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Understanding Daniel’s Stand: Purity Amidst Adversity

When Babylon captured Judah it took trophies – treasures from the house of God and Children (youth). The treasures from the house of God was placed in the treasure house of their god.

  • Daniel 1:1-5
    • In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
    • And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
    • And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;
    • Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
    • 5And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

Daniel and three of his friends were among the children taken.

  • Daniel 1:6
    • Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

The goal of taken the children was to indoctrinate them into the belief of the Babylonians. They did this by:

  • Isolation
    • took the children away from everyone and everything that they knew.
  • Inculturation
    • Education
      • whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
  • Integration
    • that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
  • Identity changing
    • name changes: gave them new names that pointed away from who they were to who the Babylonians wanted them to be.
Old NameOld Name MeaningNew NameNew Name Meaning
Daniel“God is my judge”Belteshazzar“Bel protects the king” or “Bel’s prince”. ‘Bel’ referring to the Babylonian god Marduk and ‘Shazar’ meaning ‘treasurer’ or ‘steward’.
HananiahYahweh is graciousShadrach“servant of Aku” Aku was the Babylonian moon god.
Mishael“Who belongs to God?” Meshach“guest of a king”
Azariah“Yahweh has helped”Abednego “servant of Nego or Nebo”

Names in those days had major meaning. Your name told you who you were. Your name was your identity. Therefore, the Babylonians gave them a new identity (a new name).

Daniel was respectful. This is evident with the prince of the eunuchs showing Daniel favor. However, Daniel stayed true to God.

  • Daniel 1:8-9
    • But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
    • Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

Defile

  • גָּאַל gâʼal, gaw-al’; a primitive root, to soil or (figuratively) desecrate:—defile, pollute, stain.

Daniel chooses to stay pure and Holy before God. He does this by following God’s laws. The laws concerning food are linked to purity, holiness, and being clean.

  • Leviticus 11:46-47
    • This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:
    • To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.
  • Leviticus 10:9-10
    • And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;
  • Deuteronomy 14:2-3
    • For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
    •  Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.
  • Deuteronomy 14:21
    • Ye shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.

For more information read: The Significance of Clean and Unclean Foods in the Bible.

Today we are called to be in the world but not of the world. This is similar to the situation that Daniel found himself in. He was in the world (Babylon), but he refused to be of the world. He refused to defile himself by letting the world in him.

Here is a potation of a prayer that Jesus prayed before going to the cross. Notice how Jesus prays for us.

John 17:14-21

  • I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
  • I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
  • They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
  • Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
  • As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
  • And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
  • Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
  • That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

A 10-day test period was granted to Daniel and his three friends. At the end of the test period, Daniel and his friends did better than the others.

Daniel 1:15-16

  •  And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.
  • 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

At the end of the three years, Daniel and his friends were still better than the rest.

Daniel 1:17-20

  • As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
  • Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
  • And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
  • And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

It is always better to be Holy and not defile yourself with the world than to fit in with the world.

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The Cleansing of the Temple at Passover

 Jeremiah 7:8-12

“Behold, you are trusting in deceptive and useless words that bring no benefit. 9 Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear [oaths] falsely, offer sacrifices or burn incense to Baal, and follow after other gods that you have not known, 10 and [then dare to] come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My Name, and say, ‘We are protected and set free [by this act of religious ritual]!’—only to go on with this wickedness and these disgusting and loathsome things? 11 Has this house, which is called by My Name, become a den of robbers in your eyes [a place of retreat for you between acts of violence]? Behold, I Myself have seen it,” says the Lord.

12 “But go now to My place which was in Shiloh [in Ephraim], where I first set My Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel. 

Jeremiah 7:11

11 Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I Myself have seen it,” declares the Lord.

Isaiah 56:7

Even those I will bring to My holy mountain,
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar;
For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”

Matthew 21:10-17

When He entered Jerusalem, all the city was trembling [with excitement], saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Cleansing the Temple

12 And Jesus entered the temple [grounds] and drove out [with force] all who were buying and selling [birds and animals for sacrifice] in the temple area, and He turned over the tables of the moneychangers [who made a profit exchanging foreign money for temple coinage] and the chairs of those who were selling doves [for sacrifice]. 13 Jesus said to them, “It is written [in Scripture], ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.”

14 And the blind and the lame came to Him in [the porticoes and courts of] the temple area, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful and miraculous things that Jesus had done, and heard the boys who were shouting in [the porticoes and courts of] the temple [in praise and adoration], “Hosanna to the Son of David (the Messiah),” they became indignant 16 and they said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus replied to them, “Yes; have you never read [in the Scripture], ‘Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have prepared and provided praise for Yourself’?” 17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany and spent the night there.

Jesus had just entered into the city. He went to the temple. He found that they had turned what should have been a Holy place of prayer and worship into a den of thieves (Jer. 7:11 and Mat. 21:13). This was the second time that he cleaned the temple. At the 1st Passover that Jesus attended after beginning his earthly ministry he cleaned the temple for the same reason. The people thought that they were good (Jer. 7:10) when in fact they were heading for destruction (Jer. 7:12). Jesus had come to earth to live and die in order to save the world from sin so that they could have eternal life. However, that involves the removal of some things. Even today we must allow Jesus to clean the temple (our body).

  • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
    • What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
    • For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

First Passover—Cleansing the Temple

13 Now the Passover of the Jews was approaching, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And in the temple [enclosure], He found the people who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting at their tables. 15 He made a whip of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; 16 then to those who sold the doves He said, “Take these things away! Stop making My Father’s house a place of commerce!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written [in the Scriptures], “Zeal (love, concern) for Your house [and its honor] will consume Me.” 18 Then the Jews retorted, “What sign (attesting miracle) can You show us as [proof of] your authority for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 Then the Jews replied, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and You will raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple which was His body. 22 So when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered what He had said. And they believed and trusted in and relied on the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

It was after cleaning the temple for the 1st time that he explained that His body was the temple. It is interesting to note that both cleaning were at the time of Passover.

Jesus is referred to as the Passover Lamb in the Bible, symbolizing his sacrifice for humanity

  • 1 Corinthians 5:7: “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”
    • This verse emphasizes that Jesus’ sacrifice fulfills the role of the Passover lamb, which was central to the Passover celebration.
  • John 1:29: “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'”
    • This declaration by John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the sacrificial lamb, linking him to the Passover tradition.
  • Matthew 26:17: “Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?'”
    • This verse sets the context for the Last Supper, which was a Passover meal.
  • Exodus 12:13: “The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”
    • This Old Testament verse establishes the significance of the Passover lamb’s blood, which is echoed in the New Testament through Jesus’ sacrifice.
  • Luke 22:15: “And He said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.'”
    • This verse highlights Jesus’ intention to celebrate Passover with his disciples before his crucifixion, linking his impending sacrifice to the Passover celebration.

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The Significance of Clean and Unclean Foods in the Bible

Food is considered clean or unclean for eating. Food that is kosher is considered clean (fitting for eating).

God gave these food laws as a means of separating His people from the pagans. This obedience to these laws was a matter of Holiness.

  • Leviticus 11:46-47
    • This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:
    • To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.
  • Leviticus 10:9-10
    • And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;
  • Deuteronomy 14:2-3
    • For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
    •  Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.
  • Deuteronomy 14:21
    • Ye shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.

Here is a summary of the Laws.

Of the “beasts of the earth” (which basically refers to land mammals with the exception of swarming rodents), you may eat any animal that has cloven hooves and chews its cud. Lev. 11:3; Deut. 14:6. Any land mammal that does not have both of these qualities is forbidden.

  Not Allowed  Allowed
  Camel  Cattle
  Rabbit/ Hare  Sheep
  Pig  Goats
  Dog  Deer
 cat  Bison

Of the things that are in the waters, you may eat anything that has fins and scales. Lev. 11:9; Deut. 14:9.

  Not Allowed  Allowed
  lobsters  tuna
  shrimp  carp
  clams  salmon
  crabs  herring

For birds, the criteria are less clear. The Torah provides a list of forbidden birds (Lev. 11:13‑19; Deut. 14:11‑18) but does not specify why these particular birds are forbidden. All of the birds on the list are birds of prey or scavengers, thus the rabbis inferred that this was the basis for the distinction. Other birds are permitted, such as chicken, geese, ducks and turkeys. However, some people avoid turkey, because it is was unknown at the time of the giving of the Torah, leaving room for doubt.

Of the “winged swarming things” (winged insects), a few are specifically permitted (Lev. 11:22), but the Sages are no longer certain which ones they are, so all have been forbidden. There are communities that have a tradition about what species are permitted, and in those communities some insects are eaten.

Rodents, reptiles, amphibians, and insects (except as mentioned above) are all forbidden. Lev. 11:29‑30, 42‑43.

Any product derived from these forbidden animals, such as their milk, eggs, fat, or organs, also cannot be eaten. Rennet, an enzyme used to harden cheese, is often obtained from non‑kosher animals, thus kosher hard cheese can be difficult to find.

Today we are still called to be Holy.

  • 1 Peter 1:15-16
    • But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
    • Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

“Manner of conversation” is a phrase:

  • STRONGS G391:ἀναστροφή, -ῆς, ἡ, (from the passive ἀναστρέφομαι, see the preceding word), properly, ‘walk,’ i. e. manner of life, behavior, conduct

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Jesus’ Final Prayer: Insights from John 17

Jesus spent the night in Prayer before he was crucified. Here are three of the things that He prayed about before being betrayed.

The High Priestly Prayer

found in John 17:12

When Jesus had spoken these things, He raised His eyes to heaven [in prayer] and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, so that Your Son may glorify You. Just as You have given Him power and authority over all mankind, [now glorify Him] so that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him [to be His—permanently and forever]. Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true [supreme and sovereign] God, and [in the same manner know] Jesus [as the] Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You [down here] on the earth by completing the work that You gave Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory and majesty that I had with You before the world existed.

“I have manifested Your name [and revealed Your very self, Your real self] to the people whom You have given Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept and obeyed Your word. Now [at last] they know [with confident assurance] that all You have given Me is from You [it is really and truly Yours]. For the words which You gave Me I have given them; and they received and accepted them and truly understood [with confident assurance] that I came from You [from Your presence], and they believed [without any doubt] that You sent Me. I pray for them; I do not pray for the world, but for those You have given Me, because they belong to You; and all things that are Mine are Yours, and [all things that are] Yours are Mine; and I am glorified in them. I am no longer in the world; yet they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, so that they may be one just as We are. While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and protected them, and not one of them was lost except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.

The Disciples in the World

found in John 17:13-21

But now I am coming to You; and I say these things [while I am still] in the world so that they may experience My joy made full and complete and perfect within them [filling their hearts with My delight].  I have given to them Your word [the message You gave Me]; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world and do not belong to the world, just as I am not of the world and do not belong to it. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but that You keep them and protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth [set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy]; Your word is truth.  Just as You commissioned and sent Me into the world, I also have commissioned and sent them (believers) into the world. For their sake I sanctify Myself [to do Your will], so that they also may be sanctified [set apart, dedicated, made holy] in [Your] truth.

“I do not pray for these alone [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for [all] those who [will ever] believe and trust in Me through their message, that they all may be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe [without any doubt] that You sent Me.

Their Future Glory

John 17:22-26

I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected and completed into one, so that the world may know [without any doubt] that You sent Me, and [that You] have loved them, just as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given to Me [as Your gift to Me], may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

“O just and righteous Father, although the world has not known You and has never acknowledged You [and the revelation of Your mercy], yet I have always known You; and these [believers] know [without any doubt] that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them [overwhelming their heart], and I [may be] in them.”

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Witness of the Stars: Chapter III. The Sign PISCES (The Fishes)

Chapter III. The Sign PISCES (The Fishes)

The Blessings of the Redeemed in abeyance.

In this third chapter of the Second Book we come to the results of the Redeemer’s work enjoyed, but in connection with conflict, as is seen in the last of the three sections (the constellation of Andromeda, the chained woman), which leads up to the last chapter of the book, and ends it in triumph over every enemy.

Plate 21: PISCES (the Fish) and the Band

The Sign is pictured as two large fishes bound together by a Band, the ends of which are fastened separately to their tails. One fish is represented with its head pointing upwards towards the North Polar Star, the other is shown at right angles, swimming along the line of the ecliptic, or path of the sun.

The ancient Egyptian name, as shown on the Denderah Zodiac, is Pi-cot Orion, or Pisces Hori, which means the fishes of Him that cometh.

The Hebrew name is Dagim, the Fishes, which is closely connected with multitudes, as in Gen. xlviii. 26, where Jacob blesses Joseph’s sons, and says, “Let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” The margin says, “Let them grow as fishes do increase.” It refers to the fulfilment of Gen. i. 28, “Be fruitful and multiply.” The multitude of Abraham’s seed is prominent in the pronouncement of the blessings, where God compared his future posterity to the stars of the sky, and the sand upon the sea shore. “A very great multitude of fish,” as in Ezek. xlvii. 9.

The Syriac name is Nuno, the fish, lengthened out (as in posterity).

The sign, then, speaks of the multitudes who should enjoy the blessings of the Redeemer’s work.

And here we must maintain that “the Church,” which is “the Body of Christ,” was a subject that was never revealed to man until it was made known to the Apostle Paul by a special revelation. The Holy Spirit declares (Rom. xvi. 25) that it “was kept secret since the world began.” In Eph. iii. 9 he declares that it “from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God”; and in Col. i. 26, that it “hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints.” In each scripture which speaks of it as “now made manifest,” or “now made known,” it is distinctly stated that it was “a mystery,” i.e., a secret, and had, up to that moment, been hidden from mankind, hidden “in God.” How, then, we ask, can “the Church,” which was a subsequent revelation, be read into the previous prophecies, whether written in the Old Testament Scriptures, or made known in the Heavens? If the Church was revealed in prophecy, then it could not have been said to be hidden or kept secret. If the first revelation of it was made known to Paul, as he distinctly affirms it was, then it could not have been revealed before. Unless we see this very clearly, we cannot “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Tim. ii. 15). And if we do not rightly divide the word of truth, in its subjects, and times, and dispensations, we must inevitably be landed in confusion and darkness, interpreting of the Church, scriptures which belong only to Israel.

The Church, or Body of Christ, is totally distinct from every class of persons who are made the subject of prophecy. Not that the Church of God was an after-thought. No, it was a Divine secret, kept as only God Himself could keep it. The Bible therefore would have been complete (so far as the Old Testament prophecies are concerned) if the Epistles (which belong only to the Church) were taken out. The Old Testament would then give us the kingdom prophesied; the Gospels and Acts, the King and the kingdom offered and rejected; then the Apocalypse would follow, showing how that promised kingdom will yet be set up with Divine judgment, power, and glory.

If these Signs and these star-pictures be the results of inspired patriarchs, then this Sign of Pisces can refer to “His seed,” prophesied of in Isa. liii.: “He shall see His seed.” It must refer to

“The nation whose God is the Lord,

And the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.”

(Ps. xxxiii. 12.)

“Such as be blessed of Him shall inherit the earth.”

(Ps. xxxvii. 22.)

“The Lord shall increase you more and more,

You and your children,

Ye are blessed of the Lord.”

(Ps. cxv. 14, 15.)

“Their seed shall be known among the Gentiles.

And their offspring among the people;

All that see them shall acknowledge them,

That they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.”

(Isa. lxi. 9.)

“They are the seed of the blessed of the Lord,

And their offspring with them.”

(Isa. lxv. 23.)

The prophecy of this Sign was afterwards written in the words of Isa. xxvi. 15—the song which shall yet be sung in the land of Judah:

“Thou hast increased the nation, O Lord,

Thou hast increased the nation.”

And in Isa. ix. 3 (r.v.), speaking of the glorious time when the government shall be upon the shoulder of the coming King:

“Thou hast multiplied the nation,

Thou hast increased their joy.”

Of that longed-for day Jeremiah sings (xxx. 19):

“I will multiply them

And they shall not be few;

I will also glorify them,

And they shall not be small.”

Ezekiel also is inspired to say:

“I will multiply men upon you,

All the house of Israel, even all of it:

And the cities shall be inhabited,

And the wastes shall be builded;

And I will multiply upon you man and beast,

And they shall increase and bring fruit.”

(Ezek. xxxvi. 10, 11.)

“Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them;

It shall be an everlasting covenant with them!

And I will place them, and multiply them,

And will set My sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.”

(Ezek. xxxvii. 26.)

Indeed, this Sign of Pisces has always been interpreted of Israel. Both Jews and Gentiles have agreed in this. Abarbanel, a Jewish commentator, writing on Daniel, affirms that the Sign Pisces always refers to the people of Israel. He gives five reasons for this belief and also affirms that a conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn always betokens a crisis in the affairs of Israel. Because such a conjunction took place in his day (about 1480 a.d.) he looked for the coming of Messiah.

Certain it is, that when the sun is in Pisces all the constellations which are considered noxious, are seen above the horizon. What is true in astronomical observation is true also in historical fact. When God’s favour is shown to Israel, “the Jew’s enemy” puts forth his malignant powers. When they increased and multiplied in Egypt, he endeavored to compass the destruction of the nation by destroying the male children; but their great Deliverer remembered His covenant, defeated the designs of the enemy, and brought the counsel of the heathen to nought. So it was in Persia; and so, it will yet be again when the hour of Israel’s final deliverance has come.

There can be no doubt that we have in this Sign the foreshowing of the multiplication and blessing of the children of promise, and a token of their coming deliverance from all the power of the enemy.

But why two fishes? and why is one horizontal and the other perpendicular? The answer is that not only in Israel, but in the seed of Seth and Shem there were always those who looked for a heavenly portion and were “partakers of a heavenly calling.” In Heb. xi. we are distinctly told that Abraham “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (v. 10). They were “strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (v. 13). Strangers are those without a home, and pilgrims are those who are journeying home: “they seek a country” (v. 14). They desired “a better country, that is, an HEAVENLY: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He hath prepared for them a city” (v. 16). It is clear, therefore, that what are called the “Old Testament Saints” were “partakers of THE HEAVENLY CALLING” (Heb. iii. 1), which included a heavenly portion and a heavenly home; and all through the ages there have been “partakers of the heavenly calling.” This is quite distinct from the calling of the Church, which is from both Jews and Gentiles to form “one body,” a “new man” in Christ (Eph. ii. 15). It must be distinct, for it is expressly stated at the end of that chapter (Heb. xi. 40) that God has “provided (marg. forseen) some better thing for us.” How can this be a “better thing,” if it is the same thing? There must be two separate things if one is “better” than the other! Our calling in Christ is the “better thing.” The Old Testament saints had, and will have, a good thing. They will have a heavenly blessing, and a heavenly portion, for God has “prepared for them a city,” and we see that prepared city, even “the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Rev. xxi. 2). This is the “heavenly” portion of the Old Testament saints, the Bride of Christ. The Church will have a still “better” portion, for “they without us should not be made perfect” (Heb. xi. 40).

The fish, shooting upwards to the Polar Star, exquisitely pictures this “heavenly calling”; while the other fish, keeping on the horizontal line, answers to those who were content with an earthly portion.

But both alike were divinely called, and chosen, and upheld. The names of two of the stars in the sign (not identified) are Okda (Hebrew), the united, and Al Samaca (Arabic), the upheld. These again speak of the redeemed seed, of whom, and to whom, Jehovah speaks in that coming day of glory in Isa. xli. 8-10 (r.v.):—

“But thou, Israel, My servant,

Jacob, whom I have chosen,

The seed of Abraham My friend;

Thou whom I have taken hold of from the ends of the earth,

And called thee from the corners thereof,

And said unto thee, Thou art My servant;

I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away;

Fear thou not, for I am with thee;

Be not dismayed, for I am thy God!

I will strengthen thee;

Yea, I will help thee;

Yea, I will UPHOLD thee with the right hand of My righteousness.”

This is the teaching of the Sign; and the first constellation takes up this thought and emphasizes it.

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Unlocking the Relevance of the Old Testament for Christians

The Old Testament is seen as a book of rules that are outdated and or not relevant to Christians today. However, the Bible tells us that all scripture is important.

2 Timothy 3:16 (amp)
All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage];

This means that even the Old Testament is useful.

Here are some Bible Studies comparing what the Old Testament says to the New Testament.

Laws and regulations

  • The Oneness of God in Scripture: The content compares Old Testament laws regarding God with corresponding New Testament scriptures. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing one true God, loving Him, fearing Him, and keeping His name sacred. It also addresses listening to Jesus as a prophet and warns against testing Him. The scriptures provide moral guidelines for believers.
  • Character Laws in the Old Testament Explained: The content outlines biblical laws governing behavior and character found in the Old and New Testaments. Key themes include emulating God’s ways, loving others, avoiding hatred, refraining from revenge, and supporting the weak. It encourages believers to demonstrate kindness, forgiveness, and unity, reflecting Christ’s teachings in their conduct.
  • Biblical Wisdom: Old Testament Laws for Study: The content discusses the importance of studying the Bible, comparing insights from the Old and New Testaments. It emphasizes the Torah’s role in instruction and hope, as seen in Deuteronomy and Romans. Believers are encouraged to respect teachers of the law and share their faith with humility and readiness.
  • Paganism and Idolatry: Biblical Insights: (coming soon)
  • The Significance of Clean and Unclean Foods in the Bible: The food laws establish distinctions between clean and unclean animals, emphasizing holiness for God’s people through specific dietary restrictions, as outlined in biblical texts like Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

Worship

Prophecies of the Messiah (Jesus)

  • Understanding Zechariah 9:9 and Its Fulfillment in Jesus: Zechariah’s prophecy of a humble king entering Jerusalem is fulfilled by Jesus, recognized as the Messiah from David’s lineage, sparking hope and eventual betrayal.
  • The Prophecy of the Anointed One in Psalm 2

Other principles from the Old Testament

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Understanding Zechariah 9:9 and Its Fulfillment in Jesus

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

This was fulfilled when Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem riding on a young donkey.

Matthew 21:1-9

  • And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
  • Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
  • And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
  • All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
  • Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
  • And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
  • And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
  • And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
  • And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

On that day, the people cried out, “Hosanna to the son of David” (21:9). By calling Christ the “son of David,” the people were speaking truth that He was their savior and the fulfillment of the Davidic prophecy; however, they turned against Him when He did not prove to their satisfaction that He was their King. Note that Zachariah said the King would have salvation. “Hosanna” means “save us.”

The Davidic prophecy encompasses biblical predictions regarding King David and his lineage, particularly the expectation of a Messiah who would come from David’s line, fulfilling God’s covenant promises.

  • The Davidic Covenant
    • The Davidic Covenant is a key part of the prophecy about David, found in 2 Samuel 7:12-16. In it, God promises David that his throne will last forever, saying He’ll raise up a descendant from David’s own family to build a house in His name. This covenant is unconditional, depending entirely on God’s faithfulness rather than on David’s or Israel’s actions.
  • Messianic Expectations
    • The prophecies about the Davidic line play a key role in both Jewish and Christian end-times beliefs. In Jewish tradition, there’s an expectation of a future Davidic king who will restore Israel and bring back God’s kingdom on earth. This figure, often called the Messiah (Hebrew: Mashiach), is believed to gather the twelve tribes of Israel and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.

Several key passages highlight the significance of the Davidic prophecy:

  • 2 Samuel 7:12-16:
    • And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
    • He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
    • I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
    • But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
    • And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
      • Establishes the Davidic Covenant and God’s promise of an everlasting throne.
  • Psalm 2:6:
    • Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
      • Speaks of God’s anointed king, interpreted as a reference to the Messiah.
  • Jeremiah 33:17:
    • For thus saith the Lord; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
      • Declares that David will never lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, reinforcing the enduring nature of the Davidic line.

Later, Christ was arrested and crucified (see Matt. 26:47-68; 15), but He rose the third day, conquering death and hell (see 1 Cor. 15:4; Rev. 1:18).

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Biblical Wisdom: Old Testament Laws for Study

What does the Bible say about studying it in the Old Testament? How does that compare to what the New Testament Says? Read on to find out.

Laws of Torah Study

  • To learn Torah
    • Deut. 6:7
      • And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
    • Romans 15:4 ESV
      • For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
    • 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV
      • All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
    • Hebrews 4:12 ESV
      • For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
    • James 1:25 ESV
      • But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
    • 1 Peter 2:2 ESV
      • Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation
    • Matthew 5:17-19 ESV
      • “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
  • To honor those who teach and know Torah
    • Lev. 19:32
      • Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord.
    • Hebrews 13:17 ESV
      • Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
    • 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 ESV
      • We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

Notes:

Paul teaches us in Romans 15:4 (ESV) For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. This means that the Old Testament including the Torah (1st five books of the Old Testament) in our instructions. Those things, when we learn it, gives us hope. Notice how it is written in the KJV: For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. This clarifies that the Old Testament was written for our learning. We are supposed to learn and be instructed by the Old Testament so that we can have hope. That hope has many purposes. However, we have a commandment as to 1 thing we are to do with that hope.

  • 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

The word hope is the same in both 1 Peter 3:15 and Romans 15:4.

Hope

  • Strong’s G1680 – elpis
    • ἐλπίς elpís, el-pece’; from a primary ἔλπω élpō (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence:—faith, hope.

We are to learn so that we can have hope and then be ready to give a reason of having the hope with meekness and fear.

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The Church as the Lord’s Army: A Biblical Perspective

Biblical Foundation

The concept of the five-fold ministry originates from Ephesians 4:11-13, where the Apostle Paul describes these roles as gifts given by Christ to the church. The purpose of these ministries is to equip believers for service, promote unity in faith, and help the church reach maturity in Christ.

Ephesians

  • And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
  • For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
  • Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:


Roles and Functions

Apostles: Often seen as foundational leaders, apostles are responsible for pioneering new works and establishing churches. They provide vision and direction, ensuring that the church remains aligned with God’s mission.

Prophets: Prophets are called to discern and declare God’s Word, guiding the church towards faithfulness and holiness. They serve as spiritual voices, often calling the community to repentance and deeper commitment to God.

Evangelists: Tasked with spreading the gospel, evangelists gather people into the church and encourage outreach efforts. They play a crucial role in expanding the church’s reach and bringing new believers into the faith.

Pastors: Pastors provide care and guidance to the congregation, nurturing spiritual growth and fostering community. They are often seen as shepherds who protect and lead their flock.

Teachers: Teachers are responsible for instructing and grounding believers in biblical truth. They help the church understand scripture and apply it to their lives, ensuring that the congregation is well-equipped for ministry.

The Lord’s Army

Now let’s put this another way. We are called to be soldiers in the Lord’s Army. That is why Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God. Click here for more information on the Armor of God.

We are not called to be seat warmers in a building on Sunday Mornings. We are called to fight against the forces of darkness. Every part of the fivefold ministry is for the equipping of the saints to the work of God. Now I am going to loosely use the military rankings of the United States Army to put things into a military perspective so that you can better understand you job in the Lord’s Army.

Private: Everyone starts off as a private. This is the lowest level. It is at this point that you still have learning to do. You have just accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Now it is time to start learning how to live as Christ would want you to live.

  • In the real army there are several levels of the rank of private. These levels are like you learning and growing in faith.
  • Some will rank up all the way into the five-fold ministry. Others will be the general soldiers.
    • Both are needed. General soldiers are the general workers. The others are the future leaders of the church community.
    • All are important to the body of Christ.

Drill Sergent: This would be the teachers. Now just because I am relating teachers to the rank of Drill Sergent does not mean I think teachers should act like a Drill Sergent is portrayed on television. Teachers are to be

  • patient
  • loving
  • kind
  • caring
  • knowledgeable

Remember that the teachers are in charge of training the next generation of soldiers and some of them will be all of the other rankings. This ranking and job should be taken seriously.

Colonel: This would be the pastor of the local church. They are also the shepherd of the congregation. They are the organizers of the local body. Their job is to ensure that everyone is where they are supposed to be.

  • They shepherd the privates into the various classes.
  • They look after the various groups within the congregation and see what needs to be done.
  • They have some helpers that we call deacons.
    • They organize them into sections and send them out to see to the needs of the church.
      • feeding the widows
      • feeding the orphans
      • making sure the teachers have what they need to teach

The Deacons would be like the Lieutenant Colonels. They are not the head of the church, but they sure help run the church and keep things running smoothly.

Commissioned officer: This would be the Evangelists and Apostles

  • The rank of a recruiting officer in the Army is typically classified as a commissioned officer. Commissioned officers are leaders who command Army units and make strategic decisions. The ranks of commissioned officers range from Lieutenant (O-1) to General (O-10), with each rank indicating a higher level of responsibility and command authority.

Their job is to go out and recruit others (find the new privates). They do this in various ways. The Evangelists usually does this closer to home. The Apostles are usually who we now call missionaries.

The Military Intelligence Officer: This would be the prophet. Their job is similar to that of the lookout guard. In the Bible, there would-be people positioned in the watch towers. Their job was to alert the people of approaching danger. In the military today that is similar to the job of the intelligence officer. They are responsible for gathering the information needed to guard the church body from false prophets, false teachings, and anything else that would hinder the work of God.

  • The rank of a Military Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Army typically starts at the rank of Captain (O-6). They are responsible for supervising the Military Intelligence process for unit commanders and leading intelligence operations. The rank progression for Military Intelligence Officers includes:
    Lieutenant (O-4)
    Captain (O-6)
    Major (O-5)
    Lieutenant Colonel (O-6)
    Colonel (O-7)
    Brigadier General (O-8)
    Major General (O-9)
    Lieutenant General (O-9)
    General (O-10)
    These ranks reflect the leadership capabilities and responsibilities of the officer in the intelligence field.

Everyone has a job in the army. Everyone has a job in the body of Christ. The Church needs to take their jobs just as seriously as the military takes it job.

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Understanding the Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross, also called the Way of the Cross, Way of Suffering, or Via Dolorosa, is a series of fourteen images depicting scenes from the day of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, each accompanied by prayers. It is inspired by the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, a traditional route symbolizing the path Jesus walked from the Lion’s Gate to Mount Calvary. Its purpose is to guide Christians on a spiritual journey through reflection on the Passion of Christ. This devotion is widely practiced and found in many Western Christian traditions, including the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, and Methodist churches.

Typically, a set of fourteen images is arranged in numerical order along a path, where the faithful, alone or in procession, move from one station to the next, stopping at each one to pray and reflect on its meaning. These devotions are especially common during Lent, particularly on Good Friday, and express a spirit of reparation for the suffering and humiliations that Jesus endured during his Passion. As a physical act of devotion involving standing and kneeling, the Stations of the Cross are closely related to the Christian themes of repentance and self-denial.

The style, form, and location of the Stations of the Cross can vary considerably. Traditional versions typically consist of small plaques with reliefs or paintings arranged around the central part of a church. Modern, minimalist versions may be simple crosses with a number in the center. Sometimes, the Stations of the Cross are prayed without images, such as when the Pope leads the devotion around the Colosseum in Rome on Good Friday.

This devotion is not obligatory, but it is a good way to remember the supreme sacrifice Jesus made, offering his life to save us from our sins. This devotion helps foster gratitude for what Jesus did and encourages believers to carry their own crosses in life, enduring inevitable suffering.

Whether or not you participate in the Stations of the Cross, the Bible commands us to remember the Lord’s death until his return.

  • 1 Corintios 11:23-26
    • For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,
    • and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
    • In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
    • For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Here are the Stations of the Cross according to tradition. Biblical references are included whenever possible.

1. Jesus is condemned to death.

  • Luke 23:24-25
    • Then Pilate sentenced that their request should be granted; and he released to them the man who had been thrown into prison for sedition and murder, the one they had asked for; and he handed Jesus over to their will.

2. Jesus takes up his cross.

  • John 19:17
    • And he, carrying his cross, went out to the place called the Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha;

3. Jesus falls for the first time (by inference from Stations 2 and 5).

4. Jesus meets his grieving mother (by inference from John 19:25-27).

  • John 19:25-27
    • Standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
    • When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.”
    • Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that hour on, the disciple took her into his home.

5. Simon of Cyrene helps carry the cross.

  • Matthew 27:32
    • As they were going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.

6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus (an episode not recorded in the Scriptures).

  • The Bible does not recount the story of Veronica wiping Jesus’ face on the way to Calvary. Instead, her story appears in a work called the “Acts of Pilate,” which identifies her as the woman who had suffered from hemorrhages for twelve years, approached Jesus from behind, touched the hem of his garment, and was healed (Matthew 9:20-22). This non-canonical text also claims that Jesus left the image of his face imprinted on the cloth she used. The story goes on to say that Veronica later traveled to Rome and healed Emperor Tiberius by showing him a painting of Christ that she had made after her own healing.

7. Jesus falls for the second time (this event is not recorded in the Scriptures).

8. Jesus meets the holy women of Jerusalem.

  • Luke 23:27-31
    • And a great multitude of the people followed him, and of women who were weeping and lamenting for him.
    • But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
    • For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore children, and the breasts that never nursed.’
    • Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’
    • For if they do these things in the green wood, what will happen in the dry?”

9. Jesus falls for the third time (this event is not recorded in the Scriptures).

10. Jesus is stripped of his clothes.

  • John 19:23
    • When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic, which was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

11. Jesus is nailed to the cross.

  • Mark 15:24
    • And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

12. Jesus dies on the cross.

  • Mark 15:37
    • And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

13. Jesus’ body is taken down from the cross.

  • Luke 23:52-53
    • He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
    • And taking it down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had yet been laid.

14. Jesus’ body is placed in the tomb.

  • Matthew 27:59-60
    • And Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen shroud,
    • and placed it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out of the rock; and after rolling a large stone to the entrance of the tomb, he went away.

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