Podcasts about philadelphus

Seeing as Jack's in the US (and we are home in NZ) it might be nice to just grab a few plants, structures, and colours that belong in our hearts and minds. If I remember well, America has some stunning trees, shrubs, and plants that knock the eyeballs out of your head. What I remember well are the dogwoods, known here by their Genus name of Cornus. This is a brilliant tree from Athens (Georgia): Just so you know: we can grow these here too – flowering in spring and often deep autumn colours too. Easy in full sun and part shade with fertile, well-drained soils Julie would also go with “white” and “America”. Some years ago, she took some cuttings from an ancient plant that grew around a very ancient building, here in the Halswell Quarry – that building is now history, but the cuttings are not! The Philadelphus (also known as a Mock Orange) hails from the American New World, is easy to grow and known for its magnificent, sweet scent. Juuls grows it on a fence – you can also grow it as a shrub or even a wobbly hedge. It loves sunlight and well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Don't let it dry out too much – water every now and then but don't make it too wet. Mulch is useful, as is some general fertiliser every now and then plus some potash before it flowers in spring. Take cuttings in Autumn… Easy! I am a fan of spectacular colours. And you simply can't get past dense blues. A Meconopsis was “born” in South-East Asia and there are many, many species. Unfortunately, they have quite a few negative ‘habits'. They are tricky to grow and often short-lived. Very difficult to successfully sow as seeds (sow them in late summer) and are very sensitive when you want to split them up by diversion to plant them in early spring. Part shade, and no full sun, and a nice mulch of rotten manure or compost – it feels like spoilt brat. Despite all this, it's a plant known as “Blue Poppy” and belongs to the Papaver Family We've managed a couple of successes, and it makes me go down the garden when they flower. This is what I call “Spectacular”. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month on DIG IT Peter Brown and Chris Day discuss the latest news in the world of gardening, what's on's and as the winter kicks in, a look at those gardening tasks to keep your garden looking its best this month and beyond.Friday 8th November Final Gardeners' World programme of the season.15th November RHS Glow 2024 Rosemoor. 20th November RHS Glow 2024 Harlow Carr Garden22nd November RHS Glow at RHS Wisley and at RHS Hyde Hall26th November NGS Annual Lecture ‘Gardening for the future with Fergus Garret, Garden Museum, London. Fergus reveals how vital biodiversity can thrive in anybody's cultivated garden patch, using evidence gathered from the world-famous garden he looks after. Go in person or available live streamed.Plant mentions: Lotus (water lily), Sea buckthorn, Magnolia, Dianthus, Violas, Wisteria, Picea, Pinus, dog friendly plants, sunflowers including the variety ‘Teddy Bear', Tulips, Narcissus, Crocus, Alliums, Snowdrops, planting of bare-root hedging, shrubs and trees, Philadelphus, Dogwood, Hazel, Raspberry canes, Strawberry runners, garlic, Padron peppers, Wild service tree (sweets and beer tree), Microgreens, Cress and Amaryllis.Product mentions: Sainsbury's peat-free mushrooms, electric heron fence for ponds, Woughton Orchard in Milton Keynes, lawn blower, secateurs, loppers, composted bark, autumn lawn food, grease bands for fruit trees, cloches, horticultural fleece and clay pebbles in saucer, NewsRBG Kew scientists crack down on illegal sale of ornamental plants.Edimentals see rise in popularity.Sainsbury's becomes first UK supermarket to introduce peat-free mushroomsNick Hamilton's new book, The Right Jeans is published.The new Government's All-Party Parliamentary Gardening and Horticulture GroupLibDem MP Sarah Dyke seeks to speed up ban on peat farming with 10-minute billRoger Ward from Golden Grove Nurseries champions the use of slow growing and compact forms of conifers in new build gardensMonty Don to design a dog-friendly garden at Chelsea 2025 in conjunction with the RHS and BBC Radio 2.National Trust appoints Sheila Das as Head of Gardens and Parks.Will Armitage appointed as the new HTA President.Beechgrove Garden presenter Jim McColl dies aged 89.Capability Brown's Berrington Hall gets a floral makeover including a wisteria walk.Climate revamp for Great Fountain Garden at Hampton Court Palace.RHS issues call for urban planners to take garden provision more seriously.Otters raiding garden ponds becomes a problem in Cumbria.The Orchard Project celebrates 15 years restoring 700 public orchards.Sunflower trials at RHS Hyde Hall's Floral Fantasia.North Wales bid to bring back rare ‘sweets and beer' tree.DIG IT Top 5: Top selling Herbs of the yearNo5 Coriander, No4 Curly Parsley, No3 Chives, No2 Common Rosemary and at the top spot Garden Mint (spear mint).Our special thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deep Joy! Winter's last hurrah is nearly upon us, at least if you're in Northern Europe, and it's time to finish off the Winter pruning. Our resident horticulturist John Stirland covers the basics and answers member questions on specific plants including Philadelphus, Fig, Ceonothus, Honeysuckle, and roses. As ever, John covers a lot of ground with lots of snippets of really useful information so it's worth listening through the whole half hour.If you've not yet visited our LYG Facebook site, here's the link:https://bit.ly/3oIzVr9You'll find a friendly community of gardeners from a variety of backgrounds all sharing a love of plants and gardening. 

Our gardens are growing apace this month and there's plenty to be getting on with as Dig It's Peter Brown and Chris Day tackle those essential tasks, plus a round-up of July events and garden stories around the UK.What's on4th - 9th July: RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, Surrey. Shop for plants from specialist nurseries and be inspired by gardens.15th & 16th of July: Belvoir Castle Flower and garden Show, in Grantham, Lincolnshire.19th - 23rd July: RHS Flower Show Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire.NewsKing Charles and Queen Camilla open the Coronation Garden in Hazelbank Park, Newtownabbey, Ireland.The secret Italian Garden in Great Ambrook opens in Devon.Perennial's garden The Laskett opens to the public.Record stag beetles this summer.The Scottish government may not be following the same timeline for peat-free ban than England.Globetrotting rare Ghost orchid flowers at the Chelsea Flower Show.Peat free test trials featured in Amateur Gardening showing positive results on two major products.B&Q says don't dig your garden - it's bad for your soil and the environment. Listen back to Charles Dowding's Dig it podcast.Lincolnshire beans could provide British solution to imports.Dig It Top Five 6-pack bedding 1. Geranium White, 2. Geranium Deep Red, 3. Lobelia trailing – all colours, 4. Petunia Mixed, and 5. Antirrhinums.Plant mentions: Allium seed collection and drying the head for decoration, Borage, Eucalyptus, Rose 'Peter's Persica', butterfly attracting plants such as Buddleja, including the newer dwarf varieties, B ‘White Profusion', Foxgloves, Verbena, Marjoram, perennial wallflowers, Courgette ‘Eight Ball', Heirloom seed varieties from Garden Organics, Wisteria (summer pruning), Wisteria ‘Amethyst Falls', Spiraea, Philadelphus (mock orange), Marginal, Water Lilies and Oxygenating plants for ponds, Sweet Peas, Box Moth Caterpillar, Ermine moth webs affecting native hedging, Runner beans, Comfrey, Wallflowers. First early potatoes for Christmas.Product mentions: Dalefoot Peat-free Compost, SylvaGrow Multipurpose Compost, Baby Bio, Tomato fertiliser, barley straw (to help reduce blanketweed), dichlorination (water changes), Smart Garden solar water features and Root trainers.Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 2004: Our featured article of the day is Philip I Philadelphus.

Philip I Epiphanes Philadelphus (Greek: Φίλιππος Ἐπιφανής Φιλάδελφος; between 124 and 109 BC – 83 or 75 BC) was a Hellenistic Seleucid monarch who reigned as the King of Syria from 94 to either 83 or 75 BC. The son of Antiochus VIII and his wife Tryphaena, he spent his early life in a period of civil war between his father and his uncle Antiochus IX. The conflict ended with the assassination of Antiochus VIII and a quick succession in the Syrian capital Antioch of Antiochus IX then Antiochus VIII's eldest son Seleucus VI. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_I_Philadelphus License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0;

Award-winning garden writer and organic gardener Val Bourne returns with part two of her Talking Dirty Podcast appearance. After a tour of the Hoverfly-friendly plants in her garden and her shoehorn method of gardening, this week we chat through some of her favourite Roses, Clematis and an array of Self-Seeders which make themselves at home in her plot. PLANT LIST Erigeron annuus  Thalictrum flavum subsp. glaucum Linaria triornithophora Centranthus lecoqii Catananche caerulea Lysimachia punctata Crocosmia 'Lucifer' Aconitum 'Spark's Variety' Geranium pratense Leucanthemum vulgare Anthoxanthum odoratum, Sweet Vernal Grass Cynosurus cristatus, Crested Dog's-Tail Rhinanthus minor Pilosella (Hieracium) aurantiaca Lathyrus grandiflorus Rosa 'Adélaïde d'Orléans' Rosa 'Bobbie James' Rosa 'American Pillar' Rosa filipes 'Kiftsgate'  Rosa 'Goldfinch' Clematis 'Polish Spirit' Clematis 'Étoile Violette'  Clematis 'Prince Charles' Clematis 'Alba Luxurians' Rosa 'Cornelia' Rosa bracteata Rosa 'For Your Eyes Only' Rose 'Chawton Cottage' Rosa 'Bonica'  Rosa 'Astra Desmond' Rosa 'Koko Loko' Rosa 'Champagne Moment' Heuchera 'Bronze Beauty' Bupleurum rotundifolium 'Copper' Lathyrus sativus Buddleja davidii Buddleja x weyeriana 'Pink Pagoda' Escallonia 'Iveyi' Philadelphus 'Casa Azul' Philadelphus 'Manteau d'Hermine' Philadelphus 'Sybille' Crocosmia 'Miss Scarlet' Crocosmia 'Bright Eyes' Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Emily McKenzie' Kniphofia 'David Blake' Sparrmannia africana Sparrmannia africana 'Variegata'

durée : 00:06:44 - La main verte - par : Alain Baraton - .

Daniel: Daniel 11:6-The Prophecy of the Alliance Between Ptolemy II and Antiochus II-Lesson # 323

Daniel: Daniel 11:6-The Prophecy of the Alliance Between Ptolemy II and Antiochus II-Lesson # 323

December in the Garden In this episode Peter Brown and Chris Day herald the start of Advent by talking about the popular festive favourite, the Poinsettia and its special day in December. We chat to Pam Haigh, the UK general manager of the charity Ripple Africa in Malawi, a charity the Garden Centre is keen to support in its epic work in planting trees - over 17 million trees to date - in Malawi.It may be December but there are some gardening tasks to be getting on with including defrosting bird baths and ponds, taking hardwood cuttings and how important frost is for some of our winter crops, namely Brussel sprouts and parsnips, to improve their flavour.Find out more about Poinsettia Day on Sunday 12th December herePlants mentioned: Camellias (available in store), Hellebores (and instore), Poinsettia (available instore), Pine (Pinus), Eucalyptus. Brussel sprouts, Parsnips, Carrots and Onions.The bare-root season has started, learn more here. Christmas trees such as the Nordmann fir can be purchased as young transplants for growing on.Plant trees this Christmas with Ripple Africa. This year the Garden Centre will be donating 50p to Ripple Africa for every cut Christmas tree sold. Every 50p will plant two trees in Malawi.To find out more about Ripple AfricaNews stories discussed ‘No one knew they existed': wild heirs of lost British honeybee found at Blenheim Palace. The original Bramley Apple located in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, 200 years old), nears its end but future plans for its legacy are now under discussion.Gene editing crops is now allowed as the UK can set its own rules after leaving the EU.Taking Hardwood cuttings: Hardwood cuttings are taken from mid-autumn until late winter from vigorous healthy shoots of the current year's growth - this will be woody but pliable around 9in (23cm) longPlants suitable for hardwood cuttings include Deutzia, Buddleja (butterfly bush), Cornus (dogwood), Forsythia, Philadelphus (mock orange) Ribes (flowering currant) and Rosa (rose). Climbers Vitis (vines), Lonicera (honeysuckle), Jasminum, and Parthenocissus. Fruit: Gooseberries, black, red and white currants, Figs, Mulberry. Trees, including: Populus (poplars) and Salix (willow).Vegetables: If you want to escape the TV or the family for an hour, then traditionally Boxing Day is the day for sowing your onions especially if you are planning a tasty crop next year. They will be ready to plant out when the soil warms up in spring but only if you're into showing and maybe exhibiting them.A shout out to our Dig It listeners … please help us grow by subscribing and telling your friends about Dig It, plus if there is a subject you think we should be covering or if you have a gardening question then do drop us a message.Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Episode 118 – Perfectly Quiet – The Intertestamental Period 4 Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. In John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." The goal of Anchored by Truth is to encourage everyone to grow in the Christian faith by anchoring themselves to the secure truth found in the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God. Script: "Some years later an alliance will be formed between the king of the north and the king of the south. The daughter of the king of the south will be given in marriage to the king of the north to secure the alliance, but she will lose her influence over him, and so will her father. She will be abandoned along with her supporters. But when one of her relatives becomes king of the south, he will raise an army and enter the fortress of the king of the north and defeat him." Daniel, chapter 11, verses 6 and 7, New Living Translation ******** VK: Hello. I'm Victoria K. Welcome to another episode of Anchored by Truth. Today we are continuing our look at "The Intertestamental Period" - the 400-plus year period between the close of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament. I'm in the studio today with RD Fierro, author and Founder Crystal Sea Books. RD, today we're going into our 4th episode in this series. Can you give us a brief recap of where we are and why we are talking about a period of history when no new books were being added to the Bible? RD: Greetings to all the Anchored by Truth listeners. Let's start with the second question first. The reason we thought it was important to take a close look at the intertestamental period is the same reason we do everything on Anchored by Truth – to help increase listeners' understanding and confidence in the Bible. The Bible contains the content of the Christian faith. The Bible contains God's special revelation to the world. We can know that God exists and that God is a God of immeasurable power and wisdom by looking at the created order but the amount of information we can derive about God just by looking at the created order is going to, of necessity, be limited. VK: Theologians call the knowledge we get about God by our observations of the created order "general revelation." This knowledge is general in that is available to everybody but it also general in its content. By looking at galaxies and stars we can know that Whoever created them is a being of immense power and strength. We can look at the unmatched complexity of a cell and see that the Creator must have unimaginable wisdom and precision. But we won't know that God sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins just by staring at the stars or looking through a microscope. In order to know that God has a special plan and purpose for His creation we need His special revelation – and that is contained in the Bible. RD: Right. It's not too strong a statement to say that if someone doesn't know what the Bible says any faith they possess is going to be incomplete. At a minimum it will not be the faith that God wants His children to have. VK: The Good News Translation of the Bible says," faith comes from … hearing the Good News about Christ." Today, we only hear the Good News about Christ by either reading or listening to the revelation that comes from the Bible. RD: Yes. So, we need to read and meditate on the Bible in order to develop our faith. But just about any honest reader will tell you that the first time they read the Bible there were lots of things that they read that they didn't understand. VK: Quite possibly things such as our opening scripture. In our opening scripture we heard about the king of the north and the king of the south and them trying to form an alliance. We also heard about the king of the south sending his daughter to marry the king of the north but then the daughter gets abandoned. I don't think it's much of a stretch for many of us to wonder what all that has to do with coming to salvation through Christ. I'm sure you're going to say that's why we're doing this series. RD: I don't have to say it because you just did. We're doing this series on the intertestamental period for two reasons. First, because studying that period helps us make sense of scripture passages like the one we heard from Daniel, chapter 11. Let's remember that the Bible is all about the grand saga of creation, fall, and redemption. In the Bible creation and the fall occur within the first 3 chapters of Genesis which is the first book of the Bible. So, the rest of the Bible is about the unfolding saga of redemption. And because that saga occurred during the real history of the world, to understand the saga we need to understand some of that history. Second, studying the history of the intertestamental period can actually help increase our confidence that the Bible is the word of God because many of the prophecies that were made in the Old Testament were actually fulfilled during the intertestamental period. VK: Fulfilled prophecy helps demonstrate that the Bible truly has a supernatural origin. So, that's part of what we want to do during this study of the intertestamental period. We want to show that there were numerous prophecies made in the Old Testament period that were fulfilled during this time. We believe that seeing the precision of the prophecies and the precision of the fulfillment should increase our confidence in the fact that the Bible is the Word of God. RD: Correct. The seemingly mundane facts of history connect to the Bible's spiritual messages about salvation and heaven in a very direct way. By reading the Bible and studying history we can see that the Bible contains a large volume of prophecies, hundreds of which have been fulfilled. This solidifies our confidence that the Bible is God's word so that it can be trusted in matters that are supernatural. VK: So, where are we then in our intertestamental series? Obviously, today you want to talk about the specific prophecy that's contained in Daniel 11:6 and 7. How does that fit it with what we have covered so far in our series? RD: Well, in our first episode in this series we saw that there is a gap of hundreds of years between the close of Old Testament canon and the writing of the first book of the New Testament. In our second episode, we saw that at the start of the intertestamental period the Jews had returned to their ancestral homeland after an extended period of exile. But we also saw that at that time they were not an independent kingdom. At the start of the intertestamental period the Jews were a vassal state of the Persian Empire. Notwithstanding that they weren't truly independent though, we saw that the Jews had considerable reasons for hope because everything they had experienced had been consistent with prophecies they had been given. Therefore, they had reason to be hopeful because they also had prophecies of coming deliverance. In our third episode we saw as the intertestamental period progressed more and more prophecies they had been given also continued to come true. VK: Now during the intertestamental period they Jews did not know that that was the period they were in. At that point the Jews had no idea that someday the arrival of the Messiah would inaugurate an entirely new part of God's special revelation. But what you're saying is that the Jews could still continue to maintain a hopeful expectancy. Because even though there were no new prophets giving them additional messages from God, they could still see that God was active in their nation fulfilling prophecies He had already given. So, what is the significance of the discussion in Daniel, chapter 11 of the kings of the north and the south? RD: We covered last time that the Jews had been in exile at Babylon but they were allowed to return back to Palestine after the Babylonian Empire was conquered by the Medes and the Persians. The Persian Empire, in turn, fell to the Greeks who were led by Alexander the Great. Alexander the Great died fairly young at age 32. He had sons but they were far too young to take over for him and in the ensuing power struggle none of Alexander's relatives took power. After 20 years or so, 4 of Alexander's former generals divided his empire: Ptolemy, Seleucus, Cassander, and Lysimachus. The Bible is really only concerned with Ptolemy and Seleucus. VK: Because Ptolemy took over Egypt and Seleucus took over Syria – and Palestine of course lies between Egypt and Syria. Because the Bible always designates its directions using Israel as the point of reference Ptolemy and his successors would become the kings of the south. Egypt is south of Israel. Seleucus and his successors would become the kings of the north. Syria is north of Israel. So, in our passage when it refers to the king of the south we're really talking about an Egyptian ruler. And when it refers to the king of the north we're talking about a Syrian ruler. Right? RD: Right. So, chapter 11 of Daniel is devoted to a description of the struggle that would occur between Egyptian rulers and Syrian rulers over the territory of Israel. And all of chapter 11 of Daniel occurs chronologically during the intertestamental period. VK: Again, just as a quick refresher the last book of the Old Testament Malachi was written around 450 B.C. Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Empire in 334 B.C. So, it was more than 100 years after Malachi wrote that the Jews saw many of the events of the prophecies of the book of Daniel come true. RD: And, since Daniel had written his book about 100 years earlier than Malachi wrote, a total of more than 200 years elapsed between Daniel receiving his prophecy and the inauguration of the events that are described in chapter 11. But as we're going to see the precision of the prophecy is amazing and it would certainly defy the ability of any human being to make it unless that human had received a supernatural revelation from God. VK: Ok. Let's get started and see how our amazingly God is able to act sovereignly through both prophecy and history. For purposes of this exposition we're going to use the Good News Translation version of the same scripture. In the Good News Translation Version the first line of verse 6 says "After a number of years the king of Egypt will make an alliance with the king of Syria…" What is this all about? RD: The "after a number of years" means that the events of verses 6 and 7 did not occur during the lives of Ptolemy or Seleucus who had taken over immediately after Alexander, but during the reign of their successors: Ptolemy Philadelphus and Seleucus's successor, Antiochus Theos. "An alliance will be formed" means that these two successor kings would make an attempt to unite the two kingdoms more closely by a marriage between the royal families. All of Alexander's former generals had seen a bitter power struggle in the wake of Alexander's death and there were already tensions between these two royal families over which would control the boundary territory between the two kingdoms. VK: And that boundary territory included the territory of Israel. So, in an attempt to head off a protracted war these two kings decided to try to form an alliance. It was and is common among monarchies to try to create such alliances by intermarrying with one another. There have been some pretty famous attempts at such alliances – Henry the VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon springs to mind. Those attempts didn't always turn out so well. It certainly didn't for Catherine. RD: Yes. And as we will see it didn't turn out all that well in this case for the bride either. VK: In this case the bride was the daughter of the king of Egypt. Our text says the king of Egypt will give the king of Syria "his daughter in marriage." Who was the daughter? RD: The daughter was Berenice, the daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt. Philadelphus agreed that Berenice would marry Antiochus Theos, king of Syria. Ptolemy agreed to the marriage in order to bring a war in which they were engaged to an end. Philadelphus not only hoped to restore immediate but also hoped to establish a permanent peace and an alliance between the two kingdoms. One of the conditions of this alliance was, that Antiochus would divorce his former wife Laodice, and that the children of that former wife would be excluded from the line of succession. Ptolemy hoped that the kingdom of Syria might become part of Egypt, if Berenice had any children with Antiochus. VK: But that didn't work out, did it? Our scripture goes on to say "But the alliance will not last, and she, her husband, her child, and the servants who went with her will all be killed." This is starting to sound an awful lot like Henry's marriage to Catherine. Henry abandoned Catherine for Anne Boleyn. RD: And in the case of our scripture Ptolemy Philadelphus died two years after this marriage. When Philadelphus died, Antiochus returned to his former wife, Laodice, and put Berenice away. But that didn't work out so well for Antiochus because after he returned to Laodice she murdered him because she didn't want to risk being dismissed again. By then she obviously knew Antiochus was a fickle husband. VK: Let me guess what happened next. Laodice wasn't all that fond of the woman who had replaced her so she decided to get rid of her as well. RD: As they say, "Bingo!" The Syrian court officers conspired to plan the death of Berenice and her children. But Berenice got wind of the plan and fled with her children to the city of Daphne. But the officers caught up with her there and killed her and her children. And notice that the text also says that the servants who went with her will all be killed. It was common when a bride was sent from one royal family to marry into another that the bride would take along the servants who had been taking care of her. In some cases they had cared for her almost since birth. Not only would these familiar faces make settling into the new life and country easier but the bride knew she could trust them. VK: And sometimes those servants included one or more who would send reports back to the king or royal family of the country she had left. A set of highly placed eyes and ears in the country to which the bride had been sent. And, of course, as we will see next the old queen killing the new queen, her child, and her servants didn't end of the matter. Verse 7 of Daniel 11 says, "Soon afterward one of her relatives will become king. He will attack the army of the king of Syria, enter their fortress, and defeat them." So, what is this verse about? RD: Berenice was not the only child of Ptolemy Philadelphus. She had a brother called Ptolemy Euergetes. As soon as he heard of what was happening to his sister, he gathered an army together and went north to rescue her. Euergetes was too late to save he, but, in connection with an army which he had recruited from Asia Minor as part of the rescue, he decided to avenge her death. He not only conquered Syria but he also took over other territories that had been under Seleucid control including Israel. In fact, if Euergetes had not had to return home to put down a revolt he probably would have conquered all of the Seleucid controlled territory. VK: But he didn't and the war between the Ptolemies and the Seleucids would continue for another hundred or so years with Israel caught in between. Ultimately, a particularly evil Syrian king would come to throne who would desecrate the Jewish temple which is sometimes referred to as the "abomination that causes desolation." Some commentators believe this "Abomination of Desolation" might pre-figure the anti-Christ who will appear just before Jesus' return. RD: Yes. This Syrian king is known in history as Antiochus Epiphanes. Epiphanes means "god manifest" Well, the Jews were so outraged by the behavior of Antiochus Epiphanes that they revolted and eventually were able to throw off all foreign rule for a period of several decades. But despite this period of self-rule it's important to note that by that time Israel had been under Greek control for almost 2 centuries. Remember that even though the Ptolemies and Seleucids were warring for control both sides in the war were Greek. When Alexander had conquered the Mideast he didn't just bring his soldiers he also had brought the Greek language and culture. You will often hear people refer to "Hellenism" or "Hellenization." During this period while these struggles were going on the Greek culture and language were being spread throughout the Mideast and western Asia. VK: And this Hellenization dramatically affected life within Israel didn't it? So, that's part of what we would like to talk about in our next episode of Anchored by Truth. But what do you want to emphasize as we close out for today? RD: In our previous episodes on Anchored by Truth in this series we have seen some important truths. God wasn't providing additional special revelation during the intertestamental period but that doesn't mean that God wasn't active in superintending the unfolding of history to achieve His purposes. VK: So, this tells us that even during the seasons of our lives when we may feel like we don't see a lot happening God is still in control. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians in Philippians 1:6 "I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus." God continues to work with us, in us, for us even in those times it seems like He is being very quiet in our lives. RD: Exactly. God never sleeps or slumbers and He never leaves His children. During the intertestamental period there was a lot going on that affected the Jews and most of it was beyond their control. Empires were changing. Kings were coming and going. Palace intrigues were transpiring that would affect their lives. But God was directing it all in such a way that He preserved His people. The Jews during the intertestamental period could be assured of this because they could continue to see that prophecies that had been given to them uniquely were still coming true. Decades, even centuries, had passed but then they saw another prophecy fulfilled exactly as it had been given. VK: In our last episode of Anchored by Truth we saw that God sometimes gave prophecies that affected entire empires and regions of the world. God is the God of the seemingly big and important. But today we saw that God also gave prophecies that pertained to specific individuals – in this case the daughter of an ambitious king and her brother. God isn't just the God of empires and world history. He is also the God for individual people and individual destinies. RD: Yes. God knows each of us personally and, even though it seems trite to say it, He has a plan for each of us personally. God can work through anybody regardless of their station, status, age, or place. The key is whether we want to see God's will come to fruition in our lives – or be like Adam and Eve in the garden when the Bible tells us the first sin occurred because they desired to be like God. There can only be one Lord in anyone's life. It can be God Almighty or it can be a lesser being like us. That's one of the lessons that comes to us powerfully by watching prophecies continuing to be fulfilled during the intertestamental period. VK: God can rule in our lives or we can. God is not going to share His throne with anyone. The tragic part is when we think that we can do a better job than God. And it's not that God wants to take away our free will. Far from it. God wants to enable us to experience His best. But as you say in our Christmas epic poem The Golden Tree: Komari's Quest God can only help us when we set our own power aside. The question ultimately is whether we want to experience all that we can provide or all that God can provide. RD: Absolutely. And that's what we see so clearly as we study the Bible and history. The Jews went into captivity because they refused to honor God's commandments especially the first commandment to have no other gods before Him. During captivity a great many faithful Jews learned the lesson and, as promised, God returned them to their homeland. Also as God promised, God punished the nation that had exiled the Jews and ultimately God used a succession of world powers to continue to prepare the world for the arrival of Jesus. Chapter 11 of the book of Daniel was written about 200 years before any of the events it describes occurred. But in time they did occur exactly as prophesied. God, as only God can do, just recorded them 200 years ahead of time. This is a powerful confirmation of the supernatural origin of the Bible. The Bible's character is no different today than it was when any of the various human authors first prepared their records. It's just that today we have a complete revelation and that revelation clearly tells us that just as Jesus came to earth 2,000 years ago, He is coming again. It's just that the first time He came as the suffering servant. Next time He is coming as the conquering lion. VK: Amen. This sounds like a great time for a prayer. Since all of us have sinned and fallen short of God's perfect plan for our lives, today let's listen to a prayer of corporate confession – knowing that God has promised that as we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive them: ---- PRAYER OF CORPORATE CONFESSION (MARCUS). We hope you'll be with us next time and we hope you'll take some time to encourage some friends to tune in too, or listen to the podcast version of this show. If you'd like to hear more, try out crystalseabooks.com where "We're not famous but our Boss is!" (Bible Quote from the New International Version) Daniel, chapter 8, verses 5 through 8 and 20 and 21, New International Version

He's back and he's brought ALL the plants to talk about! Ian Roofe - one of our original Get Gardening team - returns to regale us with his favourite plants of the moment, which leads into an exciting conversation about planting in the Exotic Garden at East Ruston Old Vicarage and some climber inspiration from Ian's own garden. With thanks, as ever, to the brilliant online plant community who've supplied copious pictures to help illustrate the plants. From the Frustrated Gardener to Cotswold Garden Plants to Wanderlust Plants in Seattle (https://www.wanderlustnursery.com/ (https://www.wanderlustnursery.com)). PLANT LIST Meconopsis betonicifolia Althaea cannabina Nicotiana alata 'Tinkerbell' Nicotiana langsdorffii Dahlia excelsa Dahlia imperialis Dahlia campanulata Sorbaria kirilowii var. arborea Cotinus coggygria Catalpa bignonioides Ailanthus altissima Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex' Magnolia delavayi Ailanthus altissima Decaisnea fargesii Hosta 'Empress Wu' Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' Phygelius x rectus 'African Queen' Paulownia tomentosa Primula 'Francisca' Tanacetum parthenium Erigeron annuus Salvia 'Penny's Smile' Cosmos bipinnatus 'Xsenia' Catalpa x erubescens 'Purpurea' Catalpa bignonioides 'Nana' Acer platanoides 'Crimson King' Acer platanoides 'Drummondii' Acer negundo 'Aureovariegatum' Acer negundo 'Flamingo' Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' Sanguisorba hakusanensis 'Lilac Squirrel' Salvia bullulata Helichrysum italicum Verbena officinalis var. grandiflora 'Bampton' Diascia personata 'Coral Spires' Sphaeralcea 'Childerley' Sphaeralcea ‘Newleaze Coral' Clematis x durandii Cionura oreophila Clematis urophylla Stachyurus praecox Abeliophyllum distichum Trachelospermum asiaticum 'Golden Memories' Hardenbergia violacea Geranium maderense Geranium pratense 'Summer Skies' Geranium 'Blue Cloud' Ballota pseudodictamnus Stipa/Nassella tenuissima Sternbergia lutea Philadelphus 'Belle Étoile' Philadelphus 'Starbright' Ligustrum quihoui Elaeagnus angustifolia 'Quicksilver' Toona sinensis 'Flamingo' Lonicera hildebrandiana Lonicera etrusca 'Superba' Aeonium 'Mardi Gras'

Episode 116 – Perfectly Quiet – The Intertestamental Period 2 Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The goal of Anchored by Truth is to encourage everyone to grow in the Christian faith by anchoring themselves to the secure truth found in the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God. Script: In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm … “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them.” 2 Chronicles, chapter 36, verses 22 and 23, New International Version ******** VK: Hello. I'm Victoria K and today on Anchored by Truth we're going to continue our look at what is normally referred to as “The Intertestamental Period.” This is the 400 plus year period between the close of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament. I'm in the studio today with RD Fierro, author and Founder Crystal Sea Books. RD, how about giving us a brief reminder about why you thought it was important for us to do a series that focuses on a time period in history when books of the Bible weren't being produced. RD: As we mentioned last time it's impossible to understand the relationship between the two testaments without knowing something about the period that elapsed in between them. A lot of people may not realize that there was a period of about 450 years that separated the writing of the last books of the Old Testament and the preparation of the first books of the New Testament. Because our Bibles are complete today, and you can turn one page and go from Malachi to Matthew, a lot of people don't realize that turning that page spans a gap of over 400 years and perhaps over 450 years. If we don't know what happened during that gap our understanding of much of the gospels and the New Testament will be incomplete. We've named this series Perfectly Quiet – the Intertestamental Period. The period was quiet in the sense that during that period God gave no new special revelations to one of his prophets or messengers. But as we will see as this series progresses that period was also perfect in its duration and perfect in how God was preparing the world for the arrival of Jesus VK: Thank you. So, what you're saying is that because there was a gap of 400 to 450 years or so between Malachi and Matthew conditions in and around Israel had changed quite a bit. And if we don't understand how they had changed it's a lot harder to make sense of some, or most, of what's going in the New Testament. RD: And it's especially hard to understand the Gospels which, of course, are the books of the Bible that focus on the Jesus' earthly life. VK: For instance, when Malachi was written the Jews were back living in their homeland after the period of the Babylonian captivity. But Israel wasn't independent. It was a vassal state of the Persian Empire at that point in history. It was ruled by the Persians. When the New Testament opens the Jews still lived in their homeland and they still weren't a truly independent nation. But now rather than being a part of the Persian Empire they were part of the Roman Empire. RD: Yes. And that change in empires brought important changes throughout the region of the world that is addressed by the Bible texts – which is chiefly the Mideast, parts of northeastern Africa, and the southern and eastern parts of Europe. So, that's one of the subjects we'll be addressing during this series. How did the world around Israel change during the intertestamental period? VK: Ok. That sounds reasonable. What other subjects will we be addressing? RD: Well, of course, we want to talk about not only changes that were taking place outside of Israel but how those changes affected the Jews themselves. After all, God had promised that His Anointed One – that's what the word Messiah means - would come to the world from the Jewish people. It would be unwise, if not impossible, to try to separate the Jewish nation from the cultures and governments surrounding it. Also, we want to spend some time discussing the prophecies that were fulfilled during this intertestamental period. VK: Hmmmm. So, one of the subjects that we need to cover is that, even though prophecies weren't being recorded at this time prophecies were still being fulfilled. That does sound like a subject worth a bit of attention. So, where do you want to start? RD: With a quote. VK: Who are we quoting? RD: I want to read a quote that comes from the study notes on the intertestamental period of The New Geneva Study Bible because I think it's a great summary of the situation facing the Jews at the start of that period. VK: All right. Let's get to it. You're quoting now from The New Geneva Study Bible. RD: Right. “As the history of the Old Testament drew to a close, the Hebrew community was chastened, divided, and expectant.” In order to understand the events of the intertestamental period and how those events pertain to the history of redemption we need to understand how those adjectives applied to the Hebrew community. VK: Ok. Why was the Hebrew community “chastened” at the start of the intertestamental period? RD: Well, as we've mentioned a couple of times, the Jews had been allowed to return to Palestine after the end of what's often called “the Babylonian captivity.” VK: Right. The Babylonians had conquered the Jews around 598 B.C. And the Babylonians began deporting Jews from Palestine to Babylon and the surrounding region. But it wasn't a single deportation. At first they deported the wealthy and professional class. Later after an unsuccessful attempt at resistance the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and deported all but the very poorest people around 586 B.C. RD: Yes. But the Babylonians were conquered by the Persians and, as we heard in our opening scripture, the Persian king Cyrus gave the Jews permission to return to their homeland around 536 B.C. Well, one of the changes we notice in the books of the Bible that were written after the Babylonian captivity, as opposed to those written before, is that there is not mention of the problem of idolatry among the Jews who returned. Whereas, prior to the captivity just about every prophetic or historical book contained some kind of a rebuke to the Jews for falling into idolatry, after the return there is no mention of it whatsoever. There's mention of other problems such as marriages between Jewish men and women from pagan nations, not tithing faithfully, not being diligent in rebuilding the temple. But there's no rebuke in the post-captivity books of idolatry. VK: So, the Jews were chastened in that they realized God had permitted them to be conquered and go into captivity because the pre-captivity nation had been plagued by persistent idolatry. The Jews could be certain of this because of warnings God had given them repeatedly. For example in Deuteronomy chapter 28, Moses warns the Hebrews, who were about to enter the Promised Land, they will be cursed if they don't obey God's commandments. Of course, the first of the Ten Commandments was “you shall have no other gods before me.” One of the curses Moses warned the Israelites about was in Deuteronomy 28:25 where he warns “The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies.” Another was Deuteronomy 28:36 where he warned “Thee Lord will drive you and the king you set over you to a nation unknown to you or your ancestors. There you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone.” RD: Yes. The pre-captivity Israelites had been plagued by idolatry. The chastened, post-captivity Israelites were not. That remained true. Even Jesus didn't condemn the Jews of His time for being idolaters. He criticized them for their weak faith. He criticized them for not believing His message or His works. He criticized them for their lack of genuine devotion to God and for revering their traditions more than revering the scripture. Jesus criticized the Jews of His generation for hypocrisy and many other things. But he did not have to criticize them for worshipping the gods of the nations surrounding them. I'm not saying that idolatry had disappeared entirely from Israel. I'm only observing that it was no longer the dominant, besetting sin that it had been before the captivity. VK: In what way was the Hebrew community divided then? If they had given up idolatry it sounds like they were unified around the God to be worshipped. RD: And for the most part they were unified around the God they worshipped. But their worship of God was often insincere, shallow, and self-centered. One of the primary ways the Jews were divided was geographically. Remember that at the time Cyrus issued the decree allowing the Jews to return to Palestine they had been in and around Babylon for decades. Some, or the families, had been there over 50 years. They had made new lives in Babylon. Many had obtained high positions in government. Esther's uncle Mordecai was likely a fairly important Persian official. He lived in the citadel, the central hub of the Persian capital city. Nehemiah was cupbearer to the Persian king before he returned to Jerusalem to supervise the rebuilding of the wall. Some of the Jews had built businesses and were enjoying comfortable lives in their new home. Some Jews had moved and resettled in other areas. In particular, Egypt had a large and prosperous Jewish population. VK: So, when the opportunity under Cyrus came to return to Palestine some Jews took advantage of it but others didn't? RD: Right. Largely, the priestly and religious class formed the nucleus of those who returned. Ezra, chapter 2 records that just a little over 40,000 Jews returned home. So, while this was a very faithful remnant, it was just a remnant. The scattering of the Jewish population is often referred to as the “Diaspora.” VK: Well, was this scattering relevant to the overall history of salvation? After all, we know that the Jews who did go back to Palestine from Babylon preserved their nation, language, religion, and culture for the next 450 years. RD: This scattering was actually very relevant to the history of salvation. I can give you a couple of very clear examples of how. VK: Sounds intriguing. RD: It is. But primarily because it is just another illustration of how God always ensures that His plans come to fruition regardless of whether men always understand that they are furthering them. For instance, I mentioned that the Jews had built a thriving community in Egypt. Part of this community was in Alexandria, a portion of which has since disappeared beneath the waves of the Mediterranean. One of the ultimate effects of the dispersion was the production of the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Many scholars believe that the translation began when the Egyptian Pharaoh of the time, Philadelphus, wanted to include a copy of the Hebrew Scriptures in the world-famous Library of Alexandria. Whether Philadelphus commissioned the translation or not we do know that in the 2nd century B.C. Greek translations of the Old Testament were circulating in and around Alexandria. This ultimately led to them circulating throughout the broader Greek, and ultimately Roman world. This wide distribution wouldn't have occurred if the Jews had not been widely dispersed. VK: That's an interesting point. And ultimately these widely dispersed Jewish communities with their copies of the Greek translation became the places where the gospel initially spread, right? In Acts, chapter 17, verses 10 through 12, the Bible says, “As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.” Paul's ministry was mostly outside Palestine – in Asia, Greece, and ultimately Rome. Paul's standard pattern was to go to the Jewish community first – the synagogue. The synagogues wouldn't have been there if the Jews had not been widely dispersed after the Babylonian captivity. RD: Right. There were Jewish communities scattered throughout the Roman Empire. Paul would visit these communities first and if his message wasn't received favorably he would move on to the Gentiles. But the Jewish communities were important starting points. So, the dispersion of the Jews was another way that God used to carry forward His plan to bring the Gospel to the entire world. But the dispersion was also evidence of the truth of God's word. VK: You're thinking of passages such as 2 Chronicles, chapter 7, verses 19 and 20 where God said to Solomon, “But if you a turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them …” So, it's fair to say that the Jewish dispersion not only helped fulfill God's plan of redemption. It also was evidence of the truth found in Scripture. RD: Yes. The chastisement of God's people through the Babylonian captivity, the subsequent return of a faithful remnant to Palestine and Jerusalem, and the dispersion all were evidence of the accuracy of God's word. And the Jews themselves recognized this. For instance, in Daniel, chapter 9, verse 2, Daniel writes “in the first year of [Darius, son of Xerxes] reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.” Daniel had studied the Jewish Scriptures that existed at that point. Those scriptures, as do ours, included the book of Jeremiah. And because Daniel believed in the truth of the scriptures he possessed, late in the Babylonian captivity he began looking for the Jews to be delivered which they ultimately were. VK: So, the reason the Jews could be expectant at the start of the intertestamental period was because they had had some graphic demonstrations of the accuracy of their scriptures. RD: Exactly. The exact quote that Daniel was thinking about came from Jeremiah 25:11. But, just to point out the precision of Jeremiah's prophecies why don't you go ahead and read from an expanded section from Jeremiah 25 – extracts from verses 7 through 14. VK: This is from the New Living Translation. “But you would not listen to me,” says the LORD. “You made me furious by worshiping idols you made with your own hands, bringing on yourselves all the disasters you now suffer. And now the LORD of Heaven's Armies says: Because you have not listened to me, I will gather together all the armies of the north under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, whom I have appointed as my deputy. I will bring them all against this land and its people and against the surrounding nations. … This entire land will become a desolate wasteland. Israel and her neighboring lands will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. “Then, after the seventy years of captivity are over, I will punish the king of Babylon and his people for their sins,” says the LORD. “I will make the country of the Babylonians a wasteland forever. Many nations and great kings will enslave the Babylonians, just as they enslaved my people.” RD: And the Jews who were entering the intertestamental period had seen that Jeremiah's prophecy and many others had unfolded exactly as foretold. The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Judah. About 70 years after the first deportation under Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus and the Medes and Persians conquered Babylon. Cyrus decreed that the Jews could return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple exactly as Isaiah had prophesied in Isaiah 44:28. So, the Jews at the start of the intertestamental period could rightfully be expectant that other prophecies in their scriptures, at the time unfulfilled, would in time be fulfilled. They had seen plenty of prophecies be fulfilled either in their lifetimes or those of their parents. VK: We can tend to forget that other generations long before ours have looked to the Bible, the Scriptures, for hope. Even though the Jews of Malachi's day did not possess all of the scriptures that we do, they could place confidence in the ones they did possess. They could also have a sense of expectancy that their unfulfilled prophecies would be fulfilled – such as the prophecies that pertained to the coming Messiah. We now know that the prophecies about the coming Messiah have been fulfilled in the life of Jesus. So, we have a larger body of fulfilled prophecy than the intertestamental Jews did. But they had an abundant body of fulfilled prophecy. This gave them a reason for hopeful expectancy about their future. RD: Yes. And, as we going to cover as we continue our study of the intertestamental period, additional prophecies contained in the scriptures would come true as the intertestamental period unfolded. New books of the Bible weren't being added during the intertestamental period but that does not mean that prophecies weren't going to be fulfilled. They were and the precision of the prophecies and the nature of the fulfillment should be astounding – and encouraging – to anyone who takes the time to examine them. The prophetic fulfillment that would occur during and after the intertestamental period should definitely be a source of encouragement to those of us who now possess the entirety of God's complete revelation in the Old and New Testaments. VK: I think I see where you were going with all this. I know why you opened the show with that quote from The New Geneva Study Bible. RD: And why is that? VK: Because there may be some people in the Anchored by Truth audience today who also feeling chastened and scattered. But even if they are, there are still reasons they can look to their own future with hopeful expectancy. The same God who preserved the Jewish people and provided for their needs is still on the throne today. And we now know that many of the promises God made to them belong to us as well. RD: Very well said. All of us are going to go through periods in our lives when we feel like we're not measuring up and even times when we know we have messed up. All of us are going to have seasons we will think of how much better we could and should have done with choices in our lives. All of us are going to have seasons when we feel chastened and scattered. That's the reality of living in a fallen creation and being human – even those of us who have trusted Jesus for salvation. But none of that means that God can't or won't continue to help us and that He has given up on us. VK: God can use the disappointing seasons in our lives just as He used the Babylonian chastening in the life of the Hebrew nation. The faithful remnant that returned to Jerusalem and the faithful who found themselves far away from Jerusalem were still under the providential care of a Father who would bring them blessings out of disappointment and victory out of defeat. RD: Right. The book of Hebrews tells us that God allowed many of things that happened to the Jewish people were designed to help us understand how much God cares for us and wants to help us. VK: Hebrews, chapter 2, verses 16 through 18 tell us, “We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. … Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.” RD: Exactly. God has promised us that He will never leave us or forsake us and that we can be strong and courageous because He will be with us wherever we go. But the only way we can look to the future with hope and courage is if we know the promises the Bible contains for us and we have confidence in the truth of the Bible. VK: That's a great lesson isn't it? When Malachi put his pen down at that start of the intertestamental period there was a pause in God's special revelation but there was never a pause in the plans that He was making for our salvation and blessing. And even as we look back 2,000 years to the time when the final book of the New Testament was completed we can still be assured that Jesus continues to be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. RD: Yes. God is continuing with the plan of redemption today in the lives of everyone who listens to this program. And there are still glorious promises contained in the Bible yet to be fulfilled – but we can be confident that they will be fulfilled. The Jews experienced a 450 year period between the end of the Old Testament and the opening of the New. There's a sense in which our world has experienced a 2,000 plus year lapse in God's special revelation. But just as God continued to work on behalf of His people even while He paused in His special revelation He continues to work on our behalf today. God has a plan and a purpose for everyone listening. He is our High Priest collectively but He is also our High Priest individually. VK: This sounds like a great time for a prayer. Today's prayer comes from another one of Crystal Seas' offerings, the book Purposeful Prayers. It is a prayer of adoration for the Holy Spirit who lives within every person who trusts in Jesus and continuously makes intercessions for us with the Father: ---- PRAYER FOR ADORATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (MARCUS). We hope you'll be with us next time and we hope you'll take some time to encourage some friends to tune in too, or listen to the podcast version of this show. If you'd like to hear more, try out crystalseabooks.com where “We're not famous but our Boss is!” (Bible Quote from the New International Version) Malachi, chapter 4, verses 5 and 6, New International Version

They were brothers living in southern Italy, of noble family and devout faith in Christ. (They were the sons of Vitalius, a pagan governor.) Arrested for their confession of Christ, they were taken before a series of judges, subjected to torture each time. Finally they were taken to Sicily and tortured to death there, during the reign of Licinius. Their incorrupt relics were found in 1517. They once appeared in a vision to St Euthalia (March 2).

They were brothers living in southern Italy, of noble family and devout faith in Christ. (They were the sons of Vitalius, a pagan governor.) Arrested for their confession of Christ, they were taken before a series of judges, subjected to torture each time. Finally they were taken to Sicily and tortured to death there, during the reign of Licinius. Their incorrupt relics were found in 1517. They once appeared in a vision to St Euthalia (March 2).

One of the easiest fruit trees to grow are figs. And, for the adventurous gardener, you can start a fig tree from a cutting. We have the details. Looking for a colorful summer annual flower sure to bring a smile to your face? Grow zinnias. And they’re easy to grow.We get tips on how to protect new or young plants from the blazing heat of the summer sun.One of the most widely adaptable shrubs to grow across the country is the Philadelphus, the mock orange. With its very fragrant flowers, it’s definitely a show for the nose. And it’s our Plant of the Week.It’s all on Episode 97 of the Garden Basics podcast, brought to you by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery. And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go!Pictured:Red Zinnia varieties, including Oklahoma Scarlet, Park's Picks,  Zinderella Red,  Jim Baggett, Giant Dahlia Mix...and three garlic flower heads.Links:Smart PotsDave Wilson NurseryZinnia Seeds at AmazonRenee's Garden ZinniasPark Seeds ZinniasBurpee Seeds ZinniasPhiladelphus 'Belle Etoile'Dallas Morning News editorial: "Coronavirus and Our Mental Health" (5/11/20)UC Davis ArboretumMore episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer FredGarden Basics comes out every Tuesday and Friday. More info including live links, product information, transcripts, and chapters available at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred. Please subscribe, and, if you are listening on Apple, please leave a comment or rating. That helps us decide which garden topics you would like to see addressed.Got a garden question? There are several ways to get in touch: leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasicsText or call us the question: 916-292-8964. E-mail: fred@farmerfred.com or, leave a question at the Facebook, Twitter or Instagram locations below. Be sure to tell us where you are when you leave a question, because all gardening is local. And thank you for listening.All About Farmer Fred:Farmer Fred website: http://farmerfred.comDaily Garden tips and snark on TwitterThe Farmer Fred Rant! BlogFacebook:  "Get Growing with Farmer Fred"Instagram: farmerfredhoffmanFarmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTubeAs an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from possible links mentioned here

iMovie in Collaboration with Devgro Media Arts Services PresentsCultural Witnesses Podcast Vol.1 © 2020William Anderson Gittens Author, Dip., Com., Arts. B.A. Media Arts Specialists’ Cultural Practitioner,Publisher ISBN 978-976-96390-6-5WORKS CITEDWilliam Anderson GittensAuthor, Dip., Com., Arts. B.A. Media Arts Specialists’ Cultural Practitioner,PublisherISBN 978-976-96390-6-5 " although there are many cultural studies practitioners working in both area studies and ethnic studies programs and professional associations (e.g. American studies,Actes which they did. This part of History is named Anthropology." John Kersey's 1706 edition of The New World of English Words includes the definition "Anthropology,African-American studies,Artes which they studied,Arts. B.A. Media Arts Specialists’ Cultural Practitioner,Asian studies,Author,Com.,Dip.,European studies,Gittens,Latin American studies,Latina/o Studies,Publisher Cultural Witnesses First Edition © 2020 ISBN 978-976-96390-6-5https://www.uniassignment.com/ cultural studies | interdisciplinary field". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 28 June 2017.Cultural studies" is not synonymous with either "area studies" or "ethnic studies,William Anderson,a Discourse or Description of Man,a defense of the legend of Brutus in British history,c'est à dire la science qui traite de l'homme,est divisée ordinairment & avec raison en l'Anatomie,et en la Psychologie,etc.).https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_studies https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture.https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/culture https://michaelhyatt.com/https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/culture,etc.).https://www.uniassignment.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnography https://www.kamehamehafestival.org/exhibitions-parent/cultural-practitioners/ Richard Harvey's 1593 Philadelphus,includes the passage "Genealogy or issue which they had,or of a Man's Body." In French: L'Anthropologie,qui considere le corps & les parties,qui parle de l'Ame https://www.globalcognition.org/ cultural studies | interdisciplinary field". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 28 June 2017.Cultural studies" is not synonymous with either "area studies" or "ethnic studiesSupport the show (http://www.buzzsprout.com/429292)

In this edition of the Gardening Hour Podcast, Dave Gillam joins Ken Crowther to answer your gardening questions on everything from Weeds, Philadelphus and Daisy Petals.

This evening we open the book of revelation to the sixth of the seven church of revelation. We find ourselves embracing the words of Jesus as given by John to the church of Philadelphia such as was the case with all of the seven letters of to the churches of Revelation. The City of Philadelphus as it was also known was located about 30 miles south east of Sardis and was founded around 190 BC. King Attalus of Pergamum due to his unusual devotion to his brother named the city Philadelphia which of course means brotherly love. This city was intended to serve as a center for the expansion of the Greek culture throughout the region in which it was located. Philadelphia was a land rich with vineyards and the production of wine, and was an important commercial stop as it was located on a major trade route known as the imperial post road. Interesting to know I found that in 17 AD Philadelphia was severely damaged by an earthquake and was given disaster aid to help rebuild by the emperor Tiberius. By the end of the first century all of the churches within this region were under going great persecution, but as we will see with the church here in Philadelphia they were faithfully enduring this time of persecution as spelled out for us to see according to John's letter as give him by Jesus. It was said that the Church here stood strong for centuries even as the area was overrun by the presence of Muslims before finally succumbing in the middle of the fourteenth century.

In this episode, I finish the history of the Library at Alexandria, covering it until it disappears from history sometime before the turn of the 4th century AD. I also restart on the history of the Greek rulers of Egypt, discussing the history of Ptolemy the 2nd Philadelphus. After listening, let me know what you think.

Michael Perry is the entrepreneur and self titled “geek” behind the “Mr Plant Geek” empire. But he is, in no way, a tradition “geek”. I like to call him the “bad boy of the plant world." You might know Michael from his Instagram account (@Mr_PlantGeek) or www.mrplantgeek.com which have photos and blogs about the worlds most interesting plants. But they also have a collection of selfies showcasing his rugged good looks, impressive collection of tattoos and ever changing hair color. You also might recognize him from his “Rude Botany” line of t-shirts which have sayings like “Philadelphus erectus” or “Rubus cockburnianus” in bold lettering across the chest. Michael approaches plants with a light hearted, fun approach that is completely unique and absolutely fun to follow along with. But don’t be fooled, although his approach to plants is lighthearted, Michael seriously knows his plants. He spent years developing and creating new creations like the “TomTato” and “Egg and Chips” plants for Thompson & Morgan, England’s largest mail order plant company and has a vast knowledge of all aspects of horticulture. After a long and successful career there, he took the leap to become a full time freelancer as “Mr Plant Geek”. He now travels the world lecturing at different garden clubs, trade shows, and can be seen on QVC, BBC’s Great British Garden Revival and The One Show. His website is the go to blog for topics ranging from plant care, introducing new plants and gardening trends, and even travel tips about his constant travels. Today we have a lovely “plant chat” about many things: from how he built his Mr Plant Geek Empire to his tips for traveling Plant Parents on caring for your plants when you are out of town. Michael is a unique and interesting guy with a lovely point of view and I’m thrilled to share our chat with you! In this episode you’ll learn: Michael’s start at Thompson & Morgan designing the “Tomtato” and “Egg and Chips" plant What new types of houseplants Michael is excited about His predictions for the new hot houseplants to come onto the scene All about Michael’s constant travels and finding houseplants in the wild How he grew the “Mr Plant Geek” empire after leaving his longtime custom created job at Thompson & Morgan Michaels list of his favorite houseplants Tips for caring for your houseplants when you leave for vacation Follow Michael: Instagram: @mr_plantgeek Facebook: @mrplantgeek Twitter: @mr_plantgeek Website: www.mrplantgeek.com Follow Bloom and Grow Radio: Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadio Website: www.bloomandgrowradio.com

Most of the cities' names in the seven churches of Revelation sound foreign and unfamiliar (as they should being from ancient times and culture): Ephesus, Thyatira, Pergamum, Sardis, Laodicea. But not the city we are visiting today. Philadelphia is well known to us as a place in Pennsylvania. it's the home of the Liberty Bell. We most likely we even know what the name means: the city of brotherly love. Philadelphia the American city was named after Philadelphia the ancient Asia-Minor city, which was named after King Attalus II, whose loyalty and devotion to his brother Eumenes earned him the title Philadelphus (one who loves his brother). Philadelphia was situated in an area prone to earthquakes. In AD 17, a horrific earthquake nearly destroyed the city. So traumatized were the Philadelphians, many chose to live in the surrounding countryside, especially since the aftershocks continued to damage buildings for many days afterward. This disaster was known among the ancients as one of the worst in their history. In what we would know as disaster relief, the Roman emperor exempted them from paying tribute for five years so they could rebuild. Eventually, Philadelphia voluntarily took upon itself and embraced a new name, NeoCaesarea, to honor emperor Tiberius, who had especially helped them in time of distress. Some years after that, they were traumatized once again, but this time by Emperor Domitian (you may remember him from chapter one. John had been exiled to Patmos by him because of his faith in a wave of persecution against Christians). H ordered half of Philadelphia's vineyards destroyed to protect the interest of the vine growers in Italy. It caused great hardship since they were dependent on this trade. The city felt betrayed by him. This morning let's listen to what Jesus had to say to the Christians at Philadelphia and see what we can learn and apply to ourselves… Revelation 3:7 (ESV) — 7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. As with every letter, Jesus introduced himself, giving his credentials in a sense. Almost always in these letters he drew from John's vision of him in chapter one. But not here. Christ described Himself to the church at Philadelphia as… The holy one The idea of holiness is hard for us modern Westerners to comprehend. In the OT and NT holiness is associated with the otherworldliness of God who is so infinitely above and set apart from us morally and in every other way imaginable we can barely grasp it. Holiness literally means set apart or consecrated. We seek to be holy or set apart as Christians. The word saint, which is a synonym in the NT for Christian, means holy ones. But not in the sense that Jesus is holy. Jesus is THE holy one; he is the actual embodiment of holiness. He's also… The true one John 14:6 (ESV) — 6 Jesus said … “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” We seek truth in logic, reason, philosophy, and religion, and we find it to some degree in them all. But Jesus is the source of all truth. Just as he is the embodiment of holiness, so is he of truth. Next he described himself in an unusual way, drawing from the OT… The One who has the key of David John Walvoord explains: “Here the allusion seems to be to Isaiah 22:22 where, speaking of Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, it is recorded that ‘the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.' Eliakim had the key to all the treasures of the king, and when he opened the door it was opened, and when he closed the door it was closed. Christ, the great antitype of Eliakim, has the key to truth and holiness as well as to opportunity, service, and testimony.” Jesus' description of himself ties in very closely with his praise for the church at Philadelphia… Revelation 3:8 (ESV) — 8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. The One who has the keys of David, the One who opens a door and none can shut and closes a door and none can open, says he has set before them an open door. What does this mean? Some Bible scholars think it has to do with entrance into God's kingdom, so it's about salvation. But others think it means something else. The idea of an “open door” is found three other places in Scripture, and they all have to do with kingdom opportunities. The first is an open door… To share the gospel successfully In the book of Acts Paul was traveling the Roman Empire spreading the Gospel. He and his party went to Antioch… Acts 14:27 (ESV) — 27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. The second is an open door… To perform Kingdom work powerfully As Paul bought his letter to the Corinthians to a close, he informed them of his plans to remain for a time in Ephesus because… 1 Corinthians 16:9 (ESV) — 9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. The word “effective” in this verse comes from the Greek word energes which means active, and we get our word “energy” from that! A door of powerful effectiveness had been made and Paul didn't want to miss the opportunities that came with it. And the third is an open door… To preach the Word with clarity Paul gave the Colossian Christians a specific prayer request… Colossians 4:3–4 (ESV) — 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. I think when Jesus said he was opening a door for them it meant he was preparing Philadelphia for missionary opportunity. They were about to see all their hard work produce a harvest, as the word was going to be preached in truth and clarity. Why? Because, Jesus said… I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. “…I know that you have but little power…” That sounds like a criticism or complaint. But actually it's Jesus acknowledging their situation. Like Smyrna, the Christians at Philadelphia had suffered greatly for their faith, because, just like Smyrna, their city was big on Emperor worship - especially since the emperor had done so much to help them rebuild after the earthquake. Remember, they had even renamed themselves as the new city of the emperor. But veneration of the emperor involved a heavy emphasis on worshiping him by burning incense on his altar. Not to do so meant possible death. At Smyrna this led to death of their pastor. Because of this they were probably small in number since Philadelphia wasn't that big of a city anyway. They were also probably poor as a result as well. And maybe, just maybe, they didn't have much in the way of kingdom talent. No great preachers. No great teachers. C.H. Spurgeon said that perhaps… They were not like that famous church at Corinth, where everybody could teach everybody… They had but small ability to speak with tongues, or work miracles, or teach the word… In all probability they were, like most of the churches of that day, possessed of very little [monetary] strength. They could do but little where money would be required. They were a company of poor people with no man of means among them… How can this be a good thing? What does this have to do with God opening up a door? A “little” power was all they needed to take advantage of the future opportunities because we are talking about Jesus here! He took a little bread and fed thousands; He took a man's little faith and performed a mighty miracle (”Help thou my unbelief!” Mark 9:24). Christ said if we have the faith of a little mustard seed, it was enough to move mountains. In fact, he prefers to take the seemingly insignificant and powerless and use it to do great things! 1 Corinthians 1:26–31 (ESV) — 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” Isn't this exactly what God did with Jesus? Born a helpless baby in a manger to poor parents who had little power or influence. Jesus also opened the door because they… “have kept My Word have not denied My name” They had been faithful to the gospel even under intense difficulty. There are two situations in which the church is tempted to fall short of keeping Jesus' word: in times of great prosperity (as we'll see next time) and times of great suffering. But they did not compromise. They did not bow down to Caesar. They didn't fall into error. What was this open door going to look like? Revelation 3:9 (ESV) — 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Just like Smyrna, the Jews at Philadelphia were a source of persecution and suffering for the Christians. They were exempt from having to burn incense at the emperor's altar, but they turned in Christians who didn't. Jesus promised that these very ones would come and “worship” at their feet. The very ones who had caused their distress would be worshiping alongside them one day! It makes me think of a documentary I watched this weekend called Accidental Courtesy. It's about a black man named Early Davis who befriends KKK members and wins them over. In his garage are 3 dozen or so hoods ands robes, from grand dragons to imperial wizards. We've got to wrap this up. Revelation 3:10-13 (ESV) — 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, Think about how this sounds to someone who was so frightened by an earthquake they had to move out the city in fear the pillars would fall on them. How they would have to go in and out of the city to do business. and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. Think about his this sounds to someone who had been betrayed by their emperor, even after naming their city Neocaesarea (neo meaning new), after him. Conclusion: What does this mean to us? Remember, we are trying to answer that question as a church and as individual believers. We don't want to be a church or Christian who has lost their first love like Ephesus. We don't want to be a church or Christian that's compromised or tolerated sin and false teachings like Pergamum and Thyatira. We certainly don't want to be a church or Christian like Sardis: dead and without the spirit. Of all the seven churches we want to be like Smyrna and Philadelphia. The only two which received no criticism from Jesus. But there's a catch. They both suffered. I love what Tim Keller says about this… Do you see what it says? It says, “I'll bring you to the time, I'll bring things to the situation where they will come and fall down and acknowledge that I have loved you.” What is Jesus saying? He's saying, “You're puny. There are very few of you. You're not very talented, but people you never thought in a million years would listen to you will listen to you. You will win over people who you never thought you'd win over. People who you thought were absolutely hostile to you will be softened and melted into your friends.” How's that going to happen? He says, “The reason I'm going to open that door is because you patiently endure.” This is the irony. Jesus says the way you handle closed doors will open others. He says, “The reason I'm going to open that door, the reason people are going to see a greatness about you, the reason you're going to overcome, the reason you're going to be able to win people over is because of the way in which you handled the closed doors of your life.”… … Do you know what suffering is? It's closed doors. You expected to be this far by this time in your career. You expected to be making more money. You expected to have more friends. You expected to be this. You expected to be married. Closed doors are the things that make you suffer, that hurt you. Jesus says, “Because you have been so patient in handling your closed doors, I will open other ones.” That's a remarkable statement. He is saying, “Suffering is never for nothing. If you handle suffering properly, it will turn you into great people who can open other doors. If you handle closed doors right, I will use those closed doors in your life to enable you to open other ones.” Do you follow that? The failure in front of you, if you handle it properly, will turn you into somebody who will succeed in some other way. Without that failure, you never could succeed. “The way you handle the closed doors will turn you into the kind of people I can use in other ways.” Greatness comes from handling suffering. Are you here today and the phrase “you have but little power” describes you? You don't have much to offer: education or money or power or influence. Hang in there. be faithful. And Jesus will take that little and make it more than enough to be somebody in his kingdom. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

Most of the cities’ names in the seven churches of Revelation sound foreign and unfamiliar (as they should being from ancient times and culture): Ephesus, Thyatira, Pergamum, Sardis, Laodicea. But not the city we are visiting today. Philadelphia is well known to us as a place in Pennsylvania. it’s the home of the Liberty Bell. We most likely we even know what the name means: the city of brotherly love. Philadelphia the American city was named after Philadelphia the ancient Asia-Minor city, which was named after King Attalus II, whose loyalty and devotion to his brother Eumenes earned him the title Philadelphus (one who loves his brother). Philadelphia was situated in an area prone to earthquakes. In AD 17, a horrific earthquake nearly destroyed the city. So traumatized were the Philadelphians, many chose to live in the surrounding countryside, especially since the aftershocks continued to damage buildings for many days afterward. This disaster was known among the ancients as one of the worst in their history. In what we would know as disaster relief, the Roman emperor exempted them from paying tribute for five years so they could rebuild. Eventually, Philadelphia voluntarily took upon itself and embraced a new name, NeoCaesarea, to honor emperor Tiberius, who had especially helped them in time of distress. Some years after that, they were traumatized once again, but this time by Emperor Domitian (you may remember him from chapter one. John had been exiled to Patmos by him because of his faith in a wave of persecution against Christians). H ordered half of Philadelphia's vineyards destroyed to protect the interest of the vine growers in Italy. It caused great hardship since they were dependent on this trade. The city felt betrayed by him. This morning let’s listen to what Jesus had to say to the Christians at Philadelphia and see what we can learn and apply to ourselves… Revelation 3:7 (ESV) — 7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. As with every letter, Jesus introduced himself, giving his credentials in a sense. Almost always in these letters he drew from John’s vision of him in chapter one. But not here. Christ described Himself to the church at Philadelphia as… The holy one The idea of holiness is hard for us modern Westerners to comprehend. In the OT and NT holiness is associated with the otherworldliness of God who is so infinitely above and set apart from us morally and in every other way imaginable we can barely grasp it. Holiness literally means set apart or consecrated. We seek to be holy or set apart as Christians. The word saint, which is a synonym in the NT for Christian, means holy ones. But not in the sense that Jesus is holy. Jesus is THE holy one; he is the actual embodiment of holiness. He’s also… The true one John 14:6 (ESV) — 6 Jesus said … “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” We seek truth in logic, reason, philosophy, and religion, and we find it to some degree in them all. But Jesus is the source of all truth. Just as he is the embodiment of holiness, so is he of truth. Next he described himself in an unusual way, drawing from the OT… The One who has the key of David John Walvoord explains: “Here the allusion seems to be to Isaiah 22:22 where, speaking of Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, it is recorded that ‘the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.’ Eliakim had the key to all the treasures of the king, and when he opened the door it was opened, and when he closed the door it was closed. Christ, the great antitype of Eliakim, has the key to truth and holiness as well as to opportunity, service, and testimony.” Jesus’ description of himself ties in very closely with his praise for the church at Philadelphia… Revelation 3:8 (ESV) — 8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. The One who has the keys of David, the One who opens a door and none can shut and closes a door and none can open, says he has set before them an open door. What does this mean? Some Bible scholars think it has to do with entrance into God’s kingdom, so it’s about salvation. But others think it means something else. The idea of an “open door” is found three other places in Scripture, and they all have to do with kingdom opportunities. The first is an open door… To share the gospel successfully In the book of Acts Paul was traveling the Roman Empire spreading the Gospel. He and his party went to Antioch… Acts 14:27 (ESV) — 27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. The second is an open door… To perform Kingdom work powerfully As Paul bought his letter to the Corinthians to a close, he informed them of his plans to remain for a time in Ephesus because… 1 Corinthians 16:9 (ESV) — 9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. The word “effective” in this verse comes from the Greek word energes which means active, and we get our word “energy” from that! A door of powerful effectiveness had been made and Paul didn’t want to miss the opportunities that came with it. And the third is an open door… To preach the Word with clarity Paul gave the Colossian Christians a specific prayer request… Colossians 4:3–4 (ESV) — 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. I think when Jesus said he was opening a door for them it meant he was preparing Philadelphia for missionary opportunity. They were about to see all their hard work produce a harvest, as the word was going to be preached in truth and clarity. Why? Because, Jesus said… I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. “…I know that you have but little power…” That sounds like a criticism or complaint. But actually it’s Jesus acknowledging their situation. Like Smyrna, the Christians at Philadelphia had suffered greatly for their faith, because, just like Smyrna, their city was big on Emperor worship - especially since the emperor had done so much to help them rebuild after the earthquake. Remember, they had even renamed themselves as the new city of the emperor. But veneration of the emperor involved a heavy emphasis on worshiping him by burning incense on his altar. Not to do so meant possible death. At Smyrna this led to death of their pastor. Because of this they were probably small in number since Philadelphia wasn’t that big of a city anyway. They were also probably poor as a result as well. And maybe, just maybe, they didn’t have much in the way of kingdom talent. No great preachers. No great teachers. C.H. Spurgeon said that perhaps… They were not like that famous church at Corinth, where everybody could teach everybody… They had but small ability to speak with tongues, or work miracles, or teach the word… In all probability they were, like most of the churches of that day, possessed of very little [monetary] strength. They could do but little where money would be required. They were a company of poor people with no man of means among them… How can this be a good thing? What does this have to do with God opening up a door? A “little” power was all they needed to take advantage of the future opportunities because we are talking about Jesus here! He took a little bread and fed thousands; He took a man’s little faith and performed a mighty miracle (”Help thou my unbelief!” Mark 9:24). Christ said if we have the faith of a little mustard seed, it was enough to move mountains. In fact, he prefers to take the seemingly insignificant and powerless and use it to do great things! 1 Corinthians 1:26–31 (ESV) — 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” Isn’t this exactly what God did with Jesus? Born a helpless baby in a manger to poor parents who had little power or influence. Jesus also opened the door because they… “have kept My Word have not denied My name” They had been faithful to the gospel even under intense difficulty. There are two situations in which the church is tempted to fall short of keeping Jesus’ word: in times of great prosperity (as we’ll see next time) and times of great suffering. But they did not compromise. They did not bow down to Caesar. They didn’t fall into error. What was this open door going to look like? Revelation 3:9 (ESV) — 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Just like Smyrna, the Jews at Philadelphia were a source of persecution and suffering for the Christians. They were exempt from having to burn incense at the emperor’s altar, but they turned in Christians who didn’t. Jesus promised that these very ones would come and “worship” at their feet. The very ones who had caused their distress would be worshiping alongside them one day! It makes me think of a documentary I watched this weekend called Accidental Courtesy. It’s about a black man named Early Davis who befriends KKK members and wins them over. In his garage are 3 dozen or so hoods ands robes, from grand dragons to imperial wizards. We’ve got to wrap this up. Revelation 3:10-13 (ESV) — 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, Think about how this sounds to someone who was so frightened by an earthquake they had to move out the city in fear the pillars would fall on them. How they would have to go in and out of the city to do business. and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. Think about his this sounds to someone who had been betrayed by their emperor, even after naming their city Neocaesarea (neo meaning new), after him. Conclusion: What does this mean to us? Remember, we are trying to answer that question as a church and as individual believers. We don’t want to be a church or Christian who has lost their first love like Ephesus. We don’t want to be a church or Christian that’s compromised or tolerated sin and false teachings like Pergamum and Thyatira. We certainly don’t want to be a church or Christian like Sardis: dead and without the spirit. Of all the seven churches we want to be like Smyrna and Philadelphia. The only two which received no criticism from Jesus. But there’s a catch. They both suffered. I love what Tim Keller says about this… Do you see what it says? It says, “I’ll bring you to the time, I’ll bring things to the situation where they will come and fall down and acknowledge that I have loved you.” What is Jesus saying? He’s saying, “You’re puny. There are very few of you. You’re not very talented, but people you never thought in a million years would listen to you will listen to you. You will win over people who you never thought you’d win over. People who you thought were absolutely hostile to you will be softened and melted into your friends.” How’s that going to happen? He says, “The reason I’m going to open that door is because you patiently endure.” This is the irony. Jesus says the way you handle closed doors will open others. He says, “The reason I’m going to open that door, the reason people are going to see a greatness about you, the reason you’re going to overcome, the reason you’re going to be able to win people over is because of the way in which you handled the closed doors of your life.”… … Do you know what suffering is? It’s closed doors. You expected to be this far by this time in your career. You expected to be making more money. You expected to have more friends. You expected to be this. You expected to be married. Closed doors are the things that make you suffer, that hurt you. Jesus says, “Because you have been so patient in handling your closed doors, I will open other ones.” That’s a remarkable statement. He is saying, “Suffering is never for nothing. If you handle suffering properly, it will turn you into great people who can open other doors. If you handle closed doors right, I will use those closed doors in your life to enable you to open other ones.” Do you follow that? The failure in front of you, if you handle it properly, will turn you into somebody who will succeed in some other way. Without that failure, you never could succeed. “The way you handle the closed doors will turn you into the kind of people I can use in other ways.” Greatness comes from handling suffering. Are you here today and the phrase “you have but little power” describes you? You don’t have much to offer: education or money or power or influence. Hang in there. be faithful. And Jesus will take that little and make it more than enough to be somebody in his kingdom. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’