Let us investigate the motivation/driver for sanctification in the personal arena. In other words, what determines your actions outside of work, ministry, and family? What is your motivation for personal devotions, study, God-conversations, prayer, worship, etc?
Before all else, God is awesome, that's why we worship him. But lets look secondary.
a) Now first. What is our purpose?
i) God purpose in choosing us: "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son"
ii) Our lives now: I Corinthians 8:6 "yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and FOR WHOM WE LIVE; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."
iii) And our final destination is the bride of Christ (= new Jerusalem), a kingdom of priests, sons of the living God. Revelations 1:6 "To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen."
b) Let me examine this 'bride of Christ' idea. "And the two shall become one flesh." So we are to become 'one flesh' with Christ. After all, I guess, we are crucified, buried, and raised with him (Collosians 2:12, Romans 6:4). But what does that mean?
Well, what happens in a romantic relationship? (Isn't it nice that God gave us such an aweomse image of the greatest romance between him and the church?). Communication is huge. Talk talk talk. Learn, respect, trust, have fun, etc. This is all easily said but not easily done. How the heck do you work towards trusting God more, expecially when you don't fee like it?
c) For the moment we will leave emotional/big stuff aside and branch into the colder applications. More effects of a relationship include large bodies of knowledge about each other, shared knowledge of the external world, taking on each others charachter traits, thought patterns, etc. We are seeking to take on the attributes of God, to become more like him. "And the two shall become one flesh." "Predestined to be conformed into the image of his son."
Application: you are trying to become more like God. This involves learning about him and then changing yourself. (So often I focus on the former and forget the latter!)
d) WARNING: So far this seems like a Sunday school lesson you can forget about. Don't belittle Sunday school. Some items of consideration.
i) Be constantly and painfully aware that there are many things that you have WRONG about God.
ii) Be also aware that there are even MORE things that you don't know about God, and are even in the dark about what exists to be known.
iii) You will never run out of stuff to learn about God. It's a blessing, actually, and a by-product of pursuing an infinitely amazing God.
iv) This is DEFAULT. Turn to this when you are stuck pursuing lesser goals. This means stuff not-God related. Family, God-pursuing work (secular inclusive, obviously, it dpends on attitude), ministry, etc are all in the works. I'm talking pursing that fancy boat, video games, promotions, getting the best boy/girlfriend etc.
Pursue God. He wants to be pursued. He already died chasing after you. What will you do in return? It's not like anywhere else is going to fufill the purpose for which you were created or overflow your wildest dreams...
22 July 2011
16 July 2011
Assurance of salvation in Islam
I have been talking with a strong Muslim recently (strong meaning that he does his prayers and stays away from the culture of materialsm, sex, and whatnot)
As best I was able to question and understand from him, the rumors about salvation are true. At the end of time, Mohammeds people will stand behind him, and Mohammed will ask Allah (which is just the Arabic word for God, not a specific name) to let them in. Allah may and he may not. A follower of Islam has a higher chance of getting in if he/she has followed all the rules, but that still isn't a gaurantee.
I actually have to admire them a little for this. Not that it's a great idea, but if Mohammed really isn't God (like Christians beleive that Jesus is God), then what right does he have to even know for certain who will get in and who won't, much less decide!
So Muslims do not have 100% assurance of salvation.
I'll have to ask this guy sometime about what hell looks like, or where you would go if Allah said no to you, but you were pretty devout.
All I know is that I'm glad that God himself came down to earth and died for us, promising with his life and presence that we could get into heaven if we would just beleive and accept him. Whahoo!
As best I was able to question and understand from him, the rumors about salvation are true. At the end of time, Mohammeds people will stand behind him, and Mohammed will ask Allah (which is just the Arabic word for God, not a specific name) to let them in. Allah may and he may not. A follower of Islam has a higher chance of getting in if he/she has followed all the rules, but that still isn't a gaurantee.
I actually have to admire them a little for this. Not that it's a great idea, but if Mohammed really isn't God (like Christians beleive that Jesus is God), then what right does he have to even know for certain who will get in and who won't, much less decide!
So Muslims do not have 100% assurance of salvation.
I'll have to ask this guy sometime about what hell looks like, or where you would go if Allah said no to you, but you were pretty devout.
All I know is that I'm glad that God himself came down to earth and died for us, promising with his life and presence that we could get into heaven if we would just beleive and accept him. Whahoo!
15 July 2011
the meaning of life
I was sitting in my room having another one of my depression sessions, knowing that God was awesome and that his power working in his sons and daughters was wise beyond all else, knowing that God was the fundamental foundation and origin of all meaning, but still dissatisfied.
Trust me, these dissatisfactions are not fun, but they are great for producing wonderful lessons as I find solutions.
Today I was primarily tired. However, I also simply questioned living. I know how to live and breathe and do Gods work and ejoy myself in minor ways. But how does one LIVE? Like robust rugged health and purpose and emotion?
I eventually narrowed down my search to the concept of 'life', and then I figured it out:
Hehehe! I claim to have the meaning of life.
1 Corinthians 8:6 "Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and FOR WHOM WE LIVE; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."
More revelant verses:
John 14:6 "Jesus answered 'I am the way, and the truth and the life...'"
1 John 5:11 "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
John 10:10b "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
From what do we draw satisfaction in life? God, or rather, a relationship with him, which is experiencing and knowing and learning all the properties of the good God. Rest in his strength, delight in the works of his hands, see the wonders he has made, proclaim his name with glad singing, feel his power working in you like a mighty river, laugh with joy at the good news, and be at peace for the king has come. Etc. Etc.
Primarily I was dissatisfied by being tired, and just wanted some energy. But my secondary search, and the one that can help us here, is my search for the things that give us energy day by day, the pleasure we derive from life. And this is simple, the various manifestations of an infinitely complex, creative, and loving God.
Trust me, these dissatisfactions are not fun, but they are great for producing wonderful lessons as I find solutions.
Today I was primarily tired. However, I also simply questioned living. I know how to live and breathe and do Gods work and ejoy myself in minor ways. But how does one LIVE? Like robust rugged health and purpose and emotion?
I eventually narrowed down my search to the concept of 'life', and then I figured it out:
Hehehe! I claim to have the meaning of life.
1 Corinthians 8:6 "Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and FOR WHOM WE LIVE; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."
More revelant verses:
John 14:6 "Jesus answered 'I am the way, and the truth and the life...'"
1 John 5:11 "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
John 10:10b "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
From what do we draw satisfaction in life? God, or rather, a relationship with him, which is experiencing and knowing and learning all the properties of the good God. Rest in his strength, delight in the works of his hands, see the wonders he has made, proclaim his name with glad singing, feel his power working in you like a mighty river, laugh with joy at the good news, and be at peace for the king has come. Etc. Etc.
Primarily I was dissatisfied by being tired, and just wanted some energy. But my secondary search, and the one that can help us here, is my search for the things that give us energy day by day, the pleasure we derive from life. And this is simple, the various manifestations of an infinitely complex, creative, and loving God.
08 July 2011
the divinity of Christ
I have recently been in conversations with a couple Jehovas Witnesses. Naturally, the topic turns to the nature of Jesus. This post will cover texts for and against Jesus as God (part of the trinity).
A) Jehovas Witnesses
B) Explanation of the trinity
C) Texts against JC divinity
D) Texts for divinity
If I were to turn you to the shortest, most revelant part of this post, it would be the 4th verse mentioned in section D, Jeremiah 23:6. The next verse is also very strong for Christ being Yaweh/Jehovah.
A)
Jevhovas witnesses believe many odd things (nothing too wierd), but the most important, probably, is the nature of Jesus. They believe that he is NOT God, that is some sort of superbeing. He is still SON of God, above all other beings except for God, God still created the universe through him, he still forgives sins. The idea that he is the archangel Michael is more of an afterthought, but they believe that too.
They hold fast to the oneness of God and do not believe in the trinity. Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." Gods formal name (like Bill) is Jehovah, which is the same thing as Yaweh. (The words kind of got ambiguous is pronunciation due to the leaving out of vowels in the name) Most bibles nowadays don't have Jehovah in there, but if you see 'LORD' in all capitals, that's probably YHWH.
'God' Elohim, is more of a title. In fact, Jesus said after his ressurection "I am going to your God and my God" John 20:17. So God the father is still God in relation to Jesus, even though Jesus is God. 'God' is just a big authoritative name.
Jehovahs witnesses, holding to the oneness of God, claim that Jesus, although 'God' Elohyim, never said he was Yahweh/Jehovah.
B)
I will not go into depth about the trinity. Is you want some more ideas, see "BIG THEORY Trinity and TSM" from June 10, 2010.
I will only explain as far as it is neccesary to understand some of my arguments. The three parts of the trinity are distinct persons, with individual thoughts and such. However, they are still the same God. An analogy (which errs on the side of uniting them) might be to the heart, will, body, and mind of a human. All three are part of the one human, but they can act differently. You see a piece of candy: your body may salivate for it, your heart may say that it is desirable, your mind may say that it will make you fat, and your 'will' will decide between these inputs. In the same way, the trinity have independent views and functions but of the same body. God has control over both the holy spirit and Jesus.
C)
The bulk of the arguments of the Jehovahs witnesses center around simple functional language used by Jesus. He only does the will of his father in heaven. The father is greater than Jesus. His mission is on behalf of the Father primarily, etc.
I had the great fortune that they gave me their theolgoy book. Essentially I have in my hands their arguments for everything they believe, the book they use on the field. How awesome is that? If I ever get bored, I can just pick a topic we disagree on from the table of contents and dive into some fun!
But anyway, these are all seven verses I could find in their book:
1 - John 17:3 "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." Here, eternal life is being applied to God and Jesus equally, a counterpoint actually. And we recognize that God has sent Jesus, yes. Perhaps in the same way that you could send your eletrical expertise to help your neighbor set up his television.
2 - John 20:17 "Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” This is just saying that God is God towards JC. This is true. I aknowledge that God is higher in command structure than JC, just like the 'will' of a person has command over their desires.
3 - John 10:34 "Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”'" This is a point for Jehovas Witnesses. Jesus is here explaining why he can call himself 'Son of God'. God calls some important people 'gods', and in fact Christians can be called 'sons of God'. This does NOT prove that Jesus is not God, is just puts a strong suggestion that way. Bear with me until we look at the other side. This forces us to have Jesus labeled as the most high God, Jehovah, not just 'God'.
4 - Matt 4:10 "Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’"" This is during Jesus's temptation in the desert. Satan has just asked Jesus to worship Satan. Duh! You shouldn't do that!
5 - John 8:54 "Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me." This is a function of Gods lordship. Jesus does not glorify himself because he is under the house of God. Neither do we glorify ourselves, we let God do that.
6 - 1 Cor 8:5-6 "For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."
7 - John 5:19 "Truly truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father dong." This is, again, just a function of God being in command over Jesus.
One note before we move on to Jesus being God - ability and ease of proof. It is far easier to prove that Jesus is God than to prove that his is not, almost unfortunately. See, Jesus wouldn't go to any great length to say that we wasn't God is he really wasn't. Why bother? I could claim that Jesus was a rhinocerous and not be shot down easily (logically at least) because Jesus never said he wasn't a rhinocerous.
I am dodging around most of these verses above with explanations and the simple observation that these text don't PROVE that Jesus isn't God. It's a kind of cheap, but true way of doing things.
However, I hope all we need is some proof that Jesus is God, and there really doesn't have to be ambiguity on this point.
D)
Five texts that support that Jesus is God (I decided to limit myself to the same number).
1 - John 1:1 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Now, Jehovas Witnesses defend this by saying that is should be translated 'the Word was a God' because there is an article before the first 'God', denoting name and person, and not before the second 'god', indicating title or position. This seems pretty plausible. Many of the references to Jehovah do have an article. However, some don't. For instance Hebrews 1:6 (I just picked Hebrews and found that the first 'theos' referring to Jehovah in 1:1 had an article, and the second in 1:6 didn't.)
2 - John 8:58 - “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” This is during a debate with the Jews where Jesus claims that he was before Abraham (among other things). Notice the 'incorrect' grammar of the last phrase. "I am" (most people think) refers to I AM, the title of the God who appeared in the burning bush. (Exodus 3:14). "I am" is also closely connected to the literal meaning of Yaweh. Jehovahs Witnesses translate this as "I have been". However, the verb "I am" 'eimi', in the present activTe indicative, not any sort of past-perfect, pluperfect, aorit tenses or otherwise. It's the base form they use for verb paradigms, present tense "I am".
These next two verses I found on my own just by chance. Zachariah because that's the book I was working through (awesome Jesus-prophetic one btw), and Jeremiah because I was looking for a really strong angry series of verses I had seen once.
3 - Zachariah 12:10 "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced..." This is obviously God talking, because only God gave prophecies. But he says 'me, the one they have pierced'. I don't know how anyone can NOT connect that to Jesus. The word 'me' there comes from a prefix on the verb 'look' which refers to the speaker as the one to whom they look. Here I have cut and pasted a couple sentences from the Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament:
הבּיטוּ אלי, they look upon me. Hibbı̄t, used of bodily sight as well as spiritual (cf. Numbers 21:9). The suffix in אלי (to me) refers to the speaker. This is Jehovah, according to Zechariah 12:1, the creator of the heaven and the earth. את־אשׁר דּקרוּ, not "Him whom they pierced," but simply "whom they pierced." את, that is to say, is not governed by hibbı̄tū as a second object, but simply refers to אלי, to me, "whom they pierced,"
4 - Jerermiah 23:6 "In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior." This is a passage about the Righteous Branch, a virtually undenaible prophecy about Jesus, and his name is the LORD, which is Yaweh, the formal name of God. Take that!
5 - Isaiah 40:3 (also quoted in Mark 1:2-3 and Luke 3:4) "...'a voice of one calling in the desert "Prepare the way for the LORD, make straight paths for him."'". Mark explains this is John the baptists telling of Jesus. But the 'LORD' is YHWH here, the big God. JC = Jehovah.
6 - John 5:18 "This was why the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but aslo called God his Father, making himself equal with God." Now, the Jehovas Witnesses defend this by saying that the Jews were wrong and quote the next verse, where Jesus says he's only obeying his Father (thus somehow implying that Jesus is not God). However, the subject of their conversation was about breaking the Sabbath, so Jesus's words about doing the fathers will is just about works, not about being God. I would assume that Jesus would not want the Jews to think that he was claiming to be God if he wasn't. That would be a cruddy moral teacher or archangel Michael. 'Great job' God admonishes Michael 'now they think YOU'RE God.'
NOTE: It's hard, using new testament to prove that Jesus is YHWH, because the name for God is in Hebrew, and the NT is written in Greek. And the Greek 'theos' is equivalent to the Greek 'Elohyim', just the title 'God', not YHWH. This is evident from passages like John 10:34 (listed in section C). So, we are reduced to context, wierd and indecisive grammatical stuff like in John 1:1 (with the article preceding theos indicating YWHW), and the OT.
Ok, got the idea? Jesus is God.
A) Jehovas Witnesses
B) Explanation of the trinity
C) Texts against JC divinity
D) Texts for divinity
If I were to turn you to the shortest, most revelant part of this post, it would be the 4th verse mentioned in section D, Jeremiah 23:6. The next verse is also very strong for Christ being Yaweh/Jehovah.
A)
Jevhovas witnesses believe many odd things (nothing too wierd), but the most important, probably, is the nature of Jesus. They believe that he is NOT God, that is some sort of superbeing. He is still SON of God, above all other beings except for God, God still created the universe through him, he still forgives sins. The idea that he is the archangel Michael is more of an afterthought, but they believe that too.
They hold fast to the oneness of God and do not believe in the trinity. Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." Gods formal name (like Bill) is Jehovah, which is the same thing as Yaweh. (The words kind of got ambiguous is pronunciation due to the leaving out of vowels in the name) Most bibles nowadays don't have Jehovah in there, but if you see 'LORD' in all capitals, that's probably YHWH.
'God' Elohim, is more of a title. In fact, Jesus said after his ressurection "I am going to your God and my God" John 20:17. So God the father is still God in relation to Jesus, even though Jesus is God. 'God' is just a big authoritative name.
Jehovahs witnesses, holding to the oneness of God, claim that Jesus, although 'God' Elohyim, never said he was Yahweh/Jehovah.
B)
I will not go into depth about the trinity. Is you want some more ideas, see "BIG THEORY Trinity and TSM" from June 10, 2010.
I will only explain as far as it is neccesary to understand some of my arguments. The three parts of the trinity are distinct persons, with individual thoughts and such. However, they are still the same God. An analogy (which errs on the side of uniting them) might be to the heart, will, body, and mind of a human. All three are part of the one human, but they can act differently. You see a piece of candy: your body may salivate for it, your heart may say that it is desirable, your mind may say that it will make you fat, and your 'will' will decide between these inputs. In the same way, the trinity have independent views and functions but of the same body. God has control over both the holy spirit and Jesus.
C)
The bulk of the arguments of the Jehovahs witnesses center around simple functional language used by Jesus. He only does the will of his father in heaven. The father is greater than Jesus. His mission is on behalf of the Father primarily, etc.
I had the great fortune that they gave me their theolgoy book. Essentially I have in my hands their arguments for everything they believe, the book they use on the field. How awesome is that? If I ever get bored, I can just pick a topic we disagree on from the table of contents and dive into some fun!
But anyway, these are all seven verses I could find in their book:
1 - John 17:3 "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." Here, eternal life is being applied to God and Jesus equally, a counterpoint actually. And we recognize that God has sent Jesus, yes. Perhaps in the same way that you could send your eletrical expertise to help your neighbor set up his television.
2 - John 20:17 "Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” This is just saying that God is God towards JC. This is true. I aknowledge that God is higher in command structure than JC, just like the 'will' of a person has command over their desires.
3 - John 10:34 "Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”'" This is a point for Jehovas Witnesses. Jesus is here explaining why he can call himself 'Son of God'. God calls some important people 'gods', and in fact Christians can be called 'sons of God'. This does NOT prove that Jesus is not God, is just puts a strong suggestion that way. Bear with me until we look at the other side. This forces us to have Jesus labeled as the most high God, Jehovah, not just 'God'.
4 - Matt 4:10 "Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’"" This is during Jesus's temptation in the desert. Satan has just asked Jesus to worship Satan. Duh! You shouldn't do that!
5 - John 8:54 "Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me." This is a function of Gods lordship. Jesus does not glorify himself because he is under the house of God. Neither do we glorify ourselves, we let God do that.
6 - 1 Cor 8:5-6 "For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."
7 - John 5:19 "Truly truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father dong." This is, again, just a function of God being in command over Jesus.
One note before we move on to Jesus being God - ability and ease of proof. It is far easier to prove that Jesus is God than to prove that his is not, almost unfortunately. See, Jesus wouldn't go to any great length to say that we wasn't God is he really wasn't. Why bother? I could claim that Jesus was a rhinocerous and not be shot down easily (logically at least) because Jesus never said he wasn't a rhinocerous.
I am dodging around most of these verses above with explanations and the simple observation that these text don't PROVE that Jesus isn't God. It's a kind of cheap, but true way of doing things.
However, I hope all we need is some proof that Jesus is God, and there really doesn't have to be ambiguity on this point.
D)
Five texts that support that Jesus is God (I decided to limit myself to the same number).
1 - John 1:1 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Now, Jehovas Witnesses defend this by saying that is should be translated 'the Word was a God' because there is an article before the first 'God', denoting name and person, and not before the second 'god', indicating title or position. This seems pretty plausible. Many of the references to Jehovah do have an article. However, some don't. For instance Hebrews 1:6 (I just picked Hebrews and found that the first 'theos' referring to Jehovah in 1:1 had an article, and the second in 1:6 didn't.)
2 - John 8:58 - “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” This is during a debate with the Jews where Jesus claims that he was before Abraham (among other things). Notice the 'incorrect' grammar of the last phrase. "I am" (most people think) refers to I AM, the title of the God who appeared in the burning bush. (Exodus 3:14). "I am" is also closely connected to the literal meaning of Yaweh. Jehovahs Witnesses translate this as "I have been". However, the verb "I am" 'eimi', in the present activTe indicative, not any sort of past-perfect, pluperfect, aorit tenses or otherwise. It's the base form they use for verb paradigms, present tense "I am".
These next two verses I found on my own just by chance. Zachariah because that's the book I was working through (awesome Jesus-prophetic one btw), and Jeremiah because I was looking for a really strong angry series of verses I had seen once.
3 - Zachariah 12:10 "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced..." This is obviously God talking, because only God gave prophecies. But he says 'me, the one they have pierced'. I don't know how anyone can NOT connect that to Jesus. The word 'me' there comes from a prefix on the verb 'look' which refers to the speaker as the one to whom they look. Here I have cut and pasted a couple sentences from the Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament:
הבּיטוּ אלי, they look upon me. Hibbı̄t, used of bodily sight as well as spiritual (cf. Numbers 21:9). The suffix in אלי (to me) refers to the speaker. This is Jehovah, according to Zechariah 12:1, the creator of the heaven and the earth. את־אשׁר דּקרוּ, not "Him whom they pierced," but simply "whom they pierced." את, that is to say, is not governed by hibbı̄tū as a second object, but simply refers to אלי, to me, "whom they pierced,"
4 - Jerermiah 23:6 "In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior." This is a passage about the Righteous Branch, a virtually undenaible prophecy about Jesus, and his name is the LORD, which is Yaweh, the formal name of God. Take that!
5 - Isaiah 40:3 (also quoted in Mark 1:2-3 and Luke 3:4) "...'a voice of one calling in the desert "Prepare the way for the LORD, make straight paths for him."'". Mark explains this is John the baptists telling of Jesus. But the 'LORD' is YHWH here, the big God. JC = Jehovah.
6 - John 5:18 "This was why the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but aslo called God his Father, making himself equal with God." Now, the Jehovas Witnesses defend this by saying that the Jews were wrong and quote the next verse, where Jesus says he's only obeying his Father (thus somehow implying that Jesus is not God). However, the subject of their conversation was about breaking the Sabbath, so Jesus's words about doing the fathers will is just about works, not about being God. I would assume that Jesus would not want the Jews to think that he was claiming to be God if he wasn't. That would be a cruddy moral teacher or archangel Michael. 'Great job' God admonishes Michael 'now they think YOU'RE God.'
NOTE: It's hard, using new testament to prove that Jesus is YHWH, because the name for God is in Hebrew, and the NT is written in Greek. And the Greek 'theos' is equivalent to the Greek 'Elohyim', just the title 'God', not YHWH. This is evident from passages like John 10:34 (listed in section C). So, we are reduced to context, wierd and indecisive grammatical stuff like in John 1:1 (with the article preceding theos indicating YWHW), and the OT.
Ok, got the idea? Jesus is God.
04 July 2011
summary of Hebrews
What follows, my friends, is a freakishly long logical diagram of Hebrews. Wow! It has taken me 4 hours so far to write this and I'm not even done (but close).
Capital letters signify syllogisms, which in turn fit into a model. Below is the main model with only letters, then a list of the names of the syllogisms denoted by the letters, and then finally a all the lettered syllogisms written out. Lowercase letters denote statements in a syllogism that are logically dependent. Lowercase Roman numerals represent different syllogisms or statements within syllogisms that perform the same purpose and are not logically dependent on eachother.
A>B>C__>E>F>O
I>J>L>D>
I>J>K>G__>
H________>
N__________>
M__________>
P__________>
JC is better than what was in the OT. [Ai-iii]
Therefore we should pay attention to JCs message [Bi-ii]
and P.S. that means JC is our brother [Biii]
Gods rest still remains for us. [C]
JC is capable and willing to give us access to this rest [D]
Gods rest is available [E]
Let us pursue it and not fall away! [F]
You can't stay with the old way [Gi]
So you must use JCs message [F]
You were intended, by Gods promise, to be saved [H]
Melchizedek was greater than Abraham [I]
Gods people tithed to God through Levi>Abraham>Melchizedek>God [J]
Jesus relaces this order [Ki]
Jesus's ministry will be different [Li]
The old order was only symbolic of the new one [Kii]
Differences of JCs atonement [Lii]
(Chapter 10a repeats the concepts of 9a)
You can't stay with the old way [Gii]
You must persevere [M]
Many have gone before you [N]
Run for JC [O]
Love the hardship [P]
Main Syllogism of Chapters 1-3:
JC is better than what was in the OT. [Supported by premises Ai-iii]
Therefore we should pay attention to JCs message [Bi-ii]
and P.S. that means JC is our brother [Biii]
Premise Ai: JC is better because of stuff directly from God:
i) He is superior to angels
ii) Son of God
iii) Future ruler of earth
iv) Eternal and creator
Application Bi: We must pay attention to this greater message. Additioinally because:
a) This message has greater rewards and punishments for listening or not listening.
b) It was testified to by miracles.
Premise Aii: JC is better because of his human nature:
ai) JC was human in order that he might lead the way for his brothers
aii) JC was human so he could be a priest who can relate to the people he represents
b) God is making man, not angels, rulers over earth.
c) God lifted Jesus above angels to his righteous throne.
Application: Bii: Jesus is our brother [from ai)]
Premise Aiii: JC is better because he is better than Moses:
a) Builders/owners of houses/people/servants are greater than the houses themselves.
b) Moses was a servant keeper.
c) Jesus is a son/owner.
d) Jesus is greater than Moses.
Application Biii: We should not harden our hearts to this message.
a) Your forefathers didn't listen to God.
b) They didn't get to enter Gods rest.
c) Don't be like your forefathers.
Main Syllogism of chapters 4-5:
Gods rest still remains for us. [C]
Jesus can make a way to the rest [D]
Let us take hold of it and not fall away! [F]
Premise C: The sabbath rest still remains for us.
ai) The rest exists because it was refused to the forefathers
aii) The rest exists because on the seventh day, God rested.
b) God ordained a future time when this rest would be available.
Premise D: JC is able and willing to give us access to the rest.
ai) In order to be a priest, one must be able to understand the ones your represent.
bi) Jesus can relate to us [See Aii>aii]
aii) In order to be a priest, one must be appointed by God.
bii) Jesus was appoitned by God.
c) Jesus operates as our priest, giving us access to God and his rest.
Premise E: Gods rest is available.
Application F: Let us pursue it!
Main Syllogism of Chapter 6:
So you must use JCs message [F]
You can't stay with the old way [Gi]
You were intended, by Gods promise, to be saved [H]
Premise Gi: You can't stay with the old way.
a) You have seen the new way and so must reject or accept it.
bi) Rejecting the new way is trampling upon Gods witness and disgracing him.
bii) Rejecting the new way is like land refusing water.
c) If you reject the new way you will be condemned.
Application F: You have to use JCs way.
Premise H: You have the ability to use JCs way.
a) God will remember your deeds.
bi) God swore to be with you and he doesn't lie
bii) God swore by himself, and there is no one greater
c) God will follow through on his promise.
Main Syllogisms of Chapter 7-10a:
Melchizedek was greater than Abraham [I]
Gods people tithed to God through Levi>Abraham>Melchizedek>God [J]
Jesus relaces this order [Li]
Jesus's ministry will be different [Mi]
The old order was only symbolic [Lii]
Differences of JCs atonement [Mii]
Premise I: Melchizedek was greater than Abraham
ai) Melchizedek blessed Abraham
bi) Greater people bless the lesser
aii) Abraham tithed to Melchizedek
bii) Lesser people tithe to greater
c) Melchizedek was greater than Abraham
Premise J: The Israelites tithed to God through a chain. {P.S. ai-ii is subset of b}
ai) Melchizedek did not have parents.
aii) Melchizedek did not trace his lineage from Levi
b) There is no intermediary between God and Melchizedek.
c) Melchizedek is above Abraham [see J]
d) Levi was inside of Abraham
e) The Israelites tithed to Levi
f) God>Melchizedek>Abraham>Levi>Israelites
Premise Ki: Jesus replaces the old order
ai) The fact that a new way came proves that the old was insufficient.
aii) The old way was weak because it was based on regulation of Levi.
bii) Jesus was established by indestructible life of Judah, not regulation.
aiii) The old way was weak because its priests died and had to be replaced.
biii) Jesus was established by oath, which does not die and lives forever.
avi) The old way was weak because they had to sacrifice over and over again.
bvi) Jesus's sacrifice was sufficient, once and for all.
Premise Li: Jesus's ministry is different from the old one
i) He serves in the tabernacle of heaven, not earth.
ii) The law will be on peoples hearts and minds, not a jurisdiction.
Premise Kii: The old order was only symbolic
i) Holy Place with the lampstand, table, and bread.
ii) The Most Holy Place with the altar, ark, manna, staff, tablets, and cherubim.
iii) Only the high priest entered the Most Holy Place only once a year and only with blood.
Premise Lii: Differences of JCs atonement
ai) The OT blood of imperfect lambs and goats cleansed outwardly
bi) The NT blood of perfect God cleases inwardly
aii) Wills (legal) don't get executed until the death of the writer
bii) In the same way JC had to die in order for his will to be carried out.
aiii) Man (normal people) die once and then stand for judgement
biii) In the same way JC dies once and pays for all.
Main Syllogisms of chapter 10b-13
You cannot stay with the old way [Gii]
You must persevere [M]
Many have gone before you [N]
Run for JC [O]
Love the hardship [P]
Premise Gii: You can't stay with the old way
a) In the days of Moses, a person who rejected the law died without mercy.
b) Not accepting JCs way is like trampling him, the fufillment of the law.
c) Rejecting JC results in death.
Application M: You must persevere
ai) You have endured hardship before.
aii) There are rich rewards for staying (from E)
aiii) God is coming soon
b) Persevere!
Premise N: Many have gone before you in faith
i) Abel giving the firstfruits
ii) Enoch walking with God
iii) Noah building the ark
iv) Abraham going to Ur
v) Abraham bearing Issac
vi) Abraham sacrificing Issac
vii) Issac blessing Jacob
viii) Jacob blessing Joseph's sons
ix) Joseph speaking of the Exodus
x) Moses' parents
xi) Moses identifying with his people
xii) Moses fleeing Egypt
xiii) Moses doing the Passover
xiv) Israel and the Sed Sea
xv) Israel and Jericho
xvi) Rahab in Jericho
xvii) Countless others
Application O: Run for Jesus
ai) We have a great cloud of witnesses
aii) A great Jesus
aiii) Jesus who endured before us
aiv) You have not resisted to shedding blood
bi) Throw off sin
bii) Run the race
biii) Fix eyes on Jesus
Application P: Love the hardship
ai) God disciplines his sons, those he loves
aii) God disciplines in order to create righteousness
b) Hardship is like discipline
c) Embrace the discipline even though it feels tough at the time
... I will add the 12b and 13 soon. So far this has taken me about 4hours
Capital letters signify syllogisms, which in turn fit into a model. Below is the main model with only letters, then a list of the names of the syllogisms denoted by the letters, and then finally a all the lettered syllogisms written out. Lowercase letters denote statements in a syllogism that are logically dependent. Lowercase Roman numerals represent different syllogisms or statements within syllogisms that perform the same purpose and are not logically dependent on eachother.
A>B>C__>E>F>O
I>J>L>D>
I>J>K>G__>
H________>
N__________>
M__________>
P__________>
JC is better than what was in the OT. [Ai-iii]
Therefore we should pay attention to JCs message [Bi-ii]
and P.S. that means JC is our brother [Biii]
Gods rest still remains for us. [C]
JC is capable and willing to give us access to this rest [D]
Gods rest is available [E]
Let us pursue it and not fall away! [F]
You can't stay with the old way [Gi]
So you must use JCs message [F]
You were intended, by Gods promise, to be saved [H]
Melchizedek was greater than Abraham [I]
Gods people tithed to God through Levi>Abraham>Melchizedek>God [J]
Jesus relaces this order [Ki]
Jesus's ministry will be different [Li]
The old order was only symbolic of the new one [Kii]
Differences of JCs atonement [Lii]
(Chapter 10a repeats the concepts of 9a)
You can't stay with the old way [Gii]
You must persevere [M]
Many have gone before you [N]
Run for JC [O]
Love the hardship [P]
Main Syllogism of Chapters 1-3:
JC is better than what was in the OT. [Supported by premises Ai-iii]
Therefore we should pay attention to JCs message [Bi-ii]
and P.S. that means JC is our brother [Biii]
Premise Ai: JC is better because of stuff directly from God:
i) He is superior to angels
ii) Son of God
iii) Future ruler of earth
iv) Eternal and creator
Application Bi: We must pay attention to this greater message. Additioinally because:
a) This message has greater rewards and punishments for listening or not listening.
b) It was testified to by miracles.
Premise Aii: JC is better because of his human nature:
ai) JC was human in order that he might lead the way for his brothers
aii) JC was human so he could be a priest who can relate to the people he represents
b) God is making man, not angels, rulers over earth.
c) God lifted Jesus above angels to his righteous throne.
Application: Bii: Jesus is our brother [from ai)]
Premise Aiii: JC is better because he is better than Moses:
a) Builders/owners of houses/people/servants are greater than the houses themselves.
b) Moses was a servant keeper.
c) Jesus is a son/owner.
d) Jesus is greater than Moses.
Application Biii: We should not harden our hearts to this message.
a) Your forefathers didn't listen to God.
b) They didn't get to enter Gods rest.
c) Don't be like your forefathers.
Main Syllogism of chapters 4-5:
Gods rest still remains for us. [C]
Jesus can make a way to the rest [D]
Let us take hold of it and not fall away! [F]
Premise C: The sabbath rest still remains for us.
ai) The rest exists because it was refused to the forefathers
aii) The rest exists because on the seventh day, God rested.
b) God ordained a future time when this rest would be available.
Premise D: JC is able and willing to give us access to the rest.
ai) In order to be a priest, one must be able to understand the ones your represent.
bi) Jesus can relate to us [See Aii>aii]
aii) In order to be a priest, one must be appointed by God.
bii) Jesus was appoitned by God.
c) Jesus operates as our priest, giving us access to God and his rest.
Premise E: Gods rest is available.
Application F: Let us pursue it!
Main Syllogism of Chapter 6:
So you must use JCs message [F]
You can't stay with the old way [Gi]
You were intended, by Gods promise, to be saved [H]
Premise Gi: You can't stay with the old way.
a) You have seen the new way and so must reject or accept it.
bi) Rejecting the new way is trampling upon Gods witness and disgracing him.
bii) Rejecting the new way is like land refusing water.
c) If you reject the new way you will be condemned.
Application F: You have to use JCs way.
Premise H: You have the ability to use JCs way.
a) God will remember your deeds.
bi) God swore to be with you and he doesn't lie
bii) God swore by himself, and there is no one greater
c) God will follow through on his promise.
Main Syllogisms of Chapter 7-10a:
Melchizedek was greater than Abraham [I]
Gods people tithed to God through Levi>Abraham>Melchizedek>God [J]
Jesus relaces this order [Li]
Jesus's ministry will be different [Mi]
The old order was only symbolic [Lii]
Differences of JCs atonement [Mii]
Premise I: Melchizedek was greater than Abraham
ai) Melchizedek blessed Abraham
bi) Greater people bless the lesser
aii) Abraham tithed to Melchizedek
bii) Lesser people tithe to greater
c) Melchizedek was greater than Abraham
Premise J: The Israelites tithed to God through a chain. {P.S. ai-ii is subset of b}
ai) Melchizedek did not have parents.
aii) Melchizedek did not trace his lineage from Levi
b) There is no intermediary between God and Melchizedek.
c) Melchizedek is above Abraham [see J]
d) Levi was inside of Abraham
e) The Israelites tithed to Levi
f) God>Melchizedek>Abraham>Levi>Israelites
Premise Ki: Jesus replaces the old order
ai) The fact that a new way came proves that the old was insufficient.
aii) The old way was weak because it was based on regulation of Levi.
bii) Jesus was established by indestructible life of Judah, not regulation.
aiii) The old way was weak because its priests died and had to be replaced.
biii) Jesus was established by oath, which does not die and lives forever.
avi) The old way was weak because they had to sacrifice over and over again.
bvi) Jesus's sacrifice was sufficient, once and for all.
Premise Li: Jesus's ministry is different from the old one
i) He serves in the tabernacle of heaven, not earth.
ii) The law will be on peoples hearts and minds, not a jurisdiction.
Premise Kii: The old order was only symbolic
i) Holy Place with the lampstand, table, and bread.
ii) The Most Holy Place with the altar, ark, manna, staff, tablets, and cherubim.
iii) Only the high priest entered the Most Holy Place only once a year and only with blood.
Premise Lii: Differences of JCs atonement
ai) The OT blood of imperfect lambs and goats cleansed outwardly
bi) The NT blood of perfect God cleases inwardly
aii) Wills (legal) don't get executed until the death of the writer
bii) In the same way JC had to die in order for his will to be carried out.
aiii) Man (normal people) die once and then stand for judgement
biii) In the same way JC dies once and pays for all.
Main Syllogisms of chapter 10b-13
You cannot stay with the old way [Gii]
You must persevere [M]
Many have gone before you [N]
Run for JC [O]
Love the hardship [P]
Premise Gii: You can't stay with the old way
a) In the days of Moses, a person who rejected the law died without mercy.
b) Not accepting JCs way is like trampling him, the fufillment of the law.
c) Rejecting JC results in death.
Application M: You must persevere
ai) You have endured hardship before.
aii) There are rich rewards for staying (from E)
aiii) God is coming soon
b) Persevere!
Premise N: Many have gone before you in faith
i) Abel giving the firstfruits
ii) Enoch walking with God
iii) Noah building the ark
iv) Abraham going to Ur
v) Abraham bearing Issac
vi) Abraham sacrificing Issac
vii) Issac blessing Jacob
viii) Jacob blessing Joseph's sons
ix) Joseph speaking of the Exodus
x) Moses' parents
xi) Moses identifying with his people
xii) Moses fleeing Egypt
xiii) Moses doing the Passover
xiv) Israel and the Sed Sea
xv) Israel and Jericho
xvi) Rahab in Jericho
xvii) Countless others
Application O: Run for Jesus
ai) We have a great cloud of witnesses
aii) A great Jesus
aiii) Jesus who endured before us
aiv) You have not resisted to shedding blood
bi) Throw off sin
bii) Run the race
biii) Fix eyes on Jesus
Application P: Love the hardship
ai) God disciplines his sons, those he loves
aii) God disciplines in order to create righteousness
b) Hardship is like discipline
c) Embrace the discipline even though it feels tough at the time
... I will add the 12b and 13 soon. So far this has taken me about 4hours
03 July 2011
because you enjoy it
Today I stood in my room after having completed everything I could possibly be oligated to do and said to myself "What shall I pursue now?"
This is essential saying "What shall I conquer?" or "What new part of the world (knowledge or accomoplishment) may I take hold of and subdue so that I can use it for myself?"
This is, of course, not good. It is rooted in fear, doubt that I have enough now to get me through life, a hunger for power, constant nervousness, dissatisfaction, desperation to attain meaning, etc.
Solution: one (person) must do things not because he/she needs to, but because they WANT to, and not because they will be lacking without it, but because it brings them more joy. This second parallel is NOT a logical fallacy.
'Lacking' means not following the natural order, following your human design, knowing and living with the one true God, etc. This person, NOT 'lacking', without doing anything but accepting God, ALEADY has all he/she needs. However, doing stuff brings this person joy. Why? 'Joy' is caused by excercising creativity and making beautiful art (see post June 28 "Concept of Art"). This is a charachter of God that is very close to the fundamental, and he has given us this charachter, a charachter of creativity.
We join with God in his work, not depending on ourselves but simply coming along for the ride and letting God do the work through us. Yes, we will suffer and doubt all the time, but joining God in a fun work is the underlying motivation, I hope. Other motivations include the command to take care of the earth, care for the widow and orphan, and preach the good news to all nations, joy from seeing changed lives and planet, eternal rewards in heaven, etc etc.
You will not just do work for the joy ride, mind you. Other legitmate underlying motivations include anger at injustice, burden and sorrow for the lost, even irritation at certain jobs poorly done in the secular realms.
Anyway, the main point is this: don't do stuff because you feel you need to, do it because you WANT to.
Note: doing good is rarely a joy ride, I must say again. But it's like going to college. Do you want to spend all that money? No! Is it a good investment? Yes. Will making that decision bring you the most happiness in the long run? Yes. So do you WANT to go to college even though you don't feel like it? YES. Same principle applies to Gods kingdom.
This is essential saying "What shall I conquer?" or "What new part of the world (knowledge or accomoplishment) may I take hold of and subdue so that I can use it for myself?"
This is, of course, not good. It is rooted in fear, doubt that I have enough now to get me through life, a hunger for power, constant nervousness, dissatisfaction, desperation to attain meaning, etc.
Solution: one (person) must do things not because he/she needs to, but because they WANT to, and not because they will be lacking without it, but because it brings them more joy. This second parallel is NOT a logical fallacy.
'Lacking' means not following the natural order, following your human design, knowing and living with the one true God, etc. This person, NOT 'lacking', without doing anything but accepting God, ALEADY has all he/she needs. However, doing stuff brings this person joy. Why? 'Joy' is caused by excercising creativity and making beautiful art (see post June 28 "Concept of Art"). This is a charachter of God that is very close to the fundamental, and he has given us this charachter, a charachter of creativity.
We join with God in his work, not depending on ourselves but simply coming along for the ride and letting God do the work through us. Yes, we will suffer and doubt all the time, but joining God in a fun work is the underlying motivation, I hope. Other motivations include the command to take care of the earth, care for the widow and orphan, and preach the good news to all nations, joy from seeing changed lives and planet, eternal rewards in heaven, etc etc.
You will not just do work for the joy ride, mind you. Other legitmate underlying motivations include anger at injustice, burden and sorrow for the lost, even irritation at certain jobs poorly done in the secular realms.
Anyway, the main point is this: don't do stuff because you feel you need to, do it because you WANT to.
Note: doing good is rarely a joy ride, I must say again. But it's like going to college. Do you want to spend all that money? No! Is it a good investment? Yes. Will making that decision bring you the most happiness in the long run? Yes. So do you WANT to go to college even though you don't feel like it? YES. Same principle applies to Gods kingdom.
02 July 2011
Connections in Revelations and other books
This is just a short list of things that I discovered recently about Revelations, and connections Revelations has with other books.
1) Revelations dragon>sea>earth power chain.
a) Satan/Lucifer, the dragon with seven heads and ten horns, the dragon, and the leader of the locust from the abyss whose name is Apollyon or Abaddon which means destruction, are all one and the same person.
b) The beast from the sea is often referred to as simply 'the beast', although the dragon is also sometimes 'the beast'. He derives his power from the devil and is the main big-brother totalitarian.
c) The beast from the earth is the false prophet and serves as a proponent for the sea beast.
A) These three act in a command chain 1>2>3 and rule earth. Demon frogs come from their mouths and summon the kings of the earth, (Ma)Gog, to Armageddon.
2) Daniel
a) The four beasts from Daniels vision are of a Lion, Bear, Leopard, and different iron teeth thing with ten horns. The sea beast from Revelations has the mouth of a lion, the feet of a bear, the normal body of leopard, and has the seven heads and ten horns of his master, the devil. These four beasts correlate in the short run to the kingdoms of Babylon, Persia, Greece (Alexander the Great), and Rome.
b) Daniels 'time, times, and half a time' of breaking the holy people and the 1290 days (same length) of abomination at the end of Daniel during the End is the same time period in Revelations given to i) Gentiles trampling the temple (abomination), ii) The length of the two witnesses, iii) The duration that the woman with child flees the devil.
3) The two witnesses in Revelations are highly likely to represent Jesus.
a) They operate in Jerusalem
b) They prphesy for 3.5 years, the same period and Jesus' ministry.
c) They are killed by Satan and rise again 3.5 days later, approtimately the same time as Jesus.
d) The are taken into heaven soon after.
e) Immediately following this there is a large earthquake. There was also an earthquake at the death of Jesus.
f) This story is immediately followed by the pregant woman. I'm not sure if this is even a bonus, but the pregnant woman is obviously about Jesus.
g) Jesus is described as a witness in Revelations 1:5 and John 1:7
A) The problem with two witnesses instead of one Jesus may be explained in several ways: i) Jesus as man and Jesus as God, ii) Possibly related to the testimony of the water and the blood and spirit in 1 John 5.
4) Zachariah
h) (additional support to #3) The two witnesses are described as olive trees and lampstands, which matches Zachariah 4, in which two olive trees represent Joshua (not the Jehrico one, a JC figure) and Zerubbabel, a real person but also symbolic of the future king. Revelation and Zachariah also share the seven eyes of God.
a) In the first and sixth chapters they have multicolored horses like Revelations. They go over the earth and determine that it is at peace, ripe for being destroyed and paid a lesson for oppressing Israel.
5) The abyss appears multiple times. First the Lamp opens the seven seals. The seventh seal releases the seven trumpets. The fifth trumpet has a star fall into earth and open up the Abyss and release the locust. The devil, p.s., is the fallen star Lucifer., lord of light. Angels are often symbolized as stars (Revelation 1:20). It is this same abyss that satan is locked in at the 1000 year reign.
6) In the letters to the seven churches, JC introduces himself with part of his description in the first chapter except for the last church (Laodicea) for which he is the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness.
P.S. some see the seven churches as seven different pitfalls, seven actual churches with those needs, or a time progression of the church through history. (which is cool because at least in America we probably fit the last one the best).
7) Oh, yes! More stuff. Let's make a nice 7 out of it.
a) And as previously stated, the new Jerusalem will come down out of the sky and is 1,400 miles in each dimension, making it a huge cube. Fun!
b) The seven trumpets all involve something coming to earth from heaven, a big mountain, star wormwood, fire, etc. The plauges are kind of also this way. I'm thinking meter shower/could big enough to blot out the sun sometimes, burn everything, and deliver us some 'mountains'.
1) Revelations dragon>sea>earth power chain.
a) Satan/Lucifer, the dragon with seven heads and ten horns, the dragon, and the leader of the locust from the abyss whose name is Apollyon or Abaddon which means destruction, are all one and the same person.
b) The beast from the sea is often referred to as simply 'the beast', although the dragon is also sometimes 'the beast'. He derives his power from the devil and is the main big-brother totalitarian.
c) The beast from the earth is the false prophet and serves as a proponent for the sea beast.
A) These three act in a command chain 1>2>3 and rule earth. Demon frogs come from their mouths and summon the kings of the earth, (Ma)Gog, to Armageddon.
2) Daniel
a) The four beasts from Daniels vision are of a Lion, Bear, Leopard, and different iron teeth thing with ten horns. The sea beast from Revelations has the mouth of a lion, the feet of a bear, the normal body of leopard, and has the seven heads and ten horns of his master, the devil. These four beasts correlate in the short run to the kingdoms of Babylon, Persia, Greece (Alexander the Great), and Rome.
b) Daniels 'time, times, and half a time' of breaking the holy people and the 1290 days (same length) of abomination at the end of Daniel during the End is the same time period in Revelations given to i) Gentiles trampling the temple (abomination), ii) The length of the two witnesses, iii) The duration that the woman with child flees the devil.
3) The two witnesses in Revelations are highly likely to represent Jesus.
a) They operate in Jerusalem
b) They prphesy for 3.5 years, the same period and Jesus' ministry.
c) They are killed by Satan and rise again 3.5 days later, approtimately the same time as Jesus.
d) The are taken into heaven soon after.
e) Immediately following this there is a large earthquake. There was also an earthquake at the death of Jesus.
f) This story is immediately followed by the pregant woman. I'm not sure if this is even a bonus, but the pregnant woman is obviously about Jesus.
g) Jesus is described as a witness in Revelations 1:5 and John 1:7
A) The problem with two witnesses instead of one Jesus may be explained in several ways: i) Jesus as man and Jesus as God, ii) Possibly related to the testimony of the water and the blood and spirit in 1 John 5.
4) Zachariah
h) (additional support to #3) The two witnesses are described as olive trees and lampstands, which matches Zachariah 4, in which two olive trees represent Joshua (not the Jehrico one, a JC figure) and Zerubbabel, a real person but also symbolic of the future king. Revelation and Zachariah also share the seven eyes of God.
a) In the first and sixth chapters they have multicolored horses like Revelations. They go over the earth and determine that it is at peace, ripe for being destroyed and paid a lesson for oppressing Israel.
5) The abyss appears multiple times. First the Lamp opens the seven seals. The seventh seal releases the seven trumpets. The fifth trumpet has a star fall into earth and open up the Abyss and release the locust. The devil, p.s., is the fallen star Lucifer., lord of light. Angels are often symbolized as stars (Revelation 1:20). It is this same abyss that satan is locked in at the 1000 year reign.
6) In the letters to the seven churches, JC introduces himself with part of his description in the first chapter except for the last church (Laodicea) for which he is the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness.
P.S. some see the seven churches as seven different pitfalls, seven actual churches with those needs, or a time progression of the church through history. (which is cool because at least in America we probably fit the last one the best).
7) Oh, yes! More stuff. Let's make a nice 7 out of it.
a) And as previously stated, the new Jerusalem will come down out of the sky and is 1,400 miles in each dimension, making it a huge cube. Fun!
b) The seven trumpets all involve something coming to earth from heaven, a big mountain, star wormwood, fire, etc. The plauges are kind of also this way. I'm thinking meter shower/could big enough to blot out the sun sometimes, burn everything, and deliver us some 'mountains'.
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