Podcasts about babylonians

Fr. Mike walks us through the fall of Jerusalem, and the intense lament of Jeremiah as he watches the people of Israel fall into captivity. He also introduces us to the Prophet Daniel, and his incredible gift of discerning dreams and proclaiming God's Word. Today's readings are Jeremiah 20-21, Daniel 1-2, and Proverbs 15:25-28. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 37–39; 2 John Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this August 25th episode, Hunter leads us through Jeremiah 37–39 and the letter of 2 John. In Jeremiah, Jerusalem is surrounded by the Babylonian army while King Zedekiah struggles between fear, pride, and the truth God speaks through the prophet. Although Zedekiah repeatedly seeks Jeremiah's counsel, he remains unwilling to trust and obey what he hears. His fear of others and his desire to preserve his position eventually cost him his freedom, his kingdom, and even his sight. Then, in 2 John, we hear an invitation to walk in truth and love. John reminds us that the life of Christ is not shaped by fear, pride, or anxious control, but by remaining rooted in the love and teaching of Jesus. Today's devotion invites us to examine the voices guiding our lives. Pride and fear can leave us spiritually blind and imprisoned, but the love of God opens our eyes, frees our hearts, and enables us to walk in mercy, grace, and truth. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Blinded by pride and fear, Zedekiah's fate stands as a stark warning for us all. He could not hear or see the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah. Instead, he clung tightly to his own life, his position, and his fears. In the end, everything he was so desperate to avoid came to pass. His city fell, his freedom was taken, and his eyes were put out. He became a prisoner and was led away to Babylon, just as Jeremiah had faithfully warned him. Pride and fear make harsh and cruel masters. Zedekiah's story is one of gradually yielding himself to their grip. Again and again, he hears the truth, but he cannot bring himself to trust it. He wants Jeremiah's counsel, but he is afraid of what others will think. He wants deliverance, but he is unwilling to surrender control. He wants another outcome, but he cannot release the very things that are leading him toward destruction. When pride and fear rule within us, we also begin to lose our sight. We become prisoners of our own anxious striving, our need to control, our fear of being exposed, and our determination to be right. Pride tells us that we must preserve ourselves. Fear tells us that surrender is too dangerous. Together, they can make us deaf to the voice of God and blind to the path of life that is directly in front of us. But in today's reading from 2 John, we hear another way. It is a way marked by grace, mercy, truth, and love. John invites us to remain in the teaching of Christ and to walk in love. He reminds us to be diligent so that we do not lose what we have received. This is not a call to anxious religious striving. It is an invitation to remain rooted in the profound love God has for us and to let that love shape every step we take. It is in God's love that we find sight. It is in God's love that we find freedom. It is in God's love that we discover the truth about God, ourselves, and one another. As we root ourselves in the gospel, release our fears, and let go of our pride, we are freed from the blindness that once held us captive. We begin to see more clearly. We taste a deeper freedom. We become capable of receiving and sharing the love of Christ. Zedekiah clung tightly to his position and lost everything. Jesus shows us another way. He empties himself, gives himself away, and reveals that true life is found not in grasping but in surrender, not in control but in trust, and not in pride but in self-giving love. So what voice will guide you today? Will it be fear? Will it be pride? Or will it be the voice of the One who is grace, mercy, truth, and love? May we recognize and reject the voices of pride and fear in our lives. May we walk in God's love, see with clear eyes, and experience the fullness of mercy and grace that is ours in Christ. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

God Is Shaking His Church: Judgment, Restoration & the Return to Biblical Foundations | KIB 546 Kingdom Intelligence Briefing DESCRIPTION Is the shaking in the Church merely destruction—or could God be using judgment to prepare His people for restoration? In KIB 546, Dr. Michael Lake and Mary Lou Lake examine a powerful biblical pattern: when God's covenant people depart from His established foundations, judgment can become an instrument of restoration. Scripture repeatedly reveals a progression: ·      God establishes His order. ·      Mixture and compromise enter. ·      Prophetic warnings are given. ·      Repentance is resisted. ·      Judgment exposes and removes what is false. ·      A faithful remnant returns to covenant. ·      God restores upon the foundation He originally established. From the Babylonian exile and the rebuilding described in Ezra, to Jeremiah, Haggai, Josiah, Hebrews, Revelation, and the New Testament Church, the pattern remains remarkably consistent. Judgment does not necessarily mean that God has abandoned His people. His discipline can demonstrate precisely the opposite. Hebrews 12:6 teaches that the Lord disciplines those whom He loves. Dr. Lake explains why God may have to dismantle spiritual corruption, false doctrine, religious entertainment, prosperity thinking, celebrity culture, pagan mixture, and man-made traditions before genuine restoration can occur. The question for the remnant is not simply:  "God, will You revive what we have built?" A more important prayer may be:  "Father, remove everything we have built that prevents us from becoming what You intended." This episode examines the biblical sequence of judgment, remembrance, repentance, return, obedience, holiness, and restoration—and why understanding that process may be critical for the days ahead. God is not calling His people to invent another Christianity. He is calling His people back to the foundation. ·      Christ has not moved. ·      The Word has not changed. ·      The Kingdom cannot be shaken. The shaking reveals what God never built, so what He established can be seen clearly again. The remnant must return to Christ, biblical authority, holiness, obedience, covenant faithfulness, prayer, sound doctrine, the fear of the Lord, and the Holy Spirit's leadership. "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken." — Hebrews 12:28 KEY SCRIPTURES DISCUSSED Jeremiah 30:11 Jeremiah 1:10 Jeremiah 7:4 Jeremiah 29:10–14 Deuteronomy 30:1–3 Isaiah 28:16 1 Corinthians 3:11–13 Haggai 1:5–9 2 Kings 22:11 2 Kings 23 Hebrews 12:5–11 Hebrews 12:26–28 Revelation 2:4–5 Revelation 3:19 1 Peter 4:17 Ezekiel 9:6 Isaiah 10:20–21 Zephaniah 3:12–13 John 15:2 CALL TO ACTION The time has come for believers to examine everything by the Word of God. Ask the Father to reveal anything in your life that has been built upon human tradition, cultural compromise, Babylonian thinking, or a false spiritual foundation. Choose now to cooperate with God's restoration process. ·      Return to His Word. ·      Return to holiness. ·      Return to obedience. ·      Return to covenant faithfulness. ·      Return to Christ. If this teaching strengthens you, please LIKE this video, SUBSCRIBE to Biblical Life TV, and SHARE this episode with believers who need to understand what may be happening in the Church during this season of shaking. Your engagement helps this message reach members of the remnant who may be searching for answers. Thank you to every friend and partner who faithfully stands with Biblical Life TV. Together, we are helping prepare and strengthen the remnant. TIMELINE / YOUTUBE CHAPTERS 00:00 — Biblical Life TV: Empowering the Remnant 01:31 — Welcome to Kingdom Intelligence Briefing 546 02:39 — Are We Coming Out of Babylonian Captivity? 05:33 — Understanding the Process of Judgment and Restoration 06:26 — Why Judgment Is Necessary in Covenant 08:00 — False Foundations, Compromise and Prophetic Warnings 10:00 — False Prophets and Religious Entertainment 13:30 — Judgment Can Be Corrective, Not Merely Destructive 14:00 — Jeremiah 30:11: God Disciplines His Covenant People 15:54 — God Is Bringing His People Back to Biblical Standards 17:00 — Jeremiah 1:10: God Tears Down Before He Rebuilds 19:00 — Pagan Mixture and End-Time Deception 22:09 — Babylonian Exile as Judgment and Purification 24:06 — False Confidence in Religious Institutions 25:00 — Jeremiah 29: Restoration After Exile 28:55 — Recognizing Mixture Within Modern Christianity 31:46 — SHUV: Return, Restore and Come Back to God 33:40 — Deuteronomy 30 and the Covenant Pattern of Return 36:32 — Judge Yourself Before Judgment Comes 37:45 — Judgment, Remembrance, Return, Obedience and Restoration 38:51 — Biblical Repentance Is Essential 40:50 — Christ Is the Only True Foundation 43:15 — Holy Fire Versus Strange Fire 46:08 — Haggai: When God Corrects Our Priorities 48:15 — Prosperity Begins With Covenant Faithfulness 49:00 — Josiah Rediscovers the Word of God 51:09 — Removing Idolatry Before Restoring Biblical Worship 54:21 — Judging Everything by the Word 57:45 — Build Your Life Upon the Written Word 58:44 — Rediscover the Word and Remove the Idols 01:01:19 — Christ, the True Cornerstone 01:02:23 — Hebrews 12: Discipline Produces Holiness 01:03:20 — Jesus Judges His Church in Revelation 01:04:40 — Judgment Begins at the House of God 01:05:30 — The Great Shaking of Hebrews 12 01:07:58 — God Reveals What Cannot Be Shaken 01:08:30 — Judgment Produces a Faithful Remnant 01:10:00 — Revival Versus Biblical Restoration 01:12:58 — A Different Prayer for the Church 01:13:52 — A Prophetic Framework for the Modern Church 01:15:20 — Christ and His Kingdom Have Not Moved 01:16:02 — Prayer: Remove Everything That Is Not of God 01:17:35 — Warning Against Financial Manipulation in Ministry 01:18:00 — Standing Through the Present Spiritual Attacks 01:20:26 — Believe God for Miracles During the Shaking 01:20:57 — Download This Week's KIB Study Guide

How did one Babylonian priest's retirement change the course of astrological history?This Sunday tune in as Liv cover's a topic you may be currently experiencing or will soon. Your Saturn Return. Every 29.5 years this 'great cosmic teacher' returns to the same spot in the cosmos as the day you were born. Marking a season which invites karmic change in your life. Listen along as Liv covers the basic origins of astrology as we know it, followed by influential people who have helped to mold the idea of our Saturn Returns, ending with what this spiritual experience means for you and when to mark your calendars. Listen to The Maiden, The Mother, and The Crone: A Cozy Spiritual Conversation on Youtube - https://youtu.be/sKz6okLhK-Y?si=hAOGaSZXdo2Aa_e8SEND IN YOUR PARANORMAL STORIES HERE: https://www.metapsyckicks.com/extrasFOR MORE CHECK OUT THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@MetaPsycKicksOR READ THE BLOG: https://www.metapsyckicks.com/journalOR JOIN PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/metapsyckicks——-BOOK A PSYCHIC MEDIUM READING:Olivia the Medium: https://www.metapsyckicks.com/liv-readings-----CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro2:34 - Saturn Return Defined5:17 - Origins of Astrology8:29 - Berossus: Backstory of a Priest11:26 - Quick Recap. 112:12 - Tetrabiblios & Claudius Ptolemy13:38 - Quick Recap. 215:37 - Saturn Returns: A Breakdown17:31 - Who Coined 'Saturn Return'?25:39 - Saturn & World History28:17 - Saturn's 3 Returns & You31:54 - Growth & Karma35:41 - Thanks for Listening-----RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS:YouTube Setup ►► https://kit.co/metapsyckicks/meta-psyckicks-youtube-setupPodcast Setup ►► https://kit.co/metapsyckicks/meta-psyckicks-podcasting-setupOther Divination Tools: ►► https://kit.co/metapsyckicks/other-divination-toolsDISCLAIMER: This description might contain affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. While this channel may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in NO WAY obligated to use these links. Thank you for your support!-----WHAT ARE YOUR PSYCHIC ABILITIES QUIZ: https://www.metapsyckicks.com/extrasSEND IN YOUR PARANORMAL STORIES HERE: https://www.metapsyckicks.com/extrasWEBSITE AND BLOG:www.metapsyckicks.comEMAIL: metapsyckicks@gmail.com——-SAY HI ON SOCIAL:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Np1K0QH8e-EDHhIxX-FaAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/metapsyckicksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@metapsyckicks?lang=enOlivia The Medium:Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/oliviathemedium/Threads -https://www.threads.net/@oliviathemedium?invite=4Email - oliviathemedium@gmail.com——-Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_astrologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_astrologyhttps://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/history-of-horoscopeshttps://www.britannica.com/summary/astrologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_astrologyhttps://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/berossus-babylonian-4th-3rd-century-priest-chronicler-whose-work-has-some-bearing-on-iranian-history/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrabibloshttps://starsine.medium.com/saturn-in-astrology-the-great-teacher-of-time-and-growth-8e906674144chttps://pepsic.bvsalud.org/pdf/jung/v40n1/en_02.pdfhttps://www.chani.com/astro-education/saturn-return#Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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The good news is that God specializes in restoring and rebuilding lives. Millions of people have experienced His grace and power. They have seen God pick them up out of the ruins and turn their lives around.Main Points:1. Today there are many whose lives are falling apart. Their marriages have been destroyed. There is conflict and difficulty within the family relationships.  Many have experienced collapse due to sin and rebellion against God. They have left behind a trail of mistakes, failures, and poor decisions. Others battle addictions and brokenness. Where there was once health and vitality, there is now rubble and debris.2. Maybe you need God's restoration power in your life and you wonder where to start? How do you begin to pick up the pieces of a life that has been broken apart? The answer is to follow the example of Ezra. Rebuild the altar. 3. With humility, rebuild the altar in your life. No, not a physical altar or a piece of furniture where you would kneel to pray. Building an altar means you are turning to God for help. You are establishing a relationship with God. You are reaching out in prayer to a God of grace. He's a God who wants to restore.Today's Scripture Verses:2 Kings 25:1,9 - “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. He set fire to the temple of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down. The whole Babylonian army under the commander of the imperial guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem.”Ezra 3:3 - “Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

SummaryBenjamin Lee explores the message of Haggai, emphasizing the importance of self-examination, prioritizing God's work, and trusting in God's presence for spiritual renewal.Key TopicsThe significance of the prophet Haggai and his messageThe importance of self-examination and prioritizing God's workThe role of obedience and repentance in spiritual renewalGod's faithfulness in fulfilling promises to His peopleThe relevance of Haggai's message for personal and communal faithChapters00:00 Introduction to Haggai and its relevance01:49 The messenger of the Lord and his significance04:11 Historical context: Return from Babylonian captivity05:58 The rebuilding of the temple and its challenges08:52 God's call: Consider your ways12:12 The importance of obedience and immediate response15:06 The role of reflection and prioritizing God's work17:58 God's promises fulfilled and their relevance today20:50 The assurance of God's presence and encouragement24:03 The importance of preaching God's word and repentance27:00 Conclusion: Applying Haggai's lessons to our livesConnect with Me! Newsletter and Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://icandopodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blogs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://benjaminlee.blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://benjaminlee.blog/books-2/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apparel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://benjaminlee.blog/resources/#!/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@icandopodcast?si=h9-JkT27jwynZZ-X

In this episode I propose a new theory about the origins of the so-called Chaldean order of the planets, as well as the assignment of the seven traditional planets to the days of the week. In ancient times, a specific sequence of the planets arose known as the order of the seven-zoned sphere, which goes: Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. In modern times, this is often called the "Chaldean order", because the 5th-century CE writer Macrobius referred to it as the "system of the Chaldeans." For a long time, it was mistakenly thought that this meant it came from ancient Babylonian or Mesopotamian astrologers, but we now know there is no trace of it in that tradition. In Macrobius's era, the word "Chaldean" had simply become a generic term for "astrologer", so when he refers to it like this, what he really means is "the system of the astrologers." So, where did this system come from, and when was it introduced? While historians have long known that this planetary order was popularized during the Hellenistic era, the standard assumption has been that it was first developed by astronomers, or Pythagoreans, or some other group, and then only later incorporated into astrology. In some academic sources this shift, which radically moved the Sun to the center of the planets, is notably glossed over, largely because scholars don't really know where it came from or how it happened. In this lecture, I propose the exact opposite: that this system was actually first popularized, and potentially even invented, by astrologers in Egypt in the 2nd century BCE, starting with the group of texts Hermetic surrounding Nechepso and Petosiris. From the 2nd century BCE forward, this order became widely adopted across different scientific, philosophical, and religious traditions, eventually becoming the underlying rationale for the names of the seven days of the week. My primary goals with this episode are to: 1) Demonstrate that this planetary order originated with the astrologers working in Egypt in the 2nd century BCE. 2) Demonstrate that the days of the week which are derived from it also may have originated with these same astrologers in Egypt during that same time period. This is episode 544 of The Astrology Podcast. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction00:07:36 Early Planetary Orders00:15:58 Plato's Order00:22:32 Eratosthenes & The Hellenistic Shift00:27:00 The Seven-Zoned Sphere00:39:57 Nechepso and Petosiris00:51:33 The Seven-Zoned Sphere as a Conceptual Construct00:52:00 The Hermetic Conceptual Constructs01:24:43 Stoic Philosophy & The Heart01:44:26 Supposed Pythagorean Connection01:48:54 Planetary Significations Derived from the Seven-Zoned Sphere02:21:22 Decans and Monomoiria02:31:56 Planetary Days and Hours02:58:28 Ptolemy's Cosmological Model03:11:07 Concluding Remarks03:23:28 Credits Watch the Video Version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yIa5eyDdiI - – Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In this Bible Story, we were introduced to Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The three young men are specially chosen out of the Judaen captives to sit under the king as wise men. King Nebuchadnezzar attempts to indoctrinate them into Babylonian ways, however they prove that following the Lord proves to be more useful for human flourishing. This story is inspired by Daniel 1:1-16. Go to https://www.BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Daniel 1:8 from the King James Version.Episode 162: The kingdoms of Israel and Judah had fallen and the men of nobility were taken captive. Among these handsome and well educated men were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. These four feared God and though they were brought into the King's court to be influenced, God used them to skillfully influence the King and his men instead.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.This episode is sponsored by Medi-Share, an innovative health care solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fr. Mike introduces us to the prophet Jeremiah, who is also known as the Prophet of Doom and the Weeping Prophet. He explains what makes Jeremiah different than the other prophets, and encourages us to cling closely to him as we hear about his difficult call. Today's readings are Jeremiah 1, Ezekiel 27, and Proverbs 14:5-8. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

In our last episode, we focused on the time of Solomon's Temple, however that temple met its destruction in 586 BC when the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar destroyed it. Today, we will uncover the history in the 566-year period between its destruction and the rebuilding of the Temple by Herod the Great. And as we travel back in time, are there any artifacts that have been found that support all the historical events that took place? Tune in to find out!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DONATE: https://evidence4faith.org/give/WEBSITE: https://evidence4faith.org/NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/hpazV5BOOKINGS: https://evidence4faith.org/bookings/CONTACT: Evidence 4 Faith, 349 Knights Ave Kewaskum WI 53040 , info@evidence4faith.orgMy goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. - Colossians 2:2-3

Recompense on the Beast and Harlot (1)  (audio) David Eells, 8/12/26 Destruction Comes for Apostate Leadership B. A. - 06/23/2015 (David's notes in red) I dreamed that I found myself in Jerusalem, back in Jesus' day, and I was looking up at the temple (a temple made by man's hands which God does not inhabit). Act.17:24 The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; (Church buildings are not holy, the people must be.) 25 neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 and he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us: 28 for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man. 30 The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commanded men that they should all everywhere repent: 31 inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. There were stone steps leading down from the temple, and on the steps stood Pharisees and Sadducees (Representing those of our day.). I was standing with a crowd of people in an open area a little ways from the temple and the stone steps, and just as I was looking around me in this crowd of people, I saw a man come forward out of the crowd who began to sternly address the men who were standing up (or exalting themselves) on the stone steps of the temple. I knew that the man speaking was Jesus. (Representing those in whom He lives by Word and Spirit in our day.) Mat.23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.  As Jesus began to speak, I began to recognize the “Word” He was speaking to these men, since I had heard these same words before. Here is what I heard: Mat.23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is become so, ye make him twofold more a son of hell than yourselves. When Jesus spoke the first “Woe”, I heard a loud pop-like sound and what sounded like a crackling sound. I looked down upon the stone steps of the temple where these Pharisees and Sadducees were standing, and I noticed a large, deep crack had run right up through the middle of those stone steps, and they were beginning to crack and crumble. I noticed that the deep crack was between the feet of a rather large and extremely overweight man. (This represents the apostate leadership of our day overcome by their own flesh.) 16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, that say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor. Then, when Jesus spoke the second “Woe”, I heard another much louder pop-like sound and more of the crackling sound. I looked around to see where this sound was coming from, and I saw that a large, deep crack had gone all around the temple foundation, and it was cracking up and crumbling as well. (Everything that can be shaken will be.) 17 Ye fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that hath sanctified the gold? 18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, he is a debtor. 19 Ye blind: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 20 He therefore that sweareth by the altar, (The crucified life.) sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 21 And he that sweareth by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 22 And he that sweareth by the heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. 23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law (So tithing is of the law. This is the leaven of the Pharisees Jesus warned about.), justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone. 24 Ye blind guides, that strain out the gnat, and swallow the camel! (Making unimportant things important.) 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full from extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside thereof may become clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and garnish the tombs of the righteous, 30 and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 Wherefore ye witness to yourselves, that ye are sons of them that slew the prophets. 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33 Ye serpents, ye offspring of vipers, how shall ye escape the judgment of hell? 34 Therefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: some of them shall ye kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city: 35 that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem (John said Jerusalem is the Bride but there is a false bride.), that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. (Devoid of God) 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Just as Jesus had finished His Words to these men, the stone steps gave way, and all of those men standing on the crumbling stone steps fell down into a deep pit that had opened up under them. And just after that happened, the entire temple came crashing down on top of them and covered them up. I noticed that from Matthew 23:15 through verse 39, there are “six” woes -- “six” being the number of man. Also, I found it interesting that there is a “Woe” in Mathew 23:23, and the date of this revelation is the 23rd, and 23 means “death”. (This is clearly a reprobation of today's apostate leadership and their fake temples, as Jesus pronounced in His day, and is now a repeat of history.)    The Recompense on the Wicked Anna Stewart - 7/24/25  I dreamed that a few others and I were at a safari ranch. There was a ten-foot-high impenetrable wall of dead-looking grass going around the perimeter of where we were. (“All flesh is as grass,” said Peter, representing the flesh of the beast people, the Dragon devouring in Rev 12. Judgments are spreading over the world from these people.) We were told to get back into our vehicle because the grass was full of lionesses (representing the curse and judgment) just waiting to jump out and grab someone. I wasn't afraid, but I did get back into the vehicle. My father (representing THE Father) was driving the vehicle.  I was in the front passenger seat (the bride), but someone behind me had left their door open. Three times, with authority, I commanded them to “SHUT THE DOOR.” I knew they were primarily endangering themselves, but also putting the rest of us at risk, as well. (The vehicle represents sanctification, and we must all keep our own doors shut, for ourselves, but also for the sake of the body.)  We began to slowly drive down a narrow, one-way dirt road lined by that tall grass. A woman I know, who represents the harlot, was walking alongside us on the left of our vehicle. It wasn't safe to be outside, and she began to nervously knock on the door of the vehicle and say, “Let me in, let me in.”  The woman was not afraid, just slightly nervous, not realizing how very real the danger was. Rom.3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. To my surprise, my father continued driving slowly along, completely ignoring her. I said, “We need to let her in,” but still he didn't stop. Luk.13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence ye are;  Then I saw a huge, fierce-looking male lion (Satan) behind the vehicle on the right side. I said, “In the name of Jesus—” to pray for the woman's safety, but the Lord didn't even allow me to pray. In an instant, without warning, the lion pounced onto the woman, and there was a graphic spray of blood and body parts. It was horrific. I wailed, “Jesus!” Not just for the gore I had just seen, but because I knew that no repentance had happened. Mercy had run out, and there was not so much as a second for her to repent. And now it was too late. Pro.6:15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; On a sudden shall he be broken, and that without remedy. End of dream. I knew the Lord was speaking of this woman as a group of people. What I saw was His recompense that is before Him. Their time had run out. This is a warning, but the apostates this woman represents must confess their sins and run to the Lord now, or they won't escape. Let's continue to pray and believe for them.    Apostates Neglect Their Spiritual Man  Sam Paguaga - 12/10/2012 (David's notes in red) In a dream, I was in a large house with a lot of people around. There seemed to be a lot of rooms and a lot of stuff going on. People were talking and hanging around and doing their own business. I saw my mother (representing the apostate Church we were born from). (In reality, her name is Iris. (Which means “rainbow” in Greek. This could represent grace God wants to give to the Church of all nations.) She had a small child with her who seemed like a kid from a third-world country. He was very dark-skinned (representing her spiritual man in darkness), like from India, wearing worn-out clothes (not putting on the works of Christ). He seemed to be sick, and she didn't seem to be tending to him. (Representing the fruit of the apostate church's spiritual man, which they are not feeding and clothing.) If I had to say, he looked around three years old. (The fruit of their spiritual man is very immature.) My mother then gave him to me. (Those who minister to the mother Church will care for and feed their spiritual man.) I took him to a room, like a toddler room, where I was going to clean him up and put new clothes on him. (Cleanse him from sin and dress him up in the works of Jesus.) When I changed his shirt, I noticed what looked like a tumor on the side of his face by his right ear. (His hearing is under the curse. He hasn't heard truth.) Without a thought, I placed my hand over it and began to pray, “Dear Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, heal him, heal his sickness, in the name of Jesus. Be healed. Be well. Thank You, Lord. God, thank You”. As I began to say, “thank You”, I felt under my hand something like bones cracking. (the bones of the inner ear, representing spiritual hearing) They were going back in place and the tumor was diminishing. (“Faith cometh of hearing and hearing by the Word”.) I continued to thank God. I knew he was being healed, so I left my hand over his face until I was sure he was all healed. (Their face needs healing: 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.) I noticed one of my sons was there looking. (My firstborn, whose name is Eliasaph (“God has increased or added”). We call him Eli.) I told him, “Look. God healed him”. Then, full of gladness for the boy, I grabbed the little boy's hand and walked him over to where my mother was. She was sitting in some type of large living room, on some couches. She was talking to somebody else and some other people. I was trying to get her attention and said, “Look. He's healed! Look, Mom. He's healed”. (They must believe the Gospel that their spiritual man is healed in Jesus' name.) But she just kept talking to the other person, like I wasn't even there. I tried one more time. “Look, Mom. Look. He's healed”. I'm not sure what happened to the little boy by that point. But my gladness turned to rage because she (as the apostate Church) was ignoring the work God had done. (In the natural, my mom is not at all like that. She is very caring and loving. And I have a good relationship with my mother and father. The mother in the dream is like the apostate church, not looking for God's will and rejecting God's spiritual work, in pursuit of earthly things and the entertainment of followers for money. Why did I want my mother to see? The latter rain will be rejected by the apostate church because it will lack the earthly treasures they value, but true treasure is in Heaven.) I picked up a wooden chair that was close by and threw it on the floor and it smashed. (The harlot church cannot rest from their own works, just as was seen in the example of the Jews in the Gospels and Acts. Heb.4:3 For we who have believed do enter into that rest; even as he hath said, As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.). Everyone looked. I felt like I was furious. I started walking down the hall. I picked up another chair and threw it toward them. I wasn't trying to hit them, but it landed right in front of them. (So they could see that they had no rest from the curse and sin through unbelief. Jesus crashed the money changers party for the zeal of God's house.) Then I started going up the stairs to the second floor, as I smashed another chair. (They are not graduating from kindergarten to higher levels.) Then I woke up. I wondered to myself why I had gotten so upset. I'm really not the kind to lose control in anger and in a fit of rage. (This was an expression of God's rage that the apostates care only for the world and not for their own souls or those of others. Heb.2:3 how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard. Rev.3:16 So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.)   Devastation of Charismatic Christianity  P. O. - 08/03/2009 (David's notes in red)  In a dream, a man is walking the earth as if he is checking things. He comes upon a scene of violent disarray. (The best way to describe this scene is that it puts one in mind of how a car accident would look, but there's no car.) It's his bride, his wife. She's dead, but beautiful and at peace. Her luggage, apparel, and various items are in disarray around her. Many of these items are marked “The Enrique Hotel”. Also, she is dressed in a way that is reminiscent of the time the historians called “The Roaring Twenties” (which occurred right before the Great Depression). Then I heard a voice that said, “She's been lied to every day, every step of her life”. (Even though they will enter the Kingdom and be at peace, being lied to by false leaders will cost many Spirit-filled Christians their lives and possessions, at the hands of the violent beast. Hos.4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...) When I woke up, I researched the name “Enrique”. It is derived from Spanish or Portuguese, meaning “Charismatic Ruler”. Another site mentioned that it is similar to the English “Henry”, which means “Home Ruler”. (The hotel represents the Church, which, according to Eph.2:19-22, is many houses built together into one Temple for God. Each individual house represents a person. The Spirit-filled people have the position of bride, even though many will not manifest this. The Charismatic leadership, typed by Judah, has gone far astray and is more guilty than the northern 10 apostate tribes because they have had the presence of God's Spirit in their midst to lead them, but have refused to follow His Word.)  I also asked the Lord for something in His Word that would coordinate or connect what He was giving me. He laid on my heart a page number in my very first study Bible. When I turned to it, I discovered that He had taken me to 1 Thessalonians 2. The verse that seemed emphasized was: “For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen even as they did of the Jews...” End of Dream. (I interpreted the top part of this dream before I saw Judea and the rest of this verse. Truly, the Charismatics have imitated the churches, rather than the Scriptures, and they will suffer the same violent attack of the Beast as the Jews did from their countrymen.) One of the reasons why I knew the dream meant something was that I would never, in the natural, dream about something named “Enrique”. I live in Indiana, and there's very little Spanish influence here. I thought this dream was meant for me personally, for the Lord to show me that I was part of the Bride, that I had died to the flesh and was now at rest in Him. I have suffered some persecution from family over the past year. As a personal dream, I was not going to pass this on to anyone. But this morning, I noticed that there is news now on the Internet, originating three days after my dream, regarding the latest Hurricane or Tropical Storm of the year. It, too, is named Enrique. Living in the Midwest, I do not follow hurricanes or keep track of what storm names are coming, so this was a total surprise. I'm not a mathematician, but for a Hoosier, English-only speaker, to dream a name that three days later hits the national news as the newest coming storm seemed to me to be 'up there' in the range of improbability, so that's why I've sat down and now typed it for you, thinking this may be for the larger body of believers. A violent storm is now coming straight for the Charismatic Church, most of which believe they will fly away and so are not preparing to escape the Beast. What is it that we should know and do to escape this Beast? The president of scripture over traditions of men.    The Harlot's Fire Is Coming Apostate Church Cut Up and Cooked Like a Goose Cal Spinner - 08/07/2007 (David's notes in red)  I dreamed I was in the person of the Son of Man. I was in a giant library or bookstore with many books (I.e., religious teachings) and many, many rooms. I met a beautiful woman who seemed Western. She was dressed quite modernly and was wearing makeup, gold and diamond jewelry. We began to converse, and I invited her to come with me. As we began to go, we met another woman who was dressed more Eastern in a plain white dress, with a head covering over her head. She had no jewelry or makeup, just a thin gold belt that was like a rope. She was wearing plain sandals, whereas the other woman wore stockings and high heels. It seemed we all knew each other, and I invited her to come with me as well. (This seems to contrast women of the world and their fake persona, with humble women of the Word to show who is the qualified Bride. 1Ti.2:9 In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment; 10  but (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works.) We then walked out of the library and into what seemed like a honeymoon suite of some hotel. The room had a good view of the ocean and elaborate wicker furniture. It was very beautiful and was all decorated in very pure white. There were two king-size beds side by side. I said to the women, “See, there is plenty of room; you both can stay”. They agreed, and both presented me their feet (representing their walk), which became like reeds. It seemed like reeds for making baskets, although I had an impression of water as well, like certain reeds that grow in the water. I took shears and clipped their feet off. Then the beautiful Western woman became jealous of the other woman when I gave her attention. (As the Lord will) I said to the Western woman, “You can't get away because you cannot stand on your own”.  I then laid the woman with the head covering in the bed. (The sign of submission to the Lord as husband.)  Then the scene suddenly shifted to a kitchen, and I was placing the other woman in the oven. She had the left arm and leg missing, and the right arm and leg were bound with a string. She was on a tray and had an apple in her mouth. She was weeping as I placed her in the oven and shut the door and turned it on to cook her like a goose, but the apple in her mouth reminded me she was a pig. (full of flesh)  Then I woke up very disturbed and asked the Lord for interpretation. I am still, at the time of this writing, quite shaken by the vividness of this dream and the quickness with which the interpretation came to me. This is a terrible warning! This is the interpretation the Spirit revealed to me, although there may be more. The great hall with many rooms and the many books represents all the many doctrines of man and his religions. There were many people there partaking of the various books. The Son of Man is in the store or library with all the other doctrines of the world, but only invites some to go with Him. The two women represent the church -- those invited to wed the Lord. The woman dressed more plainly with the head covering represents the true Bride. The head covering symbolized willingness to submit to authority and headship of the bridegroom. The modern woman who was selfish and jealous and dressed in jewelry and fakeup represents the apostate church. (Who believe they are the bride.)  The clipping of the feet is when we come to the Lord. We agree not to stand on our own but to be carried by the Lord. (Although both groups acknowledge they cannot stand on their own but by grace, the true Bride will be made to stand by grace because of true faith.) The cutting up represents the denominations of the apostate church that are one-sided, missing one arm and one leg. (The left side [goats] being missing will mean that through their own works they will have no power to escape and be saved. The right side [sheep] represents that they are unable to do the works or walk of the Lord, but are only bound by a string, symbolizing that they could be free if they really wanted to.) The Lord will judge them for being worldly and self-absorbed and put them in the oven Himself. They will cry out, but He won't hear them and will send them to be baked. He won't hear them because they are like pigs concerned with only themselves, rejecting His authority and headship. They will not allow Him to carry them to His bedchamber (where His seed is sown in them to bear His fruit), but instead, they will try to do things their own way, being more concerned about what the world thinks of them than the Lord. It will be grievous to them, but those who are truly the Lord's will be saved through the fiery trial that will cause them to give up their self-works of wood, hay, and stubble. 2Ti.2:19 Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness. 20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master's use, prepared unto every good work. 22 after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Those who truly are the Lord's will lose the wood, hay and stubble of their self-works and any reward they thought they would have from this, but it is here that they will be saved from themselves. 1Co.3:12 But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 each man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire.) We should all take heed with great fear and trembling and submit ourselves to the Lord's authority with all haste. The time is at hand to come out of Babylon or be destroyed by the east.   The Righteous Offend the Beast and Harlot  Vincent Xavier 1. I am coming to do great injury and wrong to that which is not of My Father. My nature contends with the nature of the beast. This nature of the beast is in the heart of men who have not been sanctified by My Spirit. That which has not been fully sanctified remains an offense to me and I will be an offense to it! Yes, I will offend the Beast in this hour! I will release a shockwave of glorious power that will cause the Beast to reel to and fro like a drunken man! The nature of the Beast has cleverly entrapped MY people and has caused them to err in their hearts concerning what is acceptable to My Father.  A learned practice of what is acceptable to men has been the standard by which men have been judged, yet that standard shall be fully violated in this DAY. Religious leaders have led My people into complacency and have lulled them to sleep with their fairytales and ideas that originate in their own minds. Their words are not My words for their words carry no sanctifying power. Their words carry no influence in the realms of darkness to the liberating of the captives. The nature of the Beast is empowered by sin and the message of the religious leaders has not emancipated the conscience of those who believe in me. It is the SIN CONSCIENCE that must be dealt with. It is the SIN ISSUE that must be fully realized as the open door to Satanic power in the souls of those who believe. My nature will make war with the Beast within the soul of men and will execute judgment upon the Beast. Be prepared, for many shall be offended in the last days and it will be I Who is causing the offense! Those who are righteous indeed will be an offense to those who are religious indeed. 2. I am going to exceed all bounds of decency and reasonableness. Follow My life! Look at me! Was I approved and acceptable to the approved social order of My day? Was I subject to those who were in control of the day? Was the Roman government My head? Were the religious leaders of Judaism My head? NO!  My only supreme was My Father and I always did what My Father told me to do, even at the risk of upsetting the standard order of the times. Yes, it was I who entered into the temple and turned over the tables of the moneychangers. This was an acceptable practice for those Jews at that time, but their practices were not ordained of My Father.  It was I who caused outrage in the hearts of those who would take me to the cliff to throw me down the mountain! It was I who stirred the crowds into chaos and confusion, causing divisions among men! It was I who upset the religious mindset of the day when healing on the Sabbath and doing good to those who were in need. It was I who caused offense in the hearts of the hypocrites! Yes, it was I, and I say unto you that I am going to upset the world again, and I am going to turn it upside down. I am going to shake the world of all its social graces and practices that are an offense and abomination to My Father. Two thousand years ago, I sent a people into the world and they, according to My will, TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN! So it is on this, the THIRD DAY, that I am going to release My people once again from the caves of obscurity who have hid from the religious leaders of this Day and bring them out into the open, and oh what an offense they shall be to all the social orders men have labored so hard to erect and put in place. Consider My servant David and the men who went out to meet him in the caves of Adullam. These were not the kind of men who were subjected to the religious order of Saul, and neither will these be those I release in this hour. Surely I say to you that they will enter into your places of worship and contend with all that is not of My Father. They will be an offense to many and will reveal the hate and control in the hearts of the leaders who have refused to LET MY PEOPLE GO! Consider My servant Joseph. He was thrown into prison by his OLDER brothers. Surely he shall arise in the earth having great authority and will rule over those older brothers in the days to come. Yes, those who were an insult to them because of their pride and jealousy will bow their knees to them and will acknowledge their authority and will know of a truth that I have loved them with an everlasting love from before the eons of time, or else they shall perish without a word. Let it be known that I AM an offense to the world, for the world is surely an offense to me!  I have watched the world and have watched My people in the world and those who claim to be Mine. I ask, what have you learned since you believed? Have you not yet departed from that which is an offense to me? Have you not read that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of Mine? You have not yet COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE! Therefore, you shall incur judgment against yourselves for I have determined to destroy Babylon! I am not speaking of the Babylon in the Middle East, but the Babylon in the middle of your heart! I am speaking to your Babylonian ways and mindsets! When I walked upon the earth, I did not call attention to the Roman authorities but to the condition of men's hearts! Yes, I am coming to topple that which appears before men as most religious. That which is so acceptable today is an abomination to me! That which has become the social order of the day, the acceptable form of worship, is coming to an end! For I have determined to FINISH the house that has been in building for two thousand years. Yes, out of the ashes will arise a new building, complete and perfect, a people who are in the exact image of My Father! I am not concerned with social graces and what is acceptable to men; I am only concerned with that which belongs to my Father!  How will I come? I will come to you in the form of men and women! I will come to you with great power and anointing when once I release My reserved ones. I come! I come in them to stand before the multitudes in order that I may bring truth to My temple! I come! Surely I come!  3. My presence will be very shocking and offensive in this DAY. A heavy blow will come to the earth! For heaven has witnessed the actions of men in the earth and their actions have been weighed in the balance. I will cause to stagger all nations by the news they shall hear. What men have deemed as “good taste” shall surely become bitter by what I am about to do. Indeed, that which was once approved of men and acceptable in the eyes of the admirers shall become a revolting offense, even disgusting. My people, who are seated with Me in heavenly places, are prepared to appear in the earth before the eyes of men. These shall be the reason for the “shock syndrome” that will come. For that which was once accepted in My house by men shall be seen as a detestable thing in comparison to the holiness that My sanctified ones shall walk in. Their presence shall reveal the disgusting abomination that has been hidden in the hearts of men while doing many outward works of righteousness.  I say that those works of outward righteousness shall be seen for what they truly are, mere religious robes covering the filth of an unsanctified life. My pure presence within My beloved ones shall cause the heart to fail in those who are unrepentant. 4. My appearing shall be violent in action and disposition. When I come, I will come with a violent disposition that will cause men to pale and pine away. For I will take the nations by violence, and I will destroy that which is false with a strong overthrow.  How will I come? I will appear through My servants, the prophets! Their words shall be as a hammer violently breaking in pieces that which is an abomination to My Father. A destroying fire shall come out of their mouths to the burning up of all chaff in the hearts of men! There will be no arrogance when they come. Those who would oppose their words will come under swift judgment. For these are My battle axes, My weapons of war, who have been reserved for a time such as this, yet it is I who am working in them beyond their own understanding! They have yielded to My will and have surrendered their lives so that I may live in and through them. It will be I who am contended with by those who would oppose them.  I have said that violent men take the Kingdom by force, and it will be at this time that the Kingdom shall be taken by those full of divine energy and power. Satan shall be cast out of the heavenlies and thrust down into the pit. I am speaking to the hearts of men. For it is within the heart that all evil comes. Not outwardly in the skies above but within the very soul of man that Satan has taken his seat along with the Beast and the false prophet. These evil spirits have held the dominion, but shall now come under a violent blow that shall shake them from their high places in order to release My Kingdom in the hearts of those who believe.  5. Because I am going to exceed all bounds of right, morality, and decency known to man, I will be INTOLERABLE to the modern religious and social leaders of this day. My people, hear me! What has been erected as decent, moral, and acceptable to men is truly an abomination to me. You live in a time where men call evil good, good evil, bitter sweet and sweet bitter. It is a DAY wherein light is called darkness and darkness is called light.  Because of these conditions, I will come as an INTOLERABLE force of emptying magnitude. I will so completely overturn that which is hypocritical that nothing will remain. Understand that what I have tolerated for so long will no longer be tolerated. In My intolerance, I will lead a militia of chosen warriors through whom I will shake the earth!  Many will find My ways intolerable from behind the pulpit in these moments of time, for many in the congregation shall be offended because of the righteousness that flows from the minister's lips. Yes, I have ministers, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Teachers and Pastors who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal, who will demonstrate My glorious power in these days. To them shall many flock. For the true shall know My voice in and through them and will know them by their fruits. Man has played with power greater than himself and by so doing has opened the gate to a great flood of evil. But no man has ever witnessed the magnitude of My intolerance as what shall be witnessed in these days. My presence will become unbearable to the wicked. My words will be too severe for the hypocrites! I will appear as a cruel one to those who have been cruel! Many will not be able to bear with me. Yet to My beloved shall I appear with an intolerable love and grace! Yes, many will not be able to bear My love, mercy and grace that I will bestow upon them, and these shall be swept away in rapturous moments in My glory. These shall be overwhelmed with My love and blessings!  Many great and wonderful blessings shall abound to their account, and their inheritance shall be released unto them. These are those who have come to maturity and have grown up beyond the mere religious practices of many. These are My sons and daughters who will set the creation free, even as I did when I walked upon the earth. He came as a Lamb but comes as a Lion!

Daily Dose of Hope August 11, 2026   Scripture: Genesis 5   Prayer: Almighty Father, Thank you that your mercies are new every morning.  Thank you, that no matter what this week has held, we can come to you and start over.  We are grateful for your forgiveness.  We are so very grateful for your care and your love.  Help us, Lord, to set aside our distractions, to set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you right now.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis.  Today, our reading is Genesis 5.   This chapter details the family line from Adam to Noah.  It's a lot of names and ages.  If we were to look at the ages of these patriarchs as we understand chronological ages in the modern age, then we are looking at some really, really old people!  And I should mention that some people do take these ages very literally and actually use them to try to date the earth.  Most scholars don't believe that is the intention of the author at all.  The real question we need to examine is:  What do the words mean in the language and culture in which they were written?    If you look at Scripture, sometimes numbers are used like they are today.  Ten cubits actually means ten cubits. But other times in the ancient literature, including the Bible, numbers are used numerologically. That means a number's symbolic value could be used to convey mystical or sacred meanings other than just its numerical value.    If we look at Genesis 5 as a whole, there are really a wide variety of ages mentioned.  Adam lives to be 930, Mahalalel lives to be 895, Jered to 962, and Methuselah to be 969.  If they all were round numbers like 500 or 1000, then that would make us question the implausibility of these ages.  But the ages listed are very, very specific.  What are we to make of this?  This is where I had to do some real research because I'm getting over my head.   This is what BioLogos, a website that deals specifically with science and faith proposed:   There are 30 age numbers we can get from Genesis chapter 5—three numbers for each of ten patriarchs: the age when a son was born, the number of years the patriarch lived after the son was born, and the total number of years the patriarch lived.    The first thing more careful observation reveals about these 30 numbers is that all of them end with the digits 0, 2, 5, 7, or 9. You might not think that is too remarkable until you realize that it eliminates half of the possible numbers. It is like seeing a list of 30 numbers that are all even. We wouldn't think that was a random distribution of numbers. In fact, the odds of getting all thirty numbers to end with just these "approved" digits in a random distribution of ages are about one in a hundred million. That should make us suspicious that Genesis 5 is merely giving a historical report. Something else must be going on here.   One option is attaching some significance to the fact that all of the 30 numbers can be expressed as combinations of the two "sacred" numbers 60 and 7 in terms of years and months. 60 was culturally significant because it was the number that Babylonian mathematics was based on (the influence of this system is still felt today with our 60 minutes per hour and 60 seconds per minute). And 7, of course, has a prominent place in biblical symbolism beginning with the Sabbath. So when we're told that Methuselah was 187 years when he had his son Lamech (v. 25) we can see that 187 = 60+60+60+7 years. And then because 60 months = 5 years, when Adam is said to be 130 years at the birth of his son Seth (v. 3), that can be expressed as (60+60 years) + (60+60 months).   The question is whether it is a better explanation to interpret the numbers as having some symbolic or rhetorical significance to the original audience (even if we don't know what that is), or that they were just a straightforward listing of numbers the way we would use them today. Knowing what we do about the culture, and in the absence of any persuasive reasons for thinking that the ages of these men were so radically different than they are today, it seems that a symbolic or rhetorical interpretation is a legitimate option and maybe even a preferable one.   So, now that we have stretched our brains a bit, I'll stop.  The bottom line is that it's complicated.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki

In this Bible Story, Jeremiah witnesses the downfall of Judah. King Nebuchadnezzar uses the Chaldean army to lay waste to all of Jerusalem. Hundreds of thousands of people are taken captive, and the remaining rulers of Judah are beheaded and trampled. Jeremiah, however, is spared from the Babylonians, and is given a choice to go to Babylon and live comfortably, or remain with his people. This story is inspired by 2 Chronicles 36:15-21 & 2 Kings 25:3-21 & Jeremiah 32, 33, 38, 39, 40:1-6, 52. Go to https://www.BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Jeremiah 38:20 from the King James Version.Episode 159: Jeremiah, still captive in the courthouse of Judah, was praying to God when he received a Word from Him that Hanamel would soon be coming to sell him his land in Anathoth. But this was about more than relieving his uncle of a burden, it was God's way of showing the people what He would do for them. So Jeremiah continued to preach the Word of God to the people and he continued to receive beatings from them. One day, he was summoned by King Zedekiah to give him the truth of the situation and though he spoke honestly to the King, he did not follow Jeremiah's advice. Yet even as the gates of the courthouse were being broken down, God protected Jeremiah and gave him mercy.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.This episode is sponsored by Medi-Share, an innovative health care solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The ancient world had its own creation story. Its own flood. Its own gods at war before the world was ever made. And when Genesis was written, every person who read it knew those stories by heart. So what happens when you put the Bible back into the world it actually came from? Dr. Richard Averbeck has spent more than forty years finding out, working directly in Sumerian, Akkadian, and the Hebrew of the Pentateuch, reading the cuneiform tablets most people have never heard of. What he has found does not weaken Scripture. It sharpens it.In this conversation, Averbeck takes us inside the world of Enuma Elish, Gilgamesh, and the Sumerian King List, and shows exactly where Genesis overlaps with them and where it breaks away completely. He explains why the sun and the moon are never named in Genesis 1, why there is no cosmic battle in the creation account, and where that battle actually shows up instead. His answer to that last question reframes the entire book of Genesis, runs straight through Ephesians 6 and Revelation 12, and explains why the fight we are in is over us. This is one of the most clarifying conversations we have had on this show.In this episode you will learn:Why the biblical writers never wrote in a vacuum, and how Akkadian became the common language of the ancient world for fifteen hundred yearsWhat Genesis 1 is doing when it calls the sun and moon the greater light and the lesser light instead of naming themWhere Genesis genuinely parallels the Babylonian creation account, and where it stands completely against itWhy there is no cosmic battle in Genesis 1, and why Averbeck argues it was moved to Genesis 3How the ancient practice of cursing anyone who damaged a king's statue explains the serpent's attack on the image of GodWhat Gilgamesh Tablet 11 shares with the biblical flood, and what Genesis does that no other flood story couldWhy reading Genesis with naked eye observation resolves so many arguments about the Bible and scienceHow the three tiered ancient cosmos shapes the literary structure of the six days of creationWhat the Old Testament law was actually designed to do, and how it comes through into the new covenantWhy holiness, from Leviticus 19 to 1 Peter 1, has always been about how well you loveHow to answer the skeptic who says the Bible is simply borrowed Mesopotamian mythologyGuest:Dr. Richard E. AverbeckProfessor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, Trinity Evangelical Divinity SchoolThe Old Testament Law for the Life of the Church: Reading the Torah in the Light of Christ- https://www.amazon.com/Old-Testament-Law-Life-Church/dp/0830841008Faculty page- https://www.tiu.edu/divinity/faculty/richard-averbeck/Stay Connected:Website- https://johnnyova.comYouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@thejohnnyovaThe Revelation Reset- https://a.co/d/hiUkW8H

How do we raise children who stand strong—and even shine—in a culture determined to pull them away from God? In this special archive series of Christian Parent/Crazy World, host Catherine dives deep into one of the most urgent questions facing Christian parents: How can we prepare our kids to stand firm in a “Babylonian” culture bent on swaying their faith? To answer this, Catherine welcomes DJ Harry , senior pastor of Needham’s Grove Baptist Church in Central North Carolina and cohost of the Better Together podcast. With over two decades of experience in pastoral ministry (and a background in education), DJ Harry brings powerful insights drawn from the biblical life of Daniel—a young man who stood unwaveringly for God while surrounded by pressure and compromise. What You’ll Discover in This Episode: Timeless Lessons from Daniel:Drawing from the extraordinary story of Daniel and his friends, listeners are invited to reimagine the Book of Daniel as a parenting manual for today. How did teenagers like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego maintain unwavering faith in the heart of Babylon—a culture that tried to erase everything they knew and believed? You Can’t Choose When or How Your Child Will Be Tested:As DJ Harry recounts, “We don’t get to set the time or the age when our children are going to be pressured.” Like Daniel’s parents, we rarely know how or when our children’s faith will face its hardest tests, but we can choose how we prepare them now. The Power of a Well-Rounded Foundation:Daniel and his peers were chosen because of their well-rounded competence—in wisdom, learning, and character. Catherine Segars and DJ Harry challenge parents to nurture not just spiritual knowledge but also curiosity, learning, and character in their children. Facing the Reality of “Babylon” Today:The episode acknowledges the modern pressures—academic, social, and spiritual—that Christian kids face, often at younger ages than ever before. The analogy to ancient Babylon becomes all too relevant. Where Most of the Crowd Goes Missing:Listeners are reminded that most of the young men taken to Babylon “became good Babylonian young men,” disappearing into the crowd. Only a faithful few—like Daniel and his friends—stood apart. What made the difference, and how can parents cultivate that difference at home? Practical Encouragement for Uncertain Times:Personal anecdotes, including a health scare in DJ Harry 's family, bring home the message that we don’t know what tomorrow holds. Our task as parents is to lay the seeds now—academically, spiritually, emotionally—without presuming on time. Standout Moment:DJ Harry reveals, “If I want my children to have the greatest opportunity to have an impact in their Babylon, then part of that preparation is preparing them to lead in culture.” Why This Matters:In an age when research shows most church-raised kids drift from faith under cultural pressure, this episode is a wake-up call: intentional, daily spiritual formation and well-rounded preparation matter more than ever. About the Guest:DJ Harry is the senior pastor of Needham's Grove Baptist Church in Central North Carolina and co-hosts the Better Together podcast with his wife, Lori. With a background as both a science teacher and pastor, he brings real-world experience to this biblical discussion on parenting. Parenting Takeaway:Are you cultivating an environment where your children gain not just faith, but the wisdom, skills, and confidence to stand apart in their generation? What steps can you take this week to intentionally prepare your child’s heart, mind, and character for the challenges ahead? Connect with DJ Harry :Website: Dr. Dennis Harry Don’t miss next week’s powerful conclusion—and a moment so surprising it changed the course of this interview. EPISODE LINKS: Better Together Podcast CatherineSegars.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this Bible Story, we learn about King Zedekiah's stubbornness against the Babylonians. He fights against them despite Jeremiah's warnings. Jeremiah continues to warn people that fighting against Babylon is a vain attempt - like grasping at air. This story is inspired by 2 Chronicles 36:10-16 & 2 Kings 24:18-25:2 & Jeremiah 37. Go to https://www.BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Jeremiah 37:17 from the King James Version.Episode 158: Jeremiah, still captive in the courthouse of Judah, was praying to God when he received a Word from Him that Hanamel would soon be coming to sell him his land in Anathoth. But this was about more than relieving his uncle of a burden, it was God's way of showing the people what He would do for them. So Jeremiah continued to preach the Word of God to the people and he continued to receive beatings from them. One day, he was summoned by King Zedekiah to give him the truth of the situation and though he spoke honestly to the King, he did not follow Jeremiah's advice. Yet even as the gates of the courthouse were being broken down, God protected Jeremiah and gave him mercy.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.This episode is sponsored by Medi-Share, an innovative health care solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Temple Comes to Samaria Acts 8:4-25 by William Klock Remember back in Chapter 5, when Peter and John were arrested and brought before the priests and elders, and Gamaliel, one of the leading Pharisees, told his fellow council members: “Leave them alone.  If what they're doing is of human origin, it will come to ruin.  But if it's from God, you won't be able to stop them.  You might even be found to be fighting against God.”  They let Peter and John go that day, but since then they haven't been heeding Gamaliel's advice.  They stoned Stephen.  And at the end of last week's text Luke told us that Saul of Tarsus was going house to house, dragging men and women to prison and that, while the apostles remained in Jerusalem, everyone else was scattered through Jerusalem and Samaria.  And it turns out Gamaliel was right.  Neither Saul nor anyone else could stop what God was doing.  This new temple, not made with hands, not made of bricks and mortar, but instead of people, purified by the blood of Jesus and indwelt themselves by God's Spirit, this temple was going to fill the earth.  Persecution won't stop it.  Just the opposite, in fact.  Luke writes in Acts 8:4 [Page 1089 in the pew Bibles]: “Those who were scattered went all over the place announcing the word.”  These were people who knew, first hand, the transforming power of the gospel.  Many of them had been eyewitnesses to the risen Jesus.  They had seen signs and wonders, done by Jesus and then done by the apostles.  They knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that God was at work and Israel's hopes were being fulfilled.  There was no stopping them.  If they had to flee Jerusalem, so much the better.  Now the good news about Jesus would be proclaimed all over the place.  Think back to Stephen's speech before the Sanhedrin and how he'd highlighted how God works through rejection and persecution.  Joseph's brothers had sold him as a slave, but through their evil God delivered his people.  Ditto with Moses.  Pharaoh wanted all the baby boys of the Hebrews drowned, so Moses' mother put him in a basket and Providence floated him down the river right to Pharaoh's daughter.  And Jesus, the supreme example: The forces of evil and death rose up to do their worst in killing Jesus, but in doing so they played right into God's hands.  They concentrated themselves all in one place, in one great act, allowing Jesus to rise from death to conquer them.  So Saul of Tarsus, threatening the church?  God's going to use that to—to get the gospel out of Jerusalem, to all of Judaea—and even to Samaria. So Philip.  You remember Philip?  He was one of the seven in Chapter 6, whom the church chose and laid hands on to do the work that was taking the apostles away from their prayer and preaching.  Stephen was another of them.  When the church calls people and lays hands on them and commissions them to be servants of the gospel, there's no telling where that may lead.  So “Philip,” says Luke in verse 5, “went off to a town in Samaria and announced the Messiah to them.” I suspect no one would have thought—or wanted—to take the gospel to Samaria—at least not for a long time—even though Jesus had said that his church would take the gospel there.  But in the context of Acts, I think Luke wants to stress that even more than taking the gospel to Samaria, what Philip is doing is taking the temple there.  And that's pretty significant.  Samaria was the piece of land between the two Jewish territories, between Judaea in the south and Galilee in the north.  The Samaritans were the people who had lived there while the Jews were off in exile in Babylon.  We don't really know for certain the origins of the Samaritans.  They claimed—and they still claim, as they're still there to this day—that they're the descendants of what was left of the northern Israelite tribes after the nation was destroyed by the Assyrians.  The Jews claimed that the Samaritans were the people resettled in the land by the Babylonians after they'd sent the Jewish people into exile.  There's probably some truth to both.  Whatever the case, the Samaritans followed their own form of Judaism.  They had their own version of the torah, of the first five books of the Old Testament.  They rejected the Prophets and other books.  They looked forward to their own version of the Messiah.  They called him the Ta'eb or “The Returner”—the prophet Moses promised would come.  But maybe what's most important in the context of Acts, was that the Samaritans had their own temple on Mt. Gerizim.  The Jews would never let them anywhere near the temple in Jerusalem—they weren't real Jews and they had corrupted Israelite religion—but even if the Jews allowed them into the temple, the Samaritans would never go there.  As far as they were concerned, theirs was the real temple.  The Samaritans were a people utterly without God's presence. And now Philip finds his way there and carries the for real real temple to a people who didn't even know the old one.  And when God's temple arrives in Samaria, the people can't help but notice.  Verse 6: “The crowds, acting as one, clung to what Philip was saying, as they heard him and saw the signs he performed.  For unclean spirits came out of many of them, and several who were paralyzed or lame were cured.  So there was great joy in that town.” “But there was a man named Simon, who had lived in the town for some while and who practiced magic. He used to astonish the Samaritan people, giving out that he was some great personage.  Everyone, small and great alike, paid attention to him, and said, “This man is the one called ‘God's Great Power'!”  [Luke might be hinting that the people thought of Simon as maybe being the Ta'eb, the Samaritan “Messiah”.] They had been under his spell for some time, since they were amazed at the magic he could perform.  But when they believed Philip as he was announcing to them the message about God's kingdom and the name of Jesus the Messiah, they were baptized, men and women alike.  Simon too believed and was baptized, paying close attention to Philip.  When he saw signs, and great and powerful deeds, it was his turn to be astonished.” The devil was doing one thing in Judaea in a futile attempt to quash the gospel.  He was doing something else to the same end in Samaria.  He'd been doing it for a long time, leading the Samaritans away from God's torah and God's temple.  Now there's this man, Simon, who has enchanted these Samaritans with his magic.  Maybe it was just sleight of hand magic, but the way Luke, throughout Acts, contrasts magic with the power of the Holy Spirit, it seems like Simon actually did have some kind of power and if that power wasn't from God, it was coming from demonic forces of some kind.  That's just the sort of thing the devil would do to lead people astray.  But Philip, empowered by God's Spirit, it's obvious to everyone—even to Simon—his power was different and it was far superior.  Seeing it, these people believed the good news about Jesus that Philip was proclaiming.  And they did what believers do: they were baptised.  Like Israel following God through the Red Sea and into the promised land, in faith these Samaritan followed Jesus through the waters of baptism and into God's new creation. Samaritans embracing and giving their allegiance to Jesus may not seem like a big deal to us, but it was a really big deal to everyone involved.  Again, Samaritans and Jews didn't mix.  Even though Jesus had said that his disciples would take the good news to Samaria, they had no plan to go there—and probably little or no desire to.  But God had a plan to get them there, and when Philip does end up in Samaria, he doesn't let that hold him back.  It's pretty clear that these early believers thought of the gospel as something for Jews, but—hey—if gentiles came to them and wanted in, if Samaritans heard and believed, that was great.  They saw God at work in these people, even if these people weren't their evangelistic priority. And yet, something odd happens.  These Samaritans hear the gospel, see God at work, they believe, they're baptised, but there's something missing.  I suspect Philip noticed it immediately and sent word back to Jerusalem—excited on one hand, but concerned on the other.  Verse 14: “When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received God's word, they sent Peter and John to them.  When they arrived, they prayed for them, asking that they would receive the Holy Spirit, since up to that point the Spirit had come upon none of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.  Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Like I said, something was missing.  The Spirit was clearly at work.  Faith in Jesus is a gift of the Spirit and no one comes to Jesus without the Spirit first moving in the heart.  But so far in Acts, when people believed and were baptised, they all had some kind of experience of being transformed by the Spirit  They were obviously different.  The Spirit did a work of new creation in them.  And they typically—and immediately—displayed supernatural gifts.  Some prophesied, some healed, some spoke in other languages, and so on.  Whenever we see God doing something new in the story of redemption, it's usually got miracles clustered all around it and we see this no less in the early days of the church.  Bringing Samaritans to Jesus was very much something new.  But this time the miracles didn't happen.  I expect Philip was surprised.  What was wrong?  So he sent word to Jerusalem and Peter and John decided to go see for themselves.  And, sure enough, something was missing.  These people had believed, but the Spirit—God—hadn't yet come to live in them  They were not yet part of the new temple. I don't know if Peter and John understood everything at this point.  I suspect that they just recognised that these new believers were lacking the indwelling Spirit.  It was weird and inexplicable at the time.  And so Peter and John just did the only thing that made sense: they laid their hands on these people and prayed that God would give them his Spirit.  And God did.  Luke doesn't say how it was obvious, but it was apparently obvious that the Spirit had filled the Samaritans.  And I think as time passed, Peter and John and the others started to figure out what God was doing in withholding the very thing—I should say, the very person—who fulfils God's promises to dwell with his people.  By the time Luke wrote, it all made perfect sense. You see, there was always a danger that the Samaritans would hear the gospel and believe, but that because of the divide between them and the Jews, the Samaritans would end up with a separate church of their own.  A lot of them would have been perfectly happy to have it that way and plenty of Jewish believers would no doubt be happy to have it that way.  But that would undermine the very gospel itself.  God doesn't have multiple people.  He has one.  With all our divisions in the church today, it's easy to forget this, but Jesus was clear: God has one people and one of the essentials of the gospel is that it heals the breaches, heals the divisions, heals the animosity between the people of the world.  We saw the first dramatic sign of this healing at Pentecost as the men there heard the gospel proclaimed in their own languages.  It was a dramatic reversal of the Tower of Babel episode.  And now it happens with the Samaritans.  God withholds his Spirit from them in order to get Peter and John to pray and lay hands on them and in that God makes it clear to everyone that they are all united in Jesus and the Spirit.  The apostles and the Jewish believers can't dismiss the Samaritan believers and neither can the Samaritans—with their long history of doing their own thing and having their own temple—neither can they act as if they have no need of or can be separate from the Jewish believers. We need to be careful we don't mistake Luke's point here.  We often read this passage at confirmations when the bishop lays hands on us and prays for us to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit.  But Luke wasn't thinking about confirmation.  Confirmation is a rite that developed centuries later.  Pentecostals and Charismatics use this passage to explain their experience, arguing that this passage proves that receiving the Holy Spirit is a second work of grace apart from baptism and conversion.  But that's not Luke's point either.  In fact, his point is that what happened with the Samaritans, with God withholding the Spirit, was unique—a one-off thing—that was necessary to ensure everyone knew that there is one church, one body and that our unity in diversity is one of the gospel's most powerful witnesses to God setting the human race to rights.  The whole thing that made this episode stand out was the delay in the Samaritans receiving the Holy Spirit, because the indwelling of the Spirit it not a second blessing or a second work of grace.  It's what happens when we believe and are baptised.  It's what makes us God's temple.  Jesus purifies us so that the Spirit can fill us. And then Simon the Magician. The gospel goes to a new place, but the same old problem comes up again.  In Jerusalem it was Ananias and Sapphira.  The devil crept in.  They let their love of money compromise the purity so essential to being God's temple.  They serve as a warning: Jesus purifies us so that we can be God's temple, but to remain God's temple requires continued purity.  And now the Samaritan believers their own warning about this.  Verse 18: “When Simon saw that the spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money.  “Give me this power too,” he said, “so that anyone I lay my hands on will receive the holy spirit.”  “May your silver die with you!” retorted Peter. “Did you really think that God's gift could be bought with money?  You have no part or share in this word!  Your heart is not straight before God.  So repent from this wickedness, and pray to the Lord.  Perhaps he will forgive the scheme you had in your heart.  I can see that you are still stuck in the bitter poison and chains of unrighteousness.”  “Pray to the Lord for me,” said Simon in reply, “that none of what you've said will happen to me.”  After Peter and John had finished bearing witness and speaking the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, announcing the good news to many Samaritan villages.” Simon liked the status his magic gave him.  And now he sees something really amazing, something that clearly and dramatically upstaged whatever it was that he was doing.  And Simon wanted it.  But it wasn't so much the Holy Spirit that Simon wanted.  Tricks were nice.  He'd been doing them for a long time.  But what Simon wanted was the ability to control people.  He didn't want the Holy Spirit.  He wanted what he thought Peter and John had: he wanted the ability to lay hands on people and to give them the Spirit. And in that, Simon was exposed.  It wasn't about Jesus for Simon.  It wasn't about being God's temple.  It wasn't about being purified by the cross.  It wasn't about being part of God's new creation.  Simon was still firmly part of the old.  He wanted to use and control people for his own personal gain and prestige.  His old magic had been upstaged.  No one would be impressed by it anymore.   But if he could be like Peter and John, if he could lay hands on people himself and impart the Spirit to them, well, then he's be back on top of things.  For those who read The Magician's Nephew this month, he's like Uncle Andrew, seeing a new world being miraculously born around him and new life sprouting from the ground, and all he can think of is bring bits of iron to plant so they can grow into factories and battleships to make him rich. He was blind.  He heard the gospel.  He heard the good news about Jesus.  He saw the life the Spirit in these people and he saw new creation being born.  But he wasn't interested any of it.  He just wanted to be in control.  He saw it as a way to get rich.  So he offers to buy this gift from Peter and John—as if it was theirs to sell.  As if it was their power to impart the Spirit. But Peter and John had no such power.  They didn't go around laying hands on people and giving them the Spirit any more than a modern-day Anglican bishop or Pentecostal evangelist does so.  This was a unique situation.  God gives the Spirit, not men, not preachers, not bishops, not even apostles.  This was simply a case in which it was necessary for both the Jews and the Samaritans to understand that they were one people in Jesus and the Spirit. The crazy thing is that we still see this sort of thing despite all the warnings in scripture.  There are far too many people out there, preachers—people calling themselves “apostles”—offering the Spirit or his gifts for money, as if those gifts are the work of human beings and not God.  I expect that when Simon asked Peter and John to sell him this gift—one they didn't even actually have—Peter immediately remembered Ananias and then Sapphira falling dead at his feet.  Because he knew, this false idea needed to die.  If allowed to fester, it would corrupt the church. And so he rebuked Simon—who, by God's mercy isn't struck dead on the spot.  “You're no believer, Simon.  You're still stuck in the bitter poison and chains of unrighteousness.” Luke tells us that Simon asked them to pray for him so that he wouldn't fall under God's judgement.  I have to wonder if they told him about Ananias and Sapphira and left him quaking in his boots.  Luke doesn't tell us what happened to him, whether he eventually understood and actually believed the gospel or not.  What Luke wants to stress here, what we shouldn't lose of, is that the Spirit is not under human control.  The Holy Spirit isn't magic.  Magic is the human attempt to manipulate God.  Humans have been trying to figure out ways to do that ever since our fall.  Magic treats God like a vending machine.  Push B5 to get this or push D2 to get that.  Say this spell, offer this sacrifice—follow the right formula and you can control the divine.  The so-called “Prosperity Gospel” is a modern version of this.  But you don't have to be into the Prosperity Gospel or the Word-Faith movement to be guilty of thinking you can control God.  When we bargain with God, we're doing the same thing.  We think that if we offer God this or that, we obligate him to give us something in return.  Brothers and Sisters, God's been teaching his people from the beginning that he doesn't work this way.  He's sovereign.  He sends his Spirit as a mighty rushing wind and, as Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Those who are born of that Spirit are blown along with it.”  Those who surrender themselves to Jesus and the Spirit are blown into purity, blown into holiness, blown into godliness, blown into ministry and blown into mission.  That's what Luke shows us in Acts.  Jesus purifies us, the Spirit fills, and in those acts God make us his living temple.  A temple through which he will make himself known and through which he will eventually fill the earth with his presence. In this morning's Collect we asked the Lord to teach to us to ask for the things that please him.  Brothers and Sisters, if we understand ourselves to be his temple, his working model of new creation in the midst of the old, I can hardly think of a better prayer.  It's a prayer very much like “on earth as in heaven”.  A prayer that sets aside our own agendas and ask for God to bring us into his.  I'd like to close praying that Collect again. Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants; and, that we may obtain what we ask of you, teach us to ask for those things that please you, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Paul has just been saying everything works together for good to those who love God, but the Israelites think that they are the people of God. They have been scattered. They have been displaced from the land. A large percentage of them were killed during the Babylonian captivity, so the Jews hearing Paul would say "how can this be?" All things are not working together for good for us. Paul's response after this passage is because the Israel that you are thinking of is not the true Israel. Not all of Israel is of Israel. To set up that statement, he says that he would honestly be separated from Christ if it would cause his brethren according to the flesh to be joined with him. He knows and accepts that God's plan is better, but he mourns according to his wisdom. They had seen the glory of God. They had received the law. They had been assigned to do service to God and been given many promises, but they still rejected Him. But it was not a failure of the word of God, because that was the plan of God from the beginning.

The Origin of the Zodiac has been rediscovered in Gwynedd, North Wales.Thousands of years older than the Babylonian and Egyptian zodiacs, perhaps even older than Gobekli Tepe, the features on the ground in North Wales actually determined the choice of stars for the constellations in the heavens above.In rediscovering the origin of the modern constellations, so too has been rediscovered the 'cipher' connecting the history of the world we know and understand, to the pre-history world of myth and mystery.If true, the Star Maps of Gwynedd may change everything we believe about our recent history.Hundreds of hours of painstaking research, hieroglyph interpretation and language translation identify all the features of the present zodiac and circumpolar constellations across the land features of Gwynedd. This information is presented in maps of the ground and star maps correlated with the same in the night sky above. The myth is explained and retranslated, as are the landmarks and the corresponding astrological icons associated with each of the signs of the zodiac.Prepare for a journey across the heavens and back in time, crossing into the world that existed before the Great Flood.Hugh Evans studied Astrophysics at university, graduated in aeronautical engineering, subsequently qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. He now applies his scientific interest, engineering rigor and professional scrutiny to a lifelong passion for history and the stars; offering a new perspective and rediscovering the story of the ancients. Hugh has invested thousands of hours of painstaking research, site visits, hieroglyph interpretation and language translation to identify all the features of the present zodiac and circumpolar constellations across the land features of Gwynedd, North Wales. Thousands of years older than the Babylonian and Egyptian zodiacs, perhaps even older than Göbekli Tepe, the features on the ground in North Wales actually determined the choice of stars for the constellations in the heavens above. He is the author of The Origins of the Zodiac, Cadair Idris and the Star Maps of Gwynedd.https://originofthezodiac.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/earth-ancients--2790919/support.

“Why date John’s Gospel earlier than the modern consensus?” This question opens a discussion on the dating of biblical texts, alongside intriguing inquiries about the identity of Melchizedek and the implications of Genesis 1 regarding the Trinity. Other topics include the reality of dinosaurs in relation to the creation story and the reliability of different biblical texts. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 03:40 – Why do you date John’s Gospel earlier than the modern consensus? 17:27 – Gen 1 the Spirit is named and the Father is named but Jesus isn't. Could the face of the waters be a reference to him? 32:07 – Who was Melchizedek and there an actual order based on him? 40:10 – Are dinosaurs real? Scientists say they lived like 70 million years ago. But that doesn't seem to work with the creation story in Genesis, where the animals were created after Adam and Eve. 44:57 – In your video on the Ark of the Covenant, you said you believed the Ark was destroyed by the Babylonians. How could they have done that given the story of Uzzah, who just touched it and died? 50:00 – A Protestant told me that the Alexandrian texts of the Bible were not reliable because they were so far away geographically from the origin point that they would have been corrupted. I believe his conclusion was that therefore the King James Version is the only reliable version of the Bible. What do you make of this?

What does God say first when He speaks to His people? Before any correction, before any challenge, God opens the Book of Malachi with three words: 'I have loved you.' This message explores what that declaration means, why Israel questioned it, and how God's answer speaks directly to anyone who has ever wondered whether God still loves them. The Book of Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament, written after the Babylonian exile during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. It is structured around six conversations between God and the people of Judah, with 47 of its 55 verses written in first person. God is speaking directly to His church, and the very first thing He says is a statement of love. In this message, we explore three dimensions of God's love drawn from Malachi chapter one. God chose His people in the past, not because of their performance or worthiness, but because of His sovereign grace. He is actively caring for them in the present, even when circumstances make it hard to see. And He promises a future moment of clarity when His faithfulness will be undeniable. We also look at how the entire book of Malachi points forward to Jesus Christ. The messenger God promised in Malachi 3:1 was John the Baptist, who prepared the way for the Messiah. The fulfillment of every promise in Malachi is found in the Gospels, in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. John 3:16 stands as the ultimate answer to Israel's question: 'How have you loved us?' Topics covered include the love of God, sovereign grace, the Book of Malachi, Old Testament prophecy, the nature of God's faithfulness, Jacob and Esau, the Babylonian exile, John the Baptist, and the connection between the Old and New Testaments. Whether you are walking through a season of doubt, struggling to see God's hand in your circumstances, or simply wanting to go deeper in your understanding of Scripture, this message is for you. God's love is not based on your performance. It is based on His promise. And there will never be a time when He stops loving you. Keywords: Book of Malachi, God's love, Old Testament, sovereign grace, Jacob and Esau, Babylonian exile, John the Baptist, Malachi sermon, does God love me, God's faithfulness, Bible study, Christian sermon, Old Testament prophecy, Jesus Christ, Romans 5:8, John 3:16, church sermon, faith and doubt, God's promises, expository preaching

 I know My Redeemer livesA form of the word for redeem גאל the verb translated redeem is used to talk of the kinsman- redeemer- Lev. 25:25, 26, 33, 48, 49, 49, 49, 54; Numbers 35:12, 19, 21, 24, 25, 27, 27; Deut. 19:6, 12; Joshua 20:3, 5, 9; Ruth 2:20; 3:9, 12, 12, 13, 13, 13, 13; 4:1, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 14; II Sam.14:11. 1.In the OT the kinsman-redeemer redeemed the property of near kinsmen- Lev. 25:25, 25, 26; Ruth 4:1-12; Jer. 32:6-15. If a man was forced to sell a piece of land handed down in the family over the generations, the kinsman-redeemer would pay the debt and keep the land in the family.  2. They redeemed a poor relative from slavery- Lev. 25:47-49. Specifically, the word appears in Lev. 25:23-24, 48, 49, 49, 49. If a near relative had to sell himself into slavery to pay off a debt the kinsman-redeemer paid his debt and released him from bondage.  3. The kinsman-redeemer avenges the death of a relative- Num. 35:12, 16-28; Deut. 19:6, 12; Josh. 20:3, 5, 9; II Sam. 14:7, 11. The word is used specifically in Num. 35:12, 19, 21, 24, 25, 27, 27. This may be the best comparison for Job invoking a redeemer here. Job had been done a great wrong that must be avenged. He has been the victim of violence (19:7).  4. The redeemer, if needed, married the wife of the near kinsman to raise up a descendant for the late relative- Ruth 3:9-13; 4:1-8. This responsibility is not specifically stated in the law, but it is lived out in the historical books. The practice in Ruth is a seeming implication of the law of the kinsmen-redeemer. The Levirate law of marriage in Deuteronomy 25:5-10 extended to other relatives beyond brothers living together.  The go'el plays a significant part in the book of Ruth (2:20; 3:9,12; 4:1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 14). A go'el demonstrated great commitment to and sacrificed himself for another- Ruth 4:1-8. The relative closer than Boaz was willing to redeem when he knew there was no heir, and the land would be his. However, when he realized that he had to marry Ruth and raise an heir up to inherit the land then he did not because it might endanger his own inheritance. A redeemer often acted at great expense to himself. The law required that a landowner leave the corners of his field- Lev. 19:9-10; 23:22. The landowner was not go back over their field, olive tree, or vineyard a second time for anything missed- Deut. 24:19-22. Boaz went far above and beyond anything the law required. Boaz invited Ruth to glean in his field- Ruth 2:8-9, 21. He gave her access to the water- Ruth 2:9. Boaz invited Ruth to eat with him- Ruth 2:14. He served Ruth- Ruth 2:14 Boaz commands his workmen that if Ruth gets ahead do not rebuke her- Ruth 2:15. He tells his workmen to deliberately to miss some things for Ruth- Ruth 2:16. Boaz did not do the bare minimum for Ruth, but he went above and beyond the call of duty for her.  In the Exodus God acted as Redeemer- Exodus 6:6; 15:13. The term is used for God thirteen times in Isaiah 41:14; 43:14; 44:6, 24; 47:4; 48:17; 49:7, 26; 54:5; 59:20; 60:16; 63:16. Many of the references in Isaiah focus on the return from Babylonian captivity. God is redeemer in Jer. 50:34. “In the Bible God is the ultimate Kinsmen Redeemer who sets the people free and restores them to their land” Ross, 461. Also see Jer. 31:11; 50:34; Lam. 3:58; Hos. 13:14; Micah 4:10. This word communicates God's love to His distressed people- Isaiah 41:14; 44:24; 49:7-9, 26.

Prepare for Tribulation Harvest (2) (audio) David Eells - 8/5/26 Raging Battle in the Second Heaven Shelly Lynch - 04/20/2013 (David's notes in red) This was given to me in answer to Paul's prayer that we would be given night visions: I woke up at 5:00 AM and prayed for the brethren and much in the Spirit. Then I was caught up in the Spirit to the second heaven. I saw and heard a 'man' to the left, whom I knew was Satan, as he railed and reviled and verbally slandered continuously. I did not listen to the words, but I knew they were vile and every form of violent anger, hatred, and slanderous accusations. As I was caught up to the second heaven, there was a strong flash of lightning and the ground shook violently, and the heavens thundered, and I could hear hail falling and pounding the ground violently. I thought it was an earthquake happening. I felt fear and dark oppression so much that it was almost suffocating. I tried to speak, but I could not. I thought the words, 'the blood of Jesus', but I could not speak them. Finally, I sobbed out the words, “the blood of Jesus!” and I was back in my bed in my room, where it was calm and still. (Claiming the deliverance of the sacrifice of Jesus is power to save.) I was shocked. I looked at the clock, and it was 6:00 AM. I was surprised there wasn't an earthquake, as it seemed so real. I prayed, asking the Lord about this because I had asked the Father for a strong anointing of the latter rain to fall on the Man-child and then to the Bride. I was not prepared for what happened. He said, “I wanted you to have a glimpse of the battle raging in the heavenly realms”. I am surprised it is a battle of words, and I realize even more how powerful the blood of Jesus is and the Word of God is to save us! I also realize how important it is that we intercede more in prayer, as our words are powerful against the battle that is raging in the heavenly realms. I know that we have an enemy who is intent on our destruction and rails against us continuously! Yet, “greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world”. I was kept safe in my Savior's arms! Praise the Lord! (Rev.12:7) And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels [going forth] to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels; (8) And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. (9) And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him. (10) And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night. (11) And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death. (12) Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe for the earth and for the sea: because the devil is gone down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time. (13) And when the dragon saw that he was cast down to the earth, he persecuted the woman that brought forth the man [child]. (14) And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (Notice the dragon could not make war on the Man-child but turned on the woman or little ones just before she was saved from the serpent in the wilderness tribulation.) After the house-cleansing from the apostates, we will begin to see the fruit of revival. We will be prepared as a Bride joined to her Man-child. The flow of the Spirit will come. We will be safe to begin to receive the little ones.   You Can Witness: Jesus Lives in You G.W.- 12/06/2008 (David's notes in red) Does the flesh attack your mind when you try to witness to others? I had a dream where I realized that I was right in the middle of a war with people being held captive at gunpoint all over the place. I could only focus on one guy who looked like an African soldier from the Congo. (This is your flesh, the old, sinful man of darkness.) I began to try to speak to help the people and persuade the soldier, but he would get angry and would shoot me in the face with his gun. (This attack against your face is to deface you to yourself. This is what the flesh does when you want to witness to someone.) I could even sense the bullets hitting my flesh, and I wondered why it didn't hurt or even kill me. In my mind, however, I began to think that it was about to do enough damage to kill me. (Don't listen to the old man, and the Lord will give you strength and wisdom.) After about two or three times of this, I found myself with the captives. (The demons want you captive to himself.) It was like we were in a Bible study, and I could tell that they wanted to hear some teaching of the Bible. Before I started talking, the thought came: “I need to have grace but need to season it with salt” (Col.4:6) Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one). I then thought and reasoned, “These people had been through too much; they needed only grace.” I began to preach to the people (2Co.9:8) And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work, but it wouldn't flow out. (This is probably because of the attacks of demons through the flesh [bullets]). These verses and advice are first of all meant for you and only then for others.) I felt like people were trying to talk about their doctrines, which I knew were wrong and the Bible study began to be disruptive. (I work in a halfway house with recovering alcoholics, drug addicts, etc.) (Yes, these people need grace to overcome bondage, not arguing over doctrines, which is a trick of the devil sometimes to destroy the word they need.) As I kept teaching, the people began to fall asleep. I then tried to pick up the huge mess they had made to gain favor with the people who had held them captive. (Pleasing the flesh makes a mess of our lives.) I then looked in a mirror and all I could see were all these bullet holes where the African man had shot me. (Looking at the damage the old man has done to the image of how we perceive ourselves is hindering many people's ministry. Look away from past failures and accept your perfection in Christ. (Php.3:13) Brethren, I could not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing [I do], forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, (14) I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (15) Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, this also shall God reveal unto you. (2Cor.5:17) Wherefore if any man is in Christ, [he is] a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new. See Jesus in you, and all that implies, and the grace and power will come from Him. (2 Cor.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. (Php.4:13) I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.)   Tribulation Surprise Mark Fritts - 11/28/2005 (David's notes in red) I had a dream last night, which I thought may be showing me the surprise of the tribulation appearing suddenly to unaware Christians. I was on a small boat on a river, being shown the sights along the river by a tour guide, I believe. (Representing other Christians and me, casually just enjoying life.) Suddenly, I noticed that the back of the boat where I sat began to fill up with water. In a matter of seconds, the boat had sunk, and we were all swimming for shore (it was like  sudden tribulation). I found myself living in an unfamiliar place and felt like I was being watched by others for being a believer in Christ. The next thing I saw was that I was in jail and had a device put around my neck like a collar, and also something was put into my ears, like headphones, but I could not take any of it off. (Christians in bondage to the enemy by influencing their hearing. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice.”) Next, I found myself in a room in a government building with others. We were being shown new surveillance equipment that they were going to put on us if we said we were Christians. (Increasingly, our electronics pick up keywords to spy on us.) I told them that I was a believer in Christ. The next thing I can remember is that the government or those in charge said that they were taking us Christians (the ones wearing surveillance equipment) on a cruise. Many of us were excited, but I knew we were going on a death cruise. A few miles out, I noticed we were being carried on a troop mover boat like the ones that drop soldiers off on a beach. I also noticed that our driver was using surveillance equipment. I believed he was working for the government and was evil. We suddenly came up to this island, which had huge cargo containers containing many bags full of something. One of the bags opened up, and the contents fell out. What fell out scared many, including me, even though I knew what was in them. The bags that fell into the water had heads inside. (Many will be beheaded for the testimony they have in Christ.) (A painless way to enter fully into the Kingdom, which was not accomplished before this time.) (In light of the fact that our government is taking its prisoners offshore in order to torture confessions out of them, this is a very real possibility.)   Last Outpouring & Gathering Amos Scaggs - 02/01/2011 (David's notes in red) I kept sensing, 'Don't go to sleep; something great is about to happen'. Then this: In a dream, I was working for a very wealthy individual (God) who owned a place on top of a mountain (the mountain of God). We were building platforms over corrals, from which you could see forever, stocking up on a large quantity of medical supplies (for unbelievers), and rounding up cattle in the surrounding fields and hills. (Cattle could represent the beastly Christians who have partaken of grass or fleshly teachings. Peter said, “All flesh is as grass.”) (Mal.4:2) But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Representing bringing in the harvest or revival and treating the spiritually sick. Bringing them into the presence of God on spiritual Mount Zion.) There were two moderate rain showers during the roundup, but the latter rain turned out to be such an outpouring that we had to run for shelter. The three of us seemed to be on horseback (resting on the subdued flesh) when the rain turned into a downpour. However, when we ran up the mountain for shelter, we were on foot. The mountain was extremely steep and difficult to climb; the strongest one ran straight up the steep part, but the other two circled around a slower, easier elevation and all met at the top. (We need to visit the Lord for strength and guidance.) (The mountain of the Kingdom of God will be easily taken by those filled with the latter rain. On top of the mountain is His temple and presence.) As the day cleared, we were talking to the owner, who instructed us to go again to gather in the roundup. We were working on a very small marble table with a small hole that you couldn't see, but you knew it was there. We said, “You fix the hole in it, and we will go”, and he said, “I will take care of that”. (God will fix the hole in the table of your heart so the Word will never leak out again. Man can preach the Gospel, but God can cure.) So our guide and the two of us went to round up the cattle of the largest roundup ever with a renewed strength. (God's provision is being stolen by the curse and the devourer, which is normal to most, but by the grace of God through the latter rain, we will see things last, and the blessing will not be wasted. The largest ingathering harvest of the saints by far is coming.) I saw the globe of Earth sectioned off in four pieces, like cutting a pie --north to south and west to east. (After the last great roundup will come the greatest division of the earth and the greatest wars that have ever been, at the time of “the great and terrible Day of the Lord”. This is when God judges the Beast and Harlot for their treatment of the saints.)   A Great and Fast-Growing Harvest M.L. - 03/03/2013 (David's notes in red) This is a dream where I am planting seeds in a flat and dry area. I wore a long, light-colored dress and a head covering of the same material. The sleeves were long but rolled up, so even though the day was quite warm, I was comfortable. I had a sling-type pouch that was put on over the head, resting on the shoulder, across the front. It very much reminded me of the front sling that some women use for their newborn. The pouch was full of seed as I began the planting. (Full of the Word of God.) Now the soil was sandy and different from what I would normally think it would be for planting. I saw the soil blow in the wind in the distance but gently, not like a sandstorm but peaceful. There were acres of flat land to be planted. (The land represents the dry hearts of the people of this world. The much land to be planted speaks of the beginning of the planting season or tribulation to come.) I bent over at the waist, and my bare feet were on each side of a long row that had already been prepared for the seed I was planting. Then I would gently cover the seed with the tips of my fingers. I didn't need to water, as it was somehow watered after I had covered it. (The seed of the Word is also the washing of the water of the Word.) There was a knowing that I should not look back, but just keep focused on the row. (Sow your seed and walk by faith and not sight.) Then there was a side view of the row where I could see a progression of growth from the one I had just planted, which was about to break through the sand, and the first one I planted, which was about five feet tall. (There will be much fruit and many will grow very fast by grace.) As I looked at this view, a sense of accomplishment and joy came over me. (1Co.3:6) I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. (7) So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. (8) Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. In this dream, there were no other trees, except those that were in the distance, far from me. Also, I was alone. I saw no other person, yet I knew that I was never really alone. Somehow, my seed never ran out, and the seeds were then watered as they needed to be. And I don't remember ever being thirsty; I was also being watered. (These seeds are sown in the hearts of men, like the parable of the sower in Matthew 13.)   Eat with the Mature and Bear Fruit K.H. - 05/17/2007 (David's notes in red) In a dream, I was visiting my grandparents one afternoon because they were going to take me to dinner. Before I got to their house, I started feeling a little strange but just brushed it off. When I got to their house, I began to notice that I felt like I was pregnant. There was absolutely no way for me to be pregnant, and this reality perplexed my conscious thoughts as this dream progressed. I decided to go to dinner even though I was still feeling a little off. All throughout dinner and during the ride back to their house, I kept thinking, How can they not see that I'm pregnant? The night went on, and I kept feeling more and more pregnant. Although I kept feeling more and more pregnant, one could not physically see that I was pregnant, so I believe it was spiritual. (pregnant with the seeed of Jesus, the Word) My mom came to pick me up shortly after my grandparents, and I got back to their house. When she looked at me, I could discern that somehow, she knew that I was pregnant. As we left my grandparents' house, my dream ended. The grandparents represent God and the more mature church of many years past. They were taking K.H. to feed on their food/Word that truly brings forth Christ. From them, she brought that fruit to her mother, who represents the church of today, which needs to see the manifestation of the fruit of Christ in her. It is a virgin birth, having nothing to do with man. In this way, the grandparents are the parents of her parent, too. Her grandfather, God, is the Father of her spiritual Father, Jesus, Who sowed the seed of the Word in her heart. Her grandmother is the mother of her more immature modern-day mother. By studying the pure Word, you can eat with your grandparents. The food they serve is much more mature for growing up.   Breakfast with the Lord  Shelly Lynch - 04/30/2013 (David's notes in red) I went back to bed to rest this morning, as I had awakened earlier at 5:00 AM with the first dream given to me. As soon as I lay down and prayed, I was caught up in the Spirit to have breakfast with Jesus. (We can always feed at the Lord's table -- breakfast, lunch, supper, and snacks in between.) I saw Him in the kitchen, preparing scrambled eggs and bacon. I could smell the aroma of good food, and it made me hungry! I sat down at the table and we had a conversation. I asked Him to make my love for Him as strong and as passionate as His love for me. He agreed that this is the way we shall be one in the Spirit. I could hear Jesus sharing about how people keep coming to Him, wanting to follow Him. He barely spoke a word, and they came and followed Him. He was so happy to see them come! I didn't want to forget the lessons He was teaching me, but He reminded me that the Holy Spirit will bring them to my remembrance. It was glorious to eat breakfast with the Lord. He fed me with His Words. I was satisfied and felt so loved in His presence. I asked Him if we could have breakfast every morning and He replied, “Dinner too? What about lunch?” I said, “Yes, Lord!” He laughed and said, “Absolutely!” Then He added, “You can come and have a snack, too!” I laughed and felt so blessed by His Words. When I woke up, I felt pregnant and told the Lord, “I feel very pregnant”. He replied, “You are. For my seed has been sown in you!” I am waiting on the Lord to bring it to birth in me, making me into the image of my Lord. (Joh.21:12) Jesus saith unto them, Come and break your fast. And none of the disciples durst inquire of him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. … (19) Now this he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. Later in the day, as I was working in the garden, mulching strawberry plants with rabbit fertilizer and straw, I meditated on the breakfast conversation. I thought about how the woman is given two wings of the great eagle to go into the wilderness. I thought about how eaglets ride on the backs of the eagle that carries them while they are resting. I thought that was how it was this morning to have breakfast with Jesus. I rested while He cooked breakfast and fed me His Words. I thought about how the multitudes are drawn to Him and follow Him because they are hungry for His Words. He only, has the Words of Life that feed our hungry souls! He reminded me that is how it will be for those He gives unto me to feed them the Word, that they will be drawn by the Father to come because they see Jesus living in me! Hallelujah! Later, as I finished in the garden, He asked, “Are you ready to set the table?” I said, “Yes, Lord. How many places shall I set?” He said, “Many. For multitudes are coming!” Hallelujah! (A revival of the pure Word is coming.) I believe it is almost time for the Marriage Feast to begin!   Harvest of Baby Christians G.M. - 8/18/19 (David's notes in red) As I was in the garden gathering produce this evening, the Lord reminded me of a dream I had this morning about a baby boy. (Gathering produce from God's garden is what this parable of the baby boy fruit is about. (Son.6:2) My beloved is gone down to his garden, To the beds of spices, To feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. … (11) I went down into the garden of nuts, To see the green plants of the valley, To see whether the vine budded, And the pomegranates were in flower.) I was in a home; I don't know whose home it was, or if it was even my own. (It is the Bride's Spiritual Home to raise up children. As a type of today's corporate Man-child, Jesus, the Man-child, raised up the Bride to take care of His garden. John the Baptist, seeing the first disciples of Jesus, the Man-child, with Him said, “He that hath the Bride is the Bridegroom.”) I was walking rather quickly through the living room. As I was about to walk past a recliner, I saw a small baby boy, 2-3 months old. (The spiritual age of an incoming harvest of God's garden who have the maturity of the Baby Jesus, not the mature Jesus. We all have a measure of Jesus living in our lives. The outer man is the spiritual mother of the Baby Jesus within. (Mat.12:50) For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother. (Col.1:27) to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: When this baby Jesus is born, it begins to be manifested to the world outside. Mary, as a type of us bearing the fruit of Jesus, the Word, was told (Luk.1:45) And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord. What was spoken to Mary and us? That we would bear the fruit of Jesus.) I saw the Baby nearly fall off the footrest of the recliner. (Representing the fruit of the Man-child Jesus in a new harvest of immature Christians coming to the “living room” of the Bride to be raised up. The immature are in danger of falling from the rest in the troubles to come now so we must care for them. The D.S. is invading with an army of antichrist people to persecute the Church and especially the apostate leadership, their houses, and houses of worship. The Lord showed us that this is to prepare the Church to come out of Babylonish religion and follow the Man-child reformers into the wilderness tribulation, as in Rev.12.) I caught the baby before he hit the floor. (Our prayers and teachings of the Word will uphold them.) This little baby had the prettiest blue eyes. (This speaks of the Heavenly discernment of Christ growing in them). He had a bright smile as I cuddled him. (This speaks of their great joy to be finally getting their eyes opened to the truth.) My thought was to find a diaper for him as he was totally naked. (Needing the Word to be dressed up with the works of Jesus.) I just had the thought about finding a diaper, and he peed on me. I decided he was just excited and happy for me to cuddle him. No problem. (They will need love and nurturing from the Bride, led by the Man-child. Without this, many will fall away.) That was all that I saw in the dream. The baby and I were the only ones in the dream. There was no one in the recliner, so I don't know how the baby got on the footrest of the chair. (It's a foot - rest. They are learning to rest by faith from their old walk.)  I asked for a verse for this dream by faith at random. (This text speaks of the people of God coming out of Babylonian religious and beast captivity because their Babylonish land had been destroyed and Cyrus had freed them to go to Zion, the Bride. There they are, the blocks of the building of the restored Kingdom of God.) I was given Isaiah 43:7; my finger was on the word, formed. Since this sentence begins in V-5 I am giving it in context 5-7. (Isa 43:5) Fear not; for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; (6) I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back; bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the end of the earth; (7) every one that is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yea, whom I have made. (This is speaking of Israel, a type of the Church, coming out of Conquered Babylon to go to their Man-child/Bride reformer leadership in Zion. (Isa 49:12-26) Lo, these shall come from far; and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim. (13) Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for Jehovah hath comforted his people, and will have compassion upon his afflicted (in Babylon). (14) But Zion said, Jehovah hath forsaken me, and the Lord hath forgotten me. (15) Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, these may forget, yet will not I forget thee. (16) Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. (17) Thy (Zion's) children make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste (Babylon's factions) shall go forth from thee. (18) Lift up thine eyes (Zion, the Bride) round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith Jehovah, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all as with an ornament, and gird thyself with them, like a bride. (19) For, as for thy waste and thy desolate places, and thy land (Babylon) that hath been destroyed, surely now shalt thou be too strait for the inhabitants, and they (Babylon factions of state and Church) that swallowed thee up shall be far away. (20) The children of thy (Zion's) bereavement shall yet say in thine ears, The place is too strait for me (i.e. we gotta spiritually get out of Babylon); give place to me (In the Promised Land) that I may dwell. (21) Then shalt thou (Zion) say in thy heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have been bereaved of my children, (Notice the children who come from Babylonish captivity will be different in nature from those who departed from the Bride to go there.) and am solitary, an exile, and wandering to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where were they? (In Babylon's training to show them what apostasy is.) (22) Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and set up my ensign to the peoples; and they shall bring thy (Zion's) sons in their bosom, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. (23) And kings (Like Cyrus / Trump and those like him) shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their faces to the earth, and lick the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah; and they that wait for me shall not be put to shame. (24) Shall the prey (The Church) be taken from the mighty (Babylon), or the lawful captives (They were in bondage for sin) be delivered? (Delivered from Babylonish leadership) (25) But thus saith Jehovah, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee (Father will bring judgment against Babylon, but then He will bring them to their Red Sea.), and I will save thy children. (26) And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, (The factious Edomites in Church and State will be devastated) as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I, Jehovah, am thy Saviour, and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. Back to the text in Isaiah 43, we find out what happens to those factious Edomites in Church and State who persecuted and killed Father's people. (Isa 43:14-21) Thus saith Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake I have sent to Babylon, (As a chastening for sins so they may repent) and I will bring down all of them as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing. (15) I am Jehovah, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. (16) Thus saith Jehovah, who maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; (The Church is coming out of Babylon, like Israel came out of Babylon and Egypt.  There is still a Red Sea for the captors.) (17) who bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the mighty man (they lie down together, they shall not rise; they are extinct, they are quenched as a wick): (18) Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. (Forget the persecution complex, for the Blessing now comes) (19) Behold, I will do a new thing; now shall it spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. (This is Father's provision out of heaven in the wilderness Tribulation) (20) The beasts of the field shall honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen, (21) the people which I formed for myself, that they might set forth my praise. After receiving this dream, I felt it concerned household salvation for my family and the families of others. (Many of these and others will be coming out from under Babylonish Christianity and into the true Bible Kingdom because of our prayers of faith for them.) This is an awesome chapter of deliverance and redemption. He alone is our Savior, Who has already met all our needs. PTL for His faithfulness! I asked for a verse concerning the recliner and the footrest. I was given Romans 8:28; with my finger on “all things work together for good”; (in context 26-30) (Rom 8:26) And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: (It is the Spirit of God speaking through us that brings us into the rest from our own works. (Isa.28:11) Nay, but by men of strange lips and with another tongue will he speak to this people; (12) to whom he said, This is the rest, give ye rest to him that is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.) So, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how we should pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered; (At the beginning of the wilderness tribulation, the Spirit will be poured out like it was for Israel in the cloud.) (The Baby is in the Spirit of the Lord's hands. We must rest in Him and His ability to change hearts.) Back to (Rom 8:27) and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (28) And we know to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose. (29) (a reference to the Baby?) For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son (The Baby), that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: (30) and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. It is faith in the promises that keeps us in the rest because, as we see in our texts, Father has prophetically already delivered us and provided for us, so why worry? REST in faith. Redemption from the curse on Father's people for their sin is truly finished! In fact, God's “works were finished from the foundation of the world” (Heb.4:3) when He spoke the plan into existence. The only thing left is for the true sons of God to enter into those works by faith, believing they have received. Since the works are finished, we should believe and rest from our own works to save, heal, and deliver ourselves. (3) For we who have believed do enter into that rest. Notice it is not the one who ceases on Saturday or Sunday but the one who believes who enters the New Covenant Sabbath rest. (9) There remaineth therefore a Sabbath rest (Greek: sabbatismos, meaning “keeping of rest”) for the people of God. This constant “keeping of rest” every day, not one day a week, through the past tense promises is our spiritual Sabbath. (10) For he that is entered into his rest hath himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. This rest is to believe these past tense promises and rest from our own works to save ourselves. Our faith in each of these promises brings us into more of the rest. We should be diligent not to leave out even one of these promises for our own good. (Heb.4:1) Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. (2) For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard. This is true faith and always brings the answer. Through believing the promises, we enter into rest from our own works. For a child of God to say that they believe they have received and yet continue seeking to receive, usually through worldly methods, is to be double-minded. (Jas.1:6) But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. (7) For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord; (8) a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways. Those who continue to work for what God has freely given believe in salvation by works. (Heb.4:10) For he that is entered into his rest, hath himself also rested from his works. (Heb.3:19) And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief. Since the promises of deliverance from the curse are past tense, when we believe them, we must stop working. It is an evil heart of unbelief to not rest. God was angry with Israel because they would not believe His Word in their trial in the wilderness (Heb.3:8-10). (Heb.3:11) As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest. (12) Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God. ... (14) We are become partakers of Christ (His health, holiness, and blessing) if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end. When we “believe we have received,” as Jesus commanded, we are put in a position of weakness because we cannot do anything to bring the desired result to pass. This weakness is rest in our wilderness experiences because there is no help from Egypt or the world. Only God's power saves in the wilderness. God says, “My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor.12:9). If we refuse to be weak, God refuses to be strong in our behalf. Our weapon against our enemies who try to talk us out of our covenant rights is the two-edged sword of these past tense promises (Heb.4:11,12).

Daily Dose of Hope August 4, 2026   Scripture: 2 Kings 25   Prayer:  Holy God, We come before you today distracted and with scattered thoughts.  Help us focus, Lord, on you and your Word.  Help us, in the next few moments, to be silent, still, and remember that you are God...Thank you, Lord, for your care and concern for our lives.  Thank you for how you show up in amazing and unexpected ways!  We give you glory, Lord Jesus.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  Today, we are finishing up the book of 2 Kings.  I think by this time, most of us know that the ending is not going to be a happy one – necessary yes but happy no.  Just a reminder, tomorrow we will be beginning our deep dive into Genesis and Exodus and we will start at the very, very beginning, Genesis 1.  Hope you will join us.   Today's reading is 2 Kings 25.  It appears the end has come.  The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, came and surrounded Jerusalem.  That meant no food could come in and after several months, the people were starving.  Eventually, the Judean army broke through the wall and fled.  But it was pointless.  The Babylonians caught up with them.  King Zedekiah was arrested.  His sons were killed in front of him and his eyes were gouged out.  Not very pretty.   The remaining treasures were taken apart and carried off to Babylon and then the Temple, the palace, and the homes were all burned.  Only the poorest of the poor remained.  Jerusalem was now a sad shell of itself, just as God told them it would be.   So what can we learn from this?   1.        Sin has consequences.  That seems to be the most prominent theme. 2.        Human kings have nothing on God.  Human kingship and wealth will only get you so far.  God is in control over everyone and everything.  3.        So many people start well and end poorly.  We see this throughout the Bible.  How will we ensure that we end well? 4.        God's purpose will always prevail.  And that brings me great peace, because I know that God is totally loving, just, and filled with truth and grace.  We can trust Him and his purposes. 5.        Be thankful for Jesus.  We live on the other side of the cross.  We have been offered forgiveness and mercy even though we don't deserve it.  Thank you, Jesus.   Join us for Genesis 1 tomorrow.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki          

Welcome to Day 2918 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2918 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 147:12-20 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2918 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2918 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Swift Word of the Sovereign King – Fortifying Zion and Thawing the Frozen Wilderness On our previous expedition—on Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Seventeen—we stepped onto the opening slopes of Psalm One Hundred Forty-Seven, exploring verses one through eleven. We marveled at the breathtaking paradox of our Creator: the very same Almighty God who marshals the stars of heaven, calling each one by name, is the gentle Physician who bends down to bandage the broken hearts of hurting exiles. We learned that Yahweh takes no delight in the brute strength of warhorses or human self-reliance, but instead, takes supreme pleasure in those who humbly put their hope in His unfailing covenant love. Today, as we continue along Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Eighteen of our trek, we move directly into the second half of this glorious hymn: Psalm One Hundred Forty-Seven, verses twelve through twenty. In this concluding movement, the psalmist turns his focus toward the fortified walls of Jerusalem, the fierce power of winter weather, and the unique, incomparable privilege of receiving God's holy word. We will see how the sovereign command of yahweh rules effortlessly over both the physical elements of nature and the spiritual destiny of His covenant people. The first segment is: Fortified Gates and the Finest Wheat: The Security of the City Let us open our ears to the exuberant call to worship that begins this second stanza, as recorded in the New Living Translation, grouping together the logical, contiguous thoughts found in verse twelve, verse thirteen, and verse fourteen. Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For he has strengthened the bars of your gates and blessed your children within your city. He sends peace across your nation and satisfies your hunger with the finest wheat. The psalmist issues a thunderous, joyous summons to the holy city, shouting, “Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!” He immediately anchors this call in concrete acts of divine protection and flourishing, declaring, “For he has strengthened the bars of your gates and blessed your children within your city. He sends peace across your nation and satisfies your hunger with the finest wheat.” To grasp the profound relief and joy embedded in these verses, we must remember the historical setting of post-exilic Jerusalem. The city walls had been torn down by Nebuchadnezzar's armies, the gates were burned with fire, and for decades, the returning remnants lived in perpetual fear of hostile surrounding tribes. But when Nehemiah and the people rebuilt the walls under Yahweh's guidance, the city gates were once again secured with heavy bars! Yet, the psalmist recognizes that physical iron bars are useless unless the Lord Himself strengthens them. It is Yahweh who establishes real, impenetrable security around the community, allowing children to play safely within the city streets without fear of sudden invasion. Furthermore, notice the scope of this blessing! It extends from structural safety to internal prosperity. Yahweh grants shalom—complete, untroubled peace—across the borders of the nation, and He satisfies the people's hunger with the “finest wheat.” In the Ancient Israelite divine-council worldview, neighboring pagan nations believed that agriculture and territorial peace depended on sacrificing to localized fertility gods like Baal or Asherah. But Israel knew the truth! Yahweh alone controls the borders of the earth, and Yahweh alone opens the bounty of creation to nourish His children with the very best food. The second segment is: The Cosmic Voice of Winter: Snow, Frost, and the Swift Word The narrative now transitions from civil security to the vast, sweeping power of God's command over the forces of nature, combining the contiguous thoughts found in verse fifteen, verse sixteen, verse seventeen, and verse eighteen. He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly! He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls the hail like stones. Who can stand against his freezing cold? Then at his command, it melts. He sends the wind, and the ice thaws. Look at the astonishing speed and absolute authority of God's royal decrees! The psalmist proclaims, “He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly! He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls the hail like stones. Who can stand against his freezing cold? Then at his command, it melts. He sends the wind, and the ice thaws.” In this breathtaking section, the word of God—His davar—is personified as an invincible, swift royal messenger! In the ancient Near East, human kings sent runners across their empires to deliver royal decrees, but those human couriers were limited by speed, terrain, and exhaustion. When Yahweh speaks from His celestial throne room, His word runs like lightning across the globe, instantly obeyed by every element of creation. Notice how the psalmist paints the freezing winter weather: snow falling soft and thick like white wool, frost coating the ground like scattered wood-ash, and hail pounding down like jagged stones! Winter in the mountainous regions of Israel could be severe, paralyzing life and threatening survival. The psalmist asks the dramatic rhetorical question: “Who can stand against his freezing cold?” Human military power, heavy armor, and thermal garments are completely helpless when the Creator turns down the tem“erature of the earth! Yet, just as quick”y as the frost seals the land in ice, Yahweh issues another swift command: He releases His warm wind—His ruach—and the ice immediately thaws, streams begin to flow again, and spring returns to the land. In the divine-council framework, the spiritual principalities that pagan nations worshipped as lords of winter or chaos are unmasked as mere puppets before Yahweh; the weather is simply obedient clay in the hands of the ultimate Cosmic Craftsman. The third segment is: The Unique Treasure: Revealing Decrees to Jacob Having demonstrated how Yahweh's swift word commands the physical cosmos, the psalmist reaches the grand finale of the psalm, revealing the supreme, incomparable gift given exclusively to Israel, as recorded in verse nineteen and verse twenty. He has revealed his word to Jacob, his decrees and regulations to Israel. He has not done this for any other nation; they do not know his regulations. Praise the Lord! The psalmist seals this magnificent hymn with a declaration of astounding covenant privilege, exclaiming, “He has revealed his word to Jacob, his decrees and regulations to Israel. He has not done this for any other nation; they do not know his regulations. Praise the Lord!” Think about the staggering theological progression of Psalm One Hundred Forty-Seven! The God who commands the trillions of stars in verse four, and who directs the freezing hail and melting winds in verses fifteen through eighteen, has chosen to speak directly to human beings! But He did not reveal His holy, written law to the mighty Egyptian empire, nor to the cultured Babylonians, nor to the warlike Assyrians. Instead, He entrusted His sacred decrees, His Torah, and His legal judgments—His mishpatim—uniquely to the descendants of Jacob! To fully appreciate this verse, we must view it through the lens of Deuteronomy chapter thirty-two in the ancient Israelite divine-council worldview. When Yahweh divided the nations after the Tower of Babel, He allocated the pagan peoples under the oversight of lesser spiritual beings, the "sons of God." But Israel was Yahweh's personal, direct inheritance! While other nations stumbled in spiritual darkness, worshipping idols and guessing at the desires of fickle gods, Israel was given the clear, brilliant, life-giving light of Yahweh's written word. They were given the blueprint of cosmic wisdom, showing them how to live in alignment with the Creator. This unique revelation calls for an explosive, ultimate response, ending the psalm with that glorious, unshakeable command: Hallelujah—Praise the Lord! As we conclude today's trek through Psalm One Hundred Forty-Seven,

A frequent argument leveled against the Bible by skeptics and non-believers is that the Bible is just a collection of borrowed myths from surrounding pagan nations. But is that actually true? Are stories in the Bible just borrowed mythology from other pagan cultures? The short answer is "Absolutely not." The longer answer can be found in Old Testament scholar and theologian Dr. John Oswalt, in his 2009 book, The Bible Among the Myths - Unique Revelation or Just Ancient Literature? This week and next on Apologetics Profile, Watchman staff apologist Daniel Ray sits down with John for a lively and highly accessible and pastoral conversation about his book. From Zondervan Academic: Dr. John N. Oswalt (PhD, Brandeis University) is Visiting Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. He is the author of numerous articles and several books, including the two-volume commentary on Isaiah in the New International Commentary on the Old Testament series and Called to be Holy: A Biblical Perspective.The Bible Among the Myths Isaiah CommentaryFree Resources from Watchman Fellowship:   Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Bart Ehrman by Dr. Rhyne Putman: www.watchman.org/Ehrman  Atheism: www.watchman.org/Atheism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Deconstruction by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Deconstruction   Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Divine Hiddenness by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Hiddenness  Other Resources from Watchman FellowshipFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.The complete Profile Notebook (Digital Edition, PDF): 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 © 2026 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

The Time Traveler’s Quick Guide to Armageddon       Over the last several months, we have done some deep dives into the principalities and powers in high places, the beast kingdoms, and then more particularly, into the kings of the east, another category that intersects with the beast kingdoms, including the Persian bear.   In term of their proto-prophecies in the Torah, we’ve been all over the place because prophecy is cyclical, even though not identical, from generation to generation. When we read of events in the Psalms, Writings, Prophets, and New Testament, the writers expect us to already be familiar with those proto-prophecies.   It was important to establish the earmarks of the battles with the kings of the east in Torah because Adonai declares the end from the beginning. If we want to have the basic understanding of the sixth and seventh bowls of wrath in the end and how they lure in the nations to Armageddon (Har-Megiddo), then we familiarize ourselves with them at the beginning:   “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”)   And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.   Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.” And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty.” (Re 16:12-18)   Har is “mountain,” and Megiddo is “a place of crowds,” so important in its military situation that it has been destroyed and built over numerous times. It overlooks the Jezreel Valley's flat, agriculturally fertile abundance as well as the road to the Western Sea, or Mediterranean, an excellent place to monitor the coastal trade route that connected continents from ancient times. John prophesies of a final crowd that will be drawn to this ancient hill in the ol’ breadbasket of Israel.   Rather than review some of the many points from our Heaven Shaking the Bear series, I will use them to augment some additional points in this newsletter. You can always go back and access the transcripts (thank you, volunteers!) or videos for little details, such as why even Canaanite kings are considered kings of the east. I'd rather add some new information for your handy time travel guide to Armageddon. We'll be half Marty McFly and half Indiana Jones on our hunt for clues to Armageddon.   Let's take a seat in our time machine, the Word, and travel back to our familiar story in Judges 4-5, the story of Deborah, Barak, and Sisera with his 900 iron chariots. A little clue is in Sisera's 900 chariots. It links the ancient with the future. Nine hundred years (plus some) is the typical age of the pre-flood notables from Adam to Noah. In human history, they are the ancients. It was an era marked by the rebellion of the “sons of Elohim” who provoked human beings to such a violence.   Sisera's chariots were iron, denoting the Roman beast kingdom that is mingled with clay in the feet of his image. In other words, something of Deborah's story will establish a template for understanding the final defeat of the Red One, who appears in Revelation as the chosen steed for the Great Harlot Babylon. The nine-hundred-year era of the days of Noah and its violence will link to the end time of Armageddon.   Every time I see the word “Babylonian,” my mind says, “babaloney.” Don't know why. But ick.   Okay, now let's power up the time machine. We need to visit Abraham's time during the battle for Sodom among the kings of the east, the Covenant Between the Pieces, and then visit Moses in the wilderness.   Ready? Push the Abraham button. It might say, Avram, but you'll recognize it. Here we go.   Wait, wait. First, tape a copy of Judges 4-5 and a map of Israel on your steering wheel. We'll need to compare what we see with the first battle of Armageddon that Deborah fought against Sisera to our past future locations.   Okay, here we come, Abrahamic period. We are landing among the four kings of the east, led by Amraphel (perhaps Nimrod), who marched through and defeated territories east of the Jordan. The five kings of the Sodom coalition have quit paying their taxes, so the four kings are on their way to collect plus interest.   Even though those cities of Sodom are situated mostly to the east of the Salt Sea, after the four kings first march and defeat cities east of the Jordan and in the highlands of Bashan, they are continuing as far as the Negev near Kadesh, En-Mishpat, and Hazazon-Tamar. By bypassing the Sodom coalition cities, the four kings are giving the five kings time to muster before the four kings turn back east and meet them near the Salt Sea in battle. Do you see this? Inexplicably, Sodom's five kings are falling into tar pits! Shouldn't they know about those tar pits? After all, this is their territory! How strange!   And there goes Lot and his family as captives. And there…someone escapes and runs to tell Abraham. Okay, we don't have to follow them up to Damascus. We know how this ends. Check your Judges 4-5 Scriptures and map. They're taped to your steering wheel, remember?   Something similar happened to Sisera's iron chariot. Like Pharaoh drove his chariots into the Reed Sea and there his chariot wheels became “confused,” so Sisera drove his chariots into the mud of the Kishon, which he should have known about because he was a Canaanite.   Although Pharaoh was not a “king of the east,” he is the dragon, and his authority was passed to them. This suggests that our soggy bottom boys are experiencing a Divine intervention, not just a human battle. Something flies in their brains, stings them, and causes confusion…perhaps the tzirah, the supernatural hornet of Moses and Joshua?   The tzirah went before the armies of Israel, and it helped Moses conquer on the east side of the Jordan and Joshua on the west side of the Jordan. It first causes confusion, and then it cuts off root and fruit. It is the supernatural bug described as being released from the King of Abaddon in Revelation.   Not so coincidentally, Deborah's name means “bee” in Hebrew, and “hornet” in Aramaic. The root of her name is “word,” as in Devarim, the fifth book of the Torah and perhaps the most apocalyptic since it is the little scroll of Torah. There was a reason Barak would not take his soldiers into battle without her; she represented the Divine power of the Word going before them!   How does Deborah know to tell Barak that he needs exactly 10,000 soldiers mustered from a place named “Kedesh”?   Deborah judged Israel under the “palm tree of Deborah.” A palm tree is a tamar:   “She used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment (mishpat ????????????).”   Can you see Deborah studying the scrolls of Torah? Those scrolls are rolling her right into the time of Avraham, and she sees the conquests of Moses and Joshua in the wilderness, such as Amalek. She recognizes the conquests of the four kings as having the same names that are in the hill country of Ephraim near Har-Megiddo: From Kadesh to Kedesh. From Hazazon-Tamar to the tamar providing her shade to read the scroll. From En-Mishpat to her job rendering mishpat for Israel.   We know Deborah has spent time scroll-rolling back to Abraham's time because she mentions something specific in her Judges Five song. The Song of Deborah mentions the courage of the tribe of Ephraim in the defeat of Sisera's chariots:   “From Ephraim, those whose root is in Amalek came down…”   If you need to, program in “Amalek in the Wilderness,” and travel there to see a bit of the battle. This “root in Amalek” is thought to refer to the wilderness battle under Moses in which the Ephraimite Joshua defeated Amalek. The tribe of Ephraim is rooted in its leadership in the victory in the wilderness in Israel's first encounter with Amalek.   Deborah knows Amalek is enticed to attack when its opponent looks weak, so that gives her a Divine strategy in enticing this king of the east Sisera to his Armageddon. Okay, now travel back to the battle between the four kings and the five kings. The four kings of the east also conquered Amalek before turning back to battle the five kings of Sodom.   While the battle continues, let's return to this question (you already know how that battle ends): How does Deborah know to tell Barak that he needs exactly 10,000 soldiers mustered from a place named “Kedesh”?   We've only partially answered it. And our answer is based on the battle between bad kings of the east vs worse kings of the east. We don't want to take this as the only source of Deborah's inspired strategy to lure Sisera to Har-Megiddo. Deborah is scrolling through the rolls of the Torah, and she must have some even better prophecies on which she bases her battle with Sisera. Let's leave these guys for Avraham to deal with and travel forward and back to Deborah's palm tree for more clues.   Yes, time travelers. Next week we'll go back to the future with Deborah and spend some more time with Avraham and Moses. There must be a connection between Deborah's forty years of peace in Israel and Moses' forty years in the wilderness. Deborah has the handy traveler's guide to help her map it all out. We'll see her secret of selecting 10,000, and we might even take a peek inside Yael's tent to find that she knew the Torah, and it guided her hand when she drove the tent peg into Sisera's head.   Oh, dear, oh dread. Sandals muddy like heavy lead. Some yogurt he was fed. Then he went to bed. Now Sisera is dead. A tent peg's in his head.   Okay, Deborah is better at composing songs than I am. I gave it a shot. Roll your time travel machines to Judges 4-5, and we'll see you next week.   Please SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to get new teachings.

Brian Godawa is back again! He is a bestselling author, screenwriter, and biblical researcher known for transforming Scripture's supernatural worldview into epic historical fiction. His newest novel, Daniel: Exile in Babylon, explores Daniel's captivity, Babylonian culture, spiritual warfare, and the unseen powers operating behind earthly kingdoms all through an exciting fantasy fictional format! LINKS: https://godawa.com 00:00:00 Opening Preview and Introduction 00:04:26 Brian Godawa and Biblical Historical Fiction 00:07:02 Daniel: Exile in Babylon 00:11:20 Watchers, Spiritual Powers, and Babylonian Magic 00:23:19 Daniel, the Magi, and the Gospel in the Stars 00:39:23 Daniel's Occult Education and Faithfulness to God 00:44:20 Narrative Theology, Hollywood, and Christian Storytelling 00:55:50 Daniel's Age, Eunuch Status, and Life in Babylon 01:06:50 Connecting Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Esther 01:11:30 Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and God's “Little People” 01:18:13 Brian's Books and Closing Thoughts

Brian Godawa is back again! He is a bestselling author, screenwriter, and biblical researcher known for transforming Scripture's supernatural worldview into epic historical fiction. His newest novel, Daniel: Exile in Babylon, explores Daniel's captivity, Babylonian culture, spiritual warfare, and the unseen powers operating behind earthly kingdoms all through an exciting fantasy fictional format!    LINKS: https://godawa.com    00:00:00 Opening Preview and Introduction  00:04:26 Brian Godawa and Biblical Historical Fiction  00:07:02 Daniel: Exile in Babylon  00:11:20 Watchers, Spiritual Powers, and Babylonian Magic  00:23:19 Daniel, the Magi, and the Gospel in the Stars  00:39:23 Daniel's Occult Education and Faithfulness to God  00:44:20 Narrative Theology, Hollywood, and Christian Storytelling  00:55:50 Daniel's Age, Eunuch Status, and Life in Babylon  01:06:50 Connecting Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Esther  01:11:30 Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and God's "Little People"  01:18:13 Brian's Books and Closing Thoughts

DANIEL (Daniel 1:3-5 NIV) Then the king ordered the chief to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. Your greatest ministry may happen in a place you never wanted to be. There’s a difference between having a resolve to follow God and merely dabbling in faith. (Daniel 1:8 NIV) But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. (Daniel 6:10 NIV) Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. He prayed “before” the crisis. That’s why he knew what to do during the crisis. When prayer is your habit, panic loses its power. (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Daniel 1:7 NIV) The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. Hananiah – Yahweh has been gracious. Mishael – Who is what God is. Azariah – Yahweh has helped. Shadrach – Inspired of Aku. Meshach – Belonging to Aku. Abendnego – Servant of Nego. (Matthew 16:18 HCSB) And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the forces of Hades will not overpower it. (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NIV) We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (Isaiah 43:1 ESV) Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine.

Present Condition: Gods Grace Romans 11:1-6 The Proof of Gods Faithfulness (v. 1) Pauls exasperation Pauls example The Preservation of Gods Remnant (vv. 2-4) Elijahs discouragement Gods encouragement The Provision of Gods Grace (vv. 5-6) The election of grace (God elects salvation by grace) The exactness of grace (God rejects salvation by works) More to Consider For centuries people have been puzzled by the nation of Israel. The Roman government recognized the Jewish religion, but it still called the nation secta Nef ariaa nefarious sect. The great historian Arnold Toynbee classified Israel as a fossil civilization and did not know what to do with it. For some reason, the nation did not fit into his historical theories. Paul devoted all of Romans 11 to presenting proof that God is not through with Israel. We must not apply this chapter to the church today, because Paul is discussing a literal future for a literal nation. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 550. The Jew is the symbol of eternity.... He is the one who for so long had guarded the prophetic message and transmitted it to all mankind. A people such as this can never disappear. The Jew is eternal. He is the embodiment of eternity. Leo Tolsty The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed; and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other people have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality? Mark Twain

The Babylonian Captivity of the Church by Martin Luther is a treatise that examines how errors in the sacramental system kept people laboring under a system of works rather than promise. In this episode, Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley discuss Luther’s critique of the medieval Catholic view of the sacraments of penance and confirmation. Luther identifies that a reliance on human works and priestly control is destructive to a person’s relationship with God. Screenshot Beer Break We review the Abbey Ale from Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, New York. This dubbel focuses on licorice root, orange peel, and spices.

Greetings Oddities! In this episode of the Those We Don't Speak Of Series Pt. 29, we continue the series within a series on Kabbalah! In this installment I continue talking about the precursor to Kabbalah called Merkaba Mysticism and focus on one specific influential rabbi Akiva in particular. Akiva known to be the mastermind behind the Oral Law was also the star of Merkaba (Chariot) Mysticism. I look at his influence and a couple other founders of modern Judaism with occult ties. So come with me as we go deep down the rabbit hole, far beyond the mainstream! Cheers and BlessingsSupport My Workhttps://www.patreon.com/theoddmanoutBuy Me A Coffee!https://buymeacoffee.com/theoddmanoutVenmo Tips - @theoddmanoutCash App Tips - https://cash.app/$theoddmanout   T-shirts, Mugs and Stickers  The Odd Man Out Merch Store At Bonfire https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-odd-man-out/TeeSpring https://theoddmanout.creator-spring.com/All Links https://linktr.ee/_theoddmanoutOddman Rumble https://rumble.com/user/TheOddManOut Social Media: _theoddmanout on Twitter, and Instagram      Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theoddcastfttheoddmanout

Fr. Mike emphasizes our title as children of God as we read about the tragedy of the Babylonian exile. Even in our lowest moments, God wants us to know that he has called us each by name and has called us his, because a good Father does not abandon his children. Today's readings are Isaiah 43-44, Ezekiel 4-5, and Proverbs 12:5-8. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

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The squad navigates a high-stakes Homie Helpline where a 20-year-old Air Force candidate considers "ejecting" from fatherhood to save his pilot career after a toxic headbutt-filled breakup. Between the relationship drama, the crew roasts Drake for his suspicious vibing at a Karol G concert and dives into the discovery of a Babylonian tablet containing history's first recorded "Yo Mama" joke.

When the Babylonian captivity finally ended, the returning remnant didn't find a pristine Promised Land—they found cracked foundations, burned gates, and a pile of rubble. If your faith, your marriage, or your sense of identity currently feels like a collection of broken stones, Ezra and Nehemiah provide the ultimate masterclass on how to reconstruct what has been destroyed. Summary: In this powerful episode, we delve into the twin narratives of Ezra and Nehemiah, books that historically stood as a single text detailing the painful, beautiful work of restoration. We map this journey onto the psychological and spiritual landscape of construction, deconstruction, and reconstruction, discovering how the Lord uses common, unnamed people to do the heavy lifting of the kingdom. The Temple and the Wall: We analyze why Ezra focuses on rebuilding the temple (our spiritual center) while Nehemiah focuses on rebuilding the walls (our behavioral boundaries). You cannot safely have one without the other. The Tears of the Ancient Men: We step into the emotional complexity of Ezra 3, where the shouting of the young blends with the weeping of the old. Discover how beauty emerges from ashes when we confront our history with absolute honesty. Samaritan Sabotage: We break down the subtle tactics of Sanballat and Tobiah—the "counselors" hired to frustrate the work through a war of words rather than an open military conflict. Learn how to navigate modern historical half-truths and secular critiques. The Trowel and the Spear: We dissect Nehemiah's defensive strategy, where workers built with one hand while holding a weapon in the other. We explore our modern duty to build up testimonies while defending the kingdom from relentless intimidation. Saying "Oh No" to Ono: We confront the modern trap of diversion. Nehemiah was targeted with invitations to negotiate in the plain of Ono, but his response stands as a timeless shield against worldly distractions: "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down." The Historical Prayer: We unpack the breathtaking Levitical prayer in Nehemiah 9, tracing how God consistently answers Israel's structural rebellion with manifold mercies, reminding us that He never closes shop on a repentant soul. Call-to-Action: Nehemiah refused to flee into the temple to save his own skin, recognizing that true covenant leadership requires us to stand our ground with a clear conscience and trust the Master. When the modern adversaries of faith tell you that you are trying to "revive stones out of a heap of rubbish," how do you keep your mind focused on the work? Let's build a meaningful dialogue in the comments below. To keep your gospel foundation structurally sound and "Unshaken," please like, subscribe, and share this video! Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:33 Destruction & Reconstruction 11:49 Prequel to the Return from Babylon 19:00 The Decree of Cyrus 24:50 Returning Remnants & Family Trees 38:07 Rebuilding the Temple 51:49 Hindering the Work 1:13:51 Overcoming Opposition 1:27:21 Ezra & the Second Return 1:46:15 Godly Sorrow for Sin 2:16:23 Changing Our Ways 2:35:06 Nehemiah's Prayer of Repentance 2:45:33 Dealing with Depression 2:57:48 Rhetoric & Ridicule 3:08:34 Lift Where You Stand 3:16:24 Ringing the Bells of Hell 3:29:16 Trowel and Sword 3:43:46 Breaking Economic Bonds 3:49:43 Saying "Oh No" to Ono 4:06:53 Reenthroning the Scriptures 4:15:03 A Historical Prayer 4:28:50 Sealing & Resettling 4:35:01 Remembered by God 4:40:22 Conclusion

Daily Dose of Hope July 28, 2026   Scripture: 2 Kings 20   Prayer:  Lord Jesus, Help us be productive members of your Kingdom.  I know we fall short.  I know we mess up.  Call us, let us hear your voice, and we will respond.  We will say yes.  Give us the courage and boldness to be the people you called us to be.  We love you, Lord.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan.  We are currently in 2 Kings, getting close to the end of the chapter.  It's been quite a journey!  I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback.  What have you learned from 1 & 2 Kings? Today's reading is 2 Kings 20.  Hezekiah gets very ill.  The Scripture doesn't mention what kind of sickness, but it is assumed he will die.  In fact, God says he is going to die.  But Hezekiah prays fervently to the Lord and God hears his pleas.  He agrees to add fifteen years to King Hezekiah's life.  But then something kind of strange occurs.  Envoys from Babylon come to visit Hezekiah.  The Scripture says they heard that the king was ill and came bearing gifts.  Hezekiah decides to show the Babylonian guests everything in his palace and storehouses.  They basically got a thorough tour of all the treasures of Judah.  What in the world led Hezekiah to do this?  Was he bragging?  Was he trying to show them he has just as much wealth as Babylon?  When Isaiah finds out what occurred, he prophecies that there will be a time in which the Babylonians will take everything from the palace and treasuries.  Now the Babylonians are paying Hezekiah tribute, but soon it will go the other way.  Even some of his descendants will be taken to Babylon to serve the king there.  Of course, we know this happens when the Babylonians conquer Judah and carry off their best and brightest into exile in Babylon.  And then we get this reaction from Hezekiah that is totally self-centered.  He hears about the coming destruction and all he can say is, "Well, at least it won't happen in my lifetime."  There is no sorrow or remorse, just relief that he won't be part of it. Hezekiah started out so well – what has become of him? Hezekiah's end, like the end of so many kings, points to the truth that human kings are deeply flawed.  We need someone stronger, better, someone who can truly save us.  We need the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.  Only he can save us.   Blessings Pastor Vicki

One of the greatest questions of life is this: How do we respond to destruction?Every one of us will face setbacks, losses, disappointments—even, G-d forbid, profound tragedy. The question is not whether pain will enter our lives, but what happens after it does.How do we face trauma? Experiences that overwhelm us, shake us to our core, and leave us wondering if we will ever be the same again. Some people are broken by such experiences. Others survive, but carry invisible scars for years. And then there are those remarkable souls who emerge stronger, deeper, and more compassionate than before.What is their secret?Humanity has invested unimaginable resources trying to answer that question—through medicine, therapy, psychology, self-help, and every imaginable means of easing the pain, quieting the anxiety, and healing the wounds of the human spirit.But is there a deeper answer?Let's explore this question not through isolated experiences or quick fixes, but by looking at the larger story of humanity. Let's examine what has truly endured. What has enabled individuals—and entire civilizations—not merely to survive destruction, but to transform it into growth and renewal.There is perhaps no greater case study than the Jewish people.As we approach Tisha B'Av, the saddest day of the Jewish calendar, we remember the destruction of our Holy Temples and centuries of exile, persecution, and loss. The Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, and countless others sought to erase us from history.They are gone.We are still here.How?What gave a small, vulnerable people the resilience not only to survive but to continue creating, building, and bringing hope to the world?The answer lies in the profound message of Tisha B'Av itself.The day that commemorates destruction also contains the seed of redemption.The day our hearts were shattered also reveals how brokenness can become the birthplace of our greatest strength.Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson as we uncover one of life's most essential secrets: How do we transform destruction into redemption?

Open the Old Testament and you run into a problem nobody warns you about. Israel is supposed to worship one God. Yet the text keeps naming others. Baal. Asherah. The gods of the nations. So where did they all go, and when did Israel actually land on one God alone?Old Testament scholar Dr. Matthew Lynch of Regent College joins the Dig In Podcast to take that question apart. The standard scholarly story says monotheism showed up late, forged in the wreckage of the Babylonian exile. Dr. Lynch says that timeline is wrong, and he found the evidence hiding in a rare Hebrew word the prophet Isaiah used to humiliate the gods of the nations. What follows is a conversation about how the Bible does the work of lifting one God above every rival power, both the seen and the unseen.In this episode you will learn:The real difference between monotheism, monolatry, henotheism, and polytheism, and why those distinctions change how you read the Old TestamentWhy the Hebrew word Elohim is far wider than most readers realize, covering angels, the dead, and the God of Israel himselfThe standard scholarly account of how Israel slowly arrived at one God, and exactly where Dr. Lynch believes it falls apartThe rare term in Isaiah used to strip the gods of their dignity, a word that appears almost nowhere else in the entire Old TestamentHow Genesis 1, the Psalms, and Ezekiel each silence rival gods in completely different waysWhy the prophets aimed their fire not just at other gods, but at the empires of Assyria, Egypt, and BabylonWhat the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten reveals about whether Israel actually invented monotheismHow the unrivaled uniqueness of Israel's God sets the stage for everything the New Testament claims about ChristGuest: Dr. Matthew LynchAssociate Professor of Old Testament at Regent College, Vancouver, and co-founder and co-host of the OnScript podcast. His books include First Isaiah and the Disappearance of the Gods, Flood and Fury: Old Testament Violence and the Shalom of God, Portraying Violence in the Hebrew Bible, and Monotheism and Institutions in the Book of Chronicles, all available on Amazon.Connect with Dr. Lynch: https://www.regent-college.edu/faculty/lynch-matthewFirst Isaiah and the Disappearance of the Gods (Critical Studies in the Hebrew Bible Book 12)- https://a.co/d/0fZgv5hS Stay Connected:johnnyova.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@thejohnnyovaThe Revelation Reset on Amazon: https://a.co/d/hiUkW8H

I want to focus on three key pressure points Daniel faced—and three of his friends did as well—as they were suddenly placed in a culture totally foreign to their faith in the God of Israel, the true God.   Pressure Point #1: A Change of Names and Diet  In Daniel one, we read how he and other Israelites, the brightest and the best, were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar and brought to Babylon. They were assigned new Babylonian names. Daniel became Belteshazzar. And they were instructed to eat the royal diet, which was contrary to the dietary laws God had given the Israelites.   Nebuchadnezzar's plan was to transform these bright men into pagans, remove their Jewish identity, and get them to conform to the culture they were in. They would be more useful to him that way, he thought; they would do their best work and be more loyal to him if they abandoned their heritage and their faith.  Could a name change achieve that purpose? No, the only way Daniel and his companions would ever forsake their heritage, identity, and faith in the true God, would be a complete change of heart and mind. And a name doesn't affect the heart.  How did Daniel respond to this name change? We see no indication he objected in any way. This is where the phrase, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is true. “Call me what you like,” is Daniel's and his three friends' responses, because it wouldn't change who they were.  But how does Daniel respond to the dietary change? This does affect him, because he does not intend to abandon the dietary laws of his faith. For this he is willing to take a stand.  What do I take from this?   Pick your fights. There are some things worth standing up for and resisting, and some are not. Many times, we bring pressure and stress into our lives by allowing ourselves to be overly concerned about things which have no lasting value and make no real difference.   We must learn to distinguish between issues of integrity and issues of priority. For example, suppose you're facing an assignment which seems ludicrous to you, a waste of time and resources, an exercise in futility. You must pick your fight. You may determine the damage and wastefulness of the assignment is of such magnitude you must confront it. Or you may realize it's not worth the fight—it's too small. This is not an issue of integrity but one of priority.  On the other hand, if an assignment involves a lowering of your own personal standards of integrity, an abuse of company policy, or unfair service to a customer, now you are facing an issue of integrity. This is a fight worth taking on. How you approach it is another issue. But to stay true to biblical principles, fight you must.  Picking your fight doesn't mean you come on in a combative way. Proverbs 16:21 says: The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction. Pleasant words usually get you a lot further than words of confrontation or judgment.   How many times have you seen a good idea blown by the way it was presented? How many times have you watched a situation blow up into a major issue when, with a different approach, it could have been handled without a major conflict?   On the other hand, how many times have you seen someone back off a needed fight because he didn't have the stomach for it? He wimped out rather than stand up for what he knew was right.  In the pressure points of our lives, particularly on our jobs, we are continually faced with situations where we must pick our fights. We need God's wisdom to do this well, and thankfully, he promises to give us wisdom if we ask.   Pressure Point #2: Speaking Truth Under Pressure  In Daniel two, we learn how Nebuchadnezzar had a strange dream none of his astrologers could interpret. He asked his wise men not only to interpret the dream, but also to tell him what the dream was. Talk about mission impossible! And you think you have a tough boss!  In frustration, retribution, and foolishness, Nebuchadnezzar condemns all the wise men to death because they can't interpret his dream. Daniel goes to bat to save the lives of all these people, recognizing how truly foolish and wrong it is to kill them. And then, after soliciting prayer from his friends, God reveals the dream to Daniel. He approaches the king, declaring he can tell the dream and its interpretation, and he does.  Can you put yourself in his shoes? God has revealed the dream to him, and it is very bad news for Nebuchadnezzar. He can save himself and all those wise men by telling the dream, but does he have to give him the interpretation, which Nebuchadnezzar won't like? Couldn't he fudge it a bit, when he describes this large statue and its meaning?   I would imagine he must have thought, “Either way I'm going to be killed. He will kill me if I don't tell him the dream, but when I do tell him the interpretation of this dream, he's going to kill me anyway.”  Yet, despite the pressure he is under, he chooses to tell the truth, as unwelcome as it might be. This really gets to where we live, doesn't it? Do you tell the truth regardless of the consequences? Do you do the right thing when it may not bring you any good—or it may harm you? In our own pressure points, where we must decide to tell it like it is or put some spin on it, are we, like Daniel, true to the truth, regardless of the consequences?  In Ephesians 6:14 we are told to Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…. Do you leave home each day with this belt on? It's invisible but it's obvious. When you wear the belt of truth, when you are committed to truthfulness, no matter what, it sets you apart from most of the people around you, and it takes a lot of stress out of your life. You don't have to worry about being found out or remembering exactly what you said. The truth will, as Jesus said, set you free.   Pressure Point #3: Facing Jealous Coworkers  In chapter six, we read the familiar story of Daniel and the lions' den. By this time Daniel was much older, at least in his 80s, and verse three says, Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.   Do good work and you're bound to generate jealousy. Have you found this to be true? Hopefully your good work will be recognized by those in authority, as was true for Daniel, but likely it will cause some jealousy as well. Is there anything you can do to keep this from happening?   Daniel didn't seem to be able to. His coworkers tried for a time to find grounds for charges against him in the way he did his work, but the Bible says: They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent (Daniel 6:4).   An old preacher I knew used to say, “Do right ‘til the stars fall out.” Just do the right thing, and the right thing is to work with all your heart, do the best work you can, without corruption or negligence. Obviously the way in which we work, the attitude we have toward others, the way we treat people will have some bearing on how others treat us, but there are people who will hate and despise you because you do things right, because you have a good attitude, because you go the extra mile. It is true sometimes the more you do it right, the more some will look for ways to do you harm. Thankfully these people are usually few and far between, but it only takes one to cause you a great deal of grief and indeed, a great deal of potential harm.   How do you deal with jealous coworkers? Proverbs 27:4 says, Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? If you've ever had to face jealousy—people who were jealous of you simply because you did the right thing—then you can relate to this proverb. Who can stand before jealousy? That green-eyed monster is ferocious.  Daniel's peers were so jealous they devised a plan to get him killed, a clever plan that would make them look good to the big boss and get rid of their hated rival.  Don't be surprised at what jealous people will do, and how cleverly they will try to disguise their jealousy. Daniel could not stand before jealousy, as it turns out. He couldn't stop these malicious coworkers who were out to destroy him. They got their decree signed by Darius: anyone who prayed to any other god or man other than King Darius for the next thirty days would be thrown into the lions' den—and it was an irrevocable decree.   So, at this pressure point Daniel is faced with a choice: to compromise his faith and abandon his daily practice of praying to his God three times a day, with his windows open toward Jerusalem for all to see or face those hungry lions. Did you realize the decree simply said you couldn't worship anyone else for this thirty-day period? So, I'm thinking he could have shut the windows and prayed privately, or just figured, hey, thirty days is nothing; God will understand. I'll show these guys they can't catch me in their evil scheme. I just won't pray openly for thirty days. Isn't it interesting that his coworkers must have been certain he would not compromise his commitment to his God. They knew he would choose the lions' den!  Daniel never pleaded his case with Darius. He never bad-mouthed his evil coworkers. He never protested. He simply refused to change his prayer schedule; he refused to compromise.   Most likely you'll never have to face lions or threatened death for standing firm to your faith. But you could face the death of a job, a relationship, or a career plan. And that could be very costly for you. So, if you're facing some pressure points now—some areas where you must decide if you will stand true to your commitment to Jesus as your Lord and Savior—think about Daniel. Ask God to give you Daniel-courage, the courage to refuse to bend to the culture or be intimidated by their many unbiblical ideas and beliefs, regardless of how our culture has embraced their ways and ideas.  A friend of mine is going through a situation where, because she has been wonderfully born again and delivered from the deceit and lies of the culture, she is facing hatred and condemnation from family members and friends because she no longer agrees with those unbiblical ideas. She hasn't become militant or confrontational. She simply states what she believes when they state what they believe, and for that, she is considered unacceptable. She's paying a price for standing true to her faith, but instead of being angry, she's just so thankful God has shown her the truth and now she's praying for those who are still deceived as she was for so long.  I hope you will take time to read again the first six chapters of Daniel and see how he stayed true to his God amid a very secular and pagan society, in the face of very jealous and evil coworkers. We serve the same God, and he can deliver us as well. 

Welcome to Day 2912 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2912 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 145:8-13 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2912 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2912 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The tiel for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Everlasting Realm of Compassion – Unveiling the Majesty of Yahweh's Kingdom On our previous expedition—on Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Ten—we stood in awe at the royal threshold of Psalm One Hundred Forty-Five, exploring verses one through seven. We listened as King David laid down his military sword, picked up his harp, and declared that Yahweh's unsearchable greatness must be proclaimed from one generation to the next! We witnessed how the remembrance of God's overflowing, gushing goodness naturally erupts into exuberant, generational praise. Today, we step directly onto the next elevation of this magnificent acrostic summit, advancing into Psalm One Hundred Forty-Five, verses eight through thirteen. As we continue along this pristine trail, David shifts our focus from the unsearchable, transcendent splendor of the Creator to the profound, heart-level warmth of His character. In these six verses, we are invited to gaze into the very heart of the Sovereign King of heaven—a King whose authority is not marked by cold, tyrannical control, but by boundless mercy, universal compassion, and an unshakeable, everlasting dominion that spans every physical and spiritual realm across all generations. The first segment is: The Heart of the King: Abundant Mercy and Universal Compassion Let us open our ears to the deeply comforting words recorded in the New Living Translation, grouping together the logical, contiguous thoughts found in verse eight and verse nine. The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. In these two breathtaking lines, David delivers what can only be described as the supreme theological confession of the Hebrew Scriptures, declaring, “The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.” If these words sound familiar to your ears, it is because David is directly quoting the sacred, self-revealed character statement that Yahweh declared to Moses on Mount Sinai in Exodus chapter thirty-four! To fully appreciate the revolutionary impact of this revelation, we must view it through the ancient Israelite divine-council worldview. In the ancient Near East, the pagan nations surrounding Israel lived in perpetual, paralyzing fear of their localized deities. Gods like Baal, Chemosh, or Marduk were viewed as erratic, moody, quick-tempered, and selfish entities who demanded bloody sacrifices and cared nothing for the well-being of ordinary mortals. Furthermore, in the cosmic geography of the ancient world, those foreign nations were assigned to rebellious, territorial spiritual principalities who ruled through fear, oppression, and enslavement. Standing in stark, brilliant contrast to those dark, fickle powers, Yahweh reveals His true nature as the absolute Sovereign of the cosmos! He is not quick to wrath; rather, He is patient, long-suffering, and profoundly merciful. The Hebrew term used here for "unfailing love" is chesed—that deep, unwavering, covenant-keeping affection that never gives up on its people. But notice how far David expands this divine love in verse nine! Yahweh's goodness is not restricted to a single tribe or a select elite; He is good to everyone! He showers His tender, fatherly compassion over all His creation—from the highest angelic seraphim in the heavenly assembly, down to the smallest bird resting in the forest canopy. In a world often battered by chaos and cruelty, David reminds us that the supreme ruler of the universe is defined, at His core, by overwhelming, relentless grace. The second segment is: The Chorus of Creation and the Realm of Glory The narrative now moves from the internal character of the King to the explosive, cosmic response of His subjects, linking together the contiguous thoughts found in verse ten, verse eleven, and verse twelve. All of your creatures will thank you, Lord, and your godly people will praise you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power. They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign. David paints a panoramic, glorious vision of universal adoration, declaring, “All of your creatures will thank you, Lord, and your godly people will praise you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power. They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign.” Look at the dual choir David brings together in this passage! First, he points to “all of your creatures”—the entirety of the natural order and the unseen heavenly hosts—offering a continuous, harmonious echo of thanksgiving to their Creator. But then, he highlights a special group: “your godly people”—the chasidim, those who are bound to Yahweh in a loving, loyal covenant relationship. While creation offers silent, instinctual praise, God's redeemed people are given an articulate, vocal mission! They do not remain quiet; they step into the cosmic courtroom to publicly testify about the true nature of Yahweh's reign. Notice the three specific themes these covenant heralds proclaim: they speak of the glory of His kingdom, they give tangible examples of His power, and they tell about His mighty deeds. In the ancient divine-council framework, earthly kingdoms were constantly boasting about their military conquests, erecting arrogant monuments to their mortal kings. But David's godly people look past earthly empires and fallen principalities to exalt the true, overarching kingdom of God! They share concrete stories of how Yahweh broke the chains of slavery, how He defeated spiritual powers of darkness, how He provided manna in the barren wilderness, and how He heals broken hearts. Their testimony serves as a vibrant, undeniable public witness to the entire world—and to the watching spiritual realms—demonstrating that Yahweh's rule is unmatched in majesty, splendor, and liberating power. The third segment is: The Unshakeable Dominion: An Everlasting Kingdom The psalmist now reaches the ultimate, unshakeable bedrock of his royal hymn, anchoring his narrative in the eternal stability of God's rule, as recorded in verse thirteen. For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule through all generations. The Lord is always faithful to his promises; he is gracious in all he does. With triumphant, absolute confidence, David seals this section of his psalm, exclaiming, “For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule through all generations. The Lord is always faithful to his promises; he is gracious in all he does.” This verse contains a colossal, mind-boggling truth that provides ultimate comfort for our daily trek through life. Throughout human history, massive empires have risen with terrifying power, only to crumble into forgotten dust. The ancient Egyptian pharaohs, the ruthless Assyrian conquerors, the mighty Babylonian kings, and the vast Roman legions all believed their rule would last forever. Yet, every single one of those human regimes—along with the fallen, territorial spiritual principalities that animated them—faded away into the pages of history. But David declares that the kingdom of Yahweh belongs to a completely different category! His rule is an everlasting kingdom—a reign that knows no geographical boundaries, no political decline, no military defeat, and no expiration date! Furthermore, look at the second half of verse thirteen, which highlights the moral foundation of this eternal throne. Unlike human rulers who break treaties, abandon alliances, and act out of selfish ambition, Yahweh is "always faithful to his promises; he is gracious in all he does." In the ancient Near Eastern world, a king's word was often treacherous. But the Supreme King of the divine council binds Himself to His word! Every promise He makes to His children—promises of presence, protection, forgiveness, and ultimate restoration—is locked in an unshakeable, eternal vault. His authority is executed through pure grace, ensuring that those who take refuge under His reign will never be disappointed, forgotten, or cast aside....

A king is murdered, a throne becomes a prize, and the world's biggest empire has to prove it can still hold together. We pull away from the Peloponnesian War just long enough to track the Persian succession shocks that set the stage for Persia's return to Greek politics, starting with the assassination of Xerxes and the hard-won rise of Artaxerxes I. Along the way, we sort Babylonian cuneiform evidence from Greek accounts packed with intrigue, and we ask what those contradictions tell us about propaganda, perspective, and how ancient history gets written.From there, we follow the early tests of Artaxerxes' rule, especially the Egyptian revolt led by Inaros and the disastrous Athenian intervention in the Nile Delta. It's a sharp reminder that the Achaemenid Empire is not just a backdrop to Greek history: it has its own internal pressures, powerful nobles, and regional flashpoints that can either drain imperial attention or force rapid adaptation.The story then turns to the chaotic handover after Artaxerxes' death and the violent climb of Darius II. Once stability returns, Persia pivots west with a smarter approach than invasion: leverage. We dig into how Persian objectives in Asia Minor shape support for Sparta, why Tissaphernes and Pharnabazus pursue different strategies, and how later decisions, including the rise of Cyrus the Younger, help set up the flow of Persian silver that changes the naval war against Athens.If you enjoyed this deep dive into Persian successions, satrap politics, and the Persian Empire's role in the Peloponnesian War, subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review so more listeners can find the series. Support the show

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It's Wednesday, July 22nd, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark and Adam McManus Christian convert in Somaliland, Africa poisoned to death by Muslim family Morning Star News reports a Christian convert was poisoned to death in Somaliland earlier this month. Somaliland is a partially recognized state in the Horn of Africa. Islam is the official religion of the state. Converting to another religion is punishable by death.  Back in April, Sharif Ali came to Christ secretly. However, his Muslim relatives suspected his conversion and eventually poisoned him. His own family poisoned him! Before his death, he told a visiting underground church leader, “If I die, I rejoice because I have believed in [Jesus].” Psalm 116:15 says, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.” Amnesty withdraws report that Christian pro-life groups are a threat Amnesty International withdrew a recent report that labeled Christian and pro-life groups as a threat. The British organization claims to support humans rights. However, the group's July report smeared Christian organizations as “anti-rights.”  One of those organizations was Christian Concern. Tim Dieppe is the head of public policy at Christian Concern. He said, “The multiple successes in our cases relating to Christian freedoms and right to life show that Christian Concern, far from being ‘anti-rights' is actually very much on the right side of rights. Truth is on our side. It is Amnesty that is now anti-rights.” French legislature legalized assisted suicide France's National Assembly passed a bill to legalize assisted suicide last week.  The measure now awaits approval by France's Constitutional Council before it can become law.  The National Council of Evangelicals of France lamented the passing of the bill. A spokesman said, “[We call] on the evangelical Protestant churches of France to redouble their efforts in providing support, visiting and offering comfort. Today more than ever, our local communities are called upon to be witnesses of hope, presence and practical solidarity amongst the most vulnerable.” Proverbs 24:11 says, “Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.” Arkansas gave $1.7 million to pro-life pregnancy centers In the United States, Arkansas awarded $1.7 million to pro-life pregnancy resource centers over the last year, reports LifeNews.  The state's legislature also voted to increase this funding to $3.5 million over the next year.  Arkansas is among 19 states that provide some form of alternatives to abortion funding for life-affirming pregnancy help organizations. States with the biggest programs include Texas, Florida, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. Trump pauses billion dollars in Medicaid to CA and MN over fraud The Trump administration is pausing over one billion dollars in Medicaid funding to California and Minnesota.  U.S. Health Secretary ‌Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the reason is suspected fraud and noncompliance.  Listen to his comments.  KENNEDY: “If your state wants Medicaid funding, it must meet basic documentation requirements. If we suspect fraud, you will not receive taxpayer dollars until you prove that those payments are legitimate. “That's how we make America healthy again. That's how we restore the integrity of our democracy. And that's how we make America great again!” Trump imposes 50 percent tariffs on Canadian goods U.S. President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on Canadian goods on Monday.  The 50 percent tariff will affect a wide range of products from wine to hockey sticks and cement.  The White House stated, “President Trump is taking action to hold Canada accountable for its continued discrimination against and unreasonable and unequal treatment of U.S. commerce that has burdened and disadvantaged hardworking Americans.” Wooden beams from Solomon's Temple discovered Archaeologists recently unearthed wooden beams from Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem.  King Solomon built this temple, known as the First Temple, in the 10th century B.C. The Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, destroyed this temple later in 586 B.C. The Israel Antiquities Authority is now unearthing the charred remains of the structure.  Dr. Johanna Regev is studying the charred beams. She told The Jerusalem Post, “It is very rare in Israel to find wood with such a large number of growth rings. Here in the City of David, we found thick beams with many rings. ... Until now, we could date finds within a range of hundreds of years. Now, we can attain much greater precision, narrowing the dating range down to as little as 10 years.” McVeda kids in Great Falls, Montana raised $347 for The Worldview Melissa McVeda in Great Falls, Montana wrote, “My family listens to The Worldview several days every week. Being a busy mom and in a rural area, I am not able to catch other news sources very often. We really appreciate the convenience of being able to listen to The Worldview when it works with our schedule -- usually lunchtime -- rather than trying to get our radio to the right spot at the right minute to catch radio news. “We also appreciate that The Worldview team has done the legwork of bringing the news stories to us rather than us surfing the internet to find them. “We especially perk up when there is world event news, Good Samaritan stories, stories having to do with children, other Christians, and historical stories like the one you wrote and voiced on the anniversary of Perpetua's martyrdom. “My older children, Anna, age 10 and Eppie, almost 9, have organized a fundraiser for The Worldview, aided by their younger siblings Claire, age 7, and Caleb, age 5. They sold homemade items at our farm on Monday, with plans to continue fundraising one to two times per week. That first day, combined with their own contributions, brought in $205. Attached is a photo of Eppie with the fundraiser table and her older cousin, Grace, who joined in the fun. May Christ be glorified by what you and the team do with this program.” Well, let me tell you. Last night, I surprised the McVeda family in Great Falls, Montana with a phone call.  I called them and got a chance to talk to the whole family on speaker phone.  There were lots of giggles in between their answers. Since they have regular customers who buy fresh milk from them, they decided to set up a table and sell their homemade goodies which included chocolate chip cookies, meringue cookies, iced tea, and crocheted hand puppets. You heard me correctly. Hand puppets including a boar, a rabbit, and a Welsh Corgi. Anna and Eppie McVeda spent three to four hours each crocheting the puppets which they sold for approximately $20 each. Can you believe that? They spent hours of their time crocheting hand puppets to raise money for the six-member Worldview newscast team. It's incredible!  And Claire and Caleb helped make the tea and the cookies. Last night, Caleb confessed to me that he ate a couple of the cookies as well. I don't blame him. The McVeda kids in Great Falls, Montana said they were inspired by a boy who sold lemonade last year in our listenership to help fund this important cause.  If you are a kid, do you want to help raise money for The Worldview as well? Every dollar counts. Now, if you're not old enough to have email yet, make sure to have your parents email me to let me know how you are raising the money for this Christian newscast. 7 Worldview listeners gave $1,517 And finally, by Tuesday night at 7:45pm Central, 7 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate and invested their treasure to fund the six-member team behind The Worldview for another year. We were touched by the generosity of Jeff in Boise, Idaho who gave $75 and the McVeda family in Great Falls, Montana who raised $142. And we're grateful to God for Dawn in Estero, Florida who gave $200, Loren in Brighton, Colorado who gave $300, Carlee in Keswick Ridge, New Brunswick, Canada who pledged $25/month for 12 months for a gift of $300, and Krystoffer in Fullerton, California who gave $500. Those 7 gifts add up to $1,517. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (drum roll sound effect) $43,755 (sound effect of people cheering) That means, in just three days, we need to raise $37,471.50 to hit our $81,226.50 goal by this Friday, July 24th! The finish line is $123,500 by Friday, July 31st to be fully funded for another year. Listen, if four kids under the age of 11 in Great Falls, Montana can raise $347 in a matter of two weeks with an initial donation of $205 and the one last night for $142, what could you give? If you were touched by their generosity of time and treasure, I wonder whether you might consider making a one-time donation of $347 yourself. If 108 Worldview listeners gave $347 – just like the McVeda kids did – today, on Wednesday, July 22nd by 8:00pm central, we will have hit our July 24th goal one day early.  Listen, you are one of tens of thousands of people listening to the sound of my voice at this moment.  Will you be one of 108 people to give $347 right now? Please, go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish.  And remember, if you want to continue your monthly pledge to The Worldview that you started in a previous year, please let me know so we can count your generous ongoing gift toward our total. Let's see what the Lord will do on this Wednesday. I have a sneaking suspicion that at least 108 of you will rise to the occasion and make that $347 one-time donation. Just go to TheWorldview.com and click on Give. Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, July 22nd, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

The Biblical Pastor: God's Shepherd vs. the Modern Hireling: Foundational Issues 6 | KIB 540 Kingdom Intelligence Briefing Description Welcome to Kingdom Intelligence Briefing Episode 540 with Dr. Michael Lake and Mary Lou Lake. What does Scripture actually teach about the office of the pastor? In today's church culture, many believers have inherited traditions that differ greatly from the biblical model of shepherding. In this message, Dr. Michael Lake continues the Fivefold Ministry series by examining the character, responsibilities, and calling of the biblical pastor through the lens of both the Old and New Testaments. Drawing from the teachings of Jesus, the Apostle Paul, Peter, and the biblical imagery of the Good Shepherd, this episode explains why pastors are called to protect, feed, disciple, and care for God's people—not build personal platforms or entertainment-driven ministries. Mary Lou also shares a timely exhortation concerning America's spiritual condition, the necessity of the fear of the Lord, and why she believes God is preparing His people for a great deliverance from modern Babylonian bondage. If you desire a deeper understanding of biblical leadership, spiritual maturity, and Christ-centered discipleship, this teaching will challenge and encourage you. In this episode, you'll discover: The biblical definition of a pastor The difference between a shepherd and a hireling Why pastors must protect the flock from deception The biblical qualifications for pastoral ministry Why pastors must become students of God's Word The importance of discipleship over entertainment How the Fivefold Ministry works together The responsibility of pastors to pray, teach, restore, and equip believers Why biblical shepherds are desperately needed in the last days Encouragement for faithful pastors serving quietly and sacrificially

Lynne's Handouts can be found here:https://scripturecentral.org/archive/books/book-chapter/ezra-and-nehemiah?searchId=0eb3e36bfb24dcd9bb1d1bece1531216b59539a8fde17ee80224af0653c92aa3-en-v=fadf3b9 What can we learn about the faithful women who helped preserve covenant identity during one of Israel's most important periods of restoration? In this episode of Handmaidens, Harems, and Heroines, Bible scholar Lynne Hilton Wilson explores the Old Testament books of Ezra and Nehemiah, focusing on the often-overlooked women who lived during the return from Babylonian exile and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Although these books primarily highlight the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah, careful readers will discover women whose faith, family influence, and covenant commitment played a vital role in the restoration of God's people. Join us as we examine the lists of returning families, the significance of women in preserving Israel's lineage and religious identity, the challenges faced by wives and mothers during a time of social and spiritual reform, and the covenant renewal that united the community. Lynne also discusses the difficult passages concerning intermarriage, the status of women in post-exilic Judah, and what these stories reveal about faithfulness, sacrifice, and covenant belonging.

As we finish our journey in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, Fr. Mike highlights the Babylonian exile as a critical event in the story of salvation. Although the exile is a dark and devastating part of Israel's history, Fr. Mike reminds us that it's not the end of their story. Today's readings are 2 Kings 25, 2 Chronicles 36, and Proverbs 9:1-6. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Is it time to update the constellations? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Matt Kirshen dive into astrophysics, folklore, and our ancient connection to the stars with astrophysicist Moiya McTier, Ph.D. Originally Aired December 6, 2022. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here:  https://startalkmedia.com/show/cosmic-queries-astro-lore-with-moiya-mctier/ Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.