Podcasts about Assyria

In this session, we explore the historical account of the division of the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah. We witness the consequences of the rebellion and sin of both kingdoms, leading to their ultimate downfall at the hands of foreign empires. Despite warnings from prophets, the Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire in 722 BC, and later the Kingdom of Judah suffers the same fate at the hands of the Babylonian Empire. However, amidst the devastation, God promises a future restoration and introduces the New Covenant, offering forgiveness and a transformation from within.Suggested Reading:1 Kings 12:25-33Jeremiah 29:4-14Jeremiah 31:31-37Episode HighlightsThe split of the united kingdom after Solomon's deathThe northern kingdom's descent into idolatryThe fall of Israel to Assyria (722 BC)Judah's similar path to destructionGod's promise of the New Covenant through JeremiahSupport the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @realbiblebriefX: @biblebriefFacebook: @realbiblebriefEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out our partner Biblingo (and use our link/code for a discount!): https://bibli...

Taking the Promised Land (1) (audio) David Eells – 1/4/26   Tsunami Coming to Flood the Land Anonymous - 07/29/2007 (David's notes in red) This is like an open vision within a dream. This was probably one of the most emotional dreams I have ever experienced so far, which is normally not the case for me. I knew God would keep me safe from the flood, but I felt the fear of God's coming wrath, which made me to tremble. I saw myself in what looked like a viewing gallery made of glass. I could see miles into the ocean. I saw huge, extremely high waves approaching the land. It approached like a tsunami and entered inland. I then heard the voice of God saying, “Go and tell David Eells these words which must be highlighted in red, Warning: Judgment is Coming”. I then saw myself in a huge hall-like sanctuary, and you were preaching. There were people from different parts of the world. I saw Christians that I knew from my nation. These people started approaching me and asking me whether I was the one who saw the “Judgment dream” as they had read about it on the Internet. They could not believe that God could speak through a nobody like me! Praise God for that! The carnal church doesn't understand why God chooses to use nobodies like us. They only respect the great and notable important ones of the worldly church. But God's power is made perfect in weakness. I saw a group of careless Christians in this sanctuary who did not believe that God would send judgment to the wicked nations. They started to walk away in different directions out of this sanctuary to go about their daily affairs, such as work. But what was so amazing was that you were running before these people, with me running alongside, and you would stand in front of their paths and block their way and speak to them the Word about God's impending judgment. You really tired me with all that running in different directions away from the sanctuary! This is our ministry, reaching out to those who have not learned to abide in the safety of Christ. But I admired your persistence. I told God I had never met a persistent preacher like you! Because of the nature of our ministry: Internet, radio and access TV, we can preach day and night, non-stop, even beyond the confines of abiding in Christ, even as we ourselves abide in Christ. I saw that you would not let anyone pass you until you warned them! I was different. I only spoke about God when people approached me about God. Some repented; however, it is sad to say there were many who refused to believe, and they wanted to go back to work instead of staying in that sanctuary. It's time for people to think more about abiding in Christ than their livelihood. If we lose our life before the time we wont need a job. We had strayed way from this sanctuary due to warning the people. We were anticipating the floods at any time. This place was full of rocks/boulders. We had to climb down a boulder, then up again to make our way to safety. Suddenly, there appeared a fair woman (she looked western) dressed in white flowing garments. (The true church of Revelation 12:1.) She was holding a fair baby swaddled in white cloth. I quickly climbed down, and she told me to take her baby because she would not make it. (The church, as it is, will be brought to spiritual death to self through the coming judgments so that it may manifest resurrection life.) That baby was sleeping in her arms peacefully. However, as she handed me that baby, she spoke to it that she would not make it, but someone else would take care of it, and then it started to cry violently. (The man-child's warning to the church of coming crucifixion.) I took that baby, which was extremely tiny. I'm single, but I'm sure babies don't come in that size! (A small body of people in comparison to the mother.) It was so tiny yet very powerful that when its head and body started to wriggle, I had difficulty holding it, and it nearly dropped out of my hands. Fortunately, the lady made it down just in time to catch hold of that baby! (In humbling themselves to the Lord, they will receive the ministry of the man-child they have previously given up.) I can't remember seeing that woman and baby at this point. Because the floods were expected to come, I entered into a huge, tall hotel built upon a rock. It could be as tall as 100 floors. (The 100-fold fruit of those who abide fully on the rock of Christ.) I have never seen such a superstructure like this before in my life. I entered that hotel, and I saw many Christians there who believed in the impending judgment of God. We wanted to change our rooms from the lower floors to the highest floors. (More heavenly, less earthly, 100 fold fruit.) The desk clerk checked and acceded to our request because the highest floors were all vacant. He said that it would cost $89 per person. (The Lord sent me to Matthew 13 when I read this, and immediately showed me the 8th and 9th verse. Mat.13:8 and others fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He that hath ears, let him hear. Also Psa.89 brings us to the Man-child.) My sister prepaid for all of these Christian families with her credit card. The Christian families told my sister that they would settle the bill for their share of the hotel fees. (We have heavenly credit because of the sacrifice of Jesus but also we have to count the cost of losing our life in this world to have our heavenly life.) The dream ended here. I have been having visits of fallen angels recently. I can sometimes see them with my naked eyes! I just had a visit last Tuesday. I would just rebuke them in Jesus name and they would dissipate immediately from view. I wonder why? (To show we have authority over them in Jesus' name.) Spoken to me: Floods/tsunamis spiritually speak of judgments. I believe you are reaching many nations through your ministry. Your ministry is primarily preparing people to escape the coming tribulation. God is no respecter of persons, and He can speak through whom He chooses. I believe that the coming judgment is around the corner, maybe sooner than some may conceive. As usual, there will be those who are just careless in their Christian life, and like in Noah's time, they want to eat, drink, marry, and go about their daily routine until it is too late for them to repent of their folly. I believe the lady speaks about the church, and the baby speaks of the man-child.   Promised Land or Beast Land? Father sent me five words given to the saints at the same time, which He showed me are related.   A Detention Camp D.L. - 06/18/2013 (David's notes in red) On January 12, 1994, I had a dream in which the Lord told me to go and anoint a detention camp. (His name means “world ruler”, which probably represents the Man-child who anoints the camp. The camp represents that Beast bondage is coming to God's people, apparently for their good.) It was to be a place where many Christians would suffer in their bodies, putting an end to sin 1Pe.4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. After anointing the camp, I was to run away as fast as I could. The only part I saw in the dream was me looking down upon myself running down a path or road as fast as I could. So I have no idea what the camp looked like or where in the camp I did the anointing. (This is a worldwide camp of beast bondage anointed and ordained to bring repentance and purity to God's people.) Note: There is a warning here for Christians to get their lives in order before the Lord, so they can enjoy the Lord's protection for whatever dangers there are in the future and avoid, if possible, places like this. (You can escape through holiness.)   Deb Horton - 06/16/2013 For the past few days, I kept getting repeated in my mind this phrase: “for I watch over my word to perform it”. But I didn't know it was for UBM. Sorry! (I told Care about it on Friday, so I have a witness.) This phrase is from Jer.1:12 Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I watch over my word to perform it. (What Word will the Father watch over to perform? How and why will He do this?) (Below is the text and some interpretation.) Jer.1:1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin: 2 to whom the word of Jehovah came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month. (As we see, this will be the carrying away unto the Beast captivity of God's apostate people.) 4 Now the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, 5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee; I have appointed thee a prophet unto the nations. 6 Then said I, Ah, Lord Jehovah! behold, I know not how to speak; for I am a child. 7 But Jehovah said unto me, Say not, I am a child; for to whomsoever I shall send thee thou shalt go, and whatsoever I shall command thee thou shalt speak. (This is the same conversation God had with Moses the Man-child. Jeremiah represents the Man-child who basically said he didn't know how to speak, and God said, “Fear not. I will speak through you”.) 8 Be not afraid because of them; for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith Jehovah. 9 Then Jehovah put forth his hand, and touched my mouth; and Jehovah said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth: (To release a sword against God's people to bring them to repentance.) 10 see, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant. 1011 (the gematria for the Man-child) Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod (the “rod of my son” - Ezekiel 21:10 below) of an almond-tree (almonds are first-fruits). Here is Ezekiel 21:10 in context: Eze.21:8 And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, 9 Son of man (Jesus manifested in His Man-child body), prophesy, and say, Thus saith Jehovah: Say, A sword, a sword, it is sharpened, and also furbished; 10 it is sharpened that it may make a slaughter; it is furbished that it may be as lightning: shall we then make mirth? the rod of my son, it contemneth every tree (The rod of God's Son will speak judgment on God's people through the Man-child who speaks not for “Churchianity” but God.). 11(again) And it is given to be furbished, that it may be handled: the sword, it is sharpened, yea, it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer. (Authority given to the Beast to slay the flesh of God's rebellious people.) 12 Cry and wail, son of man; for it is upon my people, it is upon all the princes of Israel: they are delivered over to the sword with my people; smite therefore upon thy thigh. 13 For there is a trial (or tribulation); and what if even the rod that contemneth shall be no more? saith the Lord Jehovah. (If the rod of the Lord's son was not there to chasten them, they would be lost. We must lose our life to gain our higher life.) 14 Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thy hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time (Third world kingdom to conquer God's people; there was Egypt, Assyria, and third was Babylon. Likewise, World Wars I and II brought New World Orders, the League of Nations and the United Nations, and WW III will bring the tribulation Dragon of Revelation 12. This third time, a sword will come against God's rebellious leadership and people.), the sword of the deadly wounded: it is the sword of the great one that is deadly wounded, which entereth into their chambers. 15 I have set the threatening sword against all their gates, that their heart may melt, and their stumblings be multiplied: ah! it is made as lightning, it is pointed for slaughter (God chastens every son that He receives; a humbling is coming.). Back to our Jeremiah text. Jer.1:12 Then said Jehovah unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I watch over my word to perform it. (According to God's will, the Beast will once again make war on the saints to bring them to their cross.) 13 And the word of Jehovah came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a boiling caldron; and the face thereof is from the north (the Beast from the north makes war against God's people). 14 Then Jehovah said unto me, Out of the north evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north (the seven-headed Beast kingdom), saith Jehovah; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem (the apostate leadership of God's people today), and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah. 16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, in that they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods (Elohim), and worshipped the works of their own hands (religions, doctrines, church buildings, of men). 17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at them, lest I dismay thee before them. (i.e. The Lord was saying, “Man-child, be strengthened to do battle against the apostates. Pay no attention to their disapproval; just speak what I say”.) 18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a fortified city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. (As it was when Jesus was strengthened to come against the entrenched Pharisees who warred against Him. And I received this same treatment for myself and got these same verses.) 19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee, saith Jehovah, to deliver thee. (I received this same text when called on the carpet by an old order religion I was asked to speak at.) So what do we do? M. L. received this word this morning: Neh.9:2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves (sanctified themselves) from all foreigners (This separation is happening. Those who act foreign to God's Kingdom are.), and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers (Confession of sins always brings the grace of God in deliverance and healing.). 3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of Jehovah their God a fourth part of the day (humility to the Word brings mercy); and [another] fourth part they confessed, and worshipped Jehovah their God. So they confessed their sins of their fathers which they had inherited through the blood for “the life of the flesh is in the blood”: 13 Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and Commandments (He gave us His Word), 14 and madest known unto them thy holy sabbath (His rest through faith), and commandedst them commandments, and statutes, and a law, by Moses thy servant (a Man-child type), 15 and gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and commandedst them that they should go in to possess the land (or take dominion over the flesh) which thou hadst sworn to give them. (They rebelled and left the old man ruling the land.) 16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to thy commandments, 17 and refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage (A factious leader, for they loved the fleshpots of Egypt where they were ruled over and fed by the carnal man). But thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and forsookest them not. 18 Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations (So they made their own Jesus after their own likeness who smiled upon their sinful lives.); 19 yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of cloud departed not from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go. And they confessed their sins: 26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their back (they ignored the Word, as today), and slew thy prophets that testified against them to turn them again unto thee, and they wrought great provocations. (They weren't satisfied to just walk away when they rebelled against the Word of God; they had to silence the Word at all costs; they had to kill the men who sacrificed their lives to bring them the Word. At the same time as receiving this word, M. L. received Psalm 55:12-19 about this, and closed her Bible because she was tired of hearing this. She asked for another word and opened her Bible and put her finger down on the same verse. Psa.55:12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; Then I could have borne it: Neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; Then I would have hid myself from him: 13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, My companion, and my familiar friend. 14 We took sweet counsel together; We walked in the house of God with the throng. 15 Let death come suddenly upon them, Let them go down alive into Sheol; For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them. 16 As for me, I will call upon God; And Jehovah will save me. 17 Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan; And he will hear my voice. 18 He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; For they were many [that strove] with me. 19 God will hear, and answer them, Even he that abideth of old, Selah [The men] who have no changes, And who fear not God. 20 He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him: He hath profaned his covenant. 21 His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords. 22 Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: He will never suffer the righteous to be moved. 23 But thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in thee.) Because of this great provocation: 27 Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours who saved them out of the hand of their adversaries. 28 But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee; therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies, 29 and testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law. Yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thine ordinances, (which if a man do, he shall live in them,) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear. 30 Yet many years didst thou bear with them, and testifiedst against them by thy Spirit through thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the peoples of the lands (to be ruled over and oppressed by the Beast). So what do we do to have God's blessing and come out from under the curse? We walk in the light of God's Word. On 6/16/13 a sister received Eze.47:21 So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel. But she sent this whole text, which shows us how to possess the Promised Land of rest, milk, and honey: Eze.47:1 And he brought me back unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward (for the forefront of the house was toward the east); and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the house, on the south of the altar. (The Word is the waters from the House of God to bring salvation and healing to the peoples.) 2 Then he brought me out by the way of the gate northward, and led me round by the way without unto the outer gate, by the way of the gate that looketh toward the east; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. 3 When the man went forth eastward with the line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the ankles. (What is the depth of the Word you walk in?) 4 Again he measured a thousand, and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the knees. (30-fold fruit of the waters walked in) Again he measured a thousand, and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the loins. (60-fold fruit of the waters walked in) 5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass through; for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. (Waters of baptism go over the head to put to death the mind of flesh. 100-fold fruit of the waters walked in.) 6 And he said unto me, Son of man (the Man-child walking in 100-fold fruit), hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the bank of the river. 7 Now when I had returned, behold, upon the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. (Those witnesses who bring the healing waters of the tongue to the peoples, as below. And as Jesus the Man-child witnesses did.) 8 Then said he unto me, These waters issue forth toward the eastern region, and shall go down into the Arabah; and they shall go toward the sea (the Dead Sea, representing the dead peoples of the world); into the sea shall the waters go which were made to issue forth; and the waters shall be healed. 9 And it shall come to pass, that every living creature which swarmeth, in every place whither the rivers come, shall live (a great revival of the Word coming when many church people reject it.); and there shall be a very great multitude of fish; for these waters are come thither, and the waters of the sea shall be healed (The word and understanding of lost people shall be cleansed), and everything shall live whithersoever the river cometh. (Out of your innermost being shall flow rivers of living waters -- John 7:38.) 10 And it shall come to pass, that fishers shall stand by it: from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim shall be a place for the spreading of nets; their fish shall be after their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. (many evangelists will fish for them) 11 But the miry places thereof, and the marshes thereof, shall not be healed; they shall be given up to salt. (Living waters are moving waters; dead waters are stagnant waters, as the Pharisees walk in. They will be reprobated, like Lot's wife, who turned to salt when she looked back.) 12 And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow every tree for food, whose leaf shall not whither, neither shall the fruit thereof fail: it shall bring forth new fruit every month, because the waters thereof issue out of the sanctuary; and the fruit thereof shall be for food, and the leaf thereof for healing. (As Revelation 22 shows, the waters give life to the trees whose leaves are for the healing of the nations.) Rev.22:1 And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, (Only the living Word can do this) 2 in the midst of the street thereof. And on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life (Pro.15:4 The healing of the tongue is a tree of life... In Hebrew), bearing twelve [manner of] fruits, yielding its fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no curse any more (the waters of the Word are to deliver us from the curse): and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be therein: and his servants shall serve him; 4 and they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] on their foreheads. 5 And there shall be night no more; and they need no light of lamp, neither light of sun; for the Lord God shall give them light (if we walk in the light as He is in the light): and they shall reign for ever and ever. 6 And he said unto me, These words are faithful and true: and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angels to show unto his servants the things which must shortly come to pass. If we walk in the light of the water of the Word, we will be blessed to take the land of rest, God's promised land of milk and honey. If we continue to rebel against the Word, we shall see a terrible beast bondage. Now back to Ezekiel text: 13 Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: This shall be the border, whereby ye shall divide the land for inheritance according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions. (The land is divided among the 12 tribes [verse 21] by lot [in verse 22]. We are the spiritual 12 tribes. (1Co 10:11) Now these things happened unto them by way of example [Greek: figure or type]; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.) 14 And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another; for I sware to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance. (The promises are our Promised Land of rest from our enemies.) 15 And this shall be the border of the land: On the north side, from the great sea, by the way of Hethlon, unto the entrance of Zedad; 16 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazer-hatticon, which is by the border of Hauran. 17 And the border from the sea, shall be Hazar-enon at the border of Damascus; and on the north northward is the border of Hamath. This is the north side. 18 And the east side, between Hauran and Damascus and Gilead, and the land of Israel, shall be the Jordan; from the north border unto the east sea shall ye measure. This is the east side. 19 And the south side southward shall be from Tamar as far as the waters of Meriboth-kadesh, to the brook of Egypt, unto the great sea. This is the south side southward. 20 And the west side shall be the great sea, from the south border as far as over against the entrance of Hamath. This is the west side. 21 So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel. 22 And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you and to the strangers that sojourn among you, who shall beget children among you; and they shall be unto you as the home-born among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. (These strangers could well be your lost loved ones who you are believing for and will inherit the land with you.) 23 And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord Jehovah. When I finished the above, I received this note:   Anonymous - 06/19/2013 The broader church is about to go into the captivity of the Beast system to separate the wheat from the tares: Psa.53:6 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. The Man-child among us will lead the way out of spiritual captivity: 54:1 For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David; when the Ziphites came and said to Saul Doth not David hide himself with us? Save me, O God, by thy name, And judge me in thy might. Pray fervently! 2 Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. The factious will again rise up through the tribulation: 3 For strangers are risen up against me, And violent men have sought after my soul: They have not set God before them. The Word sanctifies the soul: 4 Behold, God is my helper: The Lord is of them that uphold my soul. The Word will overcome for us and through us: 5 He will requite the evil unto mine enemies: Destroy thou them in thy truth. The “name” (nature, character and authority) of the Lord brings the “living sacrifice!” 6 With a freewill-offering will I sacrifice unto thee: I will give thanks unto thy name, O Jehovah, for it is good. Which brings the deliverance from the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places: 7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble; And mine eye hath seen my desire upon mine enemies.   The Promised Land is not for Enemies These dreams are similar to those we have received in the past, which speak of fear moving people out of the area, in this case by train, which would only be necessary if the fault lines to the east and west opened up and main highways were cut off as we have dreamed. And then repositioning us in the area in preparation for many more Christians to come.   Moving and Trains Sandy Shaw - 08/22/2015 (David's notes in red) In a dream, a sister was talking to me, saying, “Everyone in the circle is moving”. (This means the local UBM circle. I asked the Lord if we were all moving and got three heads for YES.) I asked, “How does everyone feel about that?” She said, “We are ready to go; we are at peace with the idea”. (A word received for this dream: Isa.26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee.) (M. L. had a dream called “Getting Ready” on 6/16/15, which is about them being in a large house, rather than the mobile home they are now in and getting it ready because all their children and grandchildren were coming. The coming children could have a spiritual meaning, as well as a physical meaning. Many children are coming. Michael L. dreamed that UBM people were moving into housing close together, which is outside the city. Bill had a dream we were there, too. M. L. had a dream that I was moving into an office there, too. We have always known that our housing is temporary at first and we are all renting. Housing has been provided.) Then, from the Walmart parking lot, I saw the following: A train, a document on special paper, and chaos and fear here in the local area, but we were at peace. (Walmart stores are reported to be staging areas to separate the Christians and, according to Eve's dream, a place where some may never be seen again. The fear represents the hornet of fear that drives the inhabitants from the Promised Land ahead of God's chosen. Pray for God's people among them! We do not make God's plans; we merely obey them.) I could not see the message on the document. Then I saw a man's hand as he pointed at it. He shouted, “Can't you see it?” He asked three times and continued to point, “It's right there!” (Could it be that the earthquakes have happened, and as seen before, the faults cut off the interstate and main road, leaving the area. The hornet of fear will drive people from our Promised Land. A false warning from geologists that the peninsula could sink into the waters that have filled in the faults?) I asked in frustration, “Lord, why can't I see it?” (Because Sandy doesn't hear the message of fear, she is not going with them. In one of her recent dreams, she was hidden in Christ, in the underground, when the people were leaving.) Then T. C. popped up with outstretched arms. She said, “Sandy, you know God is sovereign. He will reveal it to you when He is ready”. (In other words, He will reveal what you need to know on a need-to-know basis.) Sandy said, “I see a train that is not moving (I asked Sandy if this could be the train we are used to seeing. The only one that goes north and south through the valley. She thought so.), but I hear a train that is moving (the people out). Then the feeling of dread, like oh, no, came over me”. (I asked her if the moving train could be a passenger train and she said she felt it was. It is a possibility that this train could represent a train of cars leaving town. You can't get many people on a normal passenger train, but of course, the Nazis moved the Jews in boxcars. Then again, if they are going to a FEMA camp, they may not take their cars, and if the interstate and main highway are taken out, possibly the train is the only way out of the area. That way, they couldn't take much with them, which is what was already revealed to us. Sandy's dream of all the people walking or riding bikes to this central city [trains] while she ducked into the woods with others to a hiding place underground could be a clue. They wouldn't need their cars if they were boarding a train. But they may not know they are not coming back.) Amazing words by faith at random this same morning: This morning, Michael L. got Ezr.2:70 So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities. 3:1 And when the seventh month (on the Hebrew Biblical calendar, this is September) was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. We used to talk about our Jerusalem in this area. The Man-child David and his men took Jerusalem after he was anointed. Notice the same amazing words in the next verse. Also, this morning B. A. got Ezr.10:9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month: and all the people sat in the broad place before the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. (The outpouring of God's Spirit?) P. O. asked the Father for a verse to share. She said, “I felt led to ask Him for a verse that we needed to hear. He put my finger down on Isa.54:1 Sing, O sing ye barren... The whole chapter seemed appropriate. Then I felt like singing. The song that came out of the blue was Christ Arose”. Low in the grave He lay; Jesus my Savior; Waiting the coming day, Jesus Our Lord. Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph over His foes. He arose a victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever with His saints to reign!   Many People Coming to UBM M. L.- 08/21/2015 It was a sunny day with blue sky and an atmosphere of rejoicing. People, people everywhere. Where did they all come from? How did they get here? How did they find us? What is their story? My dream opened up at seeing hundreds and hundreds of people coming to us. And I saw some more in the distance coming toward us, too. (This could be the call to go into the wilderness after the earthquakes and Man-child anointing. Those in the distance are those coming later.) I saw quick glances of people like snapshots seated at makeshift tables. More in the foreground were small, white, round tables; it seemed four could sit at each. At a section of white table, close to my observation point, there was a woman who caught my attention. She had finished eating and had kept looking to the right. She had blond hair that was long and was brought from her face to the sides in a becoming way. Her face was radiant as she watched the people about her. She looked familiar but she was different, taller, lighter hair. She will return and she will show radiance, too. (We knew this woman as a righteous woman but she was deceived into the faction by her husband. We had dreams this would happen to her but we also have had dreams she would return very humbled but without her husband who would die. So we think she is a type of many who will repent and return as the Lord has said to us.) This was all outside and people were eating. Everyone had a plate and something to drink. Believe it or not, the food just appeared as people were waiting in line. (Jesus, as a type of the end time Man-child in whom He lives by His Word and Spirit, multiplied the food in the wilderness.) Rectangular bountiful tables were end upon end and row upon row, just to hold the food. The people were patient and kind and loving to one another. (The only kind of people who will escape the Beast.) I saw close-up shots of lasagna being put on a plate. Crispy chicken, salad, greens, biscuits and on and on. The food dishes were replaced as the last piece or spoonful was taken. Where did it come from? I saw no one carrying food to the table. (Manna comes out of heaven.) Since we were outside, where were the ovens that baked everything? I knew our local body was serving but never really saw anyone. It was a busy time and we were servants to all. (A Marriage Feast in the wilderness.) I didn't see any buildings nor could I see if we were in a field or a grassy area because I saw everything from a table-height up. The edges were also blurred slightly, as I took in the scene before me. In the area, I saw no debris from damaged buildings (which will be needed). When people had finished eating, they talked excitedly and were patiently waiting for the meeting to start. This had to be on a raised area so people could see who was speaking. Then again, I didn't see this but just knew that the area on the right was where things were set up. People were looking in that direction. It was then that I noticed the people sitting at the white tables who were close to me had a special glow on their faces. Their faces had a sheen like oil on them that went into their hair. There were dozens of these tables. Then I saw more and more with the glow. (Those who manifested the glory of God by seeing Jesus in the mirror, the Gospel. 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.) They had come here. They had been revived by rest and food. Now they were anticipating the spiritual food for their souls, they had hungered and thirsted for so long. (Jesus, as a type of the end-time Man-child in whom He lives by His Word and Spirit, fed that food for the soul in the wilderness, too. Oh, come, Lord Jesus; we need You.) Some applicable verses: Mat.11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Php.4:19 And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Luk.9:12 And the day began to wear away; and the twelve came, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages and country round about, and lodge, and get provisions: for we are here in a desert place. 13 But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more than five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy food for all this people. 14 For they were about five thousand men. (Not including the women and children.) And he said unto his disciples, Make them sit down in companies, about fifty each. 15 And they did so, and made them all sit down. 16 And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake; and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17 And they ate, and were all filled: and there was taken up that which remained over to them of broken pieces, twelve baskets. (We have seen food multiplied.) Gal.5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.... Mar.9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve; and he saith unto them, If any man would be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all. Exo.34:35 And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses face shone: and Moses put the veil upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him. Psa.34:5 They looked unto him, and were radiant; and their faces shall never be confounded. 42:1 As the Deer Pants for the Water, So panteth my soul after thee, O God....   Are You Ready? Here They Come!  Sandy Shaw - 08/26/2015 (David's notes in red) In a dream, I saw huge wooden double doors that were several inches thick. They had hinges and handles like those of an old castle. On the inside, there was a large, thick wooden arm that was down to bar the doors. Local UBM was inside, hurrying to get final preparations done. Everyone knew what they were to do, and they did it. There was a man at the doors. Then the wooden arm was raised up, and he shouted, “Get ready, get ready, get ready!” Then he opened the doors and shouted, “R-E-A-D-Y!” And there were hundreds and hundreds of people coming inside!   A Nation of Refugees Moving Toward God Michael L. - 09/07/2015 (David's notes is red) I was on top of a mountain. It was mostly grassy, but the elevation looked to be 4,000 to 5,000 feet. I could see for many miles. It appeared as though this mountain was higher, as it allowed me to look over to the other mountains that were lower. I also saw thousands of people walking across the lands. They were traveling from left to right. (Jesus put the goats on the left and the sheep on the right, so this means to go from rebellion to submission, from goats to sheep.) None of them was saying anything. They seemed very sober or maybe tired. (The U.S. will be a nation full of refugees seeking help from God, Who will answer miraculously.) They were carrying things that they could easily handle. (It will be a wilderness experience for God's people. Many will come to know Him. When they do, He will give them a place of rest. Abraham was a sojourner: “he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God”. He searched out his Promised Land.) After seeing this, I thought that I should take my car, as it might make it easier (it was possibly a green 1960s Chevy Impala). I looked everywhere for some kind of road to travel down the mountain, but I couldn't find one. (No road down means you should stay on top of the mountain, close to God. Don't take the Chevy; it's a goat that only goes to the left.) Chevy is from French, German (Swiss) origins from chèvre meaning “goat” and, if you use the full name Chevrolet, we get lait meaning “milk”, possibly meaning for the immature. An impala is a reddish-brown African antelope with long, curved horns in the male, and is known for its ability to leap. They are food for the lion or beast.   God's Promise of Protection and Provision B. A. - 01/01/2012 (David's notes is red) I dreamed I was sitting in my den with my Bible in my lap and my laptop computer open to my concordance; I often study this way. Suddenly, from the view of the west window in the den, I saw a big black Hummer vehicle pull up right outside the window. I saw five men dressed in military clothing get out of the vehicle; I could see that one of them was a high-ranking officer. My husband was standing in the kitchen between the refrigerator and the island. I stood up out of my chair and told him not to move or speak, no matter what happened. I then began to pray this prayer: “Heavenly Father, please make everything in this house invisible except me, these two chairs in the den and the table, the mattress, blankets and pillows on the floor, and the four slices of bread and two small potatoes in the cupboard. Father, please make our enemies be at peace with us, and please make our enemies bless us. Thank you, Lord. Amen.” As I finished my prayer, the officer approached the sliding glass door to the den and entered the room. He looked straight at me, then, without saying a word, he began to search the house. What happened next was amazing. The officer began to walk into the kitchen between the refrigerator and the island where my husband was standing; the officer passed right through my husband and proceeded into the dining room and all of the other rooms on that side of the house. Then, the officer came back into the kitchen and opened the cupboard, and saw the four slices of bread and two potatoes. He gently closed the cupboard doors and walked over to the sliding glass door and opened the door. In a strange language I had never heard before, he commanded one of the young men to retrieve a large sack from the front seat of the Hummer. I was actually able to understand what the officer said to this man. The young man got the sack and brought it to the officer. The officer then came back into the house and placed the sack on the counter in the kitchen, and then went back outside. Then the officer reached inside the Hummer and had something in his hand as he walked over to the west window; he placed something that looked like a seal across the window, then got back into the Hummer and left. All of this transpired without one word being spoken. I then looked back at my husband, and I was amazed at what I saw. His hair, which was sandy blond before, was now snow white. I asked him, “Do you understand what just happened?” He looked at me and fell to his knees in sobbing tears, and he cried out to the Lord to forgive him for his sins. After a while, he got up, and we discussed what all had taken place. I then asked my husband to pour out the contents of the sack onto the counter. The sack contained two bottles of water, two apples and a large bag of peanuts still in the shell. My husband then said to me, “Everything you prayed for in your prayer was granted by the Lord”. We then sang and praised the Lord together. We then went outside to see more clearly what was on this seal that was placed on the window. There was writing in a foreign language, but I was able to read and understand it as it read, “This house is clean”. I looked up the driveway and could see that there was another one of these seals on the gate at the front of the driveway, so we went up to the gate to take a closer look at that seal; this seal read, “This property has been inspected and is clean. No further inspections required”. Then I awoke from the dream. I got up from bed and just sat for hours thinking about this dream. Tears of joy ran down my face, as I believe the Lord was reassuring me that all would be well with my family and me; just believe. Mar.11:23 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. 24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.   The Righteous Remain in the Land M. Y. - 12/05/2012 (David's notes in red) Background note: We know there is a spiritual Promised Land of our lives, which is taken possession of as the old man is conquered by the sword or Word of the spiritual man who then rules this life. However, this dream has a special and more physical meaning to the brethren involved with it because we are in a LAND that was promised to us and others by the Lord, and He has told us that only the righteous will remain. The testings of the Lord and the temptations of self, have proven some people unworthy to remain in the Refuge Land, and they are being removed, just like in this dream. We have heard this warning many times and received some of the verses below from the Lord before. In my dream, a group of people were lying down in an open area and I was lying on my side. I saw (what I thought was in the spirit) an image of me with my right arm ripped almost entirely off my shoulder and barely hanging on by a piece of flesh or muscle. I was told that if I lay that way (on my side), I would not be protected from the strong wind and the result would be damage to my arm. (The strong wind is the tribulations to come and the arm represents the works of the Christian that will not survive the trial unless they overcome. In other words, their works will fail to be works of faith. 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 if fell not: for it was founded upon the rock [of rest in the promises]. 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. Another way of saying this is their works were burned up in the fiery trial. 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 [the dark man]; 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. (He will continue in the fire for the flesh to be burned up.) I was then instructed (in the spirit or in my mind) on how to lie properly and in what direction to lie my head to avoid any damage. I practiced this a few times and knew that I had to remember it. I had to lie flat with all my members against the ground. (In other words, we have to have all of our works [arms], walk [legs], head [mind] and torso [heart] resting from our own works through faith in the promises.) I had to keep my eyes away from the wind. (In other words, get your eyes off the problem and on the Lord.) There was a black or dark man lying to my left when I held up my hand toward him in the shape of or forming the letter C. (The Christian is trying to teach the dark man who walks in darkness how to survive the coming curse. This dark man represents either the flesh or others who walk in it.) I thought that the C was a type of sign language, or I was telling myself to “see”. (Or it could also mean that we must keep our eyes away from the problem or curse and put them on C for Christ.) As I lay there in the shape I was shown, with one hand I began to pat each part of my body, as if to verify its position or to draw attention to it for instruction (to the dark man). At some point, there were no other people around, and I started wondering what would cause the strong wind. (Notice that the dark man was taken away. This is what the wind and fire do.) I considered a nuclear blast or other disasters that would cause a strong wind. I awoke and had the strong feeling that the C-shape made with my hand was telling me to see or pay attention. (The strong wind is any trial that tempts us to get into our own works and so fail to stay in the rest of faith that saves us.) When we heard this dream, there were three other people in the room with me, and I asked them to get a Word from the Lord by faith concerning this wind and what it would do by opening their Bible randomly and putting their fingers down. I was first to find a verse. Pro.2:21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, And the perfect shall remain in it. 22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the land, And the treacherous shall be rooted out of it. Notice those who are in the rest of faith will remain in the Promised Land. But, just as in the dream, the dark man is gone. This land that all four of us are in and has been promised to us is the Boat/Ark/Refuge, etc. M. Y.'s wife, got Psalm 73, which is all about the end of the wicked and survival of the righteous. Psa.73:18 Surely thou settest them in slippery places: Thou castest them down to destruction. 19 How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors ... 27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that play the harlot, [departing] from thee. 28 But it is good for me to draw near unto God: I have made the Lord Jehovah my refuge, That I may tell of all thy works. Then M. Y. got astounding verses about what would happen to the wicked who opposed our building of the spiritual temple. In this text, those who persecuted the Jews as a faction stopped them from building the temple of God (as is happening now) were made to help them or be destroyed as is happening. Ezr.6:10 that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savor unto the God of heaven [the sacrifice of the flesh or dark man burning up in the fiery trial], and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. 11 Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon [in other words, let him be crucified]; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. Then M.Y. got a text that speaks of the backsliding people of God from the Spirit-filled and non-Spirit-filled groups that were taken captive out of their land by the Beast because of their spiritual idols and spiritual fornication: Jer.3:8 And I saw, when, for this very cause that backsliding Israel (non-Spirit filled) had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorcement, yet treacherous Judah (Spirit-filled who had the House of God in their midst.) her sister feared not; but she also went and played the harlot. 9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that the land was polluted, and she committed adultery with stones and with stocks. 10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not returned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith Jehovah. In the rest of the text, the overcomers who came out of bondage were brought to the Bride, Jerusalem. 14 Return, O backsliding children, saith Jehovah; for I am a husband unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: 15 and I will give you shepherds according to my heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding ... 17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of Jehovah; and all the nations [gentiles] shall be gathered unto it, to the name of Jehovah, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the stubbornness of their evil heart. Notice the overcomers shall escape and be given the LAND. 19 But I said, How I will put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of the nations! and I said, Ye shall call me My Father, and shall not turn away from following me. Notice, once again, that the wicked will not stay in the Land; the righteous who walk by faith will. S. Y. asked for one more verse and it was about the wicked breaking their arms, just like the dream. Psa.37:17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken; But Jehovah upholdeth the righteous. The rest of the text fits, too. 18 Jehovah knoweth the days of the perfect; And their inheritance shall be for ever. 19 They shall not be put to shame in the time of evil; And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20 But the wicked shall perish, And the enemies of Jehovah shall be as the fat of lambs: They shall consume; In smoke shall they consume away. A dear friend, Bolivar, asked God what would happen to the carnal Christians in the coming days and got: Isa.65:9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains; and my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. 10 And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor (troubling) a place for herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me. 11 But ye that forsake Jehovah, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for Fortune [to profit the flesh], and that fill up mingled wine unto Destiny; 12 I will destine you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter; because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but ye did that which was evil in mine eyes, and chose that wherein I delighted not. 13 Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be put to shame; 14 behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall wail for vexation of spirit. Psa.125:3 For the sceptre of wickedness shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; That the righteous put not forth their hands unto iniquity. 4 Do good, O Jehovah, unto those that are good, And to them that are upright in their hearts. 5 But as for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, Jehovah will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel. Zep.3:11 In that day shalt thou not be put to shame for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me; for then I will take away out of the midst of thee thy proudly exulting ones, and thou shalt no more be haughty in my holy mountain. 12 But I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall take refuge in the name of Jehovah. 13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. Amo.9:10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, who say, The evil shall not overtake nor meet us. 11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old; 12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom [the Davids will conquer those who sold their birthright to be sons of Abraham], and all the nations that are called by my name, saith Jehovah that doeth this.

Today we attempt an immersive historical reconstruction of Dur-Sharrukin, the short-lived but astonishing capital built by Sargon II of Assyria in the late eighth century BCE. Set primarily in 706 BCE, this episode takes the listener on a guided tour of the city at the height of its splendor, using a fictional Urartian envoy as a narrative lens to explore what may be the most ambitious urban project of the ancient Near East.Drawing closely on archaeological evidence, royal inscriptions, and comparative material from Assyria and Babylonia, the episode reconstructs the experience of approaching Dur-Sharrukin along the royal roads, passing through its immense fortifications, and moving from the regimented lower city into the elevated palace and temple complex. Along the way, it examines Assyrian logistics, deportation policy, urban planning, law courts, sacred gates, monumental reliefs, and the social reality of an imperial capital populated almost entirely by relocated peoples from across the empire.Particular attention is given to the unprecedented scale and order of the city, its rigid grid layout, state-allocated housing, massive walls, and the palace platform crowned by the ziggurat of Nabu. The episode also explores the hydraulic engineering that made the upper complex possible, including early screw-pump technology that anticipates later traditions surrounding the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Dur-Sharrukin emerges not merely as a capital, but as an ideological statement: a city designed to embody kingship, divine favor, and imperial domination in stone, water, and labor.Although the central figure of Aramu is fictional, the city is not. The episode uses historical fiction as a disciplined tool to illuminate daily experience, perception, and scale in a way that conventional narrative history often cannot. It also reflects on the tragedy of Dur-Sharrukin's fate, abandoned only months after completion following Sargon II's death, and largely erased from living memory despite rivaling the great wonders of the ancient world.This episode sets the stage for the next installment, which turns from the city to the engine that made it possible: the mature Assyrian army of the Sargonid period, examining its organization, equipment, tactics, and logistical systems in depth.I am also doing daily history facts again, at least until I run out of time again. You can find Oldest Stories daily on Tiktok and Youtube Shorts.If you like the show, consider sharing with your friends, leaving a like, subscribing, or even supporting financially:Buy the Oldest Stories books: https://a.co/d/7Wn4jhSDonate here: https://oldeststories.net/or on patreon: https://patreon.com/JamesBleckleyor on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCG2tPxnHNNvMd0VrInekaA/joinYoutube and Patreon members get access to bonus content about Egyptian culture and myths.

Isaiah 7:10-17 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11 "Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven." 12 But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test." 13 And he said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel. 15 He shall eat curds and honey when He knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. 17 The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria!"   Key Words: Ask, Sign, House, David, Virgin, Bear, Immanuel Keystone Verses: Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)     DOWNLOAD BULLETIN

700 years before Christ came, the people of God faced real enemies as Judah faced off against Syria and Israel. Assyria was looming and had begun to pick off places like Galilee in the north while King Ahaz turned to everything but the LORD for a way out of the mess. But the faithful remnant was given the promise not of immediate succor but of an eternal solution in the promise of a baby to come who would be both Man and God, Savior and King.

Preached on Sunday the 28th of Sunday, 2025.‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭17‬:‭1‬-‭23‬ ‭“In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel, and he reigned nine years. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him. Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria. And Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute. But the king of Assyria found treachery in Hoshea, for he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison. Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria, and for three years he besieged it. In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods and walked in the customs of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel, and in the customs that the kings of Israel had practiced. And the people of Israel did secretly against the Lord their God things that were not right. They built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city. They set up for themselves pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, and there they made offerings on all the high places, as the nations did whom the Lord carried away before them. And they did wicked things, provoking the Lord to anger, and they served idols, of which the Lord had said to them, “You shall not do this.” Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets.” But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God. They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them. And they abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. None was left but the tribe of Judah only. Judah also did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the customs that Israel had introduced. And the Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel and afflicted them and gave them into the hand of plunderers, until he had cast them out of his sight. When he had torn Israel from the Intro Music by Julius H. from Pixabay Outro Music by PianoAmor from Pixabay

Our Sovereign God May Not Return to Us If Jesus Followers Do Not Lead America's Return to God; You Are Here for These Times MESSAGE SUMMARY: If enough of us get serious with God, then, perhaps, God will heal us and this land. When we, as both individual Jesus Followers and as a country, turn to the Lord, will we hear God's call and answer as in Isaiah 6:8: “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.'”. As Jesus Followers but in our non-Christian behavior: we are mean; we are angry; we are judgmental; and we are selfish and self-centered. Also, in our non-Christian behavior, we are often in bondage to debt, drugs, and extramarital sex. In all these non-Christian behaviors, we are not different from the unbeliever next door. Therefore, we are not very different from God's people in the time of Hosea described in Hosea 11:7,10-11: “My people are bent on turning away from me, and though they call out to the Most High {God}, he shall not raise them up at all . . . They shall go after the LORD; he will roar like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling from the west; they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria, and I will return them to their homes, declares the LORD.". We need to ask ourselves: “Am I being faithful to Jesus Christ and what needs to change in me and my life? Also, we need to ask ourselves “how am I disobeying the Lord?”. Will you then say to God: “Here am I! Send me.” If NOT ENOUGH “Self-Identifying Christians” answer God's call to lead America in our “return to God”, then God, in His sovereignty, will not return to America – you are here for times like these!   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, I come this day inviting you to cut those deeply entrenched chains that keep me from being faithful to my true self in Christ. In doing so, may my life be a blessing to many. In Jesus' name, amen.      Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 44). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Insensitivity. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Gentleness. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV):  Hosea 11:1-11; Isaiah 6:8-13; Matthew 13:13-17; Psalms 13:1-6. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “A Christmas Message – What God Has Done For Us” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

This is the final week in our study of 400 years of Kings and Prophets from Solomon to Jeremiah. King Josiah     •    Young King seeks God     •    Spiritual cleansing of Jerusalem     •    Book of the Law discovered     •    Reform beyond Judah     •    Passover observance  - King Josiah gives an order to all people to observe God's Passover. This had not been celebrated according to what was written, not even in the days of the judges, nor in the days of any of the kings of Israel and Judah. Josiah made sure the celebration was carried out according to what was written in the Book of the Covenant. He, like David, was a man after God's own heart. He reads the scriptures and applies them and a time of revival begins.  We read in 2 Kings 23:25 "Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did - with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses."     •    Death at Megiddo - A prophetic word comes from Huldah telling Josiah of the judgment that is coming from God against the people, but that because Josiah's heart was repentant he would not see the judgment that would come.  During this time there was great international upheaval between Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon.  2 Kings 23:29 "While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle, but Necho faced him and killed him at Megiddo."  Jeremiah and the nation were devastated by the loss of king Josiah. Then Josiah's 3 sons reign. None were the king that their father was. They returned to the old ways for faithlessness to God. Josiah's 3 Sons     •    Jehoahaz - 2 Kings 23:31-33; 2 Chronicles 36:1-3 - reigned 3 month doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. He was imprisoned by Pharaoh Necho of Egypt, who was the one who had killed his father. Jehoahaz dies in Egypt.     •    Jehoiakim - 2 Kings 23:34 - 24:7; 2 Chronicles 36:4-8 - reigned 11 years and did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He was an evil and inefficient ruler. Constructed a new palace and Jeremiah denounces him for ignoring the people and ignoring God. Jehoiakim rejects Jeremiah and even burns the first copy of the book of Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 36:23) The city of Jerusalem is overtaken in 605 BC by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and many of the people are deported to Babylon. (Daniel was one that was taken - Daniel 1:1-2). When Jehoiakim dies he is given the "burial of a donkey." Jeremiah 22:13-19. Johoiachin, his son reigns for 3 months doing evil like his father and was taken captive by Babylon - 2 Kings 24:8-16; 2 Chronicles 36:9-10     •    Zedekiah - 2 Kings 24:17 - 25:21; 2 Chronicles 36:11-21; Jeremiah 39:1-10 - reigns for 11 years and he did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Zedekiah breaks the treaty with Babylon (Ezekiel 17:18). He looks to Egypt for deliverance but didn't receive any. The false prophets encouraged him in his evil ways. Jeremiah warns Zedekiah of coming suffering and prophecies. But Zedekiah does not change his way and Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians and Zedekiah dies in a tragic way. Jeremiah 39:6-7.  And so ends our study with the nation, the city of Jerusalem a the Temple destroyed in 586 B.C.  Interestingly enough the Temple would once again be destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. in the same month, on the same day. This was a day Jesus predicted because they did not recognize Him and had rejected Him. Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Isaiah expert and Old Testament scholar Dr. John Oswalt is our guest again this week on the Profile. On this episode John discusses the discovery of the Great Isaiah Scroll in Qumran in 1947, more of Isaiah 53, and the prophecy of Cyrus the Great in chapter 45. Dr. John Oswalt Asbury served on the faculty of Asbury Theological seminary from 1970 to 1982 as professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages, and again from 1989 to 1999 as Professor of Old Testament. He rejoined Asbury in 2009 as visiting distinguished professor of Old Testament studies. He has also served as research professor of Old Testament at Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, Miss., from 1999 to 2009, was president of Asbury College from 1983 to 1986, a member of the faculty of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Ill., from 1986 to 1989, and  Interim President of Wesley Biblical Seminary, Ridgeland, MS from April 2019 through March 2020.He is the author of 16 books, most notable of which is the two-volume commentary on the book of Isaiah in the New International Commentary of the Old Testament. His most recent book is The Holy One of Israel: Studies in the Book of Isaiah, released in 2014. He has also written numerous articles that have appeared in Bible encyclopedias, scholarly journals and popular religious periodicals. Dr. Oswalt is an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church, with membership in the Kentucky Annual Conference. He has served as a part-time pastor in congregations in New England and Kentucky, and is a frequent speaker in conferences, camps and local churches. Oswalt received a B.A. from Taylor University; a B.D. and Th.M. from Asbury Seminary; and a M.A. and Ph.D. from Brandeis University.The Bible Among the Myths Isaiah CommentaryResources from Watchman Fellowship Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Bart Ehrman by Dr. Rhyne Putman: www.watchman.org/Ehrman FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.The complete Profile Notebook (Digital Edition, PDF, over 600-pages): www.watchman.org/DigitalNotebookSUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2025 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

21 December 2025 | This week Evan concludes our Comfort and Joy Sermon series in Genesis 2 14-24 about how things that are broken by sin, such as relationships, work or fellowship are restored in Jesus. Genesis 2:14-24 14 And the name of the third river is the Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. ” 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him. ” 19 Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. ” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

In What Child Is This?, we explore the powerful prophecy of Isaiah 9:1–7, a Christmas passage that reaches far beyond the manger and into the heart of God's redemptive plan for the world. Isaiah reveals that the first rays of Messiah's light did not shine in Jerusalem's temple but in despised Galilee, a region crushed by Assyria and mocked by the world. God intentionally chose the darkest and most overlooked place to announce the coming of His Son, proving that divine hope shines brightest where human hope has failed. Galilee would later become the launch point of Jesus' earthly ministry, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy and revealing God's grace to the humble, the broken, and the forgotten. Isaiah also unveils the identity of the Child: Wonderful Counselor, divine wisdom beyond human understanding. Mighty God, fully God in human flesh. Everlasting Father, the source and sustainer of eternal life. Prince of Peace, the One who will ultimately end all war and rebellion. This Child is not merely a baby in a manger. He is the rightful King who will sit on David's throne, rule the nations, and establish a kingdom of justice, righteousness, and everlasting peace. Scripture declares that the zeal of the Lord will accomplish this without fail. Christmas is the down payment of the Kingdom. The cradle guarantees the crown. The First Advent assures the Second. This message calls us to see Christmas not only as a moment in history, but as a promise of what is still to come.

Click here to WATCH LIVE STREAM Worship Service on our Youtube Channel. “Christmas, Part 2” Matthew 2 Micah 5:2-6 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; 6 they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border.   Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”   Numbers 24:17 …a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel…   Matthew 2:3-4 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.   Matthew 2:5-6 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'”   Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.   2 Samuel 5:2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.'”   Matthew 2:7-8 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”   Matthew 2:9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.   Matthew 2:10-12 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.   Matthew 2:13-15 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”   Exodus 4:21-23 And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.'” Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.   Galatians 3:16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.    Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.   Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.   Matthew 2:17-18 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”   Jeremiah 31:15-17 Thus says the LORD: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.” 16 Thus says the LORD: “Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the LORD,   and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. 17 There is hope for your future, declares the LORD, and your children shall come back to their own country.   Jeremiah 33:14-16 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.'   Mathew 2:19-21 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.   Matthew 2:22-23 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. John 1:46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”   Jesus is our true deliverer.   Colossians 1:13-14 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.   Jesus is our true comforter.   Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.   Jesus is our true King.   Isaiah 11:1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. Isaiah 53:2-3 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Respond | Connect | Next Steps The post Christmas 2 appeared first on Charleston Baptist Church.

Friday Bible Study (12/12/25) // Ezra 4 (ESV) // Adversaries Oppose the Rebuilding 4 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the Lord, the God of Israel, 2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers' houses and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria who brought us here.” 3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers' houses in Israel said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build 5 and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.The Letter to King Artaxerxes7 In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam and Mithredath and Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated.[a] 8 Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows: 9 Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates, the judges, the governors, the officials, the Persians, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is, the Elamites, 10 and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River. 11 (This is a copy of the letter that they sent.) “To Artaxerxes the king: Your servants, the men of the province Beyond the River, send greeting. And now 12 be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations. 13 Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be impaired. 14 Now because we eat the salt of the palace[b] and it is not fitting for us to witness the king's dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king, 15 in order that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will find in the book of the records and learn that this city is a rebellious city, hurtful to kings and provinces, and that sedition was stirred up in it from of old. That was why this city was laid waste. 16 We make known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls finished, you will then have no possession in the province Beyond the River.”Website: https://mbchicago.org FOLLOW US Facebook:   / mbc.chicago   Instagram:   / mbc.chicago   TikTok:   / mbc.chicago   Podcasts: Listen on Apple, Spotify & others TO SUPPORT US Zelle to: info@mbchicago.org Website: https://mbchicago.org/give Venmo: https://venmo.com/mbchurch DAF Donations: https://every.org/mbc.chicago PayPal: https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_but... #Ezra #DanielBatarseh #BibleStudy #mbchicago #mbcchicago #Bible #versebyverse #church #chicago #livechurch #churchlive #chicagochurch #chicagochurches #sermon #bibleexplained #bibleproject #bibleverse #bookbybook #oldtestament #explained

Apologies for my voice and the lack of graphics. Been sick again and barely got this out today.Episode 179 examines the founding, construction, abandonment, and rediscovery of Dur-Sharrukin (Khorsabad), the short-lived royal capital built by Sargon II of Assyria in the late eighth century BCE. The narrative begins with the history of early Mesopotamian excavation through the career of Paul-Émile Botta, whose 1843–1844 work near Mosul and Khorsabad helped inaugurate Assyriology and introduced Europe to monumental Assyrian palace architecture, relief sculpture, and royal inscriptions. The episode follows Botta's unusual path into Near Eastern exploration, placing his expeditionary background within wider nineteenth-century networks of travel, collecting, and emerging archaeological method, and contrasts the French discoveries at Khorsabad with the subsequent British excavations associated with Austen Henry Layard at Kalhu and Nineveh.From this modern historiographical prelude, the episode turns back to 717 BCE and reconstructs Dur-Sharrukin as an ideological and administrative project of empire. It discusses the city's location, scale, labor regime, deportee settlement, and the programmatic symbolism of a purpose-built capital dedicated to the “true king.” Particular attention is given to the citadel complex—palace, temples, and ziggurat—alongside the logistical systems required to sustain rapid construction, long-distance procurement of materials, and the production of large-scale court art such as lamassu guardians and carved orthostats. The episode also engages changing archaeological interpretations of the site, including how later excavations and recent geophysical survey have revised older claims that the city was never fully completed or inhabited by demonstrating a substantial lower town and more complex occupational history.The final section addresses the political and religious implications of Sargon II's death in 705 BCE and the resulting abandonment of the city under Sennacherib, framing Dur-Sharrukin as a case study in the relationship between royal charisma, omen interpretation, and the volatility of capital cities in the Neo-Assyrian world. In doing so, the episode situates Dur-Sharrukin within broader Near Eastern patterns of state power, forced migration, monumental construction, and the archaeological afterlives of imperial projects.I am also doing daily history facts again, at least until I run out of time again. You can find Oldest Stories daily on Tiktok and Youtube Shorts.If you like the show, consider sharing with your friends, leaving a like, subscribing, or even supporting financially:Buy the Oldest Stories books: https://a.co/d/7Wn4jhSDonate here: https://oldeststories.net/or on patreon: https://patreon.com/JamesBleckleyor on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCG2tPxnHNNvMd0VrInekaA/joinYoutube and Patreon members get access to bonus content about Egyptian culture and myths.

Last week we ended our study time looking at a great king of Judah, Hezekiah. Today we start with one of the worst kings of Judah, Manasseh, Hezekiah's son. Manasseh reigned from 697-642 B.C. His story is found in 2 Kings 21:1-18 and 2 Chronicles 33:1-20. Manasseh reigned 55 years. He reigned longer than any other king and did more damage than any other king.  He did evil in God's eyes. It is a disgusting and tragic story.  He destroys everything good his father had done. King Manasseh     ⁃    Apostasy and Idolatry - 2 Chronicles 33:33     ⁃    Sacrificed his children  - 2 Chronicles 33:6     ⁃    Innocent blood shed including the blood of prophets -  2 Kings 21:16. (Hebrews 11:37 - ancient Jewish tradition that says it was during Manasseh's reign that Isaiah was sawn in half by Manasseh)     ⁃    Captivity in Babylon - Manasseh was taken prisoner by Assyria and taken to Babylon  - 2 Chronicles 33:11     ⁃    Repentance and return to Judah- while in prison Manasseh had a change of heart, humbling himself greatly before God and praying. The Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so God brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom, proving to Manasseh that He is the true God - 2 Chronicles 33:12-13 What we learn: God is a gracious God and hears the cries of those who humble themselves before Him.  He responds to a repentant heart.  In the final years of his life, Manasseh worked to redo things but to no avail as his son, King Amon takes the throne. Amon reigned from 642-640 B.C. and his story is found in 2 Kings 21:19-26 and 2 Chronicles 33:21-25. Amon did evil in the eyes of the Lord. King Amon     ⁃    Return to idolatry - 2 Chronicles 33:22-23     ⁃    Conspiracy and Assassination - 2 Chronicles 33:24-25 - Josiah, Amon's son was then made king. King Josiah Josiah is just a boy when he begins his 31 year reign and in Pastor's opinion, the greatest king of Judah. Josiah reigned from 640-609 B.C. His story is found in 2 Kings 22:1-23:30 and 2 Chronicles 34-35. During his reign there were many prophets: Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Huldah.  God is working to bring the nation back to Himself. During King Josiah's reign, Judah experienced three of its happiest decades: peace, prosperity and revival.  King Josiah     ⁃    Young King seeks the God of David - he followed in the ways of David - 2 Kings 22:1-2 and 2 Chronicles 34:3      ⁃    Spiritual cleansing of Jerusalem - 2 Chronicles 34:4-5     ⁃    Book of the Law of God written by Moses (possibly the original Torah) is discovered  - 2 Chronicles 34:8, 2 Chronicles 34:14, 2 Chronicles 34:19, 2 Chronicles 34:22.  In 2 Chronicles 34:27 we read of Huldah who tells the king that God says that judgment is coming, but because he (Josiah) had humbled himself before God, wept and torn his robes, that Josiah will not live to see the destruction. Josiah recognizes the Lord's graciousness and he sets forth to bring revival.      ⁃    Revival happens 2 Kings 23:2-3 - God's people pledge themselves to the covenant of God.     ⁃    Revival and reform go beyond Judah - 2 Kings 23:15, 17 Josiah was a bright, brilliant, incredible and godly leader, a man bold in his faith and one who trusted God.  May we learn from his example. Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Pastor Jared Richard explores Isaiah 11's unique "Christmas tree"—not a decorated evergreen, but a stump with a shoot and root—as a powerful gospel metaphor. The stump represents God's judgment on pride, showing how "God will always humble the proud" as He did with Israel and Assyria. From this apparent death springs the shoot, a greater David who will establish a perfect kingdom where "the wolf will dwell with the lamb" (Isaiah 11:6) and all creation finds peace. Most remarkably, this king is also the root of Jesse, revealing Jesus as both descendant and divine source—the God-man who offers surprising eternal life. Pastor Richard urges us not to place our hope in an idealized past but in Christ's future kingdom, where all brokenness will be healed and "the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9).   WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Take a moment to fill out our digital connection card here: https://www.bayleaf.org/connect We hope you enjoy this programming and please let us know if there is anything we can do to be of service to you.   ONE CHURCH. TWO LOCATIONS. ONE MISSION. Bay Leaf at Falls Lake: 12200 Bayleaf Church Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27614 Bay Leaf at 540: 10921 Leesville Rd, Raleigh, NC 27613   SERVICE TIMES Come join us on Sundays at Bay Leaf at Falls Lake (8:30 AM or 11:00 AM) or at Bay Leaf at 540 (10:00 AM)!   CONTACT www.bayleaf.org (919) 847-4477 #BayLeafLife #Worship #Inspiration

"Of all the books in the OT, Isaiah is perhaps the richest. Its literary grandeur is unequaled. Its scope is unparalleled. The breadth of its view of God is unmatched. In so many ways it is a book of superlatives. Thus, it is no wonder that Isaiah is the most quoted prophet in the NT, and along with Psalms and Deuteronomy, one of the most frequently cited of all OT books. Study of it is an opportunity for unending inspiration and challenge…it comes to us as a word from God, a revelation of the inevitable conflict between divine glory and human pride, of self-destruction which that pride must bring, and of the grace of God in restoring that destroyed humanity to himself. To read the book with the open eyes of the spirit is to see oneself, at times all too clearly, but also to see God whose holiness is made irresistible by his love." - Dr. John Oswalt from his two-volume commentary on the book of Isaiah. Dr. John Oswalt is our very special guest this week and next on Apologetics Profile. He will be taking us through some of the highlights of this magisterial theological work. His insights will better equip you to give a defense to non-believers who doubt the history and authorship of Isaiah. Dr. John Oswalt Asbury served on the faculty of Asbury Theological seminary from 1970 to 1982 as professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages, and again from 1989 to 1999 as Professor of Old Testament. He rejoined Asbury in 2009 as visiting distinguished professor of Old Testament studies. He has also served as research professor of Old Testament at Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, Miss., from 1999 to 2009, was president of Asbury College from 1983 to 1986, a member of the faculty of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Ill., from 1986 to 1989, and  Interim President of Wesley Biblical Seminary, Ridgeland, MS from April 2019 through March 2020.He is the author of 16 books, most notable of which is the two-volume commentary on the book of Isaiah in the New International Commentary of the Old Testament. His most recent book is The Holy One of Israel: Studies in the Book of Isaiah, released in 2014. He has also written numerous articles that have appeared in Bible encyclopedias, scholarly journals and popular religious periodicals. Dr. Oswalt is an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church, with membership in the Kentucky Annual Conference. He has served as a part-time pastor in congregations in New England and Kentucky, and is a frequent speaker in conferences, camps and local churches. Oswalt received a B.A. from Taylor University; a B.D. and Th.M. from Asbury Seminary; and a M.A. and Ph.D. from Brandeis University.The Bible Among the Myths Isaiah CommentaryResources from Watchman Fellowship Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Bart Ehrman by Dr. Rhyne Putman: www.watchman.org/Ehrman FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.The complete Profile Notebook (Digital Edition, PDF, over 600-pages): www.watchman.org/DigitalNotebookSUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2025 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

This sermon explores Isaiah 9:6's prophecy of the Messiah by examining the historical context of 8th century BC Israel, when both northern and southern kingdoms had fallen into political corruption, moral debauchery, and spiritual darkness. Pastor Joe Fant demonstrates how God, through the prophet Isaiah, promised a coming child who would be the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. This prophecy was fulfilled 700 years later when Jesus began His ministry in Galilee—the very region Isaiah identified. The sermon emphasizes that while human governments and political alliances fail, Jesus established an eternal kingdom of justice and righteousness. God pursues His people even in their darkest moments, and the baby in the manger represents God's zealous love for His people, offering hope, victory over sin and death, and eternal joy to those who turn to Him in faith. Key Points: The historical context reveals three types of darkness in Isaiah's time: political (corrupt kings seeking pagan alliances), moral (idol worship and child sacrifice), and spiritual (turning to demons and necromancers instead of God) King Ahaz in the south and King Pekah in the north both rejected God and led the people into wickedness, seeking protection from Assyria through political alliances rather than trusting God Isaiah prophesied that the regions first devastated by darkness (Zebulun and Naphtali in Galilee) would be the first to see the great light Jesus fulfilled this prophecy by beginning His ministry in Galilee, bringing the light of the gospel to the darkest places first The victory Jesus won through His death and resurrection surpasses even Gideon's miraculous victory over 135,000 Midianites with only 300 men Jesus is the child born and son given who possesses perfect government, eternal wisdom, divine power, and brings true peace The solution to darkness is unwavering loyalty to Scripture and proper fear of the Lord, not looking to worldly solutions God pursues His people even when they are far from Him, demonstrating His zeal and love through sending prophets, His Word, and ultimately His Son Scripture Reference: Isaiah 9:1-7 (primary focus on verse 6) Isaiah 8:12-22 (context of darkness and calling to Scripture) Isaiah 1:2-4, 21-23 (description of Israel's moral corruption) 2 Kings 16 (King Ahaz's wickedness) 2 Kings 15:27-28 (King Pekah's evil reign) Matthew 4:12-17 (Jesus beginning ministry in Galilee, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy) John 1:1-14 (Jesus as the Light of the world) 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 (victory over death through Christ)

In a world filled with noise, interruptions, and uncertainty, peace can feel out of reach. But in this Advent message, Pastor Corey walks through John 14:27, Philippians 4:6–9, and Isaiah 26 to show that the peace Jesus offers is not circumstantial or fragile—it's supernatural, steady, and unshakable.From anxious disciples caught in a storm to God's people facing the threat of Assyria, Scripture reveals that peace isn't the absence of conflict—it's the presence of trust. While worry rises when outcomes are uncertain, Jesus gives a peace that persists even when the future feels unclear.Through powerful biblical truth and moving stories like Horatio Spafford's hymn “It Is Well with My Soul,” this message reminds us that peace isn't found in a place or a plan—it's found in a Person. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, steadies us in the present and secures us for the future.If your mind feels consumed by worry, anxiety, or chaos, this message will help you see how God's peace can guard your heart and mind—even when circumstances don't change.✔ Why peace is the antidote to chaos✔ Why the opposite of peace isn't war—but worry✔ How Jesus gives peace when outcomes are uncertain✔ Why peace increases as we know the Peace-Giver✔ How supernatural peace can exist even in deep sorrowShare this message with someone who needs to be reminded that no matter what they're facing, God's peace is still available—and it is well with their soul.

Christ Has Come – Week 2Episode Title: The Promised King & His Gift of PeaceIsaiah 9:1–7In this Advent episode of Christ Has Come, Keith Harris walks through Isaiah 9 and helps us see the depth of God's promise to send a Child who would be our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Isaiah spoke these words into a land drowning in darkness, fear, and oppression—yet he proclaimed that God Himself would shine light into their gloom through the coming of a King whose peace would never end.Together, we explore:The darkness of Isaiah's day—a people crushed by Assyria, trapped in fear, and running toward everything but the Lord for help.The surprising promise of God—that the regions hit hardest by judgment would become the first to see salvation when the Light Himself arrived.The identity of the promised Child, and how each of Isaiah's titles points clearly and beautifully to Jesus.The peace Jesus brings, not by removing us from the world's brokenness but by stepping into it and reconciling us to God through His cross.Why the peace of Jesus isn't fragile or temporary, but rooted in His unchanging character, His finished work, and His everlasting reign.This week's study reminds us that peace isn't a feeling—it's a Person, and that Person has come. Jesus is the Prince of Peace who enters our darkness, steadies our restless hearts, and promises to be with His people always.---If you would like to see a written version of this study, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.

Today we come to one of the most fascinating times in the history of the kingdom of Judah, an amazing king who does amazing things by the power of an amazing God. But first we take a look at King Ahaz who ruled from 731-715 BC. In 2 Kings 16:2-3 we read that Ahaz did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He followed the ways of other kings, even sacrificing his son in the fire. King Ahaz     ⁃    Finds himself under attack by Pekah and Rezin     ⁃    Discovers there is a price to pay when you turn your back on the Living God     ⁃    Seeks help from the Assyrians - Assyria was a massive growing super power.     ⁃    Then God brings a rebuke through the prophet Isaiah (a most effective and influential prophet) but Ahaz refuses to listen.     ⁃    Ahaz continues to turn away from God and desecrated the Temple of God as he continues to rebel against God.     ⁃    His rebellion brings sadness and tragedy and he continues to suffer military attacks. During Ahaz's reign in Judah, we read in 2 Kings 17:5-6 that Israel is defeated by the Assyrians after a 3 year siege. At the end of Ahaz's reign we see that in spite of the faithlessness of God's people, God remains faithful.  The next king of Judah is one of the best. King Hezekiah is Ahaz's son and Hezakiah rules 715-686 BC. King Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 2 Kings 18:3.   King Hezekiah     ⁃    In the first month of the first year of his reign he had the Temple cleansed. 2 Chronicles 29:3-5     ⁃    Then Hezekiah holds a national Passover celebration inviting all of Israel and Judah. They had a 2 week Passover celebration. 2 Chronicles 30:1.     ⁃    Hezekiah destroys the sacred stones, high places and Asherah poles and also brakes into pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had used to God's glory but that had become an idol of the Israelites who had been burning incense to it. 2 Kings 18:4      ⁃    Hezekiah is facing the enemy of Assyria as they are coming to conquer Jerusalem and so in 2 Kings 20:20 we read that he built a tunnel and a pool. In the 1880's the Siloam Inscription was discovered. It tells the story of the building of the tunnel. Hezekiah built this tunnel to ensure there would be water when under siege by the Assyrian army by diverting the Gehon spring into Jerusalem leaving no fresh water available to the Assyrian army.      ⁃    Then the siege begins against Jerusalem. 2 Kings 18:28-29 the king's commander, speaking in Hebrew, calls out that the king of Assyria says that Hezekiah has deceived you because he will not be able to deliver you from me and my army. The king of Assyria is trying to get the people in Jerusalem to just give up.     ⁃    Then Hezekiah prays a beautiful prayer - 2 Kings 19:15-16 and God listens and the King of Assyria is defeated by God Himself. 2 Kings 19:35-36. The Assyrians withdraw and return to Nineveh and the siege is ended.     ⁃    Then Hezekiah becomes very ill to the point of death. Isaiah comes to Hezekiah to tell him to put his house in order. Hezekiah weeps and prays and God sees Hezekiah's tears and hears his prayer and God heals him. 2 Kings 20:1-5      ⁃    Hezekiah is visited by the Babylonians, a rising power that will ultimately defeat the Assyrians. 2 Kings 20:13 we read of Hezekiah being tempted by pride. The prophet Isaiah then brings a word to Hezekiah telling him that everything you just showed off to the Babylonians will be taken by Babylonians. Hezekiah repents.     ⁃    The prophets Micah and Isaiah were very active during Hezekiah's reign.     ⁃    Hezekiah was one of the greatest kings the nation had ever known. 2 Kings 18:5-6 tells us that Hezekiah trusted the Lord, that there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, both before and after him, that Hezekiah held fast to the Lord and did not stop following God and that he kept the commands of the Lord. Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

In this sermon on Isaiah 9, Pastor Jared Richard explores how God prepared for Christmas centuries before Christ's birth. Using the analogy of a Ferrero Rocher chocolate with its layers, Pastor Richard unpacks three prophetic layers: the failure of faithless King Ahaz who trusted Assyria rather than God, the promise of a greater king described with four divine titles (Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace), and finally the arrival of Jesus as the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. The sermon highlights how we, like Ahaz, often seek peace through human wisdom, politics, wealth, or idolatry instead of trusting God. Just as God demonstrated His power through weakness when Gideon defeated the Midianites, He sent His Son as a child to conquer our greatest enemies—sin, Satan, and death. While Christ's first coming allows us peace with God, we await His return for the complete fulfillment of Isaiah's promise of eternal peace.   WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Take a moment to fill out our digital connection card here: https://www.bayleaf.org/connect We hope you enjoy this programming and please let us know if there is anything we can do to be of service to you.   ONE CHURCH. TWO LOCATIONS. ONE MISSION. Bay Leaf at Falls Lake: 12200 Bayleaf Church Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27614 Bay Leaf at 540: 10921 Leesville Rd, Raleigh, NC 27613   SERVICE TIMES Come join us on Sundays at Bay Leaf at Falls Lake (8:30 AM or 11:00 AM) or at Bay Leaf at 540 (10:00 AM)!   CONTACT www.bayleaf.org (919) 847-4477 #BayLeafLife #Worship #Inspiration

7.1 In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it. 2 When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.3 And the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer's Field. 4 And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah. 5 Because Syria, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has devised evil against you, saying, 6 “Let us go up against Judah and terrify it, and let us conquer it for ourselves, and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it,” 7 thus says the Lord God:“‘It shall not stand,    and it shall not come to pass.8 For the head of Syria is Damascus,    and the head of Damascus is Rezin.And within sixty-five years    Ephraim will be shattered from being a people.9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria,    and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah.If you are not firm in faith,    you will not be firm at all.'”10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. 17 The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria!”

Ranking Resilience and the Importance of Water: Colleague Eric Cline uses definitions from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change—coping, adapting, and transforming—to rank ancient civilizations, attributing the survival of Egypt and Assyria partly to their access to major river systems, a resource the failed Hittite empire lacked; the Phoenicians and Cypriots are ranked highest for "transforming" and becoming antifragile, while Egypt is described as merely "coping," and the Cypriots eventually lost their independence to Assyrian expansion despite their initial post-collapse success. 1953 Retry

Genesis 25-26   25:1 Now Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She bore to him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All of these were the sons of Keturah. 5 Now Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac; 6 but to the sons of his concubines, Abraham gave gifts while he was still living, and sent them away from his son Isaac eastward, to the land of the east. 7 These are all the years of Abraham's life that he lived, 175 years. 8 Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people. 9 Then his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, facing Mamre, 10 the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth; there Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. 11 It came about after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac lived by Beer-lahai-roi. 12 Now these are the records of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's slave woman, bore to Abraham; 13 and these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages, and by their camps; twelve princes according to their tribes. 17 These are the years of the life of Ishmael, 137 years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people. 18 They settled from Havilah to Shur which is east of Egypt going toward Assyria; he settled in defiance of all his relatives. 19 Now these are the records of the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham fathered Isaac; 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children; and the Lord answered him, and his wife Rebekah conceived. 22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is so, why am I in this condition?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples will be separated from your body; And one people will be stronger than the other; And the older will serve the younger.” 24 When her days leading to the delivery were at an end, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 Now the first came out red, all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding on to Esau's heel, so he was named Jacob; and Isaac was sixty years old when she gave birth to them. 27 When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a civilized man, living in tents. 28 Now Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for game; but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 When Jacob had cooked a stew one day, Esau came in from the field and he was exhausted; 30 and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a mouthful of that red stuff there, for I am exhausted.” Therefore he was called Edom by name. 31 But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?” 33 And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so he swore an oath to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and got up and went on his way. So Esau despised his birthright.   26:1 Now there was a famine in the land, besides the previous famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. So Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines. 2 And the Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 Live for a time in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, 5 because Abraham obeyed Me and fulfilled his duty to Me, and kept My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” 6 So Isaac lived in Gerar. 7 When the men of the place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” for he was afraid to say, “my wife,” thinking, “the men of the place might kill me on account of Rebekah, since she is beautiful.” 8 Now it came about, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down through a window, and saw them, and behold, Isaac was caressing his wife Rebekah. 9 Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Behold, she certainly is your wife! So how is it that you said, ‘She is my sister'?” And Isaac said to him, “Because I thought, ‘otherwise I might be killed on account of her.'” 10 And Abimelech said, “What is this that you have done to us? One of the people might easily have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” 11 So Abimelech commanded all the people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife will certainly be put to death.” 12 Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundred times as much. And the Lord blessed him, 13 and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy; 14 for he had possessions of flocks and herds, and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him. 15 Now all the wells which his father's servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up by filling them with dirt. 16 Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are too powerful for us.” 17 So Isaac departed from there and camped in the Valley of Gerar, and settled there. 18 Then Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the same names which his father had given them. 19 But when Isaac's servants dug in the valley and found there a well of flowing water, 20 the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with the herdsmen of Isaac, saying, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they argued with him. 21 Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over it too, so he named it Sitnah. 22 Then he moved away from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he named it Rehoboth, for he said, “At last the Lord has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.” 23 And he went up from there to Beersheba. 24 And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; Do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants, For the sake of My servant Abraham.” 25 So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there; and there Isaac's servants dug a well. 26 Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with his adviser Ahuzzath, and Phicol the commander of his army. 27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28 They said, “We have seen plainly that the Lord has been with you; so we said, ‘An oath must now be taken by us,' that is, by you and us. So let us make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good, and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.” 30 Then he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 In the morning they got up early and exchanged oaths; then Isaac sent them away, and they left him in peace. 32 Now it came about on the same day, that Isaac's servants came in and told him about the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have found water.” 33 So he called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day. 34 When Esau was forty years old he married Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite; 35 and they brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah.     BIBLE READING GUIDE - FREE EBOOK - Get the free eBook, Bible in Life, to help you learn how to read and apply the Bible well: https://www.listenerscommentary.com     GIVE -  The Listener's Commentary is a listener supported Bible teaching ministry made possible by the generosity of people like you. Thank you! 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Isaiah 7:1-17 When Ahaz, son of Jotham and grandson of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah, the king of Israel, set out to attack Jerusalem. However, they were unable to carry out their plan.2 The news had come to the royal court of Judah: “Syria is allied with Israel against us!” So the hearts of the king and his people trembled with fear, like trees shaking in a storm.3 Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Take your son Shear-jashub and go out to meet King Ahaz. You will find him at the end of the aqueduct that feeds water into the upper pool, near the road leading to the field where cloth is washed. 4 Tell him to stop worrying. Tell him he doesn't need to fear the fierce anger of those two burned-out embers, King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah. 5 Yes, the kings of Syria and Israel are plotting against him, saying, 6 ‘We will attack Judah and capture it for ourselves. Then we will install the son of Tabeel as Judah's king.' 7 But this is what the Sovereign Lord says:“This invasion will never happen; it will never take place; 8 for Syria is no stronger than its capital, Damascus, and Damascus is no stronger than its king, Rezin. As for Israel, within sixty-five years it will be crushed and completely destroyed. 9 Israel is no stronger than its capital, Samaria, and Samaria is no stronger than its king, Pekah son of Remaliah. Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm.”The Sign of Immanuel 10 Later, the Lord sent this message to King Ahaz: 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want—as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead.”12 But the king refused. “No,” he said, “I will not test the Lord like that.”13 Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn't it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? 14 All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us'). 15 By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt and honey. 16 For before the child is that old, the lands of the two kings you fear so much will both be deserted.17 “Then the Lord will bring things on you, your nation, and your family unlike anything since Israel broke away from Judah. He will bring the king of Assyria upon you!”Matthew 1:18-25 18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord's message through his prophet:23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.'”24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Feeling pulled in a hundred directions? In this message, Pastor Eric Robertson will be sharing how the Wonderful Counselor can cut through all of the noise. King Ahaz (2 Kings 16:1-20) became the King of Judah at 20 years old. The nation of Israel was fractured after Solomon's reign. The Northern Kingdom and their alliances made Judah unstable. Isaiah tells Ahaz and the nation to repent and return to God, then God will deal with the Northern Kingdom (Isaiah 7:8–9). Ahaz refuses and instead creates an unholy alliance with Assyria, using the temple's gold and silver as payment. Assyria helps Ahaz defeat the North, but Ahaz began worshipping Assyrian gods (1 Kings 16:15–19.What does this have to do with Christmas?After Ahaz rejects God's counsel, Isaiah prophesies again:Isaiah 9:6–7For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace... He will reign on David's throne... with justice and righteousness... The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.God will solve not only Israel's problems but the world's problems... with a child. In this series, we will look at the four names of this child and see how the names of Jesus can still save the world and save you.God's Got a PlanWe hear Wonderful Counselor and think Jesus is simply someone we vent to, but what if He is your strategist? "Wonderful Counselor" in Hebrew is:peleʾ—divine, miraculous, beyond comprehensionyoʿetz—counselor or strategistWhy the Confusion?We don't have a handful of trusted voices—we have many, and we're faithful to none.We don't want to get things wrong.We want to control outcomes without owning failures. Result... analysis paralysis. Jesus becomes a voice among many.What are we missing?The issue isn't a lack of strategies but too many, and we aren't committed to the one that matters. Our spiritual lives aren't led by King Jesus but by worldly advisors. The names given to Jesus in Isaiah 9 are names of God. Ahaz's willingness to adopt any counsel made him unable to live out his calling. The way of Jesus is not one way among many—it is the ONLY way.Jesus is not just an Advisor; He is The Advisor. His way works only when we fully commit.Matthew 13:44–45 — We don't add the Gospel; we sell the farm and buy the field.Matthew 16:24–26 — We need single-hearted obedience. God's wisdom often contradicts the world's.When we are faithful to God's counsel, we receive God's outcome.Next Steps: One Way, One Voice, One CounselorPick ONE thing God is dealing with you about and obey.Remove ONE voice that weakens your walk.Give God ONE moment of undivided attention daily.Are you following the Wonderful Counsel of Jesus?

Click here to WATCH LIVE STREAM Worship Service on our Youtube Channel. “Christmas, Part 1” Micah 5:2-5 Micah 4:11-13 Now many nations are assembled against you, saying, “Let her be defiled, and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.” 12 But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor. 13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs bronze; you shall beat in pieces many peoples; and shall devote their gain to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth. Micah 5:1 Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. Micah 5:2-6 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; 6 they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border. · God's gracious promise. Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Matthew 2:3-6 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'” Micah 5:3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. Micah 4:9-10 Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished, that pain seized you like a woman in labor? 10 Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you shall go out from the city and dwell in the open country; you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued; there the Lord will redeem you from the hand of your enemies. Genesis 35:16-19 Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor. 17 And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for you have another son.” 18 And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem) Galatians 4:4-7 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. · God's great King. Micah 5:4-5a And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be their peace. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Deuteronomy 33:12 Of Benjamin he said, “The beloved of the Lord dwells in safety. The High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders.” Ephesians 2:13-14 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. · God's victorious plan. Micah 5:5b-6 When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; 6 they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border. Micah 5:7 Then the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which delay not for a man nor wait for the children of man. Micah 5:8-9 And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep, which, when it goes through, treads down and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver. 9 Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off. Matthew 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell[ shall not prevail against it. Revelation 12:10-11 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Respond | Connect | Next Steps The post Christmas 1 appeared first on Charleston Baptist Church.

Isaiah 8:14-15 confronts the reader with a sobering and unavoidable truth: every person must decide what the Lord will be to them: a Rock of refuge or a Rock of offense. As Isaiah speaks to Judah in a time of national panic, political scheming, and spiritual drifting, he announces that the crisis before them is not merely geopolitical but profoundly theological. The people are scrambling for alliances, leaning on Assyria for protection, and embracing conspiratorial fears rather than trusting the Lord. Into this climate of anxiety, the prophet declares that God Himself will become the dividing line of the nation. To those who fear Him, He is a sanctuary—a place of stability when everything else collapses. But to those who resist Him, He becomes a stone in their path, a rock that causes them to trip and be shattered. Isaiah shows that God is not simply an option among many; He is the determining reality of their destiny. Whether one finds safety or judgment depends entirely on one's response to Him. This passage sets the stage for a timeless truth: God's presence is either the believer's greatest protection or the unbeliever's greatest peril, and how a person relates to the Rock reveals the actual condition of the heart.

Nahum is the sequel to the book of Jonah. Assyria, whose capital was Nineveh, was exceptionally bloodthirsty and evil. The repentance there under Jonah was unprecedented and never repeated anywhere. God used Nahum to predict the total destruction of the city which returned to wickedness: Nahum 1:1 (LSB): "The oracle of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite." From the few things Nahum writes which allow us to zero in on the timing, it appears it was only 20 to 50 years from Nahum's prophecy until the total destruction of Nineveh. There's nothing complicated in Nahum, just the sober and straightforward word from God that He was going to judge the evil nation Assyria and her capital Nineveh for idolatry and cruelty. The repentance of the Ninevites was genuine–Jesus Himself said so. But alas, as majestic as was the glory of God's grace showered upon Nineveh in the days of Jonah, genuine faith in the true God waned in the following generations. Old patterns resurfaced. Assyria crumbled from within because they spurned God and forfeited His blessings. It's interesting that God didn't tell Jonah what was ultimately going to happen to Nineveh. God knew all about it, but it wasn't Jonah's place to know. Remember that! Living by faith does not come with details about what's going to happen. You need to seek God's wisdom, make your choices, and trust Him to work through them. God does not owe you explanations. The opening line in the trailer to the movie sequel to Jonah would be "Nahum: God's Vengeance" if not "Nineveh: The Sequel." 1 - Wrath Is Poured Out Like Fire (Ch 1) 2 - Behold, I Am Against You (Ch 2) 3 - Your Wound Is Incurable (Ch 3)

When life leaves us shaken by fear, anxiety, broken promises, sickness, family tensions or financial pressure, can we really trust God to keep His promises? In this sermon, we trace the story of King Ahaz, Israel, Assyria and the coming Messiah, and see how God proves Himself to be a promise-keeping God who gives strength to stand firm in the fight and a word of hope in season. We explore what it means to listen to God's story, not the story in our head, and how Jesus' birth, death and resurrection confirm that every promise of God finds its “Yes” in Him. If you need prayer, we're here for you. Reach out at ⁠www.gatewaybaptist.com.au/prayerNew to faith or returning to Jesus today? We'd love to help you take a next step. Reach out via gtwy.au/online and our team will connect with you.Subscribe for more content to help you grow as a fully devoted follower of Jesus: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GatewayBaptistChurchAus?sub_confirmation=1Key ScripturesIsaiah 7:1–17 Isaiah 40:28–31Galatians 6:9Micah 6:8Matthew 1:18–23 John 10:27 Hebrews 10:23________________________Gateway Baptist Church meets across six locations in South-East Queensland and online.For over 90 years, we've been committed to guiding people to become fully devoted followers of Jesus.Learn more about us at ⁠https://gatewaybaptist.com.au⁠ or join us on Sundays at ⁠gtwy.au/live#HopeInTheDark #JesusSaves #FaithInTheStorm #GatewayBaptist #Gospel #Salvation #Jesus #Faith #Christian #Church #Churchonline #GatewayOnline #JasonElsmore

Like Jonah before him, the prophet Nahum preaches devastation and ruin for Ninevah, the capital of Assyria, a place of unparalleled power and wealth. Though they thought themselves to be secure from danger, their downfall came after nearby rivers flooded the city and destroyed part of the city wall, allowing Babylon to enter easily and set it ablaze. Later in Habakkuk, the prophet of the same name is recorded speaking to the Lord on behalf of his people. He openly and honestly struggles with understanding why God would allow injustice to prevail. By his conversation with the Lord, we are reminded of the sovereign power and authority of God, who calls the righteous to live by faith.Nahum 1 - 1:15 . Nahum 2 - 4:27 . Nahum 3 - 7:20 . Habakkuk 1 - 12:54 . Habakkuk 2 - 16:20 . Habakkuk 3 - 20:55 . Psalm 149 - 25:02 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

When did Assyria invade Israel? Come Bible Study WITH ME through 2 Kings 17 and ask all the questions!

This chapter marks a transition, as the prophet shifts his attention from Israel to the nations. The Lord has sworn to judge the nations for their unbelief. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss Isaiah 13–14.

Sargon II of Assyria faces a crisis of legitimacy after a humiliating defeat, but transforms potential disaster into triumph through military genius and calculated brutality. This episode chronicles his desperate 720 BCE campaign from Mesopotamia to the Levant, where he perfects combined arms warfare and decimates Samaria so thoroughly that ten tribes of Israel vanish from history.Following his controversial rise to power, Sargon must prove divine favor through victory or lose everything. Watch as he masters siege warfare with unprecedented tactical sophistication, deploying battering rams under coordinated covering fire to crack fortress walls that stymied his predecessors. His lightning campaign against Yahu-Bihdi's coalition demonstrates the Assyrian war machine at peak efficiency—mass deportations, public flayings, and systematic urban destruction become instruments of imperial control.The episode explores Sargon's subsequent campaigns along Assyria's contested frontiers, from the fragmenting Mannean kingdom in the Zagros Mountains to rebellious Tabal under Phrygian influence. Detailed correspondence reveals the mechanics of ancient border warfare, including an elaborate ruse involving fake fortress construction to ambush Urartian raiders. We examine how Sargon manipulates succession crises, deploys intelligence networks, and uses overwhelming force—sometimes fielding armies larger than entire city populations—to maintain imperial dominance against Urartu, Phrygia, and internal dissent.The narrative culminates with the mysterious fall of Carchemish, the last Neo-Hittite vassal, whose wealth funds Sargon's most ambitious project yet: a new capital city that will bear both his glory and an ominous curse.I am also doing daily history facts again, at least until I run out of time again. You can find Oldest Stories daily on Tiktok and Youtube Shorts.If you like the show, consider sharing with your friends, leaving a like, subscribing, or even supporting financially:Buy the Oldest Stories books: https://a.co/d/7Wn4jhSDonate here: https://oldeststories.net/or on patreon: https://patreon.com/JamesBleckleyor on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCG2tPxnHNNvMd0VrInekaA/joinYoutube and Patreon members get access to bonus content about Egyptian culture and myths.

“The Lord is a jealous God, filled with vengeance and rage. He takes revenge on all who oppose him and continues to rage against his enemies! The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished.” - Nahum 1:2-3The book of Nahum, the 34th book of the Old Testament, is somewhat a companion to Jonah. When we read Jonah, we saw God send Jonah to Nineveh to repent of their ways and, what do you know, they did! Well Nahum picks up a little while later and we see Nineveh has gone back to their old ways and Nahum is now foretelling God's judgment on Assyria and its capitol, Nineveh. Nahum isn't long, it's only three chapters, so you may be wondering, “How on earth is this episode on Nahum an hour and twenty minutes long?” Don't let Nahum's length fool you - it is an incredibly rich portrait of who God is and, specifically, his relationship to evil. To help us navigate the book of Nahum is Dr. Thomas Renz, Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Oak Hill Theological College in London and author of a commentary on Nahum. In this conversation, Dr. Renz takes us deep in the heart of Nahum - I reckon you can't get a better overview of this book anywhere else. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 450 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Subscribe to the Doable Discipleship podcast at Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doable-discipleship/id1240966935) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zc9nuwQZOLadbFCZCmZ1V)Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: Navigating the Bible: Micah - https://youtu.be/Tcm3HykhkS8Navigating the Bible: Jonah - https://youtu.be/PxhIyhLSgJQNavigating the Bible: Obadiah - https://youtu.be/jB6W-TM5Y-oNavigating the Bible: Amos - https://youtu.be/8DqVHu7leDUNavigating the Bible: Joel - https://youtu.be/Ilg6r300q4UNavigating the Bible: Hosea - https://youtu.be/nWZ4TuAUSRQNavigating the Bible: Daniel - https://youtu.be/bnQ-PioWxfgNavigating the Bible: Ezekiel - https://youtu.be/hlg6gBYxqsgNavigating the Bible: Lamentations - https://youtu.be/6rrizlXeYXENavigating the Bible: Jeremiah - https://youtu.be/lXPjWl8PdRkNavigating the Bible: Isaiah - https://youtu.be/NZJLaPkgEgsNavigating the Bible: Song of Songs - https://youtu.be/Sg0CYlNBVMgNavigating the Bible: Ecclesiastes - https://youtu.be/-Wr7LCh8F9ENavigating the Bible: Proverbs - https://youtu.be/DytRT5AsZg8Navigating the Bible: Psalms - https://youtu.be/oZeesooAYUINavigating the Bible: Job - https://youtu.be/14jaf2T1eCQNavigating the Bible: Esther - https://youtu.be/7RZ7ATWQZucNavigating the Bible: Nehemiah - https://youtu.be/Gok4WDgwn5INavigating the Bible: Ezra - https://youtu.be/aBC0nEjYeyoNavigating the Bible: 2 Chronicles - https://youtu.be/OG3rHTgMgEINavigating the Bible: 1 Chronicles - https://youtu.be/lQ_Qc4zbfgANavigating the Bible: 2 Kings - https://youtu.be/04q9gDhBKTkNavigating the Bible: 1 Kings - https://youtu.be/aS-KoeQXl2kNavigating the Bible: 2 Samuel - https://youtu.be/ZbpafGgOW7cNavigating the Bible: 1 Samuel - https://youtu.be/lY8wPElSFMYNavigating the Bible: Rute - https://youtu.be/YaH-t-ZzTaMNavigating the Bible: Judges - https://youtu.be/qNGcOf2o0NUNavigating the Bible: Joshua - https://youtu.be/hF28aThBtFsNavigating the Bible: Deuteronomy - https://youtu.be/HzmNgPOM4zUNavigating the Bible: Numbers - https://youtu.be/H1HO6V9HDxsNavigating the Bible: Leviticus - https://youtu.be/08RhDCXYex4Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3MNavigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasAInspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Thoughts on the Bible Readings December 3rd (Job 3, 4; Jonah 4; Hebrews 10)The initial suffering of Job is intensified in chapters 3-41 as we are told of his education. Following the drift of the conversations and the unfolding drama in Job can be complex. Recommended reading to assist the above is available from CSSS -"The Education of Job" by David Baird. In chapter 3 Job is in such despair that he mourns his birth. Surely many of us have been there at some time in our life, but we should never lose hope - when we cannot help ourselves, God can and is willing and waiting for us to commit ourselves to Him in continual prayer. If it wasn't for the pathetic situation Job found himself in, the imagery and poetry is magnificent. One after another the metaphors of his tragedy are multiplied. Job 3verses13-19 tell us that in death people are unconscious and are as though they had never existed. From verses 20-26 the question is asked, "Would it have been better to have never existed, than to be enlightened and find oneself in the condition that Job now found himself?" Job 4 is about the response of Eliphaz who most likely was the eldest of Job's friends. The great error of his discourse that was widely believed at this time was, that God pays back people swiftly for their actions - right, or wrong. It is known as the doctrine of exact retribution. So, the argument of Eliphaz is that the innocent never suffer. And since you, Job, are suffering you must be guilty. Verse 7 is the key to Eliphaz's discourse. From verse 8 to the chapter's end Eliphaz says, this is what I have found in my experience. The record of the book of Job is not an endorsement of the beliefs of any of the friends. It is simply a record of what was said among them. In chapter 4 several of Eliphaz's views supposed spiritual views on the spiritual world are found to be false.Jonah 4 concludes the book with the mission, which God gave him, being accomplished. Yet Yahweh must still teach the prophet some important lessons. In those lessons we find a great contrast between our God's compassion and the prophet's anger. Jonah, still the great patriot who knew what God would bring upon guilty Israel through the Assyrians, said to his Sovereign, I should not have done what you asked, since You are true to Your revealed character. God now will re-educate His prophet. Jonah left the city in a bad mood brooding on what would follow. The temperature intensely rose and Jonah's misery increased. And so, Yahweh in His kindness caused a gourd grow to rapidly and shade the prophet. Jonah was thankful for this. But then, just as quickly a grub destroyed the gourd. Jonah was outraged and complained to God, who told the prophet that the Almighty had worked two miracles, as was His right, to teach Jonah that Assyria was God's and did not belong to the prophet. Even the animals of Nineveh were under God's care. Today, the modern city of Mosul is built on the site of ancient Nineveh. The Taliban constructed massive tunnels beneath the city. And though there is no record of where Jonah went, or what he did, after the book's end, archaeologists have found beneath the city of Nineveh a tomb with the inscription, "Nabi Yonas" (i.e. the prophet Jonah). So, it appears the lessons were learnt and the prophet continued to labour preaching God's Word to the Assyrians.

He was a Galilean of the tribe of Simeon. The Old Testament book that bears his name foretells the destruction of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, by the Medes, and the restoration of the Kingdom of Judah; all of this came to pass. Nahum is counted as the seventh of the Minor Prophets. He reposed in peace. His name means 'consolation' or 'repose.'   Five of the Prophets (Nahum, Habbakuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, and Daniel) are commemorated in December. At one time a Feast of the Twelve Prophets was celebrated on December 4 at the Church of the Resurrection, but this feast is no longer on the calendar. The days leading up to Christ's Nativity contain many commemorations of the faithful remnant of Israel, all of whose hopes were fulfilled in the birth of the Messiah.

He was a Galilean of the tribe of Simeon. The Old Testament book that bears his name foretells the destruction of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, by the Medes, and the restoration of the Kingdom of Judah; all of this came to pass. Nahum is counted as the seventh of the Minor Prophets. He reposed in peace. His name means 'consolation' or 'repose.'   Five of the Prophets (Nahum, Habbakuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, and Daniel) are commemorated in December. At one time a Feast of the Twelve Prophets was celebrated on December 4 at the Church of the Resurrection, but this feast is no longer on the calendar. The days leading up to Christ's Nativity contain many commemorations of the faithful remnant of Israel, all of whose hopes were fulfilled in the birth of the Messiah.

Genesis 2: 5-16; 3: 8-15 ESV Genesis 2: 5-165 When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, 6 and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— 7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.10 A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Cush. 14 And the name of the third river is the Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,Genesis 3: 8-158 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”14 The Lord God said to the serpent,“Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field;on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring;he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

We like to plan. But, oftentimes, our planning reflects a desire to be in control of our lives rather than giving control to God. This is the exact spot King Ahaz finds himself in Isaiah 7. Israel and Aram have come against him, and rather than asking the Lord for his help, he has already made plans to go to Assyria for help. It's in Ahaz's example and Isaiah's prophetic sign that we see our sinful rebellion requires Christ to be the present and sovereign king.

Brandon Fisher | Nov 30 2025 In a time when everything felt dark and uncertain—when war loomed, morality was crumbling, and hope seemed lost—God offered a promise that still speaks to us today. The people of Judah, led by King Ahaz, were placing their trust in the wrong things, hoping that Assyria could save them. But through Isaiah, God pointed them to the true source of hope: a coming Messiah. Jesus would be the light to break through the darkness, the joy that lifts sorrow, and the Savior who breaks the chains of bondage. He would come not just to rescue, but to reign—restoring us to God, making all things right, and establishing a kingdom of peace that will never end. In our own times of darkness or uncertainty, this same Jesus is our unshakable hope as we trust in him and wait for his return.

The story opens in the thick of fear: Judah is staring down Assyria, a king is hedging his bets, and the air feels heavy with failure. Then Isaiah drops a word that turns the whole room—nevertheless. From that hinge, we trace how a land soaked in gloom hears the unthinkable promise of a Child who will carry the government, right wrongs with justice and righteousness, and bring a peace that doesn't crack under pressure.We walk through Isaiah 9:1–7 with fresh eyes, connecting the prophecy to its fulfillment in the life of Jesus. Galilee's shame becomes the stage for glory. Bethlehem anchors the promise in David's line. The titles are not poetry for greeting cards; they are the concrete credentials of a Savior who is both transcendent and near: Wonderful Counselor for confused minds, Mighty God for real threats, Everlasting Father for restless hearts, Prince of Peace for fractured homes and nations. Along the way, we draw a line to John's language of light—bold, unquenchable, personal—and we talk about what it means for light to confront darkness in our habits, systems, and hopes.This Advent, we invite you to practice stubborn hope. Name the darkness honestly, then cling to the God who writes himself into the story and breaks the yoke we thought we had to carry. If you need wisdom, he counsels. If you face fear, he fights. If you long for belonging, he fathers. If your world feels divided, he makes peace. The zeal of the Lord will do this is not a wish; it's a guarantee signed by God. Join us, share this message with someone who needs light, and if it helps you, leave a rating and review so others can find the hope you found today.

Even the greatest heroes of faith are still subject to human weakness. In this episode, Dr. John Neufeld examines King Hezekiah—one of Judah's most godly kings—who after being miraculously healed and witnessing incredible deliverance from Assyria, stumbles into pride when Babylonian envoys visit Jerusalem. Dr. Neufeld reminds us that sin's consequences can't always be undone, and that even faithful leaders must guard against complacency until their mission is complete.The Grand Vision: God's Story Through Isaiah: Isaiah is the second-most quoted book in the New Testament, yet many Christians have never studied it deeply. In this 10-message series, Dr. John guides listeners through this essential prophetic book, exploring Isaiah's 50-year ministry during one of Israel's most turbulent periods. From temple visions to confrontations with kings, from oracles against nations to prophecies of the coming Messiah, Isaiah reveals God's sovereignty over all history and His plan for the world through Jesus Christ.

Israel territory filled with non-Jews. The reign of Hezekiah challenged by Assyria. His prayer, Isaiah's answer from God.

What would the world look like under perfect leadership? In this episode, Dr. John Neufeld examines Isaiah's vision of the coming Messiah's reign, contrasting foolish human leadership with the righteous rule of Christ. Through the final woes against Judah and Assyria, Isaiah reveals that the greatest crisis any nation faces is not military threats or economic troubles, but encountering their Creator in judgment. Yet beyond judgment lies hope—a future where the Messiah reigns from Jerusalem, bringing justice, peace, and restoration to a broken world.The Grand Vision: God's Story Through Isaiah: Isaiah is the second-most quoted book in the New Testament, yet many Christians have never studied it deeply. In this 10-message series, Dr. John guides listeners through this essential prophetic book, exploring Isaiah's 50-year ministry during one of Israel's most turbulent periods. From temple visions to confrontations with kings, from oracles against nations to prophecies of the coming Messiah, Isaiah reveals God's sovereignty over all history and His plan for the world through Jesus Christ.

Listen all the way to the end for a special musical feature about Sargon II. This episode explores one of the most pivotal and least understood turning points in Neo-Assyrian history, examining the rise of a king whose origins, motives, and very name remain contested even after a century of scholarship. These are the Oldest Stories, available at OldestStories.net.In 722 BCE, Sargon II seized the Assyrian throne and entered an eighteen-year reign that forms the best-documented era of ancient Mesopotamian history. Yet for all his inscriptions and annals, Sargon himself remains an enigma. His parentage, early career, accession, and the meaning of his throne name are questions that continue to challenge scholars of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. This episode delves deeply into the theories surrounding his origins, including newly translated inscriptions from Assur, shifting interpretations of his name from Sharru-Kenu to Sharru-Ukin, and the implications of his apparent disinterest in his own ancestry. From the ideological weight of throne names to the complexities of logosyllabic Akkadian spelling, we explore how philology, archaeology, and political history intersect to shape our understanding of this king.We also follow Sargon into the disastrous opening months of his reign: the unclear succession, the purge of thousands of internal opponents, the immediate loss of Babylon to Marduk-Apla-Iddina, the Levantine revolts, and the devastating defeat near Der at the hands of the Elamites. These events set the stage for a king on the brink of failure, navigating accusations of ill-omen, political chaos, and the danger of being overthrown before his first year had even ended. Yet they also reveal the moment in which Sargon's extraordinary administrative and logistical genius emerges, allowing him to rescue his reign and initiate the Sargonid Golden Age.Along the way, the episode examines the broader historical context of Chaldean and Elamite politics, Babylonian ritual ideology, the transformation of Assyrian year-dating from limmu officials to palu counts, and the evolving religious presentation of Assur's kingship. It traces the subtle theological and political shifts that distinguish Sargon from his predecessors, as well as the early strategic failures and last-minute decisions that determine the fate of the empire. The result is a comprehensive look at one of the most complex figures of the ancient Near East and the precarious moment at which Assyria's future hung in the balance.If you enjoy the episode, consider supporting the show on Patreon, becoming a YouTube member, or donating directly at OldestStories.net. Your support truly helps this project grow. Stay tuned through the end for the Sargon II musical piece, and subscribe to follow Sargon's campaigns as the imperial war machine finally roars to life in the next installment.I am also doing daily history facts again, at least until I run out of time again. You can find Oldest Stories daily on Tiktok and Youtube Shorts.If you like the show, consider sharing with your friends, leaving a like, subscribing, or even supporting financially:Buy the Oldest Stories books: https://a.co/d/7Wn4jhSDonate here: https://oldeststories.net/or on patreon: https://patreon.com/JamesBleckleyor on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCG2tPxnHNNvMd0VrInekaA/joinYoutube and Patreon members get access to bonus content about Egyptian culture and myths.

Philemon IntroductionThanks to everyone who supports TMBH at patreon.com/thetmbhpodcastYou're the reason we can all do this together!Discuss the episode hereMusic by Jeff Foote

Sam Shamoun gives a powerful lesson on the Assyrian people through biblical history, explaining how God judges nations for sin yet preserves those who turn back to Him. He connects prophecy, Israel's exile, and Assyria's survival as proof of divine mercy, arguing their endurance is a sign that Christ never abandoned them.

In Isaiah 10, there's an axe of judgment wielded against a "godless nation." That axe is Assyria; the godless nation is Judah. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss.