the saints to destroy the wicked. (Zec.14:13) And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor. (14) And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the nations round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. The Lord is going to bring an end to the Edomites joining with the Beast entity to fight against their brothers, who are God's true people.   Let's go back to Obadiah and read a little bit more of this. (Oba.18) And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall burn among them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining to the house of Esau; for the Lord hath spoken it. (19) And they of the South shall possess the mount of Esau, and they of the lowland the Philistines; and they shall possess the field of Ephraim, and the field of Samaria; and Benjamin [shall possess] Gilead. (20) And the captives of this host of the children of Israel, that are [among] the Canaanites, [shall possess] even unto Zarephath; and the captives of Jerusalem, that are in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the South. (21) And saviors shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's. This is the time when the kingdom of this world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.   God's people are going to be on Mount Zion; they are going to be in Heavenly Jerusalem and they are going to bring judgment against the wicked. Revelation tells us when the Kingdom is the Lord's: (Rev.11:15) And the seventh angel sounded (or, the “last trump”); and there followed great voices in heaven (speaking that the ark has lifted off), and they said, The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever. So we do not have to guess about the timing that he is talking about here when he says, (Oba.21) And saviors shall come up on mount Zion.... God's people will totally overcome!   They will come to their Heavenly city, just as Paul spoke about them coming to their city back in his day. (Heb.12:22) But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels, (23) to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, (24) and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than [that of] Abel.   And so we read, (Oba.21) Saviors shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau and the kingdom shall be the Lord's. Praise be to God! Are these “saviors” doing this judging in their new bodies? Yes, that is exactly right! As we saw earlier, they are no longer a physical people and they, with the Lord, are bringing this judgment. By the way, in the Book of Daniel, God gives credit to the saints for destroying this kingdom of the Beast. (Dan.7:23) Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. (24) And as for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings.   (25) And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they (the saints) shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. (26) But the judgment shall be set, and they (the saints) shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. (27) And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. So the “saints,” meaning the “sanctified ones,” have returned with the Lord to bring this judgment upon the earth. God has given it unto them to do this and the Lord on His white horse is guiding His people. Praise be to God!   Back in (Oba.19) And they of the South shall possess the mount of Esau, and they of the lowland the Philistines; and they shall possess the field of Ephraim (This is speaking of the northern 10 tribes; that was the name that was used for them at one time.), and the field of Samaria.... In the time of Jesus, the Samaritans were not considered by the Jews to be true believers because they were not of the seed of the Jews. After the Assyrian Empire had conquered Samaria, they carried away the 10 tribes and replaced them with other conquered tribes from various pagan nations, who eventually ended up with the religion of the Jews, along with their own religions.   This is a kind of parallel with the Edomite situation and Ezra has something to say about it. In (Ezr.4:1) Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity (These were the people who were returning from captivity in order to rebuild the Temple, which is what is happening today.) were building a temple unto the Lord, the God of Israel; (2) then they drew near to Zerubbabel (His name means “born from Babylon” and he represents the Man-child here.), and to the heads of fathers' houses, and said unto them, Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as ye do; and we sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up hither. They're talking about having been relocated from other nations to Samaria after Samaria was conquered by the Assyrians.   (Ezr.4:3) But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers' houses of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us in building a house unto our God (The Edomites, just like these Samaritans who represent false Christians, have nothing to do with building this house of God. Only the true holy people are the ones who are building the house of God and I'm going to explain that a little bit better further on.); but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. (Ezr.4:4) Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building. So these people wanted to join with the true holy people of God, but Jacob only bore fruit when he separated from Esau. And today, the Edomites want to join the true people of God, as though they are Christians, but they're not because they are defiled with that root of bitterness.   (Ezr.4:5) And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. The Edomites sided with the Beast every time, as did these Samaritans. (Ezr.4:6) And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. Throughout history, the Harlot has always accused God's people and the Edomites are always accusing God's people.   (Ezr.4:7) And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian character, and set forth in the Syrian tongue. (12) Be it known unto the king, that the Jews that came up from thee are come to us unto Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations. (13) Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful unto the kings. This is what the Samaritans threatened, which caused the king to order a stop to the building of the Temple.   Let me go back to who these people actually were and look at who the Samaritans are in our day. In (2Ki.17:24) And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Avva, and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof. (25) And so it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the Lord: therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them.   (26) Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast carried away, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the law of the god of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the law of the god of the land. Well, they were living in Samaria, but they were not Israelites, were they? They called themselves Samaritans, but these were pagans who were brought in to take the place of the true Samaritans and it was the Beast that did this. The Beast entity, which is the world, which is the flesh, which is all those who don't walk according to the Spirit of God, has infiltrated the Church. These are people who talk like Christians but they don't fear God. If they feared God, they would be convicted with the Word of God to change their ways, but they just want to play “country club” religion.   Continuing in (2Ki.17:27) Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the law of the god of the land. You can teach a pagan all about Christianity and you can send them to Sunday School, but they will still be a pagan. That's the problem. (2Ki.17:28) So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Beth-el (“Beth-el” means “the house of God.” Who are they teaching in this house of God? They're teaching people who are not Israelites; they're not Christians but they like going to church.), and taught them how they should fear the Lord. (2Ki.17:29) Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt. So they studied the God of the land, they studied the Lord, but they worshipped their own gods and, of course, it's that way in much of Christianity today.   People have a “Jesus” of their own making who's not the Jesus of the Bible. (2Ki.17:30) And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, (31) and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. These were the actual “gods” these people worshipped. (1Co.10:20) But [I say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with demons. According to Apostle Paul, these are demons impersonating God. Is it the same today? Yes! It's the same today; there are demons who impersonate the true God. There are people who claim to be God's people, but they are merely studying God and not really fearing Him. They're not really submitting to Him. These people are not Christians and will never be converted.   Continuing in (2Ki.17:32) So they feared the Lord, and made unto them from among themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. Notice that these are not ordained priests; they are not Levites. These priests came from among their pagan people. (2Ki.17:33) They feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away. They called Him “Lord,” but it was really their own god that they were serving. (2Ki.17:34) Unto this day they do after the former manner: they fear not the Lord, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law or after the commandment which the Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel. This is the problem: dispersed among the people of God are people who don't walk as Christians.   The Lord said He would judge every man according to his own works, yet people think that God is going to judge them as to whether or not they have had the Christian experience of a new spirit. But that is not what the Word tells us. Paul writes in (Rom.2:5) But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; (6) who will render to every man according to his works: (7) to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life: (8) but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, [shall be] wrath and indignation, (9) tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek;   (10) but glory and honor and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek: (11) for there is no respect of persons with God. The Lord says it will be according to your works. Your nature is what proves who you really are. If you walk after the regenerate spirit that God gave you, you will become regenerate. Your soul, which is your mind, will and emotions, will be renewed, but if you walk after the flesh, you must die. (Rom.8:12) So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: (13) for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. It all has to do with your works. God will judge these Judases who are among His people and who mistreat their brethren.  Back to (2Ki.17:35) With whom the Lord had made a covenant (this is speaking of Israel), and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them: (41) So these nations feared the Lord, and served their graven images; their children likewise, and their children's children, as did their fathers, so do they unto this day. And I might say, “So do they unto this day.” This is still going on because this is all a type and shadow of God separating the wheat from the tares. The tares are sown among the wheat but they do not bear fruit. These are people who claim to be Christians. They have invaded the Church just to do their own will.   They submit to their false gods, who are actually demons, and their works are going to prove who they are. They are not sanctified, therefore they don't take part in the Bride's blessing, but instead they take part in the great and terrible Day of the Lord. Everyone who is not sanctified will go through the great and terrible Day of the Lord, the day of God's wrath upon the wicked, the day of God's judgment upon the Harlot. God will use the Beast to devour the Harlot with fire. And it will be God's people who are exercising the authority of God's judgment. It will be God's people who are the fire in the midst of the Judases.   God bless you to follow the God of the Bible.

After Haman's execution, Ahasuerus gives Haman's house to Esther, and he gives his signet ring to Mordecai. Esther risks going before the king a second time, and he extends his scepter to her again. She asks for a second decree to be made to counteract the first, since the first could not be repealed under Persian law. With the king's authority, Mordecai writes a decree that allows the people of God to defend themselves from those who would attack them. This causes some residents of the Persian empire to join themselves to the Judeans and brings joy to the people of God.  Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Esther 8:1-17.  "For Such a Time As This” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Esther. Although God is never explicitly named in the book of Esther, He remains the One who directs all the events of the book. Happenings that seem coincidence, chance, or luck are truly God at work. He puts Mordecai and Esther in the right places and moments to work through them to deliver His people.  

Immediately after Haman's shame at being forced to honor Mordecai, he is taken to Queen Esther's second feast. There Esther reveals her request to Ahasuerus: she asks that he spare her and her people from destruction. When the king asks who is behind such wickedness, Esther names Haman as the foe. As Haman realizes his imminent demise, he pleads for his life from Queen Esther, but the king sees it as an assault on his wife and orders that Haman be executed on the very tree Haman had intended for Mordecai's death. To see Haman receive what he deserved in being executed on a tree reminds us of the curse of our sin that Jesus took upon Himself when He went to the cross for our salvation.  Rev. Jason Schockman, pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, School, and Early Childhood Center in Oconomowoc, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Esther 6:14-7:10.  "For Such a Time As This” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Esther. Although God is never explicitly named in the book of Esther, He remains the One who directs all the events of the book. Happenings that seem coincidence, chance, or luck are truly God at work. He puts Mordecai and Esther in the right places and moments to work through them to deliver His people.  

Blessed Seed of the Righteous (Audio) David Eells (6/26/24)  I thought to pick out these scriptures to point out how the seed of the righteous are favored of the Lord in everything. Psa 112:1 Praise ye Jehovah. Blessed is the man that feareth Jehovah, That delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: The generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house; And his righteousness endureth forever.  Gen 22:15-18 And the angel of Jehovah called unto Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said, By myself have I sworn, saith Jehovah, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, 17 that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.   Isa 65:17-25 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people; and there shall be heard in her no more the voice of weeping and the voice of crying. 20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days; for the child shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.   22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree shall be the days of my people, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for calamity; for they are the seed of the blessed of Jehovah, and their offspring with them. 24 And it shall come to pass that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith Jehovah.   Isa 61:8-9 For I, Jehovah, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 And their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Jehovah hath blessed.   Deu 28:2-4 and all these blessings shall come upon thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of Jehovah thy God. 3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy beasts, the increase of thy cattle, and the young of thy flock.   Deu 30:19-20 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that thou mayest live, thou and thy seed; 20 to love Jehovah thy God, to obey his voice, and to cleave unto him; for he is thy life, and the length of thy days; that thou mayest dwell in the land which Jehovah sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.  Job 5:17-18 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. 18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up; He woundeth, and his hands make whole. 25 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, And thine offspring as the grass of the earth. 27 Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; Hear it, and know thou it for thy good.   Job 42:12-17 So Jehovah blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: …. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first, Jemimah: and the name of the second, Keziah; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch. 15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. 16 And after this Job lived a hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. 17 So Job died, being old and full of days.  Psa 102:24-28 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: Thy years are throughout all generations. 25 Of old didst thou lay the foundation of the earth; And the heavens are the work of thy hands. 26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure; Yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; As a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: 27 But thou art the same, And thy years shall have no end. 28 The children of thy servants shall continue, And their seed shall be established before thee.   Psa 127:3-5 Lo, children are a heritage of Jehovah; And the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, So are the children of youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: They shall not be put to shame, When they speak with their enemies in the gate.  Psa 128:1-6 Blessed is every one that feareth Jehovah, That walketh in his ways. 2 For thou shalt eat the labor of thy hands: Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, In the innermost parts of thy house; Thy children like olive plants, Round about thy table. 4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed That feareth Jehovah. 5 Jehovah bless thee out of Zion: And see thou the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. 6 Yea, see thou thy children's children. Peace be upon Israel.   Psa 25:12-13 What man is he that feareth Jehovah? Him shall he instruct in the way that he shall choose. 13 His soul shall dwell at ease; And his seed shall inherit the land.   Psa 37:25-26 I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his seed begging bread. 26 All the day long he dealeth graciously, and lendeth; And his seed is blessed.   Psa 102:27 But thou art the same, And thy years shall have no end. 28 The children of thy servants shall continue, And their seed shall be established before thee.   Gen 6:18 But I will establish my covenant with thee(Noah); and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. Gen 7:1 And Jehovah said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.   Gen 12:1-3 Now Jehovah said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show thee: 2 and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing: 3 and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.  Gen 12:7 And Jehovah appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto Jehovah, who appeared unto him.  Gen 13:14-16 And Jehovah said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward and southward and eastward and westward: 15 for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever. 16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then may thy seed also be numbered.  Gen 17:5-9 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for the father of a multitude of nations have I made thee. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. 9 And God said unto Abraham, And as for thee, thou shalt keep my covenant, thou, and thy seed after thee throughout their generations.   Gen 19:12, 14-16 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whomsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of the place: 14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons-in-law, who married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for Jehovah will destroy the city. But he seemed unto his sons-in-law as one that mocked. 15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters that are here, lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16 But he lingered; and the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters, Jehovah being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.   Gen 21:12-13 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy handmaid; in all that Sarah saith unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. 13 And also of the son of the handmaid will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.   Gen 26:2-5, And Jehovah appeared unto him (Isaac), and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: 3 sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; 4 and I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these lands; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5 because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. 24 And Jehovah appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.   Gen 46:3-7 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: 4 I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes. 5 And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him: 7 his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.  Gen 48:15-22 And he (Israel) blessed Joseph, and said, The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God who hath fed me all my life long unto this day,16 the angel who hath redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. 17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father; for this is the first-born; put thy right hand upon his head.   19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: howbeit his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. 20 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee will Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God will be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.  Num 14:20-24 And Jehovah said, I have pardoned according to thy word: 21 but in very deed, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of Jehovah; 22 because all those men that have seen my glory, and my signs, which I wrought in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have tempted me these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; 23 surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that despised me see it: 24 but my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.  Num 25:10-13 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 11 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. 12 Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: 13 and it shall be unto him, and to his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was jealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.  Neh. 9:7-8 Thou art Jehovah the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham, 8 and foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, to give it unto his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous.  Lev 26:42-46 then will I remember my covenant with Jacob; and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. 43 The land also shall be left by them, and shall enjoy its sabbaths, while it lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity; because, even because they rejected mine ordinances, and their soul abhorred my statutes. 44 And yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them; for I am Jehovah their God; 45 but I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am Jehovah. 46 These are the statutes and ordinances and laws, which Jehovah made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by Moses.   Deu 4:35-37,40 Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that Jehovah he is God; there is none else besides him. 36 Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he made thee to see his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire. 37 And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out with his presence, with his great power, out of Egypt; 40 And thou shalt keep his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days in the land, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, forever.  Deu 10:12-13, 15 And now, Israel, what doth Jehovah thy God require of thee, but to fear Jehovah thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Jehovah thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13 to keep the commandments of Jehovah, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? 15 Only Jehovah had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all peoples, as at this day.   Deu 12:28 Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee forever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the eyes of Jehovah thy God.   Psa 37:25-26 I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his seed begging bread. 26 All the day long he dealeth graciously, and lendeth; And his seed is blessed.  Psa 102:24-28 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: Thy years are throughout all generations. 25 Of old didst thou lay the foundation of the earth; And the heavens are the work of thy hands. 26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure; Yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; As a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: 27 But thou art the same, And thy years shall have no end. 28 The children of thy servants shall continue, And their seed shall be established before thee.  Psa 103:17-18 But the lovingkindness of Jehovah is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, And his righteousness unto children's children; 18 To such as keep his covenant, And to those that remember his precepts to do them.  Pro 3:33 The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; But he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.  Pro 11:20-21 They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah; But such as are perfect in their way are his delight. 21 Though hand join in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished; But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.  Pro 12:7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not; But the house of the righteous shall stand.  Pro 13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.  Pro 20:7 A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.   Isa 44:1-5 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant, and Israel, who I have chosen: 2 Thus saith Jehovah that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, who will help thee: Fear not, O Jacob my servant; and thou, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. 3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and streams upon the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: 4 and they shall spring up among the grass, as willows by the watercourses. 5 One shall say, I am Jehovah's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto Jehovah, and surname himself by the name of Israel.  Isa 65:23 They (Jerusalem) shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for calamity; for they are the seed of the blessed of Jehovah, and their offspring with them.  Jer 32:38-41 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: 39 and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: 40 and I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from following them, to do them good; and I will put my fear in their hearts, that they may not depart from me. 41 Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.  Est 10:3 For Mordecai (who is a type of the Man-Child) the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed. *David's seed  2Sa 22:50-51 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah, among the nations, And will sing praises unto thy name. 51 Great deliverance giveth he to his king, And showeth lovingkindness to his anointed, To David and to his seed, for evermore.  1Ki 2:31-33 And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the blood, which Joab shed without cause, from me and from my father's house. 32 And Jehovah will return his blood upon his own head, because he fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, and my father David knew it not, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah. 33 So shall their blood return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed forever: but unto David, and unto his seed, and unto his house, and unto his throne, shall there be peace forever from Jehovah.  1Ki 11:11-13 Wherefore Jehovah said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. 12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it, for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. 13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to thy son, for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.  1Ki 15:3-5 And he (Abijam) walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; and his heart was not perfect with Jehovah his God, as the heart of David his father. 4 Nevertheless for David's sake did Jehovah his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem; 5 because David did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, and turned not aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.  2Ki 8:18-19 And he (Jehoram) walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife; and he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah. 19 Howbeit Jehovah would not destroy Judah, for David his servant's sake, as he promised him to give unto him a lamp for his children always.  Psa 89:27 I also will make him (David) my first-born, The highest of the kings of the earth. 28 My lovingkindness will I keep for him for evermore; And my covenant shall stand fast with him. 29 His seed also will I make to endure forever, And his throne as the days of heaven. 35 Once have I sworn by my holiness: I will not lie unto David: 36 His seed shall endure forever, And his throne as the sun before me.  Psa 144:9-15 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: Upon a psaltery of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. 10 Thou art he that giveth salvation unto kings; Who rescueth David his servant from the hurtful sword. 11 Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hand of aliens, Whose mouth speaketh deceit, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 12 When our sons shall be as plants grown up in their youth, And our daughters as corner-stones hewn after the fashion of a palace; 13 When our garners are full, affording all manner of store, And our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; 14 When our oxen are well laden; When there is no breaking in, and no going forth, And no outcry in our streets: 15 Happy is the people that is in such a case; Yea, happy is the people whose God is Jehovah.  *The Seed of Christ. Those who have the Word in their heart are the seed of Christ as in the parable of the sower.  Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand.  Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.  Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. 13 For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith. 16 For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, A father of many nations have I made thee) before him whom he believed, even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were. 18 Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be.  1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one also that doeth righteousness is begotten of him.  1Jn 3:7 My little children, let no man lead you astray: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous:  1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.  Act 2:38 And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him.   *Cornelius, his kinsmen and friends  Act 10:22 And they said, Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man and one that feareth God, and well reported of by all the nation of the Jews, was warned of God by a holy angel to send for thee (Peter) into his house, and to hear words from thee. 23 So he called them in and lodged them. And on the morrow he arose and went forth with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the morrow they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and his near friends.  Act 10:30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel, 31 and saith, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call unto thee Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side. 33 Forthwith therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all things that have been commanded thee of the Lord. 34 And Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him.  Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision that believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.  *The Jailor and all in his house  Act 16:27-34 And the jailor, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 And he called for lights and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house. 32 And they spake the word of the Lord unto him, with all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately. 34 And he brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God.    Another teaching about "the seed of the righteous" on the site is here: Families

The book of Esther starts with the opulent and extravagant party given by King Ahasuerus of Persia. As the king and his officials feast and drink to excess, Ahasuerus' beautiful and prized queen, Vashti, refuses her husband's attempt to objectify her. When the king does not know what to do, his advisors tell him to issue a proclamation putting Vashti in her place, lest other Persian wives behave similarly. Although this introduction to the book of Esther seems to be entirely secular, its role within the book and the entirety of sacred Scripture reminds us that even what seems to be “secular” history is truly God at work behind the scenes for the sake of His people.  Rev. Tim Storck, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Chesterfield, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Esther 1:1-22 "For Such a Time As This” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Esther. Although God is never explicitly named in the book of Esther, He remains the One who directs all the events of the book. Happenings that seem coincidence, chance, or luck are truly God at work. He puts Mordecai and Esther in the right places and moments to work through them to deliver His people.  

A Sunday morning sermon by Pastor Brett Deal. A few months back, Peter and I had a great time talking to Jim Singleton about the new book he and Kevin Ford had just completed. In a highly distractible world, their premise of attentiveness was intriguing. As they build their case they write: “Establishing healthy boundaries is essential to building long-term trust. We live in an intrusive world… Creating and maintaining healthy boundaries respects integrity and fosters authentic trust.” Looking back last week as we met Vashti, the resolute queen of the Persians, condemned for her actions, we also met Xerses her husband. Hungry to conquer Europe and expand his kingdom, with his inhibitions curbed by a weeklong bender, he decimates his integrity by dehumanizing his queen and foolishly listening to the men around him, worried how her actions could stir up trouble for them at home. Clearly, volatile moods and quicksilver erraticism made it impossible for those around him to create and maintain the kind of healthy boundaries needed to establish true respect and foster authentic trust. Because of this, Xerses lacks applied knowledge. Yes, the kingdom he inherited from his father stretches from Pakistan to Sudan, but he is tall on temper and short on wisdom. This week we will be looking at Xerses, known as Ahasuerus to the Hebrews, and wrestling with the immeasurable value of integrity and the importance of wise counsel. If you want to see the force of wise counsel, take 30 minutes this week to read or listen to the whole book of Esther. Contrast the hubris and foolishness of Xerses' decisions as he listens to the Memucan and Haman at the beginning with his sagacity and fairness as he heeds Esther and Mordecai at the end.

We can understand the state of confusion the city was thrown into.  What we can't understand, hopefully, is that Ahasuerus and Haman sat down to have a drink to celebrate and toast the decision.

We Have Not Obeyed His Voice Daniel 9:1-27 by William Klock Last week we looked at the resurrection story in John 20 as it continued into the evening that first Easter Sunday—as Jesus appeared to his disciples while they were hiding, as he breathed new life into them through the Holy Spirit, and as he commissioned them with those words, “Even as the Father sent me, I am sending you.”  With those actions, with those words, with that little group of disciples hiding in Jerusalem Jesus began the renewal of Israel.  That was the beginning of a new people called to be light in the darkness and sent out to boldly proclaim the good news and the coming of God's kingdom.  At its core it was the same mission that the people of God had had since Abraham: to be light in the darkness, to make the one, true God known to the nations.  But now, recentred in Jesus, this people would go out—as I said—as prophets, priests, and kings.  As prophets, calling first Judah, then the nations to repentance.  As priests, mediating, proclaiming the good news about Jesus who has died, who has risen, and who is now the world's true Lord—it's King.  And as kings, as we make real Jesus' kingdom in practical ways in the world, anticipating that day when we will reign with him. And the New Testament tells us how those disciples went out into the world as prophets, priests, and kings.  We read of their faithfulness.  We read how they were opposed and persecuted and even killed.  And yet we also see the seeds of what would come as little churches popped up all over the Roman Empire—even right under the nose of Caesar himself in Rome.  And history shows us how the gospel continued to conquer and transform the world, until even mighty Caesar submitted himself and his empire to Jesus.  The gospel did its work.  The old gods were defeated and their temples torn down—even turned into churches.  The perverted sexual ethics of the Greeks and Romans faded away.  The brutal gladiatorial games were outlawed.  Slavery became a thing of the past.  Women and children came to be valued and abortion and infanticide were done away with.  The gospel taught the world about grace and mercy.  It wasn't perfect by any means, but I think most of us really have very little grasp just how much the power of the gospel transformed Western Civilisation for the better and in ways that displayed the life of the Spirit, that honoured Jesus, and that glorified God. But what happened to all that?  Christendom has fallen.  The world around us is retreating back into darkness.  Anti-gospel philosophies are taking over.  Sexual immorality has become rampant in just a few short decades.  We're back to murdering our children before they're born.  The church has fallen out of favour.  Christians are mocked.  And while the gospel is still active, gone are those days when it captured whole peoples and radically transformed their societies.  Instead, it's become a regular thing to hear of prominent Christians apostatising.  Whole churches forsake the gospel.  Even our covenant children are turning away in troubling numbers. Again, what happened?  Could it be that we can learn something from Israel's story of discipline and exile?  That's what got me thinking about preaching through the book of Daniel.  The church today in the West seems to be in a sort of exile and Daniel offers us timely wisdom—showing us how to be faithful in an alien land and how to be light in a darkness that does its best to snuff us out.  And I think a part of that wisdom that Daniel offers also addresses the question of “Why?”  Why did this happen?  If anything is clear in Daniel, it is that God is sovereign and that even the raging beasts of empire ultimately serve his purposes.  And so as we find ourselves in exile, the story of Israel's exile helps to answer why—if we have the humility to see it.  And, I think, Daniel 9 exhorts us to just that sort of humility.  It exhorts us to see the hand of God at work to fulfil his purposes in even the fall of Christendom and the demise of the church.  God's people don't just happen to experience defeat and they aren't dragged into exile by random chance.  Israel's story reminds us that God has always had a purpose for his people—in the old covenant and in the new—and that he will do whatever it takes to make us the holy people, the light-in-the-darkness people he needs us to be.  And that includes refining us to remove the dross, like gold in a crucible, when we've failed.  There's no Old Testament prophecy foretelling our current situation, but I think Israel's story should prompt us to ask with great humility how we have failed in our prophetic, priestly, and kingly roles.  It should prompt us to confess our sins, and to pray for the Lord's gracious and merciful renewal.  So let's look at Daniel 9, starting with verses 1 and 2: In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.   We're back in the space between Chapters 5 and 6.  Babylon has fallen to the Persians.  Israel's great enemy is gone.  But Israel is still in exile.  When will it end?  When will the people return to Jerusalem?  What does Daniel do?  He turns to scripture.  Daniel would not have had the Bible or even the Old Testament as we know it, but he did have both the Law and the Prophets in some form.  And so Daniel goes to the Prophets and specifically to the Prophet Jeremiah.  Jeremiah had spoken of the exile lasting seventy years and as Daniel calculates it that seventy years is nearly up. Before we go on, this is the first hint we get here that even if context allows us to line up Daniel's chronology with historical events, the numbers are first and foremost symbolic.  What comes later in this chapter has been the basis for countless eschatological speculations, some reasonable and some completely crazy. Our modern brains see numbers like this and want to think in terms of literal chronology.  Seventy years means seventy years.  And yet no matter how we try to line up the numbers of Daniel 9 with historical events, nothing is ever an exact fit.  And that's because the numbers are symbolic—because that's how their brains worked—and what we have is more of a chronography than a chronology.  It's a symbolic or stylised sketch meant to make sense of historical events.  So the first vital thing to see with these numbers is the connection with the idea of the jubilee.  Just as every seventh day was a sabbath, so every seventh year was a jubilee—a sort of year-long sabbath.  The land was to have rest from planting and harvesting, debts were forgiven, land was returned to its owners, slaves were set free.  It was very impractical from a human standpoint, but like the sabbath it showed the people's trust in the Lord to provide.  It reminded them that it was his land and he had given it to them.  They had not dug the wells or planted the vineyards.  Both they and the land belonged to him.  You can image that if people struggled to keep the sabbath, they'd really struggle to keep the jubilee.  And they didn't.  At best, only very, very rarely was the jubilee observed.  And this became symbolic of Israel's failure to keep God's law.  And so the Prophets spoke of Israel's exile in terms of the land finally having its rest—but one jubilee wasn't enough, so Jeremiah spoke of the exile as seventy years—ten jubilee cycles—to make up for Israel's long history of unfaithfulness.  But, too, and this is the second part of the symbolism, seventy years is roughly a lifetime and the idea is that the exile would remove a full generation from the land—kind of like the forty years in the wilderness of Sinai.  A full generation of exile gave time for a new generation to grow up, a generation that would be repentant, would return to the land, and would live in faithfulness.  A new generation that would appreciate the Lord's presence and provision.  So that's the idea behind this figure of seventy years.  Keep that in the back of your mind for when we come to the final verses of the chapter and remember that the numbers here in Chapter 9 aren't the important thing, what Daniel does in response to Jeremiah's prophecy is what's really important. So Daniel sees that things are changing around him.  The Babylonians that took his people into exile have been defeated—just as the Prophets had said they would.  A generation has passed.  He's now an old man.  When will the Lord fulfil his promise to return his people to Jerusalem?  When will he fulfil his promise to return to the temple?  Again: Daniel goes to the scriptures, to God's words.  Brothers and Sisters, if you want to hear from God, go to his word.  Don't look for special revelation.  Don't try to divine his will.  Go to his word.  And go to his word responsibly.  Daniel knew that Jeremiah had prophesied the exile and so that's where he went.  Because Jeremiah didn't just say that the exile would happen, through him the Lord explained why.  It was because of the unfaithfulness of the people.  It was because of his covenant with them.  He would be their God and they would be his people.  And he committed himself to them and, back at Sinai, they had committed themselves to him.  He'd given them his law.  That was their end of the covenant.  Now, to be clear.  They didn't earn their special place as God's people.  That was grace.  That was mercy.  And they didn't earn anything by keeping the law.  They kept the law because it was what identified them as God's people and made them different, made them light in the darkness.  They kept the law because they loved him.  Being faithful to God's law was their response to his loving-kindness. But in the covenant, the Lord had also warned that if they were unfaithful—like a cheating spouse—they would be exiled from the land, they'd no longer be permitted to live in his presence.  And Jeremiah, on the eve of the exile, had enumerated the many sins of the people.  That was the reason for the exile.  And through Jeremiah, the Lord had also promised that when the exile was over, he would restore his people to the land and to himself and they would be faithful again. And so Daniel goes to God's word and he reads all of this and he's moved to confession—not just for himself, because everything we've read so far would indicate that Daniel has been personally faithful—Daniel confesses on behalf of his people.  This is the main section of Chapter 9.  Let's read through the whole thing from verse 3 to 19: Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem. As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. Therefore the Lord has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice. And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly.   “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.” Daniels confession is a long one, but at the heart of it is the recognition that his people were in a covenant relationship with the Lord and that they had broken it.  In chapter after chapter, Jeremiah enumerates the plethora of ways that Israel had sinned, that she's failed to keep the covenant, and that she's failed to trust in and to be faithful to the Lord.  He had called and redeemed this people so that they could make him known to the nations, to be light in the darkness, but instead Israel had brought shame on the Lord.  Because of Israel, the nations mocked the Lord rather than giving him glory.  Jeremiah recognised that the exile was his discipline.  The Lord was not merely casting his people away in anger.  Through Isaiah the Lord had said to his people, “you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you…Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you…bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”  No, the exile wasn't a casting away.  It was an act of loving discipline and when the time was right—Jeremiah's seventy years—the Lord would restore his people to Jerusalem and return to his temple. And so knowing that, Daniel fell to his knees and confessed.  And notice how he confesses the sins of his people.  Occasionally, someone will say something to me about the confession in our liturgy.  “I don't feel like I need to pray that this week.”  “Why do we repeat it.  Why do we confess ours sins, hear the absolution, and yet again confess our unworthiness when we come to the Table and then when we leave?”  Brothers and Sisters, it's not just about you or me as individuals.  We are a people united in a covenant with the Lord and with each other.  We're responsible as individuals, but we're also responsible as a community.  When one of us sins, it affects all of us.  Think about Israel.  The righteous were carried away with the wicked in the exile.  The righteous suffered with and because of the wicked.  And yet we don't hear them crying out, “Why me?  I didn't do anything wrong!  This isn't fair!”  Just the opposite, like Daniel, they threw ashes on their heads, put on sackcloth, knelt before the Lord, and confessed the sins of the people, and prayed for the Lord's mercy and grace. I think we can learn something from that.  The church today is in a mess.  It's divided.  Parts are preaching heresy.  Parts are sold out to the world and its ways.  Parts are consumed with materialism and greed and selfishness.  Some have shallow and man-centred preaching and some have shallow and man-centred worship.  Some have no concern for holiness.  Some trust in Caesar or Mammon or horses and chariots more than they trust in the Lord.  And some of us can be very prideful, look down our noses, and as much as our criticisms may be good and right and true—and even needed—we become very self-righteous.  We're blind to our own sins and shortcomings.  And it never occurs to us that perhaps we're all in this together and this current “exile” in which the church finds herself and this collapse of Christendom is because we have failed in our collective witness—because instead of being kings and priests and prophets proclaiming and displaying the glories of the Lord, we have like Israel, brought shame on his name.  Maybe others bear more guilt than we do, but notice that that was never Daniel's concern.  Instead, he got down on his knees and repented and prayed “we” and “us” and begged for the Lord's mercy on the whole people.  We have all in our own ways sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. In response to Daniel's prayer, we read in verses 20-23, that the Lord sent his angel, Gabriel, to show Daniel a vision—to give him insight and understanding, because the Lord had heard him and because the Lord greatly loved him.  We'll finish with verses 24-27: “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”   Sadly, this is the part of Daniel 9 that often gets all the attention—and then not even for the right reasons.  People want to know the future and an unbelievable number of bizarre and downright silly explanations have been given to explain what's really a very simple passage.  This is usually because people try to apply this to events in their future, while overlooking the context.  Chapter 8 is clear in pointing to the years around the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes and the Maccabean Revolt and so is the vision of Chapters 10-12.  That's what Gabriel is pointing towards here.  Instead of Israel's time of discipline ending completely after seventy years, the end of the exile will be more like the beginning of the end.  Instead of seventy years, it will be seventy sevens—seventy being symbolic of a lifetime multiplied by the sevenfold chastisement of Leviticus 26.  God's people will return to Jerusalem, they will rebuild the temple, but that won't be the end of their trials and tribulations.  The first “week” of years will lead into sixty-two weeks of years, which will bring them to the reign of Antiochus, and that final week of years represents his reign over Judea, beginning with the murder of the high priest, leading in the middle to his desecration of the temple, and finally to his death and the deliverance of Judah. This is a reminder, once again, of the sovereignty and faithfulness of the God of Israel.  That's one of Daniel's major themes.  When everything is wrong with the world and God's people are suffering, Daniel reminds us that all these things are serving God's purposes, that he is sovereign, and that he is faithful.  He hasn't cast us aside in anger and left us to be.  Instead, our trials, his discipline, refine us as gold in the crucible, so that when these days are over, we will give him glory before the eyes of the watching world. Again, there's no Old Testament prophecy (or New Testament prophecy, for that matter) that points to our current situation and tells us precisely what is happening the way Jeremiah pointed to Daniel's day.  In a sense we have to do what the author of Daniel did in those days of the Second Century as his people experienced the tyranny of Antiochus Epiphanes.  We have to go back to the story of God and his people.  We need to remember that he has brought us into covenant with himself—in our case, through Jesus and the Spirit—and that he has made us prophets, priests, and kings for the sake of the kingdom of his son, for the sake of making him known, for the sake of transforming this world with the power of the gospel.  He has made us to be light in the darkness.  And, just as he did with Israel, he will take that light away if instead of bringing glory to his name, we bring shame. And lest we think that is some old covenant thing that doesn't apply to us, we have Jesus' words to those seven churches under John's care, the one's John writes to in Revelation.  Again, those words were written to them about their situation, about the trials and tribulations they were about to face, but their calling to be light in the darkness is our calling too.  And Jesus warned them that if they would not repent of their sins and failures, if they refused to be faithful in their duties as prophets, priests, and kings, that the Lord would take away their lamps. I had planned to preach on Daniel 9 to close out the season of Lent, but our Sunday snowpocalypse back in March pushed it forward.  It's a somber theme for Eastertide, but I don't think it's entirely inappropriate.  Brother and Sisters, we are called to be a people shaped by the events and the message of Easter, but the things happening around us practically shout at us of our failure to do that.  Maybe you and I aren't the worst offenders.  Maybe our church isn't the worst offender.  And so many of the failures of the church and of Christendom happened before any of us were even born and, like Daniel, we're experiencing exile largely because of the failure of previous generations.  But you and I are reminded that we are joined in a covenant with all of our brothers and sisters.  And so being Easter people right now means humbling ourselves, examining ourselves and our church and our churches in light of the scriptures, repenting, confessing, and praying for the church and for the kingdom as a whole and asking the Lord to show us his mercy and grace.  And if those Jewish saints living through those dark days two centuries before Jesus could trust that the Lord would deliver them, you and I can hope and trust in the Lord even more.  That, too, is part of Easter.  As we proclaim in the Lord's Supper: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.  He will come again, someday, and he will come when his church has fulfilled the mission he has given.  And that is reason to trust that he will never abandon us and it is reason to hope for that day when he has made his bride spotlessly perfect. Let us pray: Almighty God, who gave your only Son to be for us both a sacrifice for sin and an example of godly life: Give us grace that we may always receive with thankfulness the immesasurable benefit of his sacrifice, and daily endeavour to follow in the blessed steps of his most holy life, who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, for evermore.  Amen.

It's Purim! So when Baby Brother Zev and his girlfriend Osnat came down to DC to peep some cherry blossoms, I made them come to tell you all what is Purim, the super-fun Jewish dress-up party where we celebrate a narrow escape from mass murder and eat cookies named for the bad guy's hat. Or ears. Or pockets apparently. Depends who you ask. Get to the bottom of what the heck Hamantaschen are supposed to be, what is the story of Esther, what to wear for Purim, how they do it in Israel, and who really said "Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History." (It was Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Harvard professor Laurel Thatcher Ulrich) Also featured: the Israeli tradition of Michloach Manot, why Esther is not in the Torah, and whether Esther and Mordecai are really from the Enuma Elish.GLOSSARY:Chag Purim Sameach: Happy Purim! “Chag” means holiday, “sameach” means happy, and Purim is the name of the holidayTanach (also spelled Tanakh): the name of the full Hebrew bible, is an acronym for the Torah (the Five Books of Moses), the Nevi'im (the Prophets) and the Ketuvim (the Writings, also known as the Hagiographa)Abba: Hebrew for Dad, it's what Zeb and I call his dad, my stepdad. Megillah/megillot (plural): meaning scrolls, it refers to the five scrolls included in the Ketuvim, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and EstherAdloyada: to drink until you can't tell the difference, also the name of the big Carnivalesque parades in Israel.Mitzvah: means “commandment”, it often also refers to “good deeds” in general but means a thing you should do. Vashti: The first wife of King Achashverosh (aka Ahasuerus) whose banishment or execution for refusing to dance nude in front of his friends clears the way for Esther to marry the king.  MORE:https://www.exploringjudaism.org/holidays/purim/esther/16-facts-about-purim-and-the-book-of-esther/ https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-book-of-esther/Jews not bowing when it constitutes some form of worship: https://torah.org/torah-portion/mikra-5772-purim/ Sushan Purim: https://reformjudaism.org/what-shushan-purim Bonus: Origins of Halloween, from Throughline and Moses, as seen on South ParkSupport the showLike the show? Support it! Or don't, that's cool too. Just glad you're here! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2196108/supporters/new

Jesus Is Coming In Believers (2)   David Eells – 3/24/24  (audio)  He Wants Us All In Him   Anonymous 2/12/24  (David's notes in red) I had been really battling with a deep-rooted fear of God rejecting me and self-rejection, self-hatred and self-condemnation. Although it was easy to see and feel God's love for others, it's been extremely difficult to accept His love for me (Jesus in me). (Your fiercest enemies are being removed. Father addresses the problem below.)  I had this experience while I was still in my physical body. I could see and was fully aware of the physical realm but my spirit and soul were in a room in Heaven where the Father was sitting down and Jesus was standing to His right. There were others all around them and I knew or recognized Enoch and Noah. (A good sign - Both were escapees) There were so many others there that my spirit knew but those two were the ones I looked at. And everyone there was filled with God's Spirit in their individual vessel or soul.   There was only purity and holiness there. It is so difficult to describe in words and physically what it looked like. The presence of His Holy Love was extremely strong and more than I felt I could bear. I was crying immensely in the natural because of His Love. I just never had experienced or accepted it although it has always been there. Being there in His presence, I had no choice but to accept His Love and it was all present. I went to look for fear, self-condemnation and self-rejection as they had been a comfort and safety mechanism my whole life. They were not there but I knew they were extremely far down, deep and low. They were deeper than underground or in a pit and their presence was so far from here.   The Holy presence was greater words than I could describe but my crying was from the unfamiliarity of this overwhelming love and I begged God to take me back to normal. It seemed too much but He said He wouldn't ever make me experience more than I could handle even though it seemed so overwhelming.   This place was up so high above everything and you could see everything not physically but spiritually. I could see all the truth and understand supernaturally what was and is going on around me.   There was nothing hidden but everything was seen spiritually and I could see all this truth relating to myself. I saw how that I had been friends with self-condemnation and fear for so long that when they are taken away it does hurt even though it's what's best for me.  Being in this wonderful place I could see the authority it had over all creation physically and spiritually and that everything in existence was under this place. It was all light and darkness was so very far away that you couldn't even feel the presence of it although you knew it existed. It literally couldn't touch you even if you wanted it to. You would have to leave this place to experience it. 1Jn 1:5 And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  It was as if I had been in this place the whole time but I wasn't aware of it but I was now aware of it. Fear, condemnation, self-hatred etc. had been separating me and stopping me from realizing or acknowledging being here. (This was accomplished at the cross but it needs to be realized.) Eph 2:5-6 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved), 6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus:  The enemy throws everything at us every day and every moment to blind us from seeing where we really are. I understood that He desires this place to manifest through us while on earth and for us to be in this place constantly on earth. It was understood that we are all in Heaven in this place all of the time but we get distracted by anything that is other than holiness and can't see clearly. (We are saved, healed and delivered at the cross.)  But when the lies and fear are removed, we see this place and connect with Him clearly. We then see Him and hear Him so closely as if one's own breath is His Spirit and He is closer than we can comprehend.   I understood that He wants all of us to be constantly communing with Him as one in this place in Heaven while we are physically on earth. We are to be in this place with Him no matter what is going on in the physical. (We are seated with Him in heavenly places in Christ.) This place was more real than anything familiar to me and more real than anything in the physical. After this experience I was able to see back to this place the rest of the day no matter what I was doing in the physical. Even though the evil spirits were and are still moving around on the earth, I was able to be in this place with Him at the exact same time.   He desires this closeness and oneness with us now and forever. We are to have this intimacy right now and for eternity. We are to accept His voice and love constantly and reject all other voices, thoughts, and spirits. We are to have His Spirit dwelling in our spirit and soul over our flesh for eternity. In this way He will manifest through our physical bodies for His Glory and praise. This will enable us to overcome while going through all our trials, the evil and judgements being poured out on earth. Our vessels are to be physically preserved by being completely aligned with His Spirit.   I heard the other day when I was asking why I am experiencing so many new, crazy, unfamiliar things and I heard this word. Luk 21:26 men fainting for fear, and expectation of the things coming on the inhabited earth; for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.   I knew He is preparing all our hearts and souls so that we will have faith and peace when witnessing all the evil things about to be manifested. He is preparing us to go through it all for His Glory. He wants to live in us and keep us stable. This stability will enable us to resist and reject everything the enemy says. The fallen angels don't want us to be in this Heavenly state manifesting Christ. Jesus has already paid the price for us to live in this place constantly while on earth. He has already paid the price and given us all grace to manifest Him fully.        Jesus IS in the Mirror   Prophecy of Gary Carpenter (David's notes in red) Reminder Note from David: {2Co.3:18} But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. ... {4:6} Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. {7} But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves. ... {10} always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body. {11} For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. {Gal.2:20} I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that [life] which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, [the faith] which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. {Rom. 6:11} Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. {12} Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof.      None Diminished  Now do you perceive My wisdom in providing you with the image of Him Who is to fill your hope? (This image is only seen in “the sum of thy words”, which is truth.) Allow no image provided by religion. (Which has always been wrong. The Sanhedrin, leaders of all their religions did not recognize the Image and so it is today.) Permit no image diminished by the reasonings of man. Receive the image I have provided for it is into that likeness that My Spirit shall conform you.  "None diminished! None diminished!" is the word I am imparting to your spirit this day, says the Lord. "None diminished" is My plan. "None diminished" is My will. "None diminished" from the image I provided. That IS the plan of the Father. As you behold the glory of Him Whom I have sent, as you behold that image I have provided to fill your hope, you are changed into that same image, that same hope, that same likeness by the seed of Him Who was planted within you.  "None diminished!" I say again, "None diminished!" This is My plan. This is My purpose. Receive not the counsel, nor the religion, nor the vain speaking of men who would oppose My will. (Do the dead religions conform to the pattern and image of the Book of Acts?) I counsel you this day to incorporate hope with all your speaking. Truly I have spoken unto you, "These things only come by the saying". But where there is no vision, My people shall surely perish. The saying apart from the vision is as futile as the vision apart from the saying. Both are required, says the Lord. (So read it, say it, and believe it.) I counsel you to step higher than religion. I counsel you to step higher than the ways of man. I counsel you to step above the darkened reasonings of those who speak as leaders of My people. I counsel you to receive the simple truth that I have sent in Jesus Christ. He IS the image provided for all men to be conformed to. I intend for them to be conformed to that image "none diminished, none diminished, none diminished" says the Spirit of your Father.  His life, the life of Christ in fullness, is the "Land of Promise" which I have given unto My children. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread to appropriate that life in its fullness as your own, I will surely give it unto you. His life, in its fullness, IS your inheritance! Receive the abundance of this grace. Receive it as your own. Possess it as your land to be inherited. Receive the abundance of this grace which I have provided for My children. Receive the abundance of His righteousness for it is truly yours.  All that I have given Him, the Holy Spirit shall show unto you as being your inheritance to possess. He will lead you step by step. He will go before you and drive your enemies out from before your face and you shall inherit the very life of Christ in fullness, says the Lord. This is My plan. For this purpose I provided the image that you are to be changed into. For this purpose I sent Him Who is the express image of Myself, that you may see the land before you and possess it as your own. For it is yours as a gift. It is yours by inheritance. It is yours to possess by My Spirit, says the Lord. By My Spirit, by My Spirit, it shall be yours! (The liars say it passed away with the Apostles.) For I have already given you this land. The work has already been accomplished in Him. The only thing remaining is for you to possess it by faith. But as I am teaching you in this day, first you must fill your hope with the image of Him Whom I have provided. Fill your hope with that image. Think it not impossible. Think no longer these things are impossible. Think no longer this is not My plan, for it is My plan. It is My plan to repopulate the earth with sons who walk as Him, talk as Him, act as Him, who have the same results He had. This IS My will, says the Spirit of your Father.  You will learn, as did those of old, that the battle is not yours, but the Lord's. It is by My Spirit that the transformation is accomplished. For man's efforts are vain and futile to bring forth the life of Christ. The instructions I give are easy for man to do. First, son, fill your hope with the image of Him Whom I have provided. Your hope must become "possessive hope"! Hope that possesses as its own the life of Christ in its fullness. See, see that life in fullness in you. See it, son. This is My plan, it is My gift unto you. It is My gift to My children; His life imparted free by grace to you.  I say again, have possessive hope. Hope that sees His life as your own, for without Him you can do nothing. His life has been given freely by My grace. I have imparted that same life into you. See it as your own. Every attribute of His, see it as your own. (2Pe 1:3-4  seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;  4  whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.)  See yourself as beholding Him in a mirror of your own life. As you behold Him as in a mirror, the mystery of Christ in you is brought forward by the power of My Spirit and not your labor. Your labor is to see Him! To behold Him! To possess Him in your hope! To hold that image and not be swayed by religion nor the doctrines of men who claim these things are not My mind.  See Him! Behold Him! Possess Him! Know Him! Love Him! Receive Him! He IS your life! His life IS your inheritance, in all of its fullness, says the Spirit of your Father.  Then partake by saying. Be as Abraham of old who spoke what I said concerning himself and would not speak contrary to it. As you speak forth the words of faith, "As He is, so am I, in this world", coupling your words with Godly Hope which possesses the image, the transformation and the change into that image is wrought by My Spirit and not by the work of man.  Enough! Enough! Enough, says the Lord. Enough of religion! Enough! It has been enough! It is past time to cast off the doctrines of men who would speak in the place of God. This very day My Spirit is circumcising from your heart the doctrine of men whose counsel has been darkened to say that the life of My Son is an image to be worshipped afar off and not to be appropriated by every believer who calls upon His name. They do not find such counsel in My Word.  They have chosen according to man's ways and man's reasonings. They have chosen the path of religion which I cannot anoint with life. They have chosen that path which will never lead to dominion. They have chosen the path of religion instead of life. Hear them no more. Hearken to them no more, for their words are not the mind of the Father.  As I have spoken unto you, wisdom is the image of Christ woven upon the tapestry of your spirit. The speaking of My word weaves that image upon your spirit. But by that method alone, the process of transformation is slow. I am instructing you this day to incorporate hope with all your speaking. (The scriptural word for hope means a firm expectation for the promises given to come to pass for us.) As you incorporate hope of the image with the speaking of My Word, the image of Him Whom I have provided is woven upon the tapestry of your spirit much more rapidly.  You cannot possess a land that you cannot see. Neither can you possess a land that you see afar off if you deem it not part of your inheritance. Understand this day and never forget, says the Lord, that His life IS your inheritance! I desire that you possess that life to the full. (When we see Him in the mirror we are saying His life, holiness, deliverance, health, immunity, love, gifts, power, etc. are all in me.) Behold the land of His life that I have spread before you, says the Lord. Behold it with possessive hope that understands His life IS your inheritance. Possess the land by faith as you go forth seeing and beholding His life, saying "As He is, even so am I, in this world".  Incorporate hope with all your saying, says the Spirit of Grace, and I will weave the image of Him Whom the Father has provided upon the tapestry of your heart in such rapid measure it shall astound you. This is the Father's plan. For this purpose I have been sent. Few have known His mind. Few have understood His purpose in re seeding the earth with LIFE! The Father is restoring all things according to His original intent and purpose. His intent and purpose is that all who name the name of Christ should walk as He walked, possessing in fullness His life, which is their inheritance.  Why would you fill your hope with images provided by man when I have provided for you the image of life itself! He Who IS life has come in the flesh that you may behold that life. That you may receive that life into yourself and appropriate it as a land to be possessed, for I have surely given it unto you, says your Father.  Have not I said thou shalt have no graven images before thee? A graven image is that which has the mark of man upon it. I have provided the image which has the mark of God upon it. Behold the image of life, Who IS Christ come in the flesh. Behold Him! Behold the image I have provided, says the Lord. Fill your hope with that image.  Fill your mouth with My Word that says His life is yours and you shall surely possess the height and depth, the length and breadth of His life. For I have given you to have life in yourself as I gave to Him to have life in Himself. Possess the life of Christ for His life is your promised land to be inherited. His life is your land of inheritance to be possessed.  My children have become so accustomed to affliction, to mourning, and to hopelessness that on those occasions when they have received the smallest measures of joy and peace from My Spirit, they have tended to camp there and set up monument stones by writing books giving testimony ...as though they had received the fullness of My measure of grace to them. How sad. How sad. How My heart grieves over the smallness of the heart of their Father in their sight.  I intend for My children to possess continents of joy and oceans of peace. Did not My Son say that His joy was to be in you? Did not My Son say that His peace was to be your peace? The land of inheritance is vast, enormous, beyond the capacity of the carnal mind to comprehend. But I have set this life to be inherited before you in the image of My Son that you may behold His glory, and with possessive hope and words of faith, possess the land as My Spirit drives out every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.  You shall possess this land, says the Lord, in a more rapid manner, as you learn to incorporate hope with all your speaking. I give you counsel and instruction this day, says the Spirit of Grace; "Slow down!" During your times of possession as you confess the Word, incorporate hope with all your speaking. I Myself, by the power resident within Myself, will move to restore the will of the Father in every realm of your life.  The life in the image of Him Whom God has sent is yours for the possessing. It is the gift of grace. His life IS the gift of grace unto you, says the Father. Receive the abundance of this grace and the gift of righteousness and you shall reign in life by Him. The very life of My Son is My gift of grace unto you. His life is yours. His anointing is yours. His joy is yours. His peace is yours. It is a vast land of promise to be enjoyed by those who will take up the Sword of the Spirit and go forth in the name of Jesus to possess all that life which is your inheritance.  Did I not say to Abram, "Lift up thine eyes", that he might see all the land that was spread before him? Did I not say, "All that you can see, I shall give unto thee and thy Seed"? I did not say, "Behold this land which thou shall not receive as an inheritance". No, I said "This land IS your inheritance".  So I say to you this day, and so I say to all My children. I have spread before you the life of My Son, Jesus Christ, as a land to be possessed by inheritance. I have given this life unto you. It is not a life to be worshipped from afar without hope that it may be possessed. No, I have sent the image of life on purpose that you may behold that image and understand that this life is your land to be inherited. All that you can see, I will give unto you as your faith possesses it. (For this reason the Apostles were called Christians  because they manifested Him.) You cannot possess that which you cannot see, says the Lord. See, behold Him, behold the glory of that life. See it as in a mirror. Possess that life as your own. By My Spirit, I will give it unto you in fullness, says the Lord your God.  Remember the Word I spoke to you saying, "Four hours spent developing godly hope is more productive than four years of mindless confession where there is no hope". That ratio is correct. Those numbers are accurate. (When you read scripture of the life of Christ begin to say, this is mine and that is mine and let your imagination take hold of these things.) I gave them not by chance unto you, says the Spirit of Grace. That IS the measure by which the rate of transformation shall be increased as you learn to incorporate hope with all your speaking. I am able to do a quick work in those whose hope stands as an image in full measure for faith to give substance to. Learn to incorporate hope, Godly Hope, with all your speaking.  Forget not the course that He has set for you, My son. Incorporate hope with your speaking regarding the Gifts of the Spirit. You shall arrive at that clearing more rapidly than you ever thought. Let hope and faith join together that I may manifest the life of Christ in you. From glory to glory, you shall be changed into that same image. Incorporate hope with all your saying, says the Spirit of Grace.      Our Dominion Through the Last Adam  David Eells   1Co 15:22 As in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.  Rom 5:17 For if by the trespass of the one death reigned through the one much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one even Jesus Christ.  The first Adam and his children were given dominion over the earth, but he gave it away through sin. The second Adam and His children were given dominion over the earth, too, but He didn't give it away; it is just that a lot of His children are not receiving by faith this dominion that the Lord has given us. The Lord ordained that His people would reign in life. It is not because of our great ability, or power, or wisdom, or even sinlessness, but through what Jesus did at the cross that we have this authority to reign in life. It is a wonderful thing to realize, and I don't think that any of us yet realize the extent of the dominion that God has really given us over this earth, and we never will realize it unless we reach out, stretch out our faith, and begin to exercise faith and really see things change.   We have this authority that Jesus had to exercise power. The bible says in Rev 5:10 And he madeth them to be unto our God a kingdom and priests and they reign upon the earth. This isn't in the next life, or even after the tribulation. The bible says, “...they reign upon the earth.” We have the authority to reign as Jesus reigned because He lives in us through the Word that we put in our heart. The more of His word you accept, the more He can live through you because He is the Word.  Jesus exercised dominion in His kingdom. Not the kind of dominion that some people want. Actually some people would like to have the kind of dominion that the Pharisees had. The kind that glorifies man. Jesus exercised dominion over God's creation. He didn't exercise dominion over people who wanted to put to death His flesh. We go through many things in order to put to death our flesh. That is what the world was created for, to bring us into sanctification. The world is putting to death the old man, the flesh, the carnal nature. Even while the world around us is spiritually putting us on our cross, we have to exercise dominion. Jesus exercised the dominion but He resisted not the evil, and turned the other cheek.   While the world was crucifying Him, even before He came to the cross, His spiritual man was exercising dominion and delivering this old world from the curse. He went everywhere delivering this world from the curse. So, you can get mixed upon when to exercise this dominion and when not. We don't want authority to let the old man live, we don't want to keep our old life; we want our new life. Jesus said that unless you lose your life you wouldn't gain your life, so this dominion that God has given us is the same type of dominion that Jesus had. This dominion is not to get rich in this world to live the high life, but it is to have all we need to do God's will. God gave me my house and car free in order to do His will. “My God shall supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phl 4:19).  Some people say that Jesus had this dominion just because He was the Son of God, but that is not what Jesus Himself said, as we shall see. It is true that Jesus was the Son of God (spiritual man) dwelling in, and empowering the Son of man (natural man - Rom.1:3). I'm going to show you why Jesus always called Himself the Son of man. They did not have the New Testament when Jesus was administering God's salvation, they had the Old Testament. Jesus always did things to fulfill the Old Testament. “...so the scripture might be fulfilled”, He called Himself “the son of man.” I'm sure the Jews caught on to what He was saying, because they heard that phrase, “the son of man” in the Old Testament. Jesus said of Himself in Joh 5:27, “and he gave him the authority to execute judgment because he is a son of man.”  Jesus didn't have authority to execute judgment because He was the son of God; He had authority to execute judgment because He is the son of man. You say, “what is he talking about?” First of all, God gave authority to execute judgment on this earth to man. The bible says so. Not only did Jesus turn to His disciples and say to them things like, “what you bind on earth is bound in heaven and what you loose on earth is loose in heaven”; and “I give you authority over all the power of the enemy”; and “all things whatsoever you ask in prayer believing you shall receive”; and “whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou taken up and cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart ...he shall have it.” This is the kind of authority that Jesus passed on to His disciples. But it is not because they are sons of God that they have the authority to exercise God's power, it was because they were the sons of man. Why is that? Because that is who God gave His authority too. Turn to Heb 2:5 “For not unto angels did he subject the inhabited earth.” The Greek says, “the inhabited earth.” He didn't put the inhabited earth under the authority of the angels. Who did He put it under? He put it under Adam. The bible says He gave this authority unto Adam, not the angels. I want to point out to you that Adam was given this authority, and one of the angels, the Devil tried to usurp that authority. Gen 1:26 says, “...and god said, “Let us make man in our image after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds in the heaves, of the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. And God created man in his own image. In the image of God created he him, male and female created he them. And God blessed them and God said unto them “be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it,” (that means to have dominion over it).   Adam and his children were to have dominion over all the earth. Adam lost that dominion for himself and his children. He actually gave it away. Rom 6:16 says, “...know you not that to whom you present yourself as servants unto obedience his servants you are whom you obey.” That is what happened to Adam. He obeyed the Devil through Eve and gave him his own lordship. He obeyed and became the servant of unrighteousness, the servant of sin, and the servant of the Devil. The Devil ruled over him, the curse ruled over him, and the Devil through the curse ruled over him. So the first Adam failed but the second Adam didn't. Heb 2:6 says “...but one has somewhere testified saying “what is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visiteth him?”   Now this is a quote from Psalm 8. When Jesus kept relating to the Jews that He was the son of man, I'm sure that a few of them caught on. Actually when He was saying this, He was applying Psalm 8 to Himself. 1Cor 15:45-47 tells us that He was the second man, the last Adam. Psalm 8 was spoken of both Adam and the second Adam. Notice that the Lord didn't give authority to just Adam, He gave authority to His children. Man and the son of man are mentioned here. Gen 1:26 says, ...Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion. Adam lost it for himself and his children, when he fell under the dominion of the devil. The second Adam overcame and took back dominion. “...What is man that thou art mindful of him or the son of man that thou art visiteth him…” This is talking about Jesus and His children just as much as it's talking about Adam and his children.   Everybody thinks that Jesus did His great wondrous works because He was the Son of God. God gave this authority to the son of man. Jesus passed on His same authority to His disciples, who were sons of man and sons of God. They were not born sons of God, they had to be “reborn sons” of God. They were sons of men and that's why He passed it on to them, because God gave dominion over the earth to the sons of men. “Thou madest him a little lower than the angels, thou crownedst him with glory and honor and didst set him over the works of thy hands, “Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet,” which clearly means that man was meant to be a king on this earth and rule for God over His creation. The works of God's hands here means the elements, not just things that occur in nature. Even the things that man makes are made of God's elements.   By God's grace I have commanded cars, washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioners, microwaves, boat motors, lawn mowers, etc. etc. to be repaired and seen it happen. Jesus came down here and took on the likeness of sinful flesh and any angel in heaven had power and ability not limited by flesh. Jesus was limited by flesh. The bible says He got tired, He hungered, and He thirsted. He was “tempted in all points, like as we”, but didn't give into sin.   The reason Jesus had to come in the likeness of sinful flesh and become a man is because God wanted Him to have this dominion and to pass it on to His spiritual children. The bible says in 1Co 15:21 “...as in Adam all died, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” When Adam died all the seed of mankind was in him and they died too. When Jesus died and was resurrected, all the seed of the sons of God were in Him because He was the Word of God, and the Word of God was the Seed that the Sower went forth and sowed. The word seed there in the Greek is sperma.   So the seed of all His children was in Him when He was resurrected. “...As in Adam all died, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” Everybody who abides in Christ is resurrected above sin to die no more. What we are finding out is who it is that was chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. His children are His seed, the word. They are the word in flesh. Heb 2:6-8 But one hath somewhere testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Notice everything was put under the feet of the sons of men, including Jesus who was a son of man.  7  Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honor, And didst set him over the works of thy hands:  8  Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he subjected all things unto him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we see not yet all things subjected to him. Because men are ignorant of this authority. There are people of God that have learned to exercise dominion over many and various things. What is going to happen in the end time is that God's people are going to enter into more dominion. He says, “...they reign upon the earth.” Jesus didn't give us an example of what the Son of God could do; He gave us an example of what man was sent to do with God's word in him. He gave us an example of exercising dominion over the earth. He gave us that authority. If we don't know it and we don't believe it, we'll never stretch out our faith to enter into it. Jesus didn't tell His disciples to “ask Me to do this”, He sent His disciples and gave them authority to do it. “...As the father sent me, so send I you.” “Go ye therefore and make disciples.” “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons, freely you have received, freely give.” He just gave them this authority. Jesus in Mat 28:19 told His disciples to teach disciples to “observe all things whatsoever I commanded you.” Notice, we have to obey all these commands that Jesus gave the first disciples. That is our authority from the Lord. The great commission has been passed on to us from the Lord.  If we understand our authority and begin to exercise it over the curse, we'll see things happen. We are not seeing this great dominion that God gave manifested except in small ways. If people begin to exercise the authority that God gave them, and exercise their dominion that they were crowned with, we are going to see this dominion exercised more and more.   Soon people will begin to take this seriously and begin to stretch their faith for things that they have never done. Down the road a wilderness experience is going to thrust many people into a position of need. Not only that but it's going to thrust them into a position where they are going to be fellowshipping with disciples with different experiences. This is the place where God is going to destroy religion, He is going to bring people into close fellowship with people who have exercised their faith in other areas. This dominion is going to come forth because the need is going to be so great. People are going to put their trust in God, but we don't have to wait!  It said He didn't leave anything that was not subject to man. The dominion is already given. God wants you to exercise your dominion over everything. God is giving you this dominion and He wants you to use it to glorify Him. Joh 15:7,8 says, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, and so shall ye be my disciples.” Remember from the first verse we read in Romans chapter five, it's not because you are perfect, it is because you are a disciple of Christ. No one who begins to exercise this dominion is perfect. We are sons of God through God the Father, and we are sons of man through Adam. God gave dominion to Adam, who then gave it to the devil. Then Jesus took it from the devil and gave it to us. Begin to exercise it now for everything. We don't have any authority outside of God; our authority comes through Jesus Christ.  Psa 8:2 says “...Out of the mouths of the babes and sucklings have thou established strength. Because of thine adversaries that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.” It's amazing because God can use little children to do this. Not just physical little children, but children in the Lord. This was spoken about Adam, and his children. So He put everything under the feet of Adam and his children. They lost this dominion because Adam sinned, but our sins were taken away. Look in Rom 6:14, “for sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace.” And He goes on to say that you are the servants of those that you obey. In verse 17 He said that “you are made free from sin.” In Colossians chapter 1 He said that He “delivered you out of the power of darkness.”   All the things that the bible says about the curse as in Deu 28, we have been delivered of, if you believe it. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation for those who believe it… (Rom 1:16) But we have to know that we have this dominion, not because we have manifested perfection, but because of what Jesus did. Exercise faith and go out and do it. Exercise dominion over sickness, demons, and all forms of the curse. You'll be rejoicing if you stand in faith and do it because you're going to see that what God says is true. There are Christians all over the world who have exercised dominion in so many different ways. We exercise dominion not by prayer but by command as Jesus and His disciples did.   Did you ever notice that they did not ask God to heal, deliver, etc. They commanded these things because they knew these things were guaranteed by God to His covenant people. “And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phl 4:19). You may say, “David these things only happen for people with gifts of healings or miracles or faith.” No, Mar 11:23 says, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it.” Notice that it is whosoever commands without doubt shall have it.   By the grace of God I have commanded eyes restored, broken bones mended, cancers gone, diseases gone, bleeding stopped, blood pressure normal, demons out, dead resurrected, those in comas to come out, water pumps to stop leaking, alternators to have new bearings, smoking engines to be rebuilt, hurricanes to stop or change directions, property protected, storms to stop and back up, moles to get out of my yard, mole crickets to die, gas in my tank, engines to start, etc. Yet it was not I but Christ living in me through the word.  Jesus came to restore our dominion. Jesus was promoted “...far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this world but in the world that is to come” (Eph 1: 21). That's total authority, and that's what Jesus has. …All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. (Mat 28:18). Our spiritual Father has this authority and He has passed it on to His children. Verse 22 says, “and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and he gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him which filleth all and in all.” So you know He's talking about His body here. Not His physical body, but His corporate body. God gave all things to be in subjection under the Body of Jesus and He gave Him to be the head. In this case you can see that even if you are the lowest member of the body, the feet, you have dominion.   This dominion is when you are abiding in the body. It is being in the body that gives you this dominion. Joh 15:7,8 says, “If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so shall ye be my disciples.” Disciples are those who bear fruit in the area of answered prayer because the word abides in them. Rebellious Christians and those who have not yet come into the body of the resurrected Christ, lost their dominion when the first Adam lost his. They still don't have that dominion. We have to be educated into the understanding that we have this dominion because the Word must abide in you. This dominion starts here but continues for eternity. It starts over the earth; the earth is just the training ground for this dominion. It is here where the Lord teaches us how to be kings over His creation.   In the next world or in the age to come, we are still going to have this dominion. 1Co 6:1 says, “...dare any of you having a matter against a neighbor go to law before the unrighteous and not the saints for know you not that the saints shall judge the world. And if the world is judged by you are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters, know you not that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life if than ye have to judge things pertaining to this life, do you set them to judge who are of no account in the church? I say this to move you to shame...” If we have authority to judge angels in the next life, how much more do we have authority to judge things in this life?   Jesus taught His disciples to pray like this, “thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The Lord pointed out to me one time that this is a command. Our work here is to bring God's kingdom down, to manifest His kingdom in the earth. At the last trump it says, “that the kingdom of this world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior.” (Rev 11:15) Who did God do that thru? The bible gives credit to the saints. For instance, in Dan 7:26,27, “The judgment shall be set and they (the saints) shall take away his (the Beast) dominion to consume and destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom, and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given unto the people of the saints of the most high,” God's people are going to be running around here destroying the devil's kingdom!  As the last Adam Jesus passed on His authority in promises such as Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, what things soever ye shall bind (forbid) on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose (permit) on earth shall be loosed (permitted) in heaven. Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Could God have given such authority unto men? Isn't that dangerous? Not at all. Lost men and most Christians have not put enough word in their heart to believe these promises. “Faith cometh of hearing and hearing by the word.” A person has to have a renewed mind to believe this. If he has the renewed mind of Christ he is totally dependable. Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you.   When I was a baby Christian I loved the word and I was convinced it was all true. Before any religious folks got to me to tell me you couldn't believe these things I started exercising them. When these people did speak to me it was too late. I had discovered the power. So you do not have to be in the Lord for years to exercise faith. You just have to be convinced that what you read once is the Word of a totally faithful God. Also stay away from those who have “been in the Lord”, so called, for years and still don't believe these verses. 2Ti 3:5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof, from these also turn away. I have seen many who will not obey this verse stay double minded all their life.  That spiritual dominion that Jesus exercised and passed on to His disciples to exercise is going to become even greater at the end of time. The reason being is because we are going to come into secular dominion too. The Pharisees had dominion over the people of God. Jesus commanded the people not to do what they do, but obey them because they sit in the seat of Moses. He gave the Pharisees secular dominion over the people. He exercised dominion over the curse, over the devil's kingdom, and He was destroying the works of the devil everywhere He went. They had no kind of authority like that. They had only physical, secular authority like in the churches today but He had spiritual authority.   In the end of time we are going to take personal authority even over the secular matters as only the government does now. They are not going to retain that authority; their kingdom is going to fall. We are going to have all authority in Christ. We are going to reign and rule with Christ for 1,000 years, just for a beginning! The dominion that God currently permits the world to have, and the devil as the god of this world to have through the governments, we are going to get. Right now we have to be satisfied to exercise dominion over these governments by dominating principalities and powers. There is a dominion coming that is both secular and spiritual.   Remember I told you that we don't have dominion to not go to the cross. Jesus exercised dominion while He was going to the cross over His flesh when He said, “Not my will but thine be done.” He gave them authority to crucify His flesh. He had been given authority to destroy the devil's kingdom. Our flesh (the carnal man) is part of the devil's kingdom.   In Esther, Haman had been given authority by Ahasuerus (who represents the King of kings, the Lord) to destroy the people of God. Esther, who is a type of the Bride, had been given authority to save the people of God, at the same time. One authority had not been taken away when the other had been given. They were both given that authority at the same time. The king's authority could not be annulled in anything. This of course puts us in a trial with the forces of darkness but through faith we win. We are coming to the end when all authority is going to be given to us. Authority has been restored through Jesus Christ that was lost by Adam, over all the works of God's hands. We are going to ultimately see this over everything that God created. Right now we need to start exercising that authority because all the way up to the end we are going to see it manifest more and more, until we see total dominion.   So we have been given our number one job here, to lose our life. If you don't lose your life, you don't gain your life. Well the world is in total cooperation with that. They are there to help us to lose our life. They are our enemies to nail us to our crosses. Jesus didn't resist men who took physical authority over Him, until He died. I believe that is a sign of when we die and give our life over to God. There is going to come a time in the tribulation period when God is going to take authority and grace away from the wicked. He is going to permit Christians at that time to exercise their authority over these people like the two witnesses did.   Fire went forth from the Witnesses' mouths destroying their enemies, smiting the Earth with every plague and stopping the rain for three and a half years are examples of that (Rev.11:5,6). They exercise dominion over people, to destroy the kingdom of the Beast. However they will not “wrestle” with the flesh and blood but it will be by the power of God. From here to the end we are going to see the spiritual authority and the physical authority manifested more and more until this world becomes God's Kingdom and He personally takes control. Personal control is different from control by proxy. God still runs everything, but He puts somebody on that throne that is a pagan and He is going to use him to test and purify the righteous. Then his purpose is over. God is running this world by proxy; in other words through evil vessels. We are coming to the time when He's not going to do that anymore. He is going to personally take control through His sons and daughters. He has always had control, but He is going to personally take control. That is the only difference in the authority.  Look at Mic 4:6, “...In that day, sayeth the Lord,” I will assemble that which is lame, gather that which is driven away and that which I have afflicted, and I will make that which was lame a remnant and that which was cast off a strong nation.” He is talking about a spiritual nation here. “And the Lord will reign over them in the Mount Zion and henceforth forever. (This is the mount Zion that is forever, not that one over in the Middle East) ...and thou oh tower of the flock the hill of the daughter of Zion, under these shall it come yeah the former dominion shall come the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.” You see just as at one time Jerusalem ruled the known world, this New Jerusalem is going to rule the known world. The former dominion is going to come.   Paul says in Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. God is going to rule through His people that live in spiritual Zion. Mic 4:9 goes on to say, “Now why doth thou cry aloud? Is there no king in thee? Is thy counselor perished that pangs hath taken hold of thee as a woman in travail.” Obviously the people of God are not living up to their stature that's been given to them. Verse 10 says “...Be in pain and labor to bring forth oh daughter of Zion like a woman in travail for now shalt thou go forth out of the city and shall dwell in the field and shall come even unto Babylon.” Even though dominion had been given to Zion they lost it and were taken to Babylon just like God's apostate people of today. The Christians have been taken captive to apostate religion, that's Babylon. “There shalt thou be rescued.”  See God is going to do this, and at the point in history that we are in. God is about to rescue His people out of Babylon, out of the hands of religious apostasy. “…there will the Lord redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.” See how God is going to do that? The next beast came and delivered God's people out of Babylon's world persecution. “And now many nations are assembled against thee that say let her be defiled. let our eyes see our desire upon Zion, but they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel. For he hath gathered them as the sheave to the threshing floor. Arise and thresh oh daughter of Zion, for I will make thy horn iron and I will make thy hoofs brass. And thou shalt beat in pieces many peoples and I will devote their gain unto the Lord and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.”   Do you see something? God is going to gather the beast against Zion and then command the people of God to destroy the beast kingdom. That is when full dominion will be exercised. It has already been given. The Beast kingdom is not a man; the Beast kingdom is all the people on the face of the earth whose spirit doesn't confess according to 1John chapter 4, that Jesus Christ is come in the(ir) flesh. Who is going to destroy that kingdom? It is a mighty kingdom, but there are only two kingdoms in the earth. The Kingdom of God and the kingdom of the Beast. Jesus said there are only two men in the field (world), and that is Christ and Anti-Christ. There are only two corporate men in all the earth. What the Lord is telling us is that Zion is going to exercise God's dominion and destroy all the nations that come against it. Do you believe it? We need to start exercising that dominion now!  That is what the Lord wants to teach us right now. He wants to show us that even though we aren't manifestly perfect, we have been given this right and this authority. Adam wasn't a perfect man; he was a natural man the bible says. He was very ignorant concerning many things. He walked around naked, not that it was sin in those days because he was in a dispensation of innocence and he didn't have the knowledge of the tree of good and evil. But he was innocent and God gave him this dominion over the beasts. Do you realize that you can be innocent in God if you are doing what you know to do? Even as a baby in God, not knowing a lot of knowledge of good and evil and yet this dominion is yours! Don't let the devil deceive you into thinking that you have to manifest perfection before you can exercise this dominion. That is not true! Sin always hinders this because you have no boldness toward God if you have sin in your life. So 1Jn tells us, “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  I think that Sampson was a really good example. Look at Judges chapter 16. Sampson had dominion. He was ignorant of a lot of things and he made big mistakes even while he was exercising his dominion? But God gave him this dominion. He ultimately lost this dominion because he lost his submission to God. What was the secret of Sampson's power? The bible tells us that the secret was his long hair, and as soon as he lost his long hair he lost his power. Sampson was not a big musclebound man.   Judges 16:17 says that if he shaved his head he would be like any other man. They wanted to know the secret of his power because it was not obvious. They were not saying, “How did you get such big muscles?” They knew that was not the reason for his power. Sampson was given dominion. When he lost his submission to God is when he ultimately lost his dominion. In 1Corinthians chapter 11, the long hair was given unto the woman as a sign of submission. That is how we know that this is talking about submission. The long hair is given to the woman as a sign of her submission to her husband. The Lord is our Husband. He sowed the seed of the Word in the womb of our heart in Mat 13.   But Sampson had long hair as a Nazarite. One who took the Nazarite vow couldn't cut their hair. But it was a sign of power. Like I said, He used this as a type and a shadow in the Old Testament. We don't bring types and shadows over literally into the New Testament. We have to see what it's a type and shadow of. It's a parable and you have to discern the parable. The point is that this great dominion was given to Sampson from the Lord and he ultimately lost it because he lost his submission to the Lord. What happened to Adam? The same thing. Samson laid his head or mind in the lap of the Jezebel, Delilah, and lost his submission and dominion. The moral of that story is don't let the wicked have your mind or you will have no power. The religious systems of man, or Babylon have deprived God's people of their power. If you have been there and decide to repent God will restore your dominion. In bondage to the Philistines Samson repented and his hair began to grow. As you know his dominion returned and he smote the Philistines with a greater slaughter.  Few who exercised dominion in the earth for God were perfect including Sampson. But he refused the dominion of the Lord over himself and he ultimately lost the dominion that he had over the earth. “To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” The baby Christian has little knowledge of good and evil, but is innocent in God's eyes if he is doing what he knows to do. That baby has this authority. All authority comes from exercising faith. Zec 10:3 says, “...Mine anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the he-goats, for the Lord of host hath visiteth this flock.” Did you notice that here He has a flock of sheep and there is a goat leading them? This happened in Jesus' day and in ours. Pharaoh's army is coming after God's people to restore them under his dominion much like the DS is. God's people under Moses, a type of Jesus became the rulers. God's people ruled at the Red Sea didn't they? Especially through Moses they ruled. Now I will grant you that some of God's people are like the northern ten tribes, they are worshiping the golden calf, they just don't realize it. They call him, the Lord but he is not for he has no power or holiness. Their submission is to a false Lord. If you come into your dominion you are His vessel but this dominion has been given to all the people of God.  It is really easy for us to just depend upon the world and the world's way of doing things, but it not discipleship, meaning learning and following in the steps of the Lord. It is necessary to reach out and exercise our faith. “The righteous shall live by faith,” which is a radical departure from the normal everyday Christian life. We should learn to do things with our faith for no other reason than to grow in the authority of the Lord as a disciple walking in His steps doing His works. 1Jn 2: 5  but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him:  6  he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked. It is clear that Jesus walked in the power of God to save heal and deliver the people of God. According to this, If one is not doing this they do not abide in him. Joh 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father. If we do not His works but rather those works of man and his ways of flesh we do not abide in Him who has spoken from the beginning. 1Jn 2:24  As for you, let that abide in you which ye heard from the beginning. If that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father. So if we were a disciple of Jesus “in the beginning” we would walk as His disciples did, in authority and power. If we do not abide in Jesus' words “from the beginning” we are not abiding in the Son and we will not bear His fruit. 2Jn 1:9 Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son. Paul said that he would not dare to speak a powerless gospel that could not be demonstrated. Rom 15:18-19 ASV  For I will not dare to speak of any things save those which Christ wrought through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,  19  in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and round about even unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ; 1Co 2:4-5  And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  5  that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Jesus didn't take away these promises of power and authority. But in the falling away from these truths through false shepherds they no longer had boldness to do His works. 1Jn 3:21 “Beloved if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness towards God, and whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.”  You see if you do not serve God, your own heart will condemn you so you will have no faith to exercise dominion. He is still not talking to perfect people here, but He does expect us to be disciples. Jesus said, “...He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne.” The throne is a place of dominion by authority. Spiritually speaking, a person that has authority is sitting down on that throne with Jesus, like a queen sits next to her King. We have that authority that Jesus has given us to rule, for “…they reign upon the earth.”      Where Do We Start? Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. If you have not received power you have not received the Holy Spirit. The most common evidence of when someone received the Holy Spirit in the book of acts is it is accompanied with gifts, especially tongues and prophecy, Mar 16:17  And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; 18  they shall take up serpents (demons), and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. … 20  And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen. 

The Setting: After the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, the Jewish people are subjects under King Ahasuerus of Persia. The story begins with the king throwing a grand party, during which Queen Vashti is banished for her refusal to display her beauty to the guests.Esther's Rise to Queen: Seeking a new queen, Ahasuerus holds a beauty contest. Esther, a Jewish girl raised by her cousin Mordechai, is chosen despite her reluctance and without revealing her Jewish identity.Mordechai's Discovery: Mordechai uncovers a plot to assassinate the king and reports it, saving Ahasuerus's life.Haman's Plot: Haman, the prime minister and a Jew-hater, becomes infuriated with Mordechai's refusal to bow to him. He convinces the king to issue a decree to annihilate all Jews on the 13th of Adar.Esther's Courage: Upon learning of Haman's decree, Mordechai convinces Esther to intervene. Esther bravely approaches the king, revealing her Jewish identity and exposing Haman's plot.The Turn of Events: The king orders Haman's execution on the gallows originally intended for Mordechai. Esther and Mordechai then write a new decree allowing Jews to defend themselves.Victory and Celebration: The Jews defeat their enemies across the empire, and the day of their victory, the 14th of Adar, is established as the joyous holiday of Purim, celebrating the miraculous turn of events that saved them.Donate Here | https://ndg.chabadsuite.net/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=36Donate Here in US dollars https://ndg.chabadsuite.net/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=15Kabbalah of SoulMates | Brand NEW Course begins soon | Sign up HERE https://go.aleezabenshalom.com/offers/BUFCWSsS/checkoutSupport the showHelp the needy in our community for Purim. Rabbi Bernath will personally distribute this money on your behalf. https://ndg.chabadsuite.net/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=24

Highlights: 1:30 Why is the story of the Megillah framed as a narrative of Ahasuerus' kingship? 6:45 The focus on the hapless Persian king is meant ironically and reminds us that we long for a Davidic king 9:00 The prophet Hagai predicted the overthrow of the Persian Empire and the reinstitution of a Davidic monarch 11:30 2 potential ways for the Jews to return to Zion: under the rule of a Davidic king, independently, or under the rule of a Persian king 15:00 Haman's decree against the Jews of Judea and Jerusalem according to the book of Ezra 18:40 Two different perspectives on Haman's decree: Was the problem only that he wouldn't allow the Jews to rebuild the Temple, or was the problem that he declared genocide on the Jewish people? 24:30 Ahasuerus' concern about losing political power if he would allow the Jews to rebuild the Temple 26:00 The fickle positions of power of Mordechai and Esther 29:00 Mordechai sought peace and good for the Jewish people, but all while under the dominion of a Persian king 32:00 Overturning the Persian throne and the reversal that brought the Jews to rule over their enemies 35:40 The powerful Jew in the court of the idolatrous king doesn't guarantee safety

Spiritual and Physical War (audio)   David Eells 3/2/24  Civil War in America  David Eells - 6/7/20  There has been an un-civil war for some time in America between the legally elected government and the left wing democrats and republicans under the authority of the D-S and their MSM, which is being paid by the Communist Chinese and rogue CIA. These refuse to give up power and are intent on a communist overthrow of the country. Their guerrilla forces of the anarchist groups, Chinese and radical Islam, are intent on killing innocent unarmed people to terrorize the people into submission. Pray for them as Jesus commanded.  We are very near to the tribulation when the Man-child reformer ministry will come to the Church and then this war becomes a World War. Some dreams warn the Russians will turn against us too but the Lord said it is a warning and does not have to come to pass so let's pray. At the moment they are allies against the DS.  Rev 6:1-4 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, Come. 2 And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon had a bow; and there was given unto him a crown: and he came forth conquering, and to conquer. (This is the corporate Man-child reformer ministries in whom Jesus lives and guides by Word and Spirit. Just after this anointing comes war.) 3 And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come. 4 And another horse came forth, a red horse: and to him that sat thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. (This implies a civil war amongst world entities of the Alliance and DS.) Christians are to not take part in the physical warfare but are to contain their activities to sharing the gospel with both sides and to do their Biblical spiritual warfare and sending the angels against the demonic forces behind this catastrophe. Jesus said, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you (Luk.6:27). (28) Bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you.   The Bible says we're not supposed to wrestle with flesh and blood (Eph.6:12) For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. So, if you can't wrestle with flesh and blood, can you war? Can you kill? Can you pick up weapons? If you do God promises you will die. Jesus said, All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword (Mat.26:52). And in (Joh.10:35) ... Scripture cannot be broken. (Rev.13:10) … If any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed (10) If any man [is] for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.   If you attempt to save your life by fleshly means, you will lose your life. (Mat.16:25) For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. Can you lose your life outside the sovereignty of God? No, you can't. It's not possible. If you study the sovereignty of God, you'll find out that God is ruling over this earth and A man can receive nothing, except it have been given him from heaven (Joh.3:27). It all comes from God. He says, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves (Mat.10:16). Ever seen a sheep kill a wolf or even bite one? God never makes "holy wars". There's no such thing in the New Covenant as a "holy war". He did not give you permission to wrestle with flesh and blood - ever. He gave us permission to wrestle with the principalities and powers only.   Countries are killing other countries. People are killing people in other countries because of lust. That's the only reason. (Jas.4:1) Whence [come] wars and whence [come] fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your pleasures that war in your members? (2) Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not. People are not content with what they have. You say what if Christians obeyed this? Who would defend us? God would but also He has other vessels to do this physical warfare. President Trump and company can do this if you Pray for them.  I was asking for the Lord to randomly give me a Word and it was Jeremiah 42:10-12. I will give it in text here with the warning not to go to Egypt to trust in the arm of flesh to save you from Babylon. Also, in Ezekiel 17 when His people ran to the great eagle of Egypt to save them from the great eagle of Babylon, symbolizing a civil war. God forbid this trusting in the arm of flesh instead of Him and doomed it to failure. Therefore we must not trust in the power of man as in the right wing to save us from the Babylonish D-S. We must not trust in the power of physical weapons but must wrestle with the principalities and powers of this demonic darkness. Here is the text given to me:   {Jer.42:1} Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near, {2} and said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we pray thee, our supplication be presented before thee, and pray for us unto Jehovah thy God, even for all this remnant; for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us: {3} that Jehovah thy God may show us the way wherein we should walk, and the thing that we should do. {4} Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto Jehovah your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass that whatsoever thing Jehovah shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you. {5} Then they said to Jeremiah, Jehovah be a true and faithful witness amongst us, if we do not according to all the word wherewith Jehovah thy God shall send thee to us. {6} Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of Jehovah our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of Jehovah our God.  {7} And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of Jehovah came unto Jeremiah. {8} Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest, {9} and said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him:  {10} If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you. {11} Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith Jehovah: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.    {12} And I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land. {13} But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land; so that ye obey not the voice of Jehovah your God, {14} saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt (The second Eagle of Eze 17, a parable of civil war.), where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell: {15} now therefore hear ye the word of Jehovah, O remnant of Judah: Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, If ye indeed set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there; {16} then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye fear, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt; and the famine, whereof ye are afraid, shall follow hard after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.   {17} So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there: they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them. {18} For thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: As mine anger and my wrath hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so shall my wrath be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt; and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more. This offence was because they trusted in the arm of flesh instead of the Lord's Word. …  {21} and I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of Jehovah your God in anything for which he hath sent me unto you. {22} Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go to sojourn there.   {Jer.43:1} And it came to pass that, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people all the words of Jehovah their God, wherewith Jehovah their God had sent him to them, even all these words, {2} then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: Jehovah our God hath not sent thee to say, Ye shall not go into Egypt to sojourn there; {3} but Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may put us to death, and carry us away captive to Babylon. {4} So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of Jehovah, to dwell in the land of Judah.  Also, Isaiah 30 is a stern warning not to trust in Egypt but to return from their fleshly works to trust in the Lord. Isa 30:1-3 Woe to the rebellious children, saith Jehovah, that take counsel, but not of me; and that make a league, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin, 2 that set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt! 3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt your confusion…. 7 For Egypt helpeth in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I called her Rahab that sitteth still…. 15 For thus said the Lord Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. And ye would not: 16 but ye said, No, for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.      Civil War in the US  Kenneth R. Atnip, Sr. - 12/18/2010 (David's notes in Red)  My 16-year-old daughter, Maryann, had a dream a few days ago. She dreamed of civil war against the current government The scene was very chaotic and those in rebellion to the government were going house to house forcing any and all men to join with them. Many of us Christians were in hiding, not willing to join in a rebellion against the government. (The right-wing will be a threat against Christians who will not kill, too.)  She awoke in the middle of the night with a strong taste of blood in her mouth. Her 13-year-old sister, Aimee, woke up as well and immediately asked her what was wrong. The 16-year-old said that she had the taste of blood in her mouth to which the 13-year-old asked, "Were you dreaming of war?" Somehow she knew that she was dreaming of war.  Last November my three-year-old son, Jeremiah, slept with Mom and Dad. He awoke at 5:30 AM yelling, "War is coming ... people are dying ... people are crying to God". He has no idea what these things are. It woke me out of a dead sleep and I sat up and looked at him. He was wide awake and started telling of hearing a noise: "pop, pop, pop", he kept repeating. All day he kept talking about big balloons coming and looking out the window. He said, "Maybe they won't come; maybe they will pop". (This will become a shooting war.)  Kenny Atnip (Jan 2013) "Some time ago God showed me and some others that America would enter an internal war. You can call it civil war or revolutionary war or anything you like, but it is coming. God showed me plainly that many Christians would be tempted to be part of a war against the government and that this war would be part of his judgment on the U.S.A. and we should not get involved. The current government's actions are because of God's judgment so he who resists this government resists God's ordinance. (We are all for the fall of DS satanists but we may not kill. The angels can kill but that is God.) Global war is coming as well, and America will be attacked,(This will be at least between the DS and Alliance, which are global enemies.) and after all of these things I saw a time of peace again in the land. America will be humbled and once again look to God as it's provider and defender. And then the Beast makes war on the saints mid-trib. The message to Christians here in America is the same that Jeremiah told to Judah; Submit to God's judgment and it will go well for you, resist and it will cost some their lives and others their freedom...  Hans Petter (June 2008) "I started to see a movie in the spirit. First act was that Obama was elected as president, and he was the door opener for the next thing that happened. Dark skies came over USA with thunderstorms. People were fighting against each other in the streets. Tires and cars were burning in the streets. People were really suffering screaming for help and they had nothing to eat or a home. It was a hard time. The cities were burning.  I saw a gap (division) start to split the nation. It started in California, moved forward across the nation and ended up by the east coast north of New York. (Civil War battles)  Act 2. Then people started to pray for help and ask for help from Jesus. I saw two eagles (prophets) (And the division of the eagle U.S.) that came flying from the east and behind came Jesus. Healing came to USA and Jesus restored the cities and peoples' life." (Like G. Washington's vision of civil war and invaders repelled.) Darren Smith (June 2009) "Last night while praying before I went to bed, The Lord gave me a vision that really rattled me. In the vision I saw this land split into four parts (By the earthquakes) with each one under its own flag. Each region had terrible destruction and many people were dead. As I looked over the destruction I was crying and the Lord asked me, "Why are you crying over the fall of Babylon? As a matter of fact, why have you been praying for the healing of Babylon?"  In this vision I didn't have an answer and the Lord opened a scroll and started reading off the indictments against our country, but before each one he clearly called the USA Babylon. The list was long and to the point, with such points as the killing of several generations of unborn children. Beside this charge He added that these babies had been sacrificed to the god of self. The list also included greed, idolatry, pride, fornication, and many others, so many I could not even read them all.  As I looked at the list of charges I was overwhelmed and broken by the fact that we live every day in a nation that is so far removed from God and in total opposition to the Kingdom of God, yet we are comfortable here. We have become just like Lot living in Sodom, the prosperity that the nation offers us has blinded us from the evil that rules this land. We complain about how bad it is but still stay attached to it with every ounce of strength we have.  The Lord told me to look at the nation as He sees it, not through my eyes but through His. I could not look too long before I had to agree and repent of loving Babylon. Once I repented the Lord told me to prepare for the fall as time is running out. I must preach the Gospel of The Kingdom, not the Gospel of America. America is already judged, the time of shaking is now and will increase rapidly"...      Dragon Seeks To Devour Christians  Marie Kelton – 1/2/24 (David's notes in red)  I had a dream, that I was in a building with a bunch of other people. All of a sudden the building got attacked by what looked like utahraptor but it was huge. (The voracious DS Dragon seeking to devour Christians.)  Everybody was trying to escape and I was running down the stairs with a group of people. There was an Indian lady who was dressed in traditional Indian garb. We told her, ‘Come on,' so she could escape but something was wrong with her foot so she couldn't really run. She got up and fell over onto the stairs. As she was getting up she said, ‘Thank you, Jesus' because her foot was healed, and she could now run to escape the dinosaur.   When we got out of the building there was a train that was waiting for us, almost everybody got on the train but it was stuck in a cul-de-sac and wasn't able to move. (Some are stuck in a cycle of the curse that cannot escape the Dragon because it is not the straight and narrow road of discipleship.) So some people started pushing the train to get it moving to leave the cul-de-sac.   As we were leaving the cul-de-sac, I looked back and saw that there were three more people stuck in the building banging on the windows saying, ‘Don't leave.' They banged on the windows so hard that they broke them. The three were able to get out of the building but they were trying to run to catch up to the train to escape and I knew they wouldn't make it. One was a white guy with medium length pink hair. (Those seeking to impress the world will not escape.) Another was a black guy. (Those walking in darkness will not escape.) And I don't really remember who the third person was.   The dinosaur was on top of the building. The black guy had dropped an empty water bottle on the ground. (No water of the Word is to have no sword.) He picked it up and did a flip trick to get up to the middle section of the building where there was a ledge he could stand on. (The flip trick could be changing sides to escape.) He threw the empty water bottle (so he had no sword) at the dinosaur and the dinosaur launched at him. (Jer 2:13 For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. ) Then I woke up.      The Faction Can't Escape The Dragon  Marie Kelton – 1/2/24 (David's notes in red)  I had an open vision, there was a T-Rex (The DS Dragon) in the neighborhood during the night. The T-Rex came to my house and flipped the roof off of my house where my room is. The T-Rex was looking for me but couldn't find me because I wasn't there. It then walked over to what we know is a factious house and flipped their roof open and ate whoever was inside the house. (The Factious do not escape the Dragon of DS Babylon.) I then saw the T-Rex walk away from the neighborhood on to the main road away from us Christians. Then the vision ended.      Judgment Of Fire  Anna Stewart 2/12/24 (David's notes in red)  I dreamt that I looked out of our back window and saw billows of dark smoke, like the smoke from burning buildings, coming through the not-too-distant trees. I was surprised and thought, "Wow, we may need to get out of here." I knew that it wouldn't take too long for the fire to spread to our property. To my surprise, another huge billow of dark smoke sprang up to the right of the first one, and then another. (DEW) The smoke rose supernaturally fast, more like an explosion than a fire. These were all separate fires, not one continuous, growing fire. (The DS just started many fires in TX. probably with DEW but somehow the helicopters were crashing that were needed to put the fires out and they were turning into one huge fire, which the Lord is putting out.) I grabbed a few snacks for our kids and got the kids together to leave. I took them to the car and from there I saw a lone pine tree in a neighbor's yard suddenly burst into flames. The grass around it was very green and it didn't make any sense for that to happen. (Sounds like D E W). I realized time was short and I needed to leave now and not go back for anything else in the house.  Luk 17:28-31 Likewise even as it came to pass in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all: 30 after the same manner shall it be in the day that the Son of man is revealed. 31 In that day, he that shall be on the housetop, and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away: and let him that is in the field likewise not return back.  A huge bale of straw fell in front of the car, where I'd need to drive to get through. I knew it wouldn't be hard to move it out of the way, but it was costing precious time.  1Co 3:12-13 But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 each man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man's work of what sort it is. (We need to remove the wood, hay, and stubble from our lives before judgment falls, so it won't be a hindrance to us then.) (So we can escape) I immediately woke up from the dream with a start. It wasn't very scary but it was very tense.  I fell back to sleep and re-dreamt the first part of the dream. I have almost never dreamed the same dream twice like this. After the first two or three billows of smoke came up, instead of gathering my kids to flee, I went outside and got the garden hose. I began to spray down everything around my house (Speaking the water of the Word). I watched as the pine tree caught fire and I began to curse the flames and forbid them to touch anything of ours. I started doing warfare and binding the devil. I was very loud and prayed in the Spirit, as well, all the while spraying water over everything.  I was spraying down a row of Juniper trees between the neighbors and our house, because I knew they were very flammable. (In real life there are no Juniper trees there.) My neighbor came out to see what was going on, but I wasn't ashamed to be yelling at the fire to not come here, and just kept on warring in the Spirit. I knew I might look dumb now, but I wouldn't when my house was left untouched in the end.  Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.       People Falling Through The Lord's Fingers  Marie Kelton 2/9/2024  During the Friday meeting as David was talking about the DS and FEMA losing, the Lord gave me an open vision of Jesus sitting next to me; He was holding out His hand, as I was looking at His hand. I saw many people falling through His fingers down to hell.   Pray for the Lord to help His elect to escape the falling away. Amen      False Prophet Media Imparts Demons  Gideon Smith - 11/16/20 (David's notes in red)  I had this dream on 11/16/20 that seems to run parallel with a dream I shared in 2009. There are many signs lining up between the two dreams. There's no way I would have known in 2009 there would be a political figure in America named Donald. (Donald, meaning “ruler of the world” has a double meaning. Donald Trump is literally ruling in much of the World through the Alliance he heads up. The Donald in the other dream is literally DS and is a false ruler of the world. But I should say, There is only one ruler of the world and he is neither one.)   While fasting about what direction my family needs to go on in light of everything going on in America I had this dream. I saw darkness everywhere. (Deception and lies are everywhere) Then I saw a giant television media screen. It was huge like a drive through theatre size. (The vast false prophet Mainstream TV media who is imparting demons through slander, lies, and communist DS spirit to the watchers.)  Anyway there was a giant demon with horns and made of fire and he was extremely powerful. (The horns of this beast are the false prophet media. Rev 13:11 And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like unto a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. Literally this verse speaks of those two branches of apostate Christianity who claim to speak for the Lamb but do not. But I believe the dream speaks of another false prophet who is the voice of the dragon body of Satan, the father of lies, the MSM.)   He had fire all around him and darkness was with him the only light on him was the flames that showed his shape. (No light means that he cannot speak the truth as his false media on TV today. The light is fire because he is a destroyer of lives. Many have gone stark raving mad watching and listening to him lie and deceive.) He was on the screen showing his power. (He is speaking through the media to conquer the US and Christianity with slander, witchcraft and faction demons.) This demon was extremely dreadful and very strong.   Then I noticed there was a man with me who had a weapon in his hand. It was extremely dark but I could see him. He was preparing to fight this demon. (The Trump / Man-child parallel) I joined with him to fight this thing. (All true Christians should join their faith together to fight this media demon. We have authority over him for the elect's sake. Mat 18:18-19 Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. And Luk 10:19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.).  I didn't have any weapons on me so a thought came leading me to go in my closet (prayer closet) and get my weapon. (We all need to be in our prayer closet using our "sword of the spirit which is the Word of God" to bring down the premature DS dragon beast and free the people from the leftist demons they have imparted.). When I went into the closet I saw a leather case and inside of it was a shotgun with red shells/bullets (representing the blood) (And red for the political revival through Trump that is conquering him through our prayers and warfare. Also a shotgun shoots many bullets at once, which is what we should do.)   I then proceeded to shoot at the demon on the giant screen multiple times. I don't even know how I knew how to use the shotgun but I did and the man that's was with me had a sword. (The Word of God) We both were fighting this massive prince and then I woke up. Amazing how these two dreams speak as to what we are seeing now.      Gideon Smith - 11/24/2009 (Notes in red by David)  I had a very interesting dream; it is very profound to me and I know it's from God. In the dream, my wife and three daughters were sick and in a hospital. (The hospital is the Church where healing is supposed to be dispensed.) The doctors and nurses (representing ministers) were saying they needed more sugar. (Ear tickling doctrines) So then they were led to a floor below us (loss of stature or maturity). I noticed that they were giving them sweets such as donuts, candy and things like that. (Telling them what their flesh wants to hear). The strange thing was they were giving it to them through a garbage shoot. (Those seeking sustenance and healing in the worldly church, are receiving spiritual garbage food for doctrine.)   (Sweets taste good to the flesh but will not do any good for the spiritual man. The world's methods for healing or salvation will not contribute any good to the body of Christ. Being led downstairs brings to mind Col 2:20-3:2 If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances, 21 Handle not, nor taste, nor touch 22 (all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men?  23 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh. 3:1 If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. The garbage shoots show that what they were receiving was weak and beggarly rudiments or principles of the world as in Gal 4:9 but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?)  When seeing this, I noticed that my wife and three daughters had come up stairs to see our new son (in reality, my son is already nine months old in 11/24/09). (In type the immature Church will be brought up out of bondage into heavenly places when they come up to see the man-child of Rev.12.) When they arrived, I met them and we first began to look around the maternity ward and I noticed all the babies were inside incubators that were full of sugary, powdery substances that covered the babies. (Revelation will be given to the immature Church that sugary teaching makes their flesh happy but is keeping them immature and on spiritual life support.) These looked very under-developed, dark and unhealthy. (The babies in the incubators were premature (Their spirits or breath is man induced.); they could not grow into the image of Christ; they were full of the powdery, sugary substance which will kill them spiritually.)  Then we went to see my son, whose name is Luke, and he was huge. He was sitting up on his own outside of the incubator, perfectly healthy, and when I looked closer I saw that he was completely covered in blood and there were no wounds or harm to him. (The man-child was covered and washed in the blood; he was fully mature and did not need an incubator to breathe. In fact, he could sit up on his own because he was covered in the blood and cleansed from all the things that the other babies were dying in.)  Then the whole hospital and staff turned on the TVs (There is nothing on the TV but deception from the false prophet MSM pushing the DS beast agenda.) and there was this big announcement being made by Donald Rumsfeld or some other politician, saying that they had created something great and wonderful. (When looking on Wikipedia, I learned that Donald means "ruler of the world". WOW. (This is the false ruler of the world, the DS beast. The immature church and false ministers feed on the fake stream media of the DS beast.) His “great" thing I saw was a spirit. {Hebrews 1:7} And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels winds [Greek: spirits]… What I saw in this case was a body of fallen angels or spirits. (The corporate spirit of the beast from the pit inhabits the world dragon beast seven headed body and is imparting these spirits from the dragon beast.)  Everyone seemed to be glued to the TV. (Mesmerized by the false prophet Main Stream Media belonging to the DS dragon beast) They were watching this creation being introduced. As they watched, I was taken to the clouds and saw this "great thing" that they were speaking of and it was a gigantic pillar of fire with a fiery flame on top, flying up from the earth and passing the clouds into the atmosphere, but then it fell down to the earth. (In the natural the MSM is losing credibility and people fast. Satan has taken over the head of the world body, which is the US. However he is premature and is being put down by God through the saints until the Church is built up. “How shall Jacob stand for he is small?" Satan is exalting his throne above the stars of God's people but will be cast down to the earth at the beginning of the tribulation as in Rev 12:7-11 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels; 8 and they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven.    9 And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him. 10 And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death. Isa 14:12-15 How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations! 13 And thou saidst in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; and I will sit upon the mount of congregation, in the uttermost parts of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to Sheol, to the uttermost parts of the pit.)  Then I was taken to the earth where I saw its form from another perspective. I saw this pillar of fire, which seemed to be full of winds(spirits) that kept its flame burning. It was stretched from the ground all the way to the sky. Then I saw what was on top of it and, to my surprise, it was the same image that is on The Beast Is Everywhere revelation, except the circle in the middle of the two horns was like the all-seeing eye on the back of the dollar bill. This globe was on the head of the golden calf. The two wreaths were its horns. It's the UN logo. There is a new UN. The old one became DS. (The federal reserve notes are owned by the DS beast and are on their way out as new currency owned by the US treasury is coming. The worldly will worship the beast at the command of the false prophets -- the fake news media.)  Then, after seeing this, I was back in the hospital with my brother beside me, who saw the same image as I did but no one else did. I urgently told him three times, "That's Ra”. (The ancient Egyptian sun god; the false Son of God or Antichrist beast. Warning others of a false image of deity for three years.) Then, as the people were watching the news of this great thing, I began to warn them and tell them that this is the seven-headed, 10-horned beast. (This is the DS empire trying to force the mark of the beast through vaccines but they are premature as were Obama and Hillary. It is not time yet for the Beast, Mark, Image. The DS will fall to the earth. But the spirits behind it will return at mid-tribulation.)  The people in the hospital began to listen to me. (Those who were coming out of the institutional apostate church.) I noticed my wife was shaking her head, telling me not to speak about it anymore to them; even though I felt led to keep talking, I stopped. (The worldly mother church will not want the truth to be proclaimed to their people.)  Then I woke up from the dream. When I woke up and told my wife the dream, she apologized for what she did in the dream. She was just an actor :0)     The Beast Will Destroy the Wicked  Marie Kelton – 11/30/20 (David's notes in red)  During last night prayer meeting I saw a figure standing. I didn't know if it was an angel or the Lord because all I saw was the waist down. The figure had on a white linen robe on. As the meeting continued and we were praying in tongues, I saw the white figure, He was wearing a black satchel, it rested on His right side. While, we were praying I heard a "writer's ink horn," I heard this multiple times. Then I heard "Smite the capitals."   Amos 9:1 I saw the Lord standing beside the altar: and he said, Smite the capitals, that the thresholds may shake; and break them in pieces on the head of all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: there shall not one of them flee away, and there shall not one of them escape. (“Smite the Capitols" is emphasized here to speak of judgment on the apostate leadership and God's people. Chapter 8 and then 9 begins with this judgment and progresses to “I will raise up the tabernacle of David” and then to “that they may possess the remnant of Edom" the faction.)  So I looked up a writer's ink horn:  Eze 9:1-11 Then he cried in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause ye them that have charge over the city to draw near, every man with his destroying weapon in his hand. 2 And behold, six men came (6 is the number of the beast. The DS beast comes to destroy apostates in the capitol city representing the apostate leadership of the Church and the false bride.) from the way of the upper gate, which lieth toward the north, every man with his slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man in the midst of them clothed in linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side. (To mark the righteous leadership to escape.) And they went in, and stood beside the brazen altar. 3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the house: and he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer's inkhorn by his side. 4 And Jehovah said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof.   5 And to the others (The beast) he said in my hearing, Go ye through the city after him, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity; 6 slay utterly the old man, the young man and the virgin, and little children and women; but come not near any man upon whom is the mark (of the righteous): and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the old men that were before the house. 7 And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and smote in the city. (Apostate Jerusalem) 8 And it came to pass, while they were smiting, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord Jehovah! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy wrath upon Jerusalem? (Notice that the wicked under them in Israel, a type of the church are included.) 9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of wresting of judgment: for they say, Jehovah hath forsaken the land, and Jehovah seeth not. 10 And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will bring their way upon their head. 11 And behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.    Our King Leads the Attack on Corrupt Church and State  Eve Brast - 12/31/20 (David's notes in red)  I was meditating on a dream the Lord had given me about the President elect David, as a type of the Man-child Davids, appeared before the waiting news media when they were expecting Donald Trump to come and accept the presidency. (Meaning there is a parallel between the state and Church new leadership. This means the King anointing for the Man-child body is very soon.) David was pointing with his arm to each individual secret service ‘angel' and commanding them to go throughout Washington D.C. and gather up all the wicked government leaders and send them packing. This is in parallel to what the Lord will be doing through President Trump. (It is said by people in the know that 80% of the government leadership is corrupt. Epstein is alive and He knows a lot of them personally along with Hollywood elites and the financial and industry moguls.)  I went to bed asking the Lord to show me more about this dream and what He was currently doing and He gave me this dream below.      Eve Brast – 12/31/20 (David's notes in red)  I dreamed that it was dark and I was in the midst of a massive army of warriors. Suddenly, I was taken in the Spirit high up into the air overlooking the whole battle scene.  There was a very high stone wall of an old city to my right and over to my left, up on a hill, was a giant King being carried on a palanquin with a golden throne and a golden crown on his head.  I knew this was our King and all his warriors were dressed in ancient leather battle gear. They all had spears or swords to fight with. The warriors were all large and muscular and very fierce. (This is the Man-child reformer ministries sending forth the angels to battle. As I looked over at the King he was driving the warriors forward with his arm and pointing towards the stone wall of the city. He was commanding them to ‘attack' in a deep voice that seemed to reverberate throughout the battlefield.  The scene changed and I found myself inside one of the structures inside the city. I was in a crowd at a party watching 2 homosexual men dancing together. (Representing the leadership of State and Church in spiritual fornication with each other as Rev 17 shows the harlot riding the beast.) One of the men was dressed like a woman with a blonde wig on his head. (As we have seen America is Sodom and Gomorrah.)   In the dream, I knew that these two men were going to die in the attack on the city by our King and his warrior forces. (As the Lord has shown He will orchestrate the whole battle. Throughout history the Man-child prophets spoke the Word empowering a beast kingdom to come and destroy the apostates. He will use the Babylonish DS leftist communist anarchist forces to bring down the apostate leadership of the people of God just the way Babylon conquered Zedekiah and his cabinet, the leadership of spiritual apostate Jerusalem. Babylon conquered them by Sword, Famine, Pestilence, and fire as the Lord commanded so modern DS Babylon will do this today. Then God will use Cyrus Trump to conquer the Babylonish DS leftist communist anarchist forces as revival and restoration breaks out. Both factions of Church and state will be conquered by our King through His Man-child. See Eze 34 & 35)  Then I woke up.   I asked Father for a word by faith at random for this dream and my finger was on Micah 3:7 (in context 5-12) Mic 3:5-12 Thus saith Jehovah concerning the prophets that make my people to err (The MSM and false Church leadership); that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and whoso putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him: (A sect, division, or strife is a work of the flesh as Paul said in Galatians.) 6 Therefore it shall be night unto you, that ye shall have no vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them. 7 And the seers shall be put to shame, and the diviners confounded; yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God. 8 But as for me, I am full of power by the Spirit of Jehovah, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin. (This reminds us of Jesus as a type of the end time Man-child.) 9 Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, that abhor justice, and pervert all equity. 10 They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. (Zion/Jerusalem was the apostate leadership over the people of God Like Zedekiah whom the Babylonians took captive to Babylon which has happened today. These apostates don't even attempt to make the scriptures their rule.) 11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, (They are all on salaries contrary to Jesus command, “Freely you have received, freely give". They refuse to walk by faith which they do not have.). and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet they lean upon Jehovah, and say, Is not Jehovah in the midst of us? no evil shall come upon us. 12 Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.   (Isa 40:10 Behold, the Lord Jehovah will come as a mighty one, and his arm (Jesus) will rule for him: Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.  What is this recompense before Him? It is the battle above and the "great shaking" that appears in scripture when the Lord comes in His Man-child Body and overthrows kingdoms. After David's anointing to rule he conquered the Edomites, the faction against His people.  Hag 2: 21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah (The Man-child body), saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth)  (We are told by Paul in Hebrews 12:26-29 whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe: 29 for our God is a consuming fire. God is about to shake, consume and remove man's religious, prideful and sinful creations that do not conform to scripture. And it is also stated in Haggai 2:6…Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens (Planet X does this), and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations; and the precious things of all nations shall come (Jesus is coming to be glorified in His house of sanctified people.); and I will fill this house with glory, saith Jehovah of hosts.) (Back to our Hag 2 text - 22 and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots (like with Pharaoh), and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother. 23 In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel (meaning born from Babylon. i.e., the first fruits leadership to come out of the Babylon harlot and lead the people to rebuild the Kingdom in the Promised Land), my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith Jehovah, and will make thee as a signet (A sign with authority); for I have chosen thee, saith Jehovah of hosts.)    Jesus Is Manifested and Moves The Bride To House of the King  Eve Brast -1/5/21 (David's notes in red)  I was praying before I fell asleep last night for Father to show me more concerning all that He is doing during this time with Trump and the Man-child/ David's parallel where both receive their anointing to rule and He gave me this dream below which concerns the epiphany of Christ in His first fruits and the provision for His people in these end-times which comes through Cyrus/Trump.  I dreamed this morning that Jesus had totally manifested outwardly through me, in appearance or image, to others. They were seeing Jesus instead of me. I was still inside of Him but outwardly He was all that remained visible of my old appearance. (The Lord said her flesh was burned up and her spiritual man was left and this type and will soon be revealed.) I was able to experience Jesus from being inside of Him. I was also able, in the Spirit, to view His/my appearance from the outside of Him as we passed by mirrors or other reflective objects. 2 Co. 3:18, But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. (When we by faith accept that it is Christ who lives in us we can manifest and understand this verse.) Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.  1 John 2:28, And now, my little children, abide in him; that, if he shall be manifested (Greek: Phaneroo = To make visible; to cause to shine - in us), we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.   1 John 3:2, Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested (same - In us), we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. 3 And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (There is no curse on this man or woman as Eve has demonstrated.) Col 3:3-4 For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested (same - in us), then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory (The epiphany or shining of His glory out of us).  What was strange to me is that when I realized that I had become Jesus in outward appearance, I simultaneously realized that I had slowly been becoming Him in my mind, will, and emotions all along; all these years. (Eve here is also a type of the Bride of the Last Adam, Jesus. The New Jerusalem "born from above" through His Word out of heaven is also this type. It has the presence of God in the temple. Jerusalem as a type of the Kingdom was made up of the Bride, as John said, whose head was David, who was a type of the man-child. The Lord is rebuilding this type for the leadership of the Church who is typed as the rest of Israel.)   Jesus and I were so totally merged together, on the inside, that I didn't notice much difference between my mind and my persona and His. The only difference I experienced was His absolute confidence and His power; knowing precisely, the will and plans of our Father and feeling the power and authority to carry those plans out. (Oh how few understand this is “Christ in you, the hope of glory”. For example: Jesus spoke the Word in a perfect numeric pattern. Here is the wonder: The disciples he made, who John said were the Bride, wrote it down including their own acts in a perfect numeric pattern. He is fully in control of the men and women who come into His image and His presence is alive in them.) I also had a sense that we were untouchable to our enemies and that they were forced to submit to our Father's plans for His sons and His people for this period of time in the dream. (As a type of this Jesus passed through the midst of his enemies untouched when cornered. He also said, “No man takes my life")    That we shall live in Him and He in us is seen here: John 17:14-24, I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world (What, no rapture at this time?), but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou didst send me into the world, even so sent I them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20 Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word;   21 that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me. 22 And the glory which thou hast given me I have given unto them; that they may be one, even as we are one; 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me, and lovedst them, even as thou lovedst me. 24 Father, I desire that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.   (The Bride, who like Esther, learned to please the King, must go from the house of the women to the Kings house.) Est. 2:12-20, Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that it had been done to her according to the law for the women twelve months (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit , six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and with the things for the purifying of the women),  13 then in this wise came the maiden unto the king: whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house. 14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, who kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name. (The women who went to the King's house and didn't measure up because they sought their own idea of beauty returned to the house of the women.)   15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, (Representing the Holy Spirit) the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her. 16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. (Esther was the one who went into the King's house and stayed as the Bride because she obeyed the Holy Spirit's idea of beauty.)   17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti (Representing the rebellious first wife who did not come when the king called was Israel. And also among the Church many have not fully come.) 18 Then the king made a great feast (Representing the marriage feast) unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the bounty of the king. (Representing provision to rebuild the kingdom) 19 And when the virgins (these are not the Bride but the bride's maids) were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai (meaning ‘little man' or Man-child) was sitting in the king's gate.)   We pulled up to a large house with many rooms that seemed to house the whole ‘family circle' from local UBM. (Representing all of the UBM Bride family) And Jesus lined up the front door of His house on wheels and the front door of the family circle house (Jesus is the door and our door must be Him) I watched the local UBM men extend a sort of 'U-Haul' plank between the 2 front doors so that the moving of the women would be easy and seamless. John 10:1-5, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (Those who come by religion and not the door are thieves) 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. (Coming out of the house of the women is the same thing as coming out of religions sheepfolds to follow the Lord) 4 When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. (Joh 10:8 All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.)  Jesus and I walked inside the 'family circle' house and saw Sue Gilbert. (The meaning of the name “Sue" is “lily or rose”. Solomon spoke of the Bride in Song 2:1-2 I am a rose of Sharon, A lily of the valleys. 2 As a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters. The meaning of Gilbert is "bright promise”. The glorious promises are how to come into the image of Christ and how we bring others into that image) Sue greeted us excitedly and wanted to show Jesus how she had fixed Shalonda's hair. We looked at Shalonda who was just beaming because her hair had grown long.   (In 1 Corinthians 11, long hair is a sign of submission to our husband, Jesus.) Sue had braided her hair in really nice plaits and placed little purple dyed stamps all along the braids with the seal of Jesus on them. Jesus was really pleased with this and I thought Shalonda's hair was so pretty too. I was happy for her that she finally had the long hair that she'd always prayed for and the purple seals were the finishing touches. Song 8:6 Set me as a seal upon thy heart, As a seal upon thine arm: For love is strong as death; Jealousy is cruel as Sheol; The flashes thereof are flashes of fire, A very flame of Jehovah. 2 Ti. 2:19a Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his ...  We proceeded to move all the women into the house on wheels and then continued making our rounds to the other houses of women, some of whom I didn't know in the dream. In other words, they had not been a part of our local UBM body up to this point in time, but Jesus knew who they were. In the dream I knew this gathering was occurring locally but also I knew Father was gathering to us a worldwide remnant. He was gathering us all into His house on wheels to take us to a larger and better house that our Father had prepared for the end-times just ahead. (Amen! We are looking forward to it and it is soon.) Then I woke up.    I asked for a word by faith at random for this dream and my finger was on the phrase, ‘I cried unto Him with my mouth' in Psalm 66:17 (in context 3-20) (This text really fits well with the question I had asked the Father the night before I had this dream about showing me more of what He was doing concerning His plans for the Trump/David/Man-child parallel revelations.), Psalm 66:17 (3-20 in context) Say unto God, How terrible are thy works! Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.(This reminds me of the feeling that I had being in Jesus that our enemies were forbidden by the Father to interfere with His will going forth.)   4 All the earth shall worship thee, And shall sing unto thee; They shall sing to thy name. Selah 5 Come, and see the works of God; He is terrible in his doing toward the children of men. 6 He turned the sea into dry land; They went through the river on foot: (The Red Sea destruction of the beast who chased the people to bring them back into captivity or death.) There did we rejoice in him. 7 He ruleth by his might forever; His eyes observe the nations: Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah 8 Oh bless our God, ye peoples, And make the voice of his praise to be heard; 9 Who holdeth our soul in life, And suffereth not our feet to be moved.   10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: Thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. 11 Thou broughtest us into the net; Thou layedst a sore burden upon our loins. 12 Thou didst cause men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. 13 I will come into thy house with burnt-offerings; (Representing the sacrifice of our flesh in order to enter into His house.) I will pay thee my vows, 14 Which my lips uttered, And my mouth spake, when I was in distress. ... 16 Come, and hear, all ye that fear God, And I will declare what he hath done for my soul. 17 I cried unto him with my mouth, And he was extolled with my tongue. 18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear: 19 But verily God hath heard; He hath attended to the voice of my prayer. 20 Blessed be God, Who hath not turned away my prayer, Nor his lovingkindness from me. 

The book of Esther in a single episode. Bodie and Joey unpack the essential details of Esther, where it falls on the storyline, the structure of the book, major themes and ideas, what Esther teaches us about God, what it offers our Christian lives, and a couple of our favorite details to equip and inspire you to read, study, and love the last historical book of the Old Testament which covers God's providential protection of the Jewish people during the Persian Empire.

This week on Hardheaded, Chet shares a Bible Story about the Persian Empire. Then, the guys jump into a powerful and inspiring discussion about their top 3 big risks. The show wraps with a good word from Troy.  **Topics discussed:** 1. What's On Your Mind: Book of Esther: Don't miss out!  2. Top 3 Riskes we took that paid off: 3. Bravely asking about Employee Engement Survey results in an all-salary staff meeting.  2 Moving to Wichita (family followed) 1. Making some life choices to have a chance at things working out up to marry Ashley 3. Moved a lot in past 10 years: Shreveport to Wichita worked for a ministry 2. Quitting job and going full-time with Trussell media. 1. Marrying Hannah - quickly  3. Joining the Marine Corps - 2006  2. Marrying Audrie 1. Platoon leader as a young corporal tried to court martial, culpable inefficiency  3. A Good Word from Troy Album title → culpable inefficiency  “Do it so youdon't miss out." Calculated Esther: Background, Overview, and Application December 17, 2023   1. Who wrote Esther? We don't know. Some say Mordecai 2. Is the book of Esther true? Some say it is fiction. Why? It is written like a movie plot. Herodotus: Greek historian. “father of modern history” several corroborating events. 1.     Historian Herodotus describes Xerxes I as being susceptible to women and in the habit of making extravagant offers to them, just as he did to Esther ("up to half my kingdom"). Herodotus mentions that the Persian empire stretched from India to Ethiopia and also refers to the magnificent royal palace in Shushan (Susa), corroboration of what is stated in the Book of Esther. In addition Herodotus mentions an assembly of Persian nobles called by Xerxes to advise him on the proposed war against Greece. Although Herodotus does not give the location of this assembly, the date – "after Egypt was subdued" – corresponds to Xerxes' third year when Esther records an assembly of Persian nobility at a feast. (Histories VII.8)(Histories IX.108) Herodotus relates this occurred in the tenth month of his seventh year as king – the same time Ahasuerus was choosing beautiful women for his harem (Esther 2:16). 2. Annals from the reign of Xerxes 1 mention an otherwise unattested official by the name of “Marduka”, which some have proposed refers to Mordecai, as both are mentioned serving in the kings court.   3. What historical context does the book of Esther find itself? Jews in Babylon under Nebuchadnezzer. Ezra, Nehemiah, Zerubbabel. Some return, some stay. Some say the events of Esther falls between Ezra 6 and 7.   4. Where are we? Iran. Capital of Persian empire. (Babylon was in Iraq. Jews all over middle east. 5. Now it is time to explore the story of Esther. 1. Xerxes or Ahasuerus fueled from India to Egypt. Interestingly, we see that Mordecai tells Esther NOT to inform those around her of her people and heritage: Now when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate. Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him. (Esther 2:19-20)   Now, the REASON for this matches what we read in Ezra, that there had been an accusation against the Jews that was written to the king at the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, who we call Artaxerxes: And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. (Ezra 4:6) That's a funny little detail that only makes sense in the context of all that is going on.   12. WHERE IS GOD????? Esther's story is much like ours. We don't have angelic messengers. We don't hear God's audible voice. The “finger” of God is woven throughout the book of Esther. Events are divine only after we see the full picture and look back. Let this be an encouragement to you. 13. What happens after this? DEATH/MURDER How long did Esther live? An historical approach to the biblical account may, however, reveal an unexpected twist to the lives of the main characters. If we accept the scholarly consensus identifying Ahasuerus with Xerxes I, we know he came to the throne in 486 BCE and met an untimely and violent death in 465 BCE as a result of a court revolution. This was instigated by one of his own ministers, Artabanus, with a view to enabling Artaxerxes — Xerxes's son by his first marriage to Vashti — to succeed to the throne. BY RABBI DR JEFFREY COHEN RABBI JEFFREY COHEN MARCH 06, 2020 10:14 **Links** * http://admiralspennant.com/ * https://www.hardheadedpodcast.com/ Hosts: Matt Amos Chet Sears Troy Trussell

We have entered the month of Tevet on the Hebrew calendar on Tuesday December 12 and this is the month we remember Esther and her promotion into the house of Ahasuerus.Esther 2:15-16 reads, “ Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.”In this month of promotion you have not only received a mantle, and mantle assignments but now you will have the favor to pursue the assignments. That will be favor that will encompass you as a shield (Psalm 5:12). This favor was upon the hero's of the faith as God used them mightily to accomplish the plans and purposes that He had for them. God has a plan for you and HIs favor is needed upon your life to accomplish this purpose.Jesus had favor from Luke 2:52, “ And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”Favor is a key that opens doors that no man can shut because those doors are open to accomplish God's purpose. You have been called, anointed and appointed and God is going to use you mightily in 2024. This is a time to learn to walk in this favor. Favor is being released and angels are all around you as God prepares you for 2024 assignments. During this week of Christmas , thank Him for His son Jesus Christ who made a way that through His shed blood we may walk in the unmerited favor and grace of God for salvation, healing, restoration, eternal life and so much more! Set time aside this week as a dedicated vessel of the Lord to thank Him for His favor upon your life ! Merry Christmas!

Old Testament: Daniel 8–9 Daniel 8–9 (Listen) Daniel's Vision of the Ram and the Goat 8 In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first. 2 And I saw in the vision; and when I saw, I was in Susa the citadel, which is in the province of Elam. And I saw in the vision, and I was at the Ulai canal. 3 I raised my eyes and saw, and behold, a ram standing on the bank of the canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. 4 I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great. 5 As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. And the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. 6 He came to the ram with the two horns, which I had seen standing on the bank of the canal, and he ran at him in his powerful wrath. 7 I saw him come close to the ram, and he was enraged against him and struck the ram and broke his two horns. And the ram had no power to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled on him. And there was no one who could rescue the ram from his power. 8 Then the goat became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven. 9 Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. 10 It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some1 of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them. 11 It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host. And the regular burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown. 12 And a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering because of transgression,2 and it will throw truth to the ground, and it will act and prosper. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke, “For how long is the vision concerning the regular burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and host to be trampled underfoot?” 14 And he said to me,3 “For 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state.” The Interpretation of the Vision 15 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it. And behold, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” 17 So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.” 18 And when he had spoken to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But he touched me and made me stand up. 19 He said, “Behold, I will make known to you what shall be at the latter end of the indignation, for it refers to the appointed time of the end. 20 As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 And the goat4 is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king. 22 As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his5 nation, but not with his power. 23 And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. 24 His power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. 25 By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand. 26 The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true, but seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now.” 27 And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king's business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it. Daniel's Prayer for His People 9 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. 3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. 8 To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. 12 He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us,6 by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the LORD our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. 14 Therefore the LORD has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 16 “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord,7 make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.” Gabriel Brings an Answer 20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the LORD my God for the holy hill of my God, 21 while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. 23 At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision. The Seventy Weeks 24 “Seventy weeks8 are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.9 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again10 with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its11 end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week,12 and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” Footnotes [1] 8:10 Or host, that is, some [2] 8:12 Or in an act of rebellion [3] 8:14 Hebrew; Septuagint, Theodotion, Vulgate to him [4] 8:21 Or the shaggy goat [5] 8:22 Theodotion, Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew a [6] 9:12 Or our judges who judged us [7] 9:17 Hebrew for the Lord's sake [8] 9:24 Or sevens; also twice in verse 25 and once in verse 26 [9] 9:24 Or thing, or one [10] 9:25 Or there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It shall be built again [11] 9:26 Or His [12] 9:27 Or seven; twice in this verse (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 133 Psalm 133 (Listen) When Brothers Dwell in Unity A Song of Ascents. Of David. 133   Behold, how good and pleasant it is    when brothers dwell in unity!12   It is like the precious oil on the head,    running down on the beard,  on the beard of Aaron,    running down on the collar of his robes!3   It is like the dew of Hermon,    which falls on the mountains of Zion!  For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,    life forevermore. Footnotes [1] 133:1 Or dwell together (ESV) New Testament: Hebrews 12–13 Hebrews 12–13 (Listen) Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Do Not Grow Weary 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?   “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,    nor be weary when reproved by him.6   For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,    and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken 18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly1 of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire. Sacrifices Pleasing to God 13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,   “The Lord is my helper;    I will not fear;  what can man do to me?” 7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent2 have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. 18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. Benediction 20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us3 that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Final Greetings 22 I appeal to you, brothers,4 bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 23 You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. 25 Grace be with all of you. Footnotes [1] 12:23 Or church [2] 13:10 Or tabernacle [3] 13:21 Some manuscripts you [4] 13:22 Or brothers and sisters (ESV)

Old Testament: Daniel 8–9 Daniel 8–9 (Listen) Daniel's Vision of the Ram and the Goat 8 In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first. 2 And I saw in the vision; and when I saw, I was in Susa the citadel, which is in the province of Elam. And I saw in the vision, and I was at the Ulai canal. 3 I raised my eyes and saw, and behold, a ram standing on the bank of the canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. 4 I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great. 5 As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. And the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. 6 He came to the ram with the two horns, which I had seen standing on the bank of the canal, and he ran at him in his powerful wrath. 7 I saw him come close to the ram, and he was enraged against him and struck the ram and broke his two horns. And the ram had no power to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled on him. And there was no one who could rescue the ram from his power. 8 Then the goat became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven. 9 Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. 10 It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some1 of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them. 11 It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host. And the regular burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown. 12 And a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering because of transgression,2 and it will throw truth to the ground, and it will act and prosper. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke, “For how long is the vision concerning the regular burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and host to be trampled underfoot?” 14 And he said to me,3 “For 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state.” The Interpretation of the Vision 15 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it. And behold, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” 17 So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.” 18 And when he had spoken to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But he touched me and made me stand up. 19 He said, “Behold, I will make known to you what shall be at the latter end of the indignation, for it refers to the appointed time of the end. 20 As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 And the goat4 is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king. 22 As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his5 nation, but not with his power. 23 And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. 24 His power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. 25 By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand. 26 The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true, but seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now.” 27 And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king's business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it. Daniel's Prayer for His People 9 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. 3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. 8 To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. 12 He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us,6 by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the LORD our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. 14 Therefore the LORD has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 16 “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord,7 make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.” Gabriel Brings an Answer 20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the LORD my God for the holy hill of my God, 21 while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. 23 At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision. The Seventy Weeks 24 “Seventy weeks8 are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.9 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again10 with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its11 end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week,12 and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” Footnotes [1] 8:10 Or host, that is, some [2] 8:12 Or in an act of rebellion [3] 8:14 Hebrew; Septuagint, Theodotion, Vulgate to him [4] 8:21 Or the shaggy goat [5] 8:22 Theodotion, Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew a [6] 9:12 Or our judges who judged us [7] 9:17 Hebrew for the Lord's sake [8] 9:24 Or sevens; also twice in verse 25 and once in verse 26 [9] 9:24 Or thing, or one [10] 9:25 Or there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It shall be built again [11] 9:26 Or His [12] 9:27 Or seven; twice in this verse (ESV) New Testament: John 8:11–59 John 8:11–59 (Listen) 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]] I Am the Light of the World 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father1 who sent me. 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” 19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. 21 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come'?” 23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” 25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” 27 They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him. The Truth Will Set You Free 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free'?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave2 to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” You Are of Your Father the Devil 39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” Before Abraham Was, I Am 48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.' 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.'3 55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”4 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. Footnotes [1] 8:16 Some manuscripts he [2] 8:34 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 35 [3] 8:54 Some manuscripts your God [4] 8:57 Some manuscripts has Abraham seen you? (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 133 Psalm 133 (Listen) When Brothers Dwell in Unity A Song of Ascents. Of David. 133   Behold, how good and pleasant it is    when brothers dwell in unity!12   It is like the precious oil on the head,    running down on the beard,  on the beard of Aaron,    running down on the collar of his robes!3   It is like the dew of Hermon,    which falls on the mountains of Zion!  For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,    life forevermore. Footnotes [1] 133:1 Or dwell together (ESV) Proverb: Proverbs 29:24–25 Proverbs 29:24–25 (Listen) 24   The partner of a thief hates his own life;    he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.25   The fear of man lays a snare,    but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe. (ESV)

Morning: Daniel 9–10 Daniel 9–10 (Listen) Daniel's Prayer for His People 9 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. 3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. 8 To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. 12 He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us,1 by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the LORD our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. 14 Therefore the LORD has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 16 “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord,2 make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.” Gabriel Brings an Answer 20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the LORD my God for the holy hill of my God, 21 while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. 23 At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision. The Seventy Weeks 24 “Seventy weeks3 are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.4 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again5 with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its6 end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week,7 and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” Daniel's Terrifying Vision of a Man 10 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict.8 And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. 3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks. 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) 5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed,9 and I retained no strength. 9 Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground. 10 And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.” 15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute. 16 And behold, one in the likeness of the children of man touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, “O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength. 17 How can my lord's servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.” 18 Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me. 19 And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” 20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come. 21 But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince. Footnotes [1] 9:12 Or our judges who judged us [2] 9:17 Hebrew for the Lord's sake [3] 9:24 Or sevens; also twice in verse 25 and once in verse 26 [4] 9:24 Or thing, or one [5] 9:25 Or there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It shall be built again [6] 9:26 Or His [7] 9:27 Or seven; twice in this verse [8] 10:1 Or and it was about a great conflict [9] 10:8 Hebrew My splendor was changed to ruin (ESV) Evening: 2 John 2 John (Listen) Greeting 1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love. Walking in Truth and Love 4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we1 have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. Final Greetings 12 Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 13 The children of your elect sister greet you. Footnotes [1] 1:8 Some manuscripts you (ESV)

Achaemenid Royal inscribed bowl and Mordecai among other items. Thanks for listening! Please leave a 5 star review, share and subscribe!

INTRODUCTION: Context: “At that time” (v 25a) John the Baptist doubting (v 1-15) Crowds rejecting both John & Jesus (v 16-19) Entire cities of Galilee rejecting Jesus (v 20-24) Jesus could be tempted toward discouragement, but instead He praises and thanks God. One pastor writes, “And in this moment when the Lord Jesus could have been profoundly discouraged. Here is the first great effort to spread the gospel to the surrounding countryside and many, many, many people had rejected that message, had rejected His miracles. He could have been very downcast. I want you to see that in that context, the Lord Jesus lifts up a prayer of thanksgiving to His heavenly Father…and in that prayer He contemplates God's sovereignty. He contemplates God's wisdom. And He contemplates the fact that God has caused some to respond to the gospel.” When you are facing circumstances that tempt you toward discouragement or sinful anger… 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Deliberately choose to thank and praise God for His goodness, even in unpleasant circumstances. I. Jesus thanks the Father for concealing and revealing (v 25-26) Jesus teaches in this brief section: Human accountability: Jesus denounces the cities for rejecting Him (v 20-24). Divine sovereignty: Jesus says that God hid these truths from some (v 25) and that only those He chooses will know God (v 27b). Universal offer: Then Jesus invites all to come to Him (v 28). APPLICATION: SO BE HUMBLE H.B. Charles, “Jesus thanks God for the mystery of salvation where those who you think will get it, don't; and those who are least likely to get it, do.” Isaiah 57:15; Isaiah 66:1-2; 1 Peter 5:5. II. Jesus claims to be equal with and the only revealer of the Father (v 27) It's hard to find a higher view of Christ than the one Jesus gives us here. The Father has given all things to Jesus. Only Jesus knows the Father truly and comprehensively. Jesus is sovereign over knowing the Father. Jesus is the only one in the universe who can reveal the Father to us. See John 14:6; John 3:35; John 5:21; John 17:1-2 III. Jesus invites us to find rest in Himself (v 28-30) "It is the only place in Scripture where the 'heart' of Christ is actually named." (J.C. Ryle) Compare Matthew 23:4 with 1 John 5:3-4 & Genesis 29:20. Spurgeon, “Eastern monarchs affected great seclusion, and were wont to surround themselves with impassable barriers of state. It was very difficult for even their most loyal subjects to approach them. You remember the case of Esther, who, though the monarch was her husband, yet went with her life in her hand when she ventured to present herself before the king Ahasuerus, for there was a commandment that none should come unto the king except they were called, at peril of their lives. It is not so with the King of kings. His court is far more splendid; his person is far more worshipful; but you may draw near to him at all times without hindrance. He has set no men-at-arms around his palace gate. The door of his house of mercy is set wide open. . . . Though he is greater than the greatest, and higher than the highest, he has been pleased to put out of the way everything which might keep the sinner from entering into his halls of gracious entertainment. From his lips we hear no threatenings against intrusion, but hundreds of invitations to the nearest and dearest intimacy. Jesus is to be approached, not now and then, but at all times, and not by some favoured few, but by all in whose hearts his Holy Spirit has enkindled the desire to enter into his secret presence.” You can watch this message here.

9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; 9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: 9:4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; 9:5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: 9:6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 9:7 O LORD, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. 9:8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; 9:10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 9:11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. 9:12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. 9:14 Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. 9:15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 9:16 O LORD, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. 9:17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. 9:18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. 9:19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. 9:20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; 9:21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. 9:22 And he informed me, and talked wit...

With family: 2 Kings 5; 1 Timothy 2 2 Kings 5 (Listen) Naaman Healed of Leprosy 5 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.1 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” 5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels2 of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.” 8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 12 Are not Abana3 and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean'?” 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. Gehazi's Greed and Punishment 15 Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.” 16 But he said, “As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17 Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the LORD. 18 In this matter may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon your servant in this matter.” 19 He said to him, “Go in peace.” But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” 21 So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?” 22 And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.'” 23 And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi. 24 And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. 25 He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” 26 But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? 27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow. Footnotes [1] 5:1 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 [2] 5:5 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms; a shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams [3] 5:12 Or Amana (ESV) 1 Timothy 2 (Listen) Pray for All People 2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man1 Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; 9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. 11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control. Footnotes [1] 2:5 men and man render the same Greek word that is translated people in verses 1 and 4 (ESV) In private: Psalms 117–118; Daniel 9 Psalms 117–118 (Listen) The Lord's Faithfulness Endures Forever 117   Praise the LORD, all nations!    Extol him, all peoples!2   For great is his steadfast love toward us,    and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.  Praise the LORD! His Steadfast Love Endures Forever 118   Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;    for his steadfast love endures forever! 2   Let Israel say,    “His steadfast love endures forever.”3   Let the house of Aaron say,    “His steadfast love endures forever.”4   Let those who fear the LORD say,    “His steadfast love endures forever.” 5   Out of my distress I called on the LORD;    the LORD answered me and set me free.6   The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.    What can man do to me?7   The LORD is on my side as my helper;    I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. 8   It is better to take refuge in the LORD    than to trust in man.9   It is better to take refuge in the LORD    than to trust in princes. 10   All nations surrounded me;    in the name of the LORD I cut them off!11   They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;    in the name of the LORD I cut them off!12   They surrounded me like bees;    they went out like a fire among thorns;    in the name of the LORD I cut them off!13   I was pushed hard,1 so that I was falling,    but the LORD helped me. 14   The LORD is my strength and my song;    he has become my salvation.15   Glad songs of salvation    are in the tents of the righteous:  “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,16     the right hand of the LORD exalts,    the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!” 17   I shall not die, but I shall live,    and recount the deeds of the LORD.18   The LORD has disciplined me severely,    but he has not given me over to death. 19   Open to me the gates of righteousness,    that I may enter through them    and give thanks to the LORD.20   This is the gate of the LORD;    the righteous shall enter through it.21   I thank you that you have answered me    and have become my salvation.22   The stone that the builders rejected    has become the cornerstone.223   This is the LORD's doing;    it is marvelous in our eyes.24   This is the day that the LORD has made;    let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25   Save us, we pray, O LORD!    O LORD, we pray, give us success! 26   Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!    We bless you from the house of the LORD.27   The LORD is God,    and he has made his light to shine upon us.  Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,    up to the horns of the altar! 28   You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;    you are my God; I will extol you.29   Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;    for his steadfast love endures forever! Footnotes [1] 118:13 Hebrew You (that is, the enemy) pushed me hard [2] 118:22 Hebrew the head of the corner (ESV) Daniel 9 (Listen) Daniel's Prayer for His People 9 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. 3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. 8 To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. 12 He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us,1 by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the LORD our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. 14 Therefore the LORD has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 16 “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord,2 make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.” Gabriel Brings an Answer 20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the LORD my God for the holy hill of my God, 21 while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. 23 At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision. The Seventy Weeks 24 “Seventy weeks3 are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.4 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again5 with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its6 end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week,7 and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” Footnotes [1] 9:12 Or our judges who judged us [2] 9:17 Hebrew for the Lord's sake [3] 9:24 Or sevens; also twice in verse 25 and once in verse 26 [4] 9:24 Or thing, or one [5] 9:25 Or there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It shall be built again [6] 9:26 Or His [7] 9:27 Or seven; twice in this verse (ESV)

Esther risks her life to approach the king, Haman plots to hang Mordecai from the gallows, and the great reversal of Esther begins at a dinner party with Ahasuerus and Haman. Read along with the story. Today we're reading Esther 4-10.Thank you to our generous patrons who makes this show possible. The Bible Brief is listener-supported and brought to you by the Bible Literacy Foundation, dedicated to helping people like you learn the Bible. Looking for more? Check out our website at biblelit.org.Support the showSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Learning Emails: Send them to me!Listener Survey: Survey LinkWebsite: biblelit.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.orgThis episode primarily uses the ESV Bible translation, but may also use CSB, NASB, and NKJV.Search Tags: bible, beginner, bible verse, god, verse of the day, prayer, jesus, bible study, scripture, learn, bible introduction, introduction, intro to the bible, introduction to the bible, beginner bible, bible overview, how to read the bible, what is the bible about, bible story, bible stories, what is the bible, bible study, walkthrough, bible walkthrough,...

Old Testament: Esther 6–10 Esther 6–10 (Listen) The King Honors Mordecai 6 On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana1 and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king's young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” 4 And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows2 that he had prepared for him. 5 And the king's young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” 6 So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” 7 And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown3 is set. 9 And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.'” 10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.” 11 So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.” 12 Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered. 13 And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.” Esther Reveals Haman's Plot 14 While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared. 7 So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. 2 And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” 3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. 4 For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.” 5 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has dared4 to do this?” 6 And Esther said, “A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen. Haman Is Hanged 7 And the king arose in his wrath from the wine-drinking and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the king. 8 And the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. And the king said, “Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?” As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman's face. 9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, “Moreover, the gallows5 that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits6 high.” And the king said, “Hang him on that.” 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated. Esther Saves the Jews 8 On that day King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her. 2 And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. 3 Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews. 4 When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king. 5 And she said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king. 6 For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?” 7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows,7 because he intended to lay hands on the Jews. 8 But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king's ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked.” 9 The king's scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language. 10 And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king's signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king's service, bred from the royal stud, 11 saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods, 12 on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 13 A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies. 14 So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king's service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king's command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. 15 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown8 and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. 16 The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. 17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them. The Jews Destroy Their Enemies 9 Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them. 2 The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, for the fear of them had fallen on all peoples. 3 All the officials of the provinces and the satraps and the governors and the royal agents also helped the Jews, for the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces, for the man Mordecai grew more and more powerful. 5 The Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and did as they pleased to those who hated them. 6 In Susa the citadel itself the Jews killed and destroyed 500 men, 7 and also killed Parshandatha and Dalphon and Aspatha 8 and Poratha and Adalia and Aridatha 9 and Parmashta and Arisai and Aridai and Vaizatha, 10 the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, but they laid no hand on the plunder. 11 That very day the number of those killed in Susa the citadel was reported to the king. 12 And the king said to Queen Esther, “In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed 500 men and also the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! Now what is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what further is your request? It shall be fulfilled.” 13 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the Jews who are in Susa be allowed tomorrow also to do according to this day's edict. And let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows.”9 14 So the king commanded this to be done. A decree was issued in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged. 15 The Jews who were in Susa gathered also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and they killed 300 men in Susa, but they laid no hands on the plunder. 16 Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king's provinces also gathered to defend their lives, and got relief from their enemies and killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they laid no hands on the plunder. 17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made that a day of feasting and gladness. 18 But the Jews who were in Susa gathered on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and rested on the fifteenth day, making that a day of feasting and gladness. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in the rural towns, hold the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day for gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and as a day on which they send gifts of food to one another. The Feast of Purim Inaugurated 20 And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, 22 as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor. 23 So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. 24 For Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur (that is, cast lots), to crush and to destroy them. 25 But when it came before the king, he gave orders in writing that his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 26 Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term Pur. Therefore, because of all that was written in this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them, 27 the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and all who joined them, that without fail they would keep these two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year, 28 that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants. 29 Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew gave full written authority, confirming this second letter about Purim. 30 Letters were sent to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth, 31 that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther obligated them, and as they had obligated themselves and their offspring, with regard to their fasts and their lamenting. 32 The command of Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing. The Greatness of Mordecai 10 King Ahasuerus imposed tax on the land and on the coastlands of the sea. 2 And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? 3 For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people. Footnotes [1] 6:2 Bigthana is an alternate spelling of Bigthan (see 2:21) [2] 6:4 Or wooden beam (see note on 2:23) [3] 6:8 Or headdress [4] 7:5 Hebrew whose heart has filled him [5] 7:9 Or wooden beam; also verse 10 (see note on 2:23) [6] 7:9 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters [7] 8:7 Or wooden beam (see note on 2:23) [8] 8:15 Or headdress [9] 9:13 Or wooden beam; also verse 25 (see note on 2:23) (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 42 Psalm 42 (Listen) Book Two Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul? To the choirmaster. A Maskil1 of the Sons of Korah. 42   As a deer pants for flowing streams,    so pants my soul for you, O God.2   My soul thirsts for God,    for the living God.  When shall I come and appear before God?23   My tears have been my food    day and night,  while they say to me all the day long,    “Where is your God?”4   These things I remember,    as I pour out my soul:  how I would go with the throng    and lead them in procession to the house of God  with glad shouts and songs of praise,    a multitude keeping festival. 5   Why are you cast down, O my soul,    and why are you in turmoil within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,    my salvation3 6 and my God.   My soul is cast down within me;    therefore I remember you  from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,    from Mount Mizar.7   Deep calls to deep    at the roar of your waterfalls;  all your breakers and your waves    have gone over me.8   By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,    and at night his song is with me,    a prayer to the God of my life.9   I say to God, my rock:    “Why have you forgotten me?  Why do I go mourning    because of the oppression of the enemy?”10   As with a deadly wound in my bones,    my adversaries taunt me,  while they say to me all the day long,    “Where is your God?” 11   Why are you cast down, O my soul,    and why are you in turmoil within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,    my salvation and my God. Footnotes [1] 42:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [2] 42:2 Revocalization yields and see the face of God [3] 42:5 Hebrew the salvation of my face; also verse 11 and 43:5 (ESV) New Testament: Luke 6 Luke 6 (Listen) Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath 6 On a Sabbath,1 while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” 3 And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” 5 And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” A Man with a Withered Hand 6 On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus. The Twelve Apostles 12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. Jesus Ministers to a Great Multitude 17 And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all. The Beatitudes 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. Jesus Pronounces Woes 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets. Love Your Enemies 27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic2 either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judging Others 37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” 39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye. A Tree and Its Fruit 43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Build Your House on the Rock 46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.3 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” Footnotes [1] 6:1 Some manuscripts On the second first Sabbath (that is, on the second Sabbath after the first) [2] 6:29 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin [3] 6:48 Some manuscripts founded upon the rock (ESV)

Old Testament: Esther 3–5 Esther 3–5 (Listen) Haman Plots Against the Jews 3 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him. 2 And all the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. 3 Then the king's servants who were at the king's gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king's command?” 4 And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai's words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury. 6 But he disdained1 to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy2 all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus. 7 In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day after day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so that it is not to the king's profit to tolerate them. 9 If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents3 of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king's business, that they may put it into the king's treasuries.” 10 So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. 11 And the king said to Haman, “The money is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.” 12 Then the king's scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king's satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, to every province in its own script and every people in its own language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king's signet ring. 13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces with instruction to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. 14 A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day. 15 The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion. Esther Agrees to Help the Jews 4 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2 He went up to the entrance of the king's gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth. 3 And in every province, wherever the king's command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4 When Esther's young women and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was. 6 Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate, 7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. 8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction,4 that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him5 on behalf of her people. 9 And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say, 11 “All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.” 12 And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. 13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”6 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him. Esther Prepares a Banquet 5 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, in front of the king's quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace. 2 And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. 3 And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.” 4 And Esther said, “If it please the king,7 let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.” 5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked.” So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared. 6 And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, “What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.”8 7 Then Esther answered, “My wish and my request is: 8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king9 to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.” Haman Plans to Hang Mordecai 9 And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11 And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king. 12 Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. 13 Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.” 14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows10 fifty cubits11 high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made. Footnotes [1] 3:6 Hebrew disdained in his eyes [2] 3:6 Or annihilate [3] 3:9 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms [4] 4:8 Or annihilation [5] 4:8 Hebrew and seek from before his face [6] 4:16 Hebrew if I am destroyed, then I will be destroyed [7] 5:4 Hebrew If it is good to the king [8] 5:6 Or done [9] 5:8 Hebrew if it is good to the king [10] 5:14 Or wooden beam; twice in this verse (see note on 2:23) [11] 5:14 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 41 Psalm 41 (Listen) O Lord, Be Gracious to Me To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 41   Blessed is the one who considers the poor!1    In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him;2   the LORD protects him and keeps him alive;    he is called blessed in the land;    you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.3   The LORD sustains him on his sickbed;    in his illness you restore him to full health.2 4   As for me, I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me;    heal me,3 for I have sinned against you!”5   My enemies say of me in malice,    “When will he die, and his name perish?”6   And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words,    while his heart gathers iniquity;    when he goes out, he tells it abroad.7   All who hate me whisper together about me;    they imagine the worst for me.4 8   They say, “A deadly thing is poured out5 on him;    he will not rise again from where he lies.”9   Even my close friend in whom I trusted,    who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.10   But you, O LORD, be gracious to me,    and raise me up, that I may repay them! 11   By this I know that you delight in me:    my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.12   But you have upheld me because of my integrity,    and set me in your presence forever. 13   Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,    from everlasting to everlasting!      Amen and Amen. Footnotes [1] 41:1 Or weak [2] 41:3 Hebrew you turn all his bed [3] 41:4 Hebrew my soul [4] 41:7 Or they devise evil against me [5] 41:8 Or has fastened (ESV) New Testament: Luke 5 Luke 5 (Listen) Jesus Calls the First Disciples 5 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”1 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. Jesus Cleanses a Leper 12 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy.2 And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 13 And Jesus3 stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 15 But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. Jesus Heals a Paralytic 17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.4 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, ‘Rise and walk'? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.” Jesus Calls Levi 27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. 29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” A Question About Fasting 33 And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” 36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.'”5 Footnotes [1] 5:10 The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women [2] 5:12 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 [3] 5:13 Greek he [4] 5:17 Some manuscripts was present to heal them [5] 5:39 Some manuscripts better (ESV)

Old Testament: Esther 1–2 Esther 1–2 (Listen) The King's Banquets 1 Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel, 3 in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, 4 while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days. 5 And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king's palace. 6 There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods1 and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones. 7 Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king. 8 And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus. Queen Vashti's Refusal 10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown,2 in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him. 13 Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for this was the king's procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment, 14 the men next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom): 15 “According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” 16 Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the queen's behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt,3 since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.' 18 This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's behavior will say the same to all the king's officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty. 19 If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. 20 So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike.” 21 This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed. 22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that every man be master in his own household and speak according to the language of his people. Esther Chosen Queen 2 After these things, when the anger of King Ahasuerus had abated, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her. 2 Then the king's young men who attended him said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought out for the king. 3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the beautiful young virgins to the harem in Susa the citadel, under custody of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who is in charge of the women. Let their cosmetics be given them. 4 And let the young woman who pleases the king4 be queen instead of Vashti.” This pleased the king, and he did so. 5 Now there was a Jew in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite, 6 who had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away. 7 He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter. 8 So when the king's order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many young women were gathered in Susa the citadel in custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king's palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women. 9 And the young woman pleased him and won his favor. And he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven chosen young women from the king's palace, and advanced her and her young women to the best place in the harem. 10 Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make it known. 11 And every day Mordecai walked in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her. 12 Now when the turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their beautifying, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments for women—13 when the young woman went in to the king in this way, she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the harem to the king's palace. 14 In the evening she would go in, and in the morning she would return to the second harem in custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch, who was in charge of the concubines. She would not go in to the king again, unless the king delighted in her and she was summoned by name. 15 When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king's eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her. 16 And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign, 17 the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown5 on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther's feast. He also granted a remission of taxes to the provinces and gave gifts with royal generosity. Mordecai Discovers a Plot 19 Now when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate. 20 Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him. 21 In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 22 And this came to the knowledge of Mordecai, and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai. 23 When the affair was investigated and found to be so, the men were both hanged on the gallows.6 And it was recorded in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king. Footnotes [1] 1:6 Or rings [2] 1:11 Or headdress [3] 1:17 Hebrew to disdain their husbands in their eyes [4] 2:4 Hebrew who is good in the eyes of the king [5] 2:17 Or headdress [6] 2:23 Or wooden beam or stake; Hebrew tree or wood. This Persian execution practice involved affixing or impaling a person on a stake or pole (compare Ezra 6:11) (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 40 Psalm 40 (Listen) My Help and My Deliverer To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 40   I waited patiently for the LORD;    he inclined to me and heard my cry.2   He drew me up from the pit of destruction,    out of the miry bog,  and set my feet upon a rock,    making my steps secure.3   He put a new song in my mouth,    a song of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear,    and put their trust in the LORD. 4   Blessed is the man who makes    the LORD his trust,  who does not turn to the proud,    to those who go astray after a lie!5   You have multiplied, O LORD my God,    your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;    none can compare with you!  I will proclaim and tell of them,    yet they are more than can be told. 6   In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,    but you have given me an open ear.1  Burnt offering and sin offering    you have not required.7   Then I said, “Behold, I have come;    in the scroll of the book it is written of me:8   I delight to do your will, O my God;    your law is within my heart.” 9   I have told the glad news of deliverance2    in the great congregation;  behold, I have not restrained my lips,    as you know, O LORD.10   I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;    I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;  I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness    from the great congregation. 11   As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain    your mercy from me;  your steadfast love and your faithfulness will    ever preserve me!12   For evils have encompassed me    beyond number;  my iniquities have overtaken me,    and I cannot see;  they are more than the hairs of my head;    my heart fails me. 13   Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me!    O LORD, make haste to help me!14   Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether    who seek to snatch away my life;  let those be turned back and brought to dishonor    who delight in my hurt!15   Let those be appalled because of their shame    who say to me, “Aha, Aha!” 16   But may all who seek you    rejoice and be glad in you;  may those who love your salvation    say continually, “Great is the LORD!”17   As for me, I am poor and needy,    but the Lord takes thought for me.  You are my help and my deliverer;    do not delay, O my God! Footnotes [1] 40:6 Hebrew ears you have dug for me [2] 40:9 Hebrew righteousness; also verse 10 (ESV) New Testament: Luke 4 Luke 4 (Listen) The Temptation of Jesus 4 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.'” 5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written,   “‘You shall worship the Lord your God,    and him only shall you serve.'” 9 And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written,   “‘He will command his angels concerning you,    to guard you,' 11 and   “‘On their hands they will bear you up,    lest you strike your foot against a stone.'” 12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'” 13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. Jesus Begins His Ministry 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. Jesus Rejected at Nazareth 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18   “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,    because he has anointed me    to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives    and recovering of sight to the blind,    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,19   to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?” 23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘“Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.'” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers1 in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 30 But passing through their midst, he went away. Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Demon 31 And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Ha!2 What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36 And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37 And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region. Jesus Heals Many 38 And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. 39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them. 40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. Jesus Preaches in Synagogues 42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.3 Footnotes [1] 4:27 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 [2] 4:34 Or Leave us alone [3] 4:44 Some manuscripts Galilee (ESV)