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The Lukewarm Church: A Warning

To the Church at Laodicea

Revelation 3:14-11

  • And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
  • I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
  • So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
  • Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
  • I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
  • As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
  • Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
  • To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
  • He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

History

Laodicea was located about 50 miles southeast of Philadelphia, in the Lycus River
valley near Colossae and Hierapolis (cf. Col. 4:13-16). It was also located forty miles from Ephesus and was steeped in Greek culture. The city (and region) had experienced many earthquakes over the years.

The city was a cultural center with schools, libraries, and a banking center that brought strong economic and financial resources.
Two widely used eye and ear salves were produced in the city, as it was also a well-known medical center of its day. Its name means “People Ruling,” and represents the unbelieving, materialistic church of all ages.

Notes

  • Christ is the beginning of the creation of God in the sense that He is the origin and source of God’s creation
    • Col. 1:15-18
      •  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
      • For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
      • And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
      • And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
  • Christ is the head of the new creation
    • 2 Cor. 5:17
      • Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
  • The church is likened to lukewarm water, or as being virtually worthless, Christ says He will “spew them out,” or eject them from His company.
    • The hot waters of nearby Hierapolis were known for their medicinal qualities
    • Colossae was known for its cold, pure water.
    • Laodicea was forced to receive water by aqueduct from other areas. By the time it arrived at Laodicea it was lukewarm and provoked nausea.
      • The works of the Laodicean church were as worthless as the city’s lukewarm water.
        • The description does not refer to a backslidden condition, but rather to their lack of genuine faith.
  • Laodicea was famous for its wealth, its bankers, its medical school, its popular eye salve, and its textile industry.
    • Christ says that spiritually the people of the church are poor, blind, and naked.
    • True wealth is found only in God’s grace. This church had no spiritual value (gold), virtue (white raiment), or vision (eye salve).
      • He urges the Laodiceans to repent of their lack of genuine faith and of spiritual understanding.
  • In light of the spiritual condition of the Laodiceans described in verses 17, 18, the invitation of verse 20 seems to be evangelistically addressed to individual members of an apostate church, so they might receive Christ genuinely as Savior and Lord.
    • To sup (dine) means to have fellowship (cf. ; ) and to enjoy Christ’s blessings.
      • Luke 22:30
        • That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
      • John 14:23
        • Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
    • The promise to sit with Christ in His throne refers to reigning with Christ in His kingdom.
      • Matt. 19:28
        • And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
      • Rev. 20:4
        • And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

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Comprender la paloma como representación del Espíritu Santo

LA PALOMA: UNA IMAGEN DEL ESPÍRITU SANTO

La palomaCaracterísticas de una palomaParalelismos con el Espíritu Santo
BlancoExpresa el color de la pureza.El Espíritu Santo trae pureza.
Levítico 20:26: «Seréis santos para mí, porque yo, el Señor, soy santo, y os he apartado de las naciones para que seáis míos».
1 Tesalonicenses 4:7: «Porque Dios no nos llamó a la impureza, sino a la santidad».
CariñosoExpresa afecto acariciando y emitiendo arrullos.El Espíritu Santo trae amor y afecto.
Gálatas 5:22 Pero el fruto del Espíritu es amor, gozo, paz, paciencia, benignidad, bondad, fe,
benévoloNunca toma represalias contra sus enemigos,
cuando atacan a sus crías, no
lucha, sino que emite gritos de angustia.		No debemos vengarnos de nuestros enemigos; el Espíritu intercede en tiempos de dificultad.
Romanos 8:26 Asimismo, el Espíritu nos ayuda en nuestra debilidad; pues no sabemos orar como es debido, pero el Espíritu mismo intercede por nosotros con gemidos indecibles.
Al escuchar ruidos extrañosNo volverá después de estar asustadoEl Espíritu no contenderá siempre con los hombres.
Génesis 6:3 Y dijo Jehová: Mi espíritu no contenderá para siempre con el hombre, porque ciertamente él es carne; mas vivirán ciento veinte años.
Efesios 4:30 Y no entristezcáis al Espíritu Santo de Dios, con el cual fuisteis sellados para el día de la redención.
Lucas 12:10 Y a cualquiera que hable contra el Hijo del Hombre, le será perdonado; pero al que blasfeme contra el Espíritu Santo, no le será perdonado.
Al pasar el cursor por encimaLas alas apuntan hacia la cabeza y no hacia la cola.El Espíritu siempre guía a las personas hacia Cristo.
Juan 15:26 Pero cuando venga el Consolador, a quien yo os enviaré del Padre, el Espíritu de verdad, que procede del Padre, él dará testimonio de mí.
Plumas de las alasTiene nueve plumas principales en sus alas izquierda y derecha.Existen nueve dones (1 Corintios 12:8-10) y nueve frutos (Gálatas 5:22-23) del Espíritu Santo.
Plumas de la colaTiene cinco plumas principales en la cola.La iglesia cuenta con un ministerio quíntuple.
Efesios 4:11-12 Y él constituyó a unos, apóstoles; a otros, profetas; a otros, evangelistas; a otros, pastores y maestros; a fin de perfeccionar a los santos para la obra del ministerio, para la edificación del cuerpo de Cristo.

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Espíritu Santo, Estudio de la Biblia,

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Weekly Recap of Articles for Christians Jan 25th to Jan 31st

Bible

Education

Cooking/ House Keeping

Estudio Bíblico en Español

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Education, Weekly Recaps

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Witness of the Star: ANDROMEDA (The Chained Woman)

2. ANDROMEDA (The Chained Woman)

The Redeemed in their Bondage and Affliction.

This is a peculiar picture to set in the heavens. A woman with chains fastened to her feet and arms, in misery and trouble; and bound, helpless, to the sky. Yet this is the ancient foreshowing of the truth.

In the Denderah Zodiac her name is Set, which means set, set up as a queen. In Hebrew it is Sirra, the chained, and Persea, the stretched out.

Plate 22: ANDROMEDA (the Chained Woman)

There are 63 stars in this constellation, three of which are of the 2nd magnitude, two of the 3rd, twelve of the 4th, etc.

The brightest star, α (in the head), is called Al Phiratz (Arabic), the broken down. The star β (in the body) is called Mirach (Hebrew), the weak. The star γ (in the left foot) is called Al Maach, or Al Amak (Arabic), struck down.

The names of other stars, not identified, are Adhil, the afflicted; Mizar, the weak; Al Mara (Arabic), the afflicted. Aratus speaks of Desma, which means the bound, and says—

“Her feet point to her bridegroom

Perseus, on whose shoulder they rest.”

Thus, with one voice, the stars of Andromeda speak to us of the captive daughter of Zion. And her coming Deliverer thus addresses her:—

“O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted,

Behold, … in righteousness shalt thou be established:

Thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear:

And from terror; for it shall not come nigh thee.”

(Isa. liv. 11-14.)

“Hear now this, thou afflicted….

Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion;

Put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem….

Shake thyself from the dust;

Arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem:

Loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought;

And ye shall be redeemed without money.”

(Isa. li. 21-lii. 3.)

“The virgin daughter of My people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow” (Jer. xiv. 17).

The picture which sets forth her deliverance is reserved for the next chapter (or Sign), where it comes in its proper place and order. We are first shown her glorious Deliverer; for we never, in the heavens or in the Word, have a reference to the sufferings without an immediate reference to the glory.

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The 400-Year Prophecy and Israel’s Journey

Exodus 12:40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.

This seems like a contradiction because the children of Israel only lived in Egypt for about 3 generations. However, it is helpful to look at the original prophecy of the 400 Years prediction.

And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years. (KJV, Genesis 15:13)

It basically says that the seed (descendants) of Abraham would be a stranger in a land that is not theirs and shall server them and afflicted them 400 years.

If we call the year of Ishma’el’s birth “0,” as he is Abram’s first seed, we can then use various passages to calculate how many years from then until Israel entered the land of Canaan.

Birth of Isaac: 

  • Abraham is 100 (Gen 17:17; 21:5)
  • Ishmael is 13 the year before Isaac’s birth (Gen 17:25)

Birth of Jacob: 

  • Isaac is 60 (Gen 25:26)

Birth of Joseph: 

  • Jacob is 91 – Jacob was 130 when entering Egypt (Gen 47:9)
    • Joseph was 30 when entering Pharoahs service (Gen 41:46)
    • 7 years of plenty (Gen 41:53,54)
    • 2 years of famine when Jacob came to Egypt (Gen 45:6)
    • Joseph was 39 (30+7+2) when Jacob entered Egypt
    • Jacob was 91 at birth of Joseph (130-39)
  • Birth of Levi: Jacob is 87
    • Jacob is 91 at birth of Joseph who was born in the 14 year of service to Laban (Gen 30:25,26)
    • Jacob is 77 when arrives at Labans (91-14)
    • Jacob serves 7 years and recieves Leah (Gen 29:27) who bears Levi, her third son approximately 3 years after being with Jacob.
    • Jacob is approximately 87 at birth of Levi (77+7+3).
  • The Children of Israel enter the land of Egypt 17 years before the death of Jacob (Gen 47:28) and when Levi is 87 years old.

Birth of Kohath: 

  • Levi is ~35 – Levi was younger than 40 when Kohath was born as Levi was 43 when he went to Egypt with his 3 sons (Gen 46:8,11)
    • if this is correct Kohath would be 8 when entering Egypt.
    • Birth of Amram: Kohath is ~40 (an average generaton)
    • Birth of Moses: Amram is ~40 (an average generaton)
    • Israel leaves Egypt when Moses is 80 years old.

The children of Israel enter the land of Israel after the 40 years of wandering, which is 400 years after the birth of Ishmael.

These numbers are approximate calculations. The other 30 years can be time getting to the promise land and how much time that it should have taken to take the land. Instead, they are wandering in the wilderness for 40 Years. They still were journeying in a land that was not their own.

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Shamgar a minor Judge of Israel

Shamgar was the third judge of Israel. Shamgar was one of the “minor” judges. But the distinction between “major” and “minor” is due more to the lack of information about the “minor” judges than to the lesser importance of the individuals themselves.

Judges 3:31

  • He was succeeded by Shamgar, the son of Anath. He killed six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad, and he delivered Israel.

Shamgar killed more than 600 Philistines with an oxgoad. These Philistines were terrorizing the main travel routes. He did this with an oxgoad.

An oxgoad means an instrument of learning. It was used to teach the oxen where to go. It was long and pointed. Sometimes it had a metal tip. It was used to drive animals.

Shamgar is mentioned in the song of Deborah.

Judges 5:6-7

In the days of Shamgar, the son of Anath,
    in the days of Jael,
the highways were deserted,
    travelers took winding paths.
Village life ceased in Israel,
    it ceased until I, Deborah,
    until I rose up as mother in Israel.

Shamgar

  • Strong’s H8044 – šamgar
    • Outline of Biblical Usage 
      • Shamgar = “sword”
      • son of Anath and a judge of Israel; with an ox-goad he slew 600 Philistines and delivered Israel
    • Strong’s Definitions
      • שַׁמְגַּר Shamgar, sham-gar’; of uncertain derivation; Shamgar, an Israelite judge:—Shamgar.

Anath

  • Strong’s H6067 – ʿănāṯ
    • Outline of Biblical Usage
      • Anath = “answer”
      • father of Shamgar
    • Strong’s Definitions
      • עֲנָת ʻĂnâth, an-awth’; from H6030; answer; Anath, an Israelite:—Anath.
    • Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon

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Discovering Naphtali: Leadership and Legacy in the Bible

Naphtali was born to Rachel’s handmaid, Bilhah.

  • Genesis 30:8
    • And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

Naphtali had four sons:

  • Jahzeel
  • Guni
  • Jezer
  • Shillem

When the census was taken in Numbers 26:48-49, the descendants of Naphtali was great.

  • Of the sons of Naphtali after their families:
    • of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites:
    • of Guni, the family of the Gunites:
    • Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites:
    • of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.
  • These are the families of Naphtali according to their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred.

Jacob gave a prophecy of Naphtali’s descendants in Genesis 49:21.

  • Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.

He Giveth goodly words is an interesting prophecy.

Goodly

  • שֶׁפֶר shepher, sheh’-fer; from H8231; beauty:—× goodly.

Words

  • אֵמֶר ʼêmer, ay’-mer; from H559; something said:—answer, × appointed unto him, saying, speech, word.

Naphtali was the northern most tribe of Israel occupying a long, narrow piece of land about 80 kil. (50 miles) north to south and 16 to 24 Kil (10 to 15 miles) from east to west. The land of Naphtali was mountainous and very fertile.

Isaiah 9:1-7

  • Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
  • The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
  • Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
  • For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
  • For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
  • For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
  • Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Jesus fulfilled this prophecy about Nathali seeing a great light when Jesus spent most of his ministry in the land that Nathali was given after the Exodus.

Matthew 4:12-6

  • When Jesus learned that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 
  • Departing from Nazareth, he settled in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 
  • in order that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
    • “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the passageway to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:
    • The people who lived in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who dwell in a land darkened by the shadow of death light has dawned.”

Naphtali was a tribe of brave warriors people.

  • Members of the tribe fought bravely under Deborah.
    • Judges 4:4-6
      • Now Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, a prophetess, was then a judge in Israel.  
      • She used to sit underneath the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites would come up to her for judgment there. 
      • She summoned Barak, the son of Ahinoam, from Kadesh of Naphtali, and she said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you, ‘Go, take ten thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulun with yourself and march toward Mount Tabor.
    • Judges 4:10
      • Barak had summoned Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh. Ten thousand men were under his command, and Deborah went up with him.
    • Judges 5:18
      • The people of Zebulun risked their lives, as did Naphtali on the heights of the field.
  • They responded to Gideon’s Call
    • Judges 6:35
      • He sent messengers all throughout Manasseh, summoning them to follow him. He also sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, so that they too gathered around him.
    • Judges 7:23
      •  The men of Israel from out of Naphtali, from out of Asher, and from out of Manasseh gathered together and pursued the Midianites. 
  • When Saul’s son Ishbosheth challenged David for the throne 37,000 fighting men who were led by 1,000 captains joined David.
    • Chronicles 12:34
      •  From Naphtali there were one thousand captains along with thirty-seven thousand men armed with shield and spear. 

When the tribes divided into 2 kingdoms, it was part of the 10 Northern Tribes.

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Idolatry in the Bible: Old vs New Testament part 3

What does the Bible say about Idolatry and paganism in the Old Testament? How does that compare to what the New Testament Says? Read on to find out. This is part 3 of a multiple part series.

Laws of Idolatry and Paganism

  • Not to prophesize in the name of idolatry, Not to listen to a false Prophet, Not to prophesize falsely in the name of God, and Not to be afraid of killing the false prophet
    • Deut. 18:20 (ESV)
      • But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’
    • Deuteronomy 18:20-22 ESV
      • But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.
    • Matthew 7:15 ESV
      • “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
    • 2 Peter 2:1 ESV
      • But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
    • 1 John 4:1 ESV
      • Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
    • Acts 20:29-30 ESV
      • I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
    • 1 Timothy 4:1 ESV
      • Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
    • 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ESV
      • For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
    • Galatians 1:8-9 ESV
      • But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
  • Not to swear in the name of an idol
    • Exodus 23:13 ESV
      • “Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips.
    • Matthew 5:34-37 ESV
      • But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
    • James 5:12 ESV
      • But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
    • 1 Corinthians 10:14 ESV
      • Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
    • 2 Corinthians 6:16 ESV
      • What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
    • 1 John 5:21 ESV
      • Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
  • Not to perform ov (medium)
    • Leviticus 19:31 ESV
      • “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.
    • Leviticus 20:6 ESV
      • “If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.
    • Deuteronomy 18:10-12 ESV
      • There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you.
    • Acts 16:16-18 ESV
      • As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
  • Not to perform yidoni (magical seer)
    • Leviticus 19:31 ESV
      • “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.
    • Acts 19:19 ESV
      • And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.
    • Galatians 5:19-21 ESV
      • Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
  • Not to pass your children through the fire to Molech
    • Leviticus 18:21 ESV
      • You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.
    • Leviticus 20:2-5 ESV
      • “Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name. And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in whoring after Molech.
    • For information on this topic please read: The Truth About Abortion.
  • Not to erect a column in a public place of worship and not to plant a tree in the Temple courtyard
    • Deut. 16:21-22
      • “You shall not plant for yourself an Asherah of any kind of tree or wood beside the altar of the Lord your God, which you shall make. You shall not set up for yourself a sacred pillar which the Lord your God hates.
    • Deuteronomy 12:3 ESV
      • You shall tear down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and burn their Asherim with fire. You shall chop down the carved images of their gods and destroy their name out of that place.
    • Leviticus 26:1 ESV
      • “You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the Lord your God.
    • For more information please read: Understanding Deuteronomy 16:21-22: A Message for Worship
  • Not to bow down on smooth stone
    • Lev. 26:1
      • You shall not make idols for yourselves, nor shall you erect an image, a sacred pillar or an obelisk, nor shall you place any figured stone in your land so that you may bow down to it; for I am the Lord your God.
    • Acts 17:29 ESV
      • Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.
    • 1 Corinthians 10:14 ESV
      • Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

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Witness of the Stars: The Band

1. THE BAND

The Redeemed Bound, but binding their Enemy.

The band that unites these two fishes has always formed a separate constellation. It is shown in Plate XXI. The Arabian poems of Antarah frequently mention it as distinct from the Sign with which it is so closely connected. Antarah was an Arabian poet of the sixth century.

Its ancient Egyptian name was U-or, which means He cometh. Its Arabic name is Al Risha, the band, or bridle.

It speaks of the Coming One, not in His relation to Himself, or to His enemies, but in His relation to the Redeemed. It speaks of Him who says:

“I drew them with cords of a man,

With bands of love;

And I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws.”

(Hosea xi. 4, r.v.)

But it speaks also of His unloosing the bands with which they have been so long bound.

In the picture these fishes are bound. One end of the band is fastened securely round the tail of one fish, and it is the same with the other. Moreover, this band is fastened to the neck of Cetus, the sea monster, while immediately above is seen a woman chained as a captive. These both tell the same story, and, indeed, all are required to set forth the whole truth. The fishes are bound to Cetus; the woman (Andromeda) is chained; but the Deliverer of both is near. Cepheus, the Crowned King, the Redeemer, “the Breaker,” the Branch, is seen coming quickly for the deliverance of His redeemed. These are the three constellations of this sign, and all three are required to set forth the story.

Israel now is bound. The great enemy still oppresses, but deliverance is sure. Aries, the Ram, is seen with his paws on this band, as though about to loosen the bands and set the captives free, and to fast bind their great oppressor.

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Idolatry in the Bible: Old vs New Testament part 2

What does the Bible say about Idolatry and paganism in the Old Testament? How does that compare to what the New Testament Says? Read on to find out. This is part 2 of a multiple part series.

Laws of Idolatry and Paganism

  • Not to turn a city to idolatry
    • Ex. 23:13 Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; do not mention the name of other gods [either in a blessing or in a curse]; do not let such speech be heard [coming] from your mouth.
    • 1 Corinthians 10:14 ESV
      • Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
    • 1 John 5:21 ESV
      • Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
  • To burn a city that has turned to idol worship, not to rebuild it as a city, not to derive benefit from it
    • Deut. 13:12-18 amp
      • “If you hear [it said] in one of your cities, which the Lord your God gives you to live in, 
      • that some worthless and evil men have gone out from among you and have tempted the inhabitants of their city [to sin], saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods’ (whom you have not known), 
      • then you shall investigate and search out [witnesses] and ask thorough questions. If it is true and the matter is established that this loathsome thing has been done among you, 
      • you shall most certainly strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it and all that is in it, even its livestock with the edge of the sword. 
      • Then you shall collect all its spoil (plunder) into the middle of its open square and burn the city and set fire to the spoil as a whole burnt offering to the Lord your God. It shall be a ruin forever. It shall not be built again. 
      • Nothing from that which is put under the ban (designated for destruction) shall cling to your hand, so that the Lord may turn away from His burning anger and show mercy to you, and have compassion on you and make you increase, just as He swore to your fathers, 
      • because you have listened to and obeyed the voice of the Lord your God, keeping all His commandments which I am commanding you today, and doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord your God.
    • Acts 19:18-20
      • Many of those who had become believers were coming, confessing and disclosing their [former sinful] practices. 
      • And many of those who had practiced magical arts collected their books and [throwing book after book on the pile] began burning them in front of everyone. They calculated their value and found it to be 50,000 pieces of silver. 
      • So, the word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ] was growing greatly and prevailing.
    • Today we can’t burn cities for sinful practices, however, as you learn that something that you own is wrong, it is a great idea to destroy it.
  • Not to missionize an individual to idol worship
    • Deut. 13:1-3
      • “If a prophet arises among you, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder, 
      • and the sign or the wonder which he spoke (foretold) to you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us follow after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve and worship them,’ 
      • you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and all your soul [your entire being]. 
  • Not to love the missionary (one who teaches idol worship), Not to cease hating the missionary, not to save the missionary, not to say anything in his defense, Not to refrain from incriminating him
    • Deut. 13:5-11
      • But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has counseled rebellion against the Lord your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to draw you away from the way in which the Lord your God has commanded you to walk. So, you shall remove the evil from among you.
      • “If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or daughter, or [a]the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as [precious to you as] your own life (soul), entices you secretly, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods’ (gods whom neither you nor your fathers have known,
      • of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other),
      • you shall not consent to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him.
      • Instead, you shall most certainly execute him; your hand shall be first [to be raised] against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.
      • So, you shall stone him to death with stones, because he has tried to draw you away from the Lord your God who brought you from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery.
      • Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such a wicked thing among you.
    • Today will are not to destroy the people. God will do that. Instead, we are to be aware of the false prophets and stay away from them.
      • Matthew 7:15 ESV
        • “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
      • 1 John 4:1 ESV
        • Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
      • Galatians 1:9 amp
        • As we have said before, so I now say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from that which you received [from us], let him be condemned to destruction!
          • This is the destruction that God will bring.

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