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Posts tagged ‘Jesus’

Biblical Insights on Weather and Seasons

Weather has been around since God created weather.

Genesis 1:14-15

  • And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so.

Notice that God created the lights in the expanse of the heavens for a few reasons:

  • separation of day and night
  • signs
  • seasons
  • to be used as a calendar (for days and years)
  • to give light upon the earth

In the book of Genesis after Noah, Noah’s family, and the animals leave the ark, God reiterates the order and idea of a natural cycle of seasons.

Genesis 8:22

  • While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”

God used the weather to demonstrate His power, for reward to those who obey, and for punishment to those who disobey. Below are sone scriptures illustrating the various demonstrations.

Psalms 148:7-8 ESV

  • Praise the Lord from the earth,
        you great sea creatures and all deeps,
  • fire and hail, snow and mist,
        stormy wind fulfilling his word!

Jeremiah 10:12-13 ESV

  • It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

Leviticus 26:4 ESV

  • Then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

Nahum 1:3 ESV

  • The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Job 37:9 ESV

  • From its chamber comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds.

Luke 21:11 ESV

  • There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

Jonah 1:4 ESV

  • But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.

James 5:17-18 ESV

  • Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

Isaiah 29:6 ESV

  • You will be visited by the Lord of hosts with thunder and with earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire.

Amos 4:7 ESV

  • “I also withheld the rain from you when there were yet three months to the harvest; I would send rain on one city, and send no rain on another city; one field would have rain, and the field on which it did not rain would wither;

Deuteronomy 28:24 ESV

  • The Lord will make the rain of your land powder. From heaven dust shall come down on you until you are destroyed.

1 Samuel 12:18 ESV

  • So, Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

Haggai 1:11 ESV

  • And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

1 Kings 8:35-36 ESV

  • “When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict them, then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.

Luke 21:25 ESV

  • “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves,

Mark 4:39-41 ESV

  • And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Luke 8:23-25 ESV

  • And as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?

Matthew 8:26 ESV

  • And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

Psalm 107:29 ESV

  • He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.

Job 36:27-28 ESV

  • For he draws up the drops of water; they distill his mist in rain, which the skies pour down and drop on mankind abundantly.

It does not matter how good scientist think they are. They can try to control the weather. That will not happen. Instead, it will do what God commands and allows.

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Comprender las Estaciones de la Cruz

El Vía Crucis, también llamado Camino de la Cruz, Camino del Dolor o Vía Dolorosa, es una serie de catorce imágenes que representan escenas del día de la crucifixión de Jesucristo, cada una acompañada de oraciones. Se inspira en la Vía Dolorosa de Jerusalén, una ruta tradicional que simboliza el camino que Jesús recorrió desde la Puerta de los Leones hasta el Monte Calvario. Su propósito es guiar a los cristianos en un viaje espiritual a través de la reflexión sobre la Pasión de Cristo. Esta devoción es ampliamente practicada y se encuentra en muchas tradiciones cristianas occidentales, incluyendo las iglesias católica latina, luterana, anglicana y metodista.

Normalmente, un conjunto de catorce imágenes se dispone en orden numérico a lo largo de un camino, donde los fieles, solos o en procesión, se desplazan de una estación a otra, deteniéndose en cada una para orar y reflexionar sobre su significado. Estas devociones son especialmente comunes durante la Cuaresma, sobre todo el Viernes Santo, y expresan un espíritu de reparación por el sufrimiento y las humillaciones que Jesús padeció durante su pasión. Como acto físico de devoción que implica estar de pie y arrodillarse, el Vía Crucis está estrechamente relacionado con los temas cristianos del arrepentimiento y la abnegación.

El estilo, la forma y la ubicación de las estaciones pueden variar considerablemente. Las tradicionales suelen ser pequeñas placas con relieves o pinturas dispuestas alrededor de la parte central de una iglesia. Las versiones minimalistas modernas pueden ser simples cruces con un número en el centro. A veces, se reza el Vía Crucis sin imágenes, como cuando el Papa lo dirige alrededor del Coliseo en Roma el Viernes Santo.

Esta devoción no es obligatoria, pero es una buena manera de recordar el sacrificio supremo que hizo Jesús, ofreciendo su vida para salvarnos de nuestros pecados. Esta devoción ayuda a fomentar la gratitud por lo que Jesús hizo y anima a los creyentes a cargar con sus propias cruces en la vida, soportando el sufrimiento inevitable.

Ya sea que participes o no en el Vía Crucis, la Biblia nos manda recordar la muerte del Señor hasta su regreso.

  • 1 Corintios 11:23-26
    •  Porque yo recibí del Señor lo que también os he enseñado: Que el Señor Jesús, la noche que fue entregado, tomó pan; 
    • y habiendo dado gracias, lo partió, y dijo: Tomad, comed; esto es mi cuerpo que por vosotros es partido; haced esto en memoria de mí. 
    • Asimismo tomó también la copa, después de haber cenado, diciendo: Esta copa es el nuevo pacto en mi sangre; haced esto todas las veces que la bebiereis, en memoria de mí. 
    • Así, pues, todas las veces que comiereis este pan, y bebiereis esta copa, la muerte del Señor anunciáis hasta que él venga.

Aquí están las Estaciones de la Cruz según la tradición. Se incluyen las citas bíblicas siempre que es posible.

1. Jesús está condenado a muerte.

  • Lucas 23:24-25
    • Entonces Pilato sentenció que se hiciese lo que ellos pedían; y les soltó a aquel que había sido echado en la cárcel por sedición y homicidio, a quien habían pedido; y entregó a Jesús a la voluntad de ellos.

2. Jesús toma su cruz.

  • Juan 19:17
    • Y él, cargando su cruz, salió al lugar llamado de la Calavera, y en hebreo, Gólgota;

3. Jesús cae por primera vez (por inferencia de las Estaciones 2 y 5).

4. Jesús se encuentra con su madre afligida (por inferencia de Juan 19:25-27).

  •  Juan 19:25-27
    • Estaban junto a la cruz de Jesús su madre, y la hermana de su madre, María mujer de Cleofas, y María Magdalena. 
    • Cuando vio Jesús a su madre, y al discípulo a quien él amaba, que estaba presente, dijo a su madre: Mujer, he ahí tu hijo. 
    • Después dijo al discípulo: He ahí tu madre. Y desde aquella hora el discípulo la recibió en su casa.

5. Simón de Cirene ayuda a cargar la cruz.

  • Mateo 27:32
    • Cuando salían, hallaron a un hombre de Cirene que se llamaba Simón; a este obligaron a que llevase la cruz.

6. Verónica limpia el rostro de Jesús (episodio no recogido en las Escrituras).

  • La Biblia no narra la historia de Verónica secando el rostro de Jesús camino al Calvario. En cambio, su historia aparece en una obra llamada “Hechos de Pilato”, que la presenta como la mujer que había padecido hemorragias durante doce años, se acercó a Jesús por detrás, tocó el borde de su manto y fue sanada (Mateo 9:20-22). Este texto no canónico también afirma que Jesús dejó la imagen de su rostro impresa en el paño que ella usó. La historia continúa diciendo que Verónica viajó posteriormente a Roma y sanó al emperador Tiberio mostrándole una pintura de Cristo que había realizado después de su propia curación.

7. Jesús cae por segunda vez (este hecho no está registrado en las Escrituras).

8. Jesús se encuentra con las santas mujeres de Jerusalén.

  • Lucas 23:27-31
    • Y le seguía gran multitud del pueblo, y de mujeres que lloraban y hacían lamentación por él. 
    • Pero Jesús, vuelto hacia ellas, les dijo: Hijas de Jerusalén, no lloréis por mí, sino llorad por vosotras mismas y por vuestros hijos. 
    • Porque he aquí vendrán días en que dirán: Bienaventuradas las estériles, y los vientres que no concibieron, y los pechos que no criaron. 
    • Entonces comenzarán a decir a los montes: Caed sobre nosotros; y a los collados: Cubridnos. 
    • Porque si en el árbol verde hacen estas cosas, ¿en el seco, qué no se hará?

9. Jesús cae por tercera vez (este hecho no está registrado en las Escrituras).

10. Jesús es despojado de sus vestiduras.

  • Juan 19:23
    • Cuando los soldados hubieron crucificado a Jesús, tomaron sus vestidos, e hicieron cuatro partes, una para cada soldado. Tomaron también su túnica, la cual era sin costura, de un solo tejido de arriba abajo.

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. Jesús muere en la cruz.

  • Marcos 15:37
    • Mas Jesús, dando una gran voz, expiró.

13. El cuerpo de Jesús es bajado de la cruz.

  • Lucas 23:52-53
    • fue a Pilato, y pidió el cuerpo de Jesús. 
    • Y quitándolo, lo envolvió en una sábana, y lo puso en un sepulcro abierto en una peña, en el cual aún no se había puesto a nadie.

14. El cuerpo de Jesús es depositado en la tumba.

  • Mateo 27:59-60
    • Y tomando José el cuerpo, lo envolvió en una sábana limpia, 
    • y lo puso en su sepulcro nuevo, que había labrado en la peña; y después de hacer rodar una gran piedra a la entrada del sepulcro, se fue.

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Cuaresma, Estudio de la Biblia,, Seasonal

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The Children’s Six Minutes: Come

COME

There is not a girl or boy here this morning who does not feel within the desire to do good. The drawing power of good—in other words, the drawing power of God. He it is who says to you, “Come.”

I want to illustrate this by a few things which I have here. The first is this magnet. And here are some small nails. These tiny nails represent girls and boys of about eleven or twelve years of age. I apply the magnet to these nails and I lift up—can you see me—twenty-five or thirty nails. You see it is a great deal easier to respond to the drawing power of good, to answer the great “Come,” in girlhood and boyhood.

Now here are some nails that are a little larger. I can lift up only five or six of these larger nails. They represent young people of eighteen or nineteen. As one gets older he does not hear as readily, at least he does not answer, Christ’s blessed “Come.”

Next we have some nails still larger. The magnet will lift up only one or two of these. They stand for men and women in mature life. Oh, if one has not responded to Christ’s call in childhood or youth, it becomes increasingly difficult as the years pass. How seldom, how very seldom, does an aged one answer the divine call and give his heart to the Lord!

Here is a very large nail, and it is rusty. Indeed it is literally coated with rust. This represents the life that is deep in sin. For long years this life has been persisting in his evil ways. As the magnet must be very strong to penetrate the rust and grip the nail, so Christ’s call must be strong and loving to reach the sinful soul. Christ can save “from the uttermost,” but how much better it is to say in early youth, “I hear thy voice, my Lord. Gladly I come.”

MEMORY VERSE, Matthew 11: 28

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

MEMORY HYMN

“In heavenly rest abiding.”

THE CHILDREN’S SIX MINUTES by Bruce S. Wright

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La higuera estéril

La higuera estéril

Por la mañana, cuando Jesús salió de Betania y se dirigía a Jerusalén, sintió hambre. Al ver a lo lejos una higuera cubierta de hojas, se acercó a ella con la esperanza de encontrar algún fruto. Pero el árbol era joven y aún no había comenzado a dar fruto. Y no encontró en él más que hojas. Entonces le dijo: «Que nunca más crezca fruto en ti». Y la higuera se secó y murió desde la raíz. Cuando los discípulos lo vieron, se maravillaron, diciendo: «¡Qué pronto se ha secado la higuera!».

Jesús les respondió: «De cierto os digo que si tenéis fe y no dudáis, no solo haréis lo que yo he hecho con esta higuera, sino que también, si le decís a este monte: “Quítate de aquí y échate al mar”, se hará. Y todo lo que pidáis en oración, creyendo que lo recibiréis, lo obtendréis. Y cuando estéis orando, perdonad a quienes os hayan ofendido, para que vuestro Padre que está en los cielos también os perdone vuestras ofensas. Pero si no perdonáis, tampoco vuestro Padre que está en los cielos os perdonará vuestras ofensas.»

¡Qué extraño parece que Jesús, tan manso y bondadoso, pronunciara una maldición sobre esta higuera y la hiciera secarse! ¿Por qué lo hizo? Porque quería inculcar en sus discípulos el terrible peligro de la esterilidad espiritual. Si somos discípulos de Jesús, debemos dar buenos frutos; debemos ser amorosos, bondadosos y compasivos, e intentar, como Él, hacer siempre el bien.

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Cuaresma, Estudio de la Biblia,, Historias de madres del Nuevo Testamento, Libros para niños

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Idolatry in the Bible: Old vs New Testament

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 1 of a multiple part series.

Laws of Idolatry and Paganism

  • Not to inquire into idolatry
    • Lev. 19:4 (Amp)
      • Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods (images cast in metal); I am the Lord your God.
    • 1 Corinthians 10:14 ESV
      • Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
    • 1 John 5:21 ESV
      • Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
    • Acts 15:20 ESV
      • But should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
  • Not to follow the whims of your heart or what your eyes see
    • Num. 15:39 (Amp)
      • It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, so that you do not follow after [the desires of] your own heart and eyes, [desires] after which you used to follow and play the prostitute,
    • 1 John 2:15-17 ESV
      • Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
    • James 1:14-15 ESV
      • But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
  • Not to blaspheme
    • Leviticus 24:16 ESV
      • Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.
    • Luke 12:10 ESV
      • And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
    • Mark 3:29 ESV
      • But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—
    • Matthew 12:31-32 ESV
      • Therefore, I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
  • Not to worship idols in the manner they are worshiped
    • Ex. 20:4-5 (Amp)
      • “You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness (form, manifestation) of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth [as an object to worship]. You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous (impassioned) God [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely mine], visiting (avenging) the iniquity (sin, guilt) of the fathers on the children [that is, calling the children to account for the sins of their fathers], to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
    • Deuteronomy 12:3-4 (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. You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way.
    • 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.
  • Not to worship idols in the four ways we worship God
    • Ex. 20:5 (Amp)
      • You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous (impassioned) God demanding what is rightfully and uniquely mine], visiting (avenging) the iniquity (sin, guilt) of the fathers on the children [that is, calling the children to account for the sins of their fathers], to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
  • Not to make an idol for yourself
    • Ex. 20:4 (Amp)
      • “You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness (form, manifestation) of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth [as an object to worship]. 
  • Not to make an idol for others
    • Lev. 19:4 (Amp)
      • Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods (images cast in metal); I am the Lord your God.
    • 1 John 5:21 ESV
      • Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
    • 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 make human forms even for decorative purposes
    • Deuteronomy 4:16-18 ESV
      • Beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth.
        • פֶּסֶל peçel, peh’-sel; from H6458; an idol:—carved (graven) image.
    • 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.
    • Notes: If something was made to be an idol, then it is an idol regardless of whether you think of it that way or not. Keeping things around that can lead you into sin is never a good idea. The Israelites were surrounded by people who worshiped created things. Therefore, having a created thing around, even for a decoration could cause temptation to overtake them and lead them into sin.

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Weekly Recap of Articles for Christians Jan 18th to Jan 24th

Bible

Education

Cooking/ House Keeping

Estudio Bíblico en Español

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Education, Weekly Recaps

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Understanding Biblical Prophecy: Key Points and Insights

The Bible is full of prophecy. There are prophecies about the coming Messiah that have mostly been fulfilled by Jesus. The rest of the prophecies about him will be fulfilled at his second coming. There are many prophecies about the end of the world. Here is a list of various Bible Studies concerning prophecy.

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The Oneness of God in Scripture


Here is what the Old Testament Laws say about God. Under that is scripture from the New Testament. Compare the scriptures for yourself.

To know there is a God

  • Exodus 20:2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
  • 1 Timothy 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
  • James 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
  • 1 Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Not to entertain thoughts of other gods besides Him

  • Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
  • John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
  • 1 Timothy 1:17 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

To know that He is one

  • Deut. 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
  • Mark 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

To love Him

  • Deut. 6:5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
  • Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
  • Matthew 22:37-38  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.
  • Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

To fear Him

  • Deut. 10:20 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.
  • Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
  • 2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

To sanctify His Name

  • Lev. 22:32 Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the Lord which hallow you,
  • Luke 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
  • 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:

Not to profane His Name

  • Lev. 22:32 Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the Lord which hallow you,
  • 1 Timothy 6:1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

Not to destroy objects associated with His Name

  • Deut. 12:3-4  And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. Ye shall not do so unto the Lord your God.
  • Matthew 5:17-19 Think not that I (Jesus) am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

To listen to the prophet (Jesus) speaking in His Name

  • Deut. 18:15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
  • Matthew 17:5  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
  • Acts 3:22-23 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

Not to test the prophet (Jesus) unduly

  • Deut. 6:16 Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
  • Matthew 4:5-7 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
  • 1 Corinthians 10:5-12
    • But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
    • Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
    • Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
    • Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
    • Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
    • Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
    • Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
    • Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
      • This section of scripture is pointing us back to various times when Israel disobeyed in the wilderness.

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Witness of the Stars:  PEGASUS (The Winged Horse)

 PEGASUS (The Winged Horse)

The Blessings Quickly Coming.

Not only shall they be received, but they shall be brought near. They will not have to be fetched, but they will be caused to come to those for whom they are procured, and will yet be brought by Him who has procured them.

Plate 19: PEGASUS (the Winged Horse)

In the Denderah Zodiac there are two characters immediately below the horse, Pe and ka. Peka or Pega, is in Hebrew the chief, and Sus is horse. So that the very word (Pegasus) has come down to us and has been preserved through all the languages.

The names of the stars in this constellation declare to us its meaning. There are 89 altogether; one of the 1st magnitude, two of the 2nd, three of the 3rd, nine of the 4th, etc. And, as astronomers testify, “they render Pegasus peculiarly remarkable.”

The brightest, α (on the neck of the horse at the junction of the wing), comes down to us with the ancient Hebrew name of Markab, which means returning from afar. The star β (in the near shoulder) is called Scheat, i.e., who goeth and returneth. The star γ (at the tip of the wing) bears an Arabic name—Al Genib, who carries. The star ε (in the nostril) is called Enif (Arabic), the water. The star η (in the near leg) is called Matar (Arabic), who causes to overflow.

These names show us that we have to do with no mere horse. A winged horse is unknown to nature. It must therefore be used as a figure; and it can be a figure only of a person, even of Him who is “the Branch,” as the star Enif shows, who said, “If I go away, I will come again,” as the star Scheat testifies.

He who procured these blessings for the redeemed by His Atonement, is quickly coming to bring them; and is soon returning to pour them forth upon a groaning creation. This is the lesson of Pegasus.

“Come, blessed Lord, bid every shore

And answering island sing

The praises of Thy royal Name,

And own Thee as their King.

Lord, Lord! Thy fair creation groans—

The earth, the air, the sea—

In unison with all our hearts,

And calls aloud for Thee.

Thine was the Cross with all its fruits

Of grace and peace divine:

Be Thine the Crown of glory now,

The palm of victory Thine.”

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Witness of the Stars: CYGNUS (The Swan)

3. CYGNUS (The Swan)

The Blesser surely Returning.

This constellation repeats, emphasises, and affirms this glorious truth. It has to do with the Great Blesser and His speedy return, as is testified by all the ancient names connected with it.

In the Denderah Zodiac it is named Tes-ark, which means this from afar.

Plate 20: CYGNUS (the Swan)

It is a most brilliant and gorgeous asterism of 81 stars; one of the 1st or 2nd, six of the 3rd, twelve of the 4th magnitude, etc. It contains variable stars, five double stars, and one quadruple. The star marked “61 Cygni” is known as one of the most wonderful in the whole heavens. It consists of two stars which revolve about each other and yet have a progressive motion common to each!

This mighty bird is not falling dead, like Aquila, but it is flying swiftly in mid-heaven. It is coming to the earth, for it is not so much a bird of the air, but a bird peculiarly belonging to both the earth and the waters.

Its brightest star, α (between the body and the tail), is called Deneb (like another in Capricornus), and means the judge. It is also called Adige, flying swiftly, and thus at once it is connected with Him who cometh to judge the earth in righteousness.

The star β (in the beak) is named Al Bireo (Arabic), flying quickly.

The star γ (in the body) is called Sadr (Hebrew), who returns as in a circle.

The two stars in the tail, now marked in the maps as π 1 and π 2, are named Azel, who goes and returns quickly; and Fafage, gloriously shining forth.

The teaching, then, of the whole sign of Aquarius is clear and complete. The names of the stars explain the constellations, and the names of the constellations explain the sign, so that we are left in no doubt.

By His atoning death (as set forth in Capricornus) He has purchased and procured unspeakable blessings for His redeemed. This sign (Aquarius) tells of those blessings being poured forth, and of the speedy return of Him who is to bring “rivers of blessing,” and to fill this earth with blessing and glory “as the waters cover the sea.”

“Then take, Lord, thy kingdom, and come in Thy glory;

Make the scene of Thy sorrows the place of Thy throne,

Complete all the blessing which ages in story

Have told of the triumphs so justly Thine own.”

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