.
Photo: Lion Nebula: 1
Located in the constellation Cepheus. 2
The Lion is a strong Prophetic Symbol of
the Messiah: “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah”—
The first time Messiah comes as a Lamb. 3
The second time Messiah comes as a Lion.4
Understanding these two concepts will greatly enhance your ability to grasp both the Old and New Testaments in their fullness.
“The Lion” has many Symbolic meanings in God’s Word, depending on context He could be the Christ, or he could be the Anti-Christ. 5
Helpful Tools
- Hit the Triangle:
To access more information. - Adjust Text Size for Comfortable Reading:
Select Text, then: Hit the Control (or Command Key) and the (+) key to enlarge the Text, or the (-) key, to shrink the font. - Click on Links. Footnotes (click the number; then the return symbol to go back to your reading.) Click on scripture references. Click on other links for further investigation.
3 HELPFUL GUIDES FOR READING SCRIPTURE
- 1—The Bible is the best interpreter of itself.
(first rule of interpretation.)
The Bible is unique in that there are over 63,779 cross references, where one scripture is connected to another scripture that gives both scriptures a fuller meaning and a deeper understanding. The more you read the Bible, the more familiar you will become with these illuminating interconnected undeniable cross references.
.
Often times God will start a story with the word picture, like being kicked out of Eden, or the first murder, or Noah’s flood, or the Exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt. And then he’ll use those word pictures over and over throughout Israel’s history, thus cross referencing the Scriptures, making a masterful weaving of history, law, doctrine, consequences for obedience: His blessings, and consequences or curses for disobedience.
These examples repeat (over and over) and fill the scriptures. They tie together God’s incredibly detailed historical and legal accounts, that culminate and climax with the coming of the son of God and all they did to Him, and all He did for them. (Matthew 21:35-37) - 2—A Text without a Context is a pretext.
(second rule of interpretation.)
Every scripture is designed to be understood and interpreted from the point of view of the author.
A false understanding arises, when the reader tries to override the author’s perspective and purpose for writing.
Taking a text out of context is one of the main ways to produce a false understanding.
As One grows in his understanding of the context of a particular passage of scripture, so will One grow in his or her own understanding of all other scriptures interconnected with it.
The Bible is often a closed book to those who don’t try to learn its message in context.
When a person chooses to be ignorant of the meaning of one scripture, he simultaneously becomes ignorant of many other scriptures that are interconnected with it. (Luke 19:26)
Thankfully, the opposite is also true, when a person diligently seeks to understand a particular scripture in its right context, he begins to understand all the interconnected scriptures that come in contact with it. Thus, the reader’s mind expands, just while reading and interpreting the plain text in context. - 3—When Common Sense make the best sense, any other sense is Nonsense.
(third rule of interpretation.)
In other words, when the common sense interpretation is plain as day, any other spurious interpretation is unfounded, and likely, or prone to be in error.
(2 Peter 1:20-21)
Note: The tools of literature are as active in the scriptures as they are in all other forms of human communication: Poetry, Metaphor, Symbolism, Parallelism, Drama, Romance, Technical Writing, Hyperbole, Allegory, Irony, Sarcasm, Humor, Comparison, Contrast, Apocryphal Language, and other literary devices are often employed in EVERY DAY writing. It’s necessary to use them when reading the scriptures, just like when reading a newspaper, or talking to a friend.
If you don’t understand the plain meaning of the text, chances are you might not be privy to the symbolism being used. Therefore it is a powerful tool to reference others scriptures that help explain the symbolism. (For example the Book of Daniel, greatly helps one understand the Book of Revelation, and vice versa, much of the symbolism in Revelation, is borrowed from the book of Daniel.
In review: When the Bible is not used as the best interpreter of itself; and when: A Text without a Context becomes a pretext; and when you or others miss the Common Sense understanding of the text, multiplied misunderstandings will arise. That’s a Guaranteed!
But when you carefully backtrack your steps and see your own errors, you will begin to will see God’s perspective. And that is: “Good in Thy Sight!”
A computer generated image just some of the clearly identifiable 63,779 cross references contained in the Bible.6
1 minute will reveal this mystery.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/P9P-LTqxAZo
A Follow Up Question:
- What Things can you identify that blind Your Heavenly Sight?
- That block you from Seeing: What is Good in God’s Sight?
- If you don’t have specific answers to that question: consider checking out the 7 hurdles, the 7 questions, or just continue reading on the 7 challenges:
A Follow Up Problem:
- Above Yeshua says His Kingdom is revealed UNTO BABES.
- Below Yeshua says Adults must be converted as BABES to Enter
Sorry, but there is just no way to soften that blow: Let the Word of God be strong. Let it do its strong work.
.
Let it tear down strongholds. Let it draw men and women out of their darkness into His Light. That is the Gospel Jesus preached, bare, raw, and unwavering. Jesus preached strongly, both the Promises and the Warnings of God, His Father.
.
That just might be your first hurdle you need to face: That is: being converted, in order to become like a little child. That’s a humbling step everyone must take, from the least of us, to the greatest, we are all just little children in God’s Sight.
.
Without overcoming that hurdle, and others like it, the 1st Century Gospel says:
.
“You shall not enter into
the kingdom of heaven.”
.
I suppose that’s no big deal: if you look forward to going to hell. But if you don’t want to go there, which I hope you don’t, for that reason I am concerned about all my friends, family, and total strangers, even enemies—that they would not all be too eager, nor too quick, to abandon their ship, in front of the gates of hell. Because if they would only heed and receive God’s word, and grow into His likeness, we could all be together walking through the gates of heaven—rejoicing in our good fortune for all of eternity.
.
Now: That’s just your first sample problem that this website is devoted to solving. If you want to go deeper into solving problems, facing challenges, answering tough questions, and learning the “These Things” that transform you into a heavenly Child of God. May you be challenged to keep reading, and keep maturing into ALL Heaven has prepared for you.
.
If interested you can start with: the 7 Challenges, then continue to address the 7 Hurdles, then progress to answer the 7 Questions. Those three topics cover a lot of ground and lay a decent foundation for what is to come.
.
Hopefully, they can quickly equip you: to be able to share them with others like yourself: Those interested in entering His Heavenly Gates. For that is our second challenge: to become His Heavenly Lights that shine in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome them—but that’s getting ahead of things …
.
It is recommended that you: Just pick and choose what to read/and or study here. Pay Attention TO: Whatever interests you, and skip what doesn’t. No pressure. Some topics are heavier than others. That’s just the nature of the beast. If you try to sugar coat the message, or dilute, or dumb it down, you will fail the message (for yourself and others). There’s really no honest way to get around that problem. May you just take everything in stride as you feel INSPIRED.
.
Just remember: If you ever feel like you’re getting hit hard by the word of God, that’s a good thing. Those before you have been hit just as hard, and they made it through, and so shall you if you do not grow weary and lose heart, (Hebrews 12:3). And remember this: the stronger you receive the message, the stronger you will be able to give the same message.
.
The opposite is also true: the more a person waters down the message, a weaker that message becomes inside of them, and the weaker it becomes towards those around them. That is not a good thing. The gospel speaks against that very sickness. It warns us that that sickness is going to come upon the whole Earth, especially in the last days.
.
When you have time: there are a Number of posts on hitting hot topics like: heavenly sex, atheism, evolution, marriage problems; the Warnings & Promises of God; the 1st Century Gospel, compared to the 21st Century Gospel—and how it has changed; and more stuff like that. I’ve included some inspiring short video clips, and a few longer ones that I consider really good. I’ve also included some songs to lift your spirit, especially when reading heavy material, even some comedy clips to lighten the mood. (Always open for good suggestions.)
.
As Mature Souls: We need to learn how to handle the hard topics, as well as the soft topics, the challenging ones, and the joyful ones. They all come together to make us truly beautiful souls, that can handle any one of life’s tough questions & problems, hurdles & challenges. The goal here is to make our walk an exciting adventure—one that is never: dull nor complacent, complicit nor lazy, nor deficient. If you’re like me, you know, you’ve spent way too much time producing low fruit, or no fruit. Those are the days we need to put behind us.
.
Putting these Quotes in its Historical Context: (Matthew 11:25–26)
Note: IF the History and Background Story of the Gospel is not of great interest to you–You may want to skip this section.
Here we get into the background story, and bolster the Historical Evidence–that your Faith, when based in Christ–Is based in a real historical person. Who lived an honest and monumental historical life, among many well known historical figures, in real historical places, during fully confirmed historical events. If you already know all you want to know about the background of Jesus and the First Disciples, where they came from, what was happening in the World Wide Political Chicanery, and other critical factors that will assist your seeing things from God’s Perspective–You can skip this section.
The above quote was recorded, during the Reign of Tiberius, the second Emperor of the Roman Empire, who ruled from AD 14 to AD 37.
These Words of Jesus, the Messiah, were recorded, by his faithful, and possibly favorite, Tax Collector, Matthew (a.k.a. Levi, the son of Alphaeus), possibly, the most culturally despised, and spiritually undeserving apostle, on Jesus’ Team.
For my money: I believe Matthew was likely the first Gospel recorded and published. It is likely that many of the events and messages were recorded and written down before Jesus crucifixion. I can imagine it was likely presented within a year of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection. Although official historical records don’t show up until later, that does not mean previous recordings did not exist.
What is the exact time and place of this specific quote?
“At that Time Jesus answered and said, ‘I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.'” (Matthew 11:25, KJV)
In other words: When was “That Time“?
According to the New Testament, Jesus spoke these words in the region of Galilee, likely in the area around Capernaum, which was a major center of his early ministry. As for the time of year, the Gospels don’t provide a specific date or season for this event. However, based on the context and the events surrounding this passage, it is believed to have occurred during the summer or early fall, around 28 AD. (Source: meta.ai)
What was the city of Capernaum like in 28 A.D?
Here are some logistics about Capernaum in 28 AD:
Some ruins of Capernaum, on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee.
Location: Capernaum was a small fishing village located on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, in the Roman province of Judea (now northern Israel).
Population: Estimated to be around 1,500-2,000 people.
Language: The primary languages spoken in Capernaum were Aramaic, Greek, and Hebrew.
Economy: The village was a major center for fishing and trade, with a bustling harbor and market. [Do you see how apropos {the “s” is silent} Jesus word to Peter was, and to many others in that region: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Culture: Capernaum was a Jewish community, with a strong presence of Pharisees and other Jewish religious leaders.
.
Below is a fourth century synagogue in Capernaum. Underneath the synagogue are the ruins of a previous synagogue made of basalt stone (typically charcoal color), that is believed to be the synagogue of Jesus’ day.
Infrastructure: The village had a synagogue (where Jesus often taught), as well as homes made of stone and clay, with narrow streets and alleys.
Roman Presence: Capernaum was under Roman rule, with a centurion (a Roman military officer, typically a leader of 100 soldiers) stationed there.
Religious Significance: Capernaum was considered a sacred place, as it was the home of several important religious leaders, including Jesus.
Climate: The climate in Capernaum was Mediterranean, with hot summers and mild winters. In 28 AD, the summer months would have been quite warm, with average highs around 90°F (32°C).
Keep in mind that these details are based on historical records and archaeological findings, and some aspects may be subject to interpretation. Nonetheless, this gives you a general idea of what Capernaum was like during Jesus’ time. Capernaum is just south of Chorazin and just north of Magdala, on the North Shore of the sea of Galilee. (Source: meta.ai)
https://www.do-you-see-him.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Map-israel.jpg
Why can you not trust many modern biblical scholars?
Big Side Note: Be careful reading/learning from modern Bible scholars, and trusting their work. A vast population of Bible scholars are not believers. They do not believe in even the minimal basics of BIBLICAL FAITH, so they prove themselves that they are not actual followers of Christ. This makes them unreliable professors of the faith, even though many or most have professional degrees in Biblical Studies.
.
As a result of the above, many of their teachings do not come from a place of personal relationship with Christ, but from an academic machine that does not necessarily agree with the Bible, nor with the teachings of Christ (but often denies them, and actually opposes them).
If you delve into what they teach, and why they teach it, and why they believe what they teach, you will discover many of these theologians do not believe, serve, honor, nor follow the Commandments of Jesus. That fits the definition of a false teacher, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. (Matthew 7:15–20)
For this reason, it is important to know who is teaching you the Bible. Why? Because their thoughts, attitudes, and ideas will become like seeds planted in your field (like tares in the wheat: Matthew 13:25). What others teach and believe, will inevitably affect and infect: your beliefs and attitudes, if you allow them to hold a place of authority in your life.
Here is a simple test to guide you to know whether a Bible scholar is to believed, or to be rejected: if they say anything that contradicts the plain & simple teaching of Jesus, they should be rejected. Or if they try to complicate it, or theologize it, reject them.
Another test: Do your teachers hold to (live out) the priorities? values? and lifestyle of Jesus? Do they example the life of Christ? Do they live in one accord in the Word of God: just as Jesus and his apostles instructed the body of Christ to become living examples for those who would follow after Him?
Why should you not trust many modern Bible translations?
A Big Big Side Note: Be careful reading/learning from Modern Bible Translations. Why? Because many modern translations delete Key Words, Phrases, Sentences, and whole Paragraphs from the Word of God. It was hard for me to believe, but I discovered that my own favorite Bible translation deleted many words phrases, and cast out on whole passages of scripture, because it was rooted and tied to the Westcott and Hort compromised manuscripts. From that learning experience, I created a rule of thumb that goes like this:
Any translation that deletes the Word of God,
from the Word of God, is not the Word of God.
(See: Revelation 22:19)
Be certain of this: God has promised to preserve His Word.
God has also warned us that the Enemy has come to steal God’s Word, poison God’s Word, dilute and confuse God’s Word. (Did God really say? Genesis 3:1-5) and ultimately, to call God a liar.
And to be perfectly honest, the enemy is really good at what he does. If any man chooses to listen to the enemy’s voice, chances are very low that he will ever see this world, or the world to come from God’s perspective.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal,
and to kill, and to destroy:
I am come that they might have life,
and that they might have it more abundantly.
Because of this: It is vitally important that you not allow the Word of God be stolen from you, nor poisoned, nor diluted, nor confused. If English is your native language: The King James Version is the least changed, deleted, or diluted Bible Translation I have found.
For many years I did not believe that above statement, and I set out to prove it wrong, and yet to my surprise, I didn’t know how ignorant and duped I had become.
And please don’t take anyone’s word for this (especially not mine). Do your own research on this subject. View the Evidence. Make your own decision.
For a simple test: Compare Luke 4:4, in KJV to other modern translations (especially to the translation, you are currently reading), and tell me the difference.
More than 100 widely important scriptures, have been blatantly corrupted in modern translations.
But, you will need to learn that for yourself. Don’t take anyone’s word on this without personally investigating it for yourself. It will become a part of your own personal spiritual journey.
I myself denied the facts for more than 30 years, before investigating them for myself. And strangely enough, none of my teachers, pastors, mentors, or friends ever really challenged me to investigate the facts for myself–until one day, I met a stubborn old 86 year-old man who did indeed challenge me.
What was Simon Peter’s connection to Capernaum?
Background on where Peter lived. Was it Capernaum or Bethsaida?
- According to the New Testament, Peter (also known as Simon Peter) lived in Bethsaida, a fishing village on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, before becoming a disciple of Jesus (Matthew 4:18, Mark 1:29, John 1:44). Bethsaida was a small village, and it’s believed to be the home of several apostles, including Peter, Andrew, and Philip.
. - However, Peter also had a home in Capernaum, which is mentioned in several Gospel accounts (Matthew 8:14-15, Mark 1:29-31, Luke 4:38-39). It’s possible that Peter and his family split their time between Bethsaida and Capernaum, or that they moved to Capernaum at some point.
. - Capernaum became a central location for Jesus’ ministry, and Peter’s home there became a sort of headquarters for Jesus and his disciples. It was in Capernaum that Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14-15). Near there is where Peter walked on water with Jesus, and where Jesus calmed the storm, and let’s not forget the miracle catch of fish (two times.) (Matthew 14:28-31; John 21:11).
. - So, to summarize, Peter lived in Bethsaida before becoming a disciple of Jesus, but he also had a home in Capernaum, which played an important role in Jesus’ ministry. (Source: meta.ai)
.
Note: This view is looking from the north, for instance, from the Golan Heights, looking down on the sea of Galilee towards the south with a panoramic view towards the dead sea Jerusalem and the Mediterranean Sea. It’s actually quite a good picture to give you some anchored reference points for the story of the Bible. Mount Carmel would be to the right towards the sea, the Mediterranean Sea just off the side of the map there.
.
When, and to whom, was the gospel of Matthew originally written?
The Gospel of Matthew was possibly written in Hebrew first, to reach those in Jerusalem & Judea (primarily Jews), with the Testimony of Christ, according to Matthew, and then later translated into Greek to reach those in Rome, and others throughout the Roman Empire.
Why do I say that? Because Matthew is the one gospel specifically and originally written for a Jewish audience. Matthew was actually more Jewish oriented than the other three gospels.
FOR MORE ON: Matthew’s Gospel and Historical Background: https://www.do-you-see-him.com/putting-matthew-in-historical-context/
.
Why is “historical narrative” so important to the integrity of the Bible?
How does “historical narrative” set the Bible far above other religious texts and beliefs?
Here’s a quote from Cliff Knechtle on the “historical narrative” style of writing in the Bible:
“The Bible is written in a historical narrative style, which means it’s telling us what happened, where it happened, and when it happened. It’s not a book of abstract principles or metaphysical musings [or fictional characters with fictional places]. It’s a book that says, ‘This is what God did, here’s where He did it, and here’s who He did it with.’ That’s a historical narrative style, and that’s what makes the Bible so unique.”
― Cliff Knechtle
Who did Jesus not claim to be?
If Jesus was not who he claimed to be, and did not raise himself from the dead as he promised he would (John 10:17): Why did tens of thousands of monotheistic, hard-core Jewish people begin to worship Jesus as God? Begin to Live for Jesus? and Die for Jesus, as a Witnesses of His Resurrection?
That went totally against the religious training, religious history, and against their religious teachers, why would they do that? Even at the threat of death?
When Paul, the apostle returned to Jerusalem, before being sent to Rome in chains, it is recorded in the book of Acts that more than 20,000 Jewish believers had put their faith in Christ (1 myriad = 10,000; 2 myriads = 20,000 minimum: the Greek word used for tens of thousands in Acts 21:20 is “myriads”). That (20,000) was about 1/3 of the population of Jerusalem, in Paul’s day.
How/Why did the early disciples become so effective at converting lost (unsaved, unbelieving) souls?
Jesus told his disciples, that On the day of Pentecost: they would receive power from on high to preach the gospel to the lost. That proved to be true. On the day of Pentecost, 3000 Jewish men from all over the Roman Empire converted their lives over to Christ to become followers of Him–a recently resurrected Heavenly King. That was the result of the first message preached by Peter, after receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Just a short time later, in Acts, chapter 4, Peter preaches another message after they heal the man that was lame for many years. At that time, another 5000 men repent of their sins, and became disciples of Jesus.
Acts 4:4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
The result of only two messages preached to the people in Jerusalem. 3000 people believed first message, and later 5000 people believed the second message. This totaled 8000 believers from only two messages preached.
These were eyewitness accounts, recorded during the time these people lived. No one denied the gospel transforming power phenomena. Many religious leaders became obedient to the faith.
Many other religious believers tried to stop the message of Christ being preached. But even in their efforts to stop believers from sharing the message, the religious leaders actually further authenticated the message of Christ.
That is all part of the historical narrative preserved, in the word of God for us to read today, same as they read it in the first century only translated into the English language because most people in America don’t speak Greek. If they did, it would even be better to read it from the original Greek manuscripts.
Why can we not trust modern worldly history professors?
Side Note: A Warning to Be Careful. Not everything written in scholarly textbooks (and especially secular history books), can be trusted.
The viewpoint of much modern day scholarship comes from Mainstream Modern “Critical Theory” Theologians and Scholars.
I personally have found much of their theories and teachings to be in error, and contradicting the very word of God, they claim to be studying.
This point accentuates the need to have spiritual discernment about who you allow to teach you the word of God.
If the root of the tree is diseased, so will be the branches, and the fruit also will be diseased. Jesus warned us that after he had sown good, seed in his own good field, later an enemy came at night and sowed bad seeds (weeds) among the wheat. This parable is known as the parable of the wheat and the tares, in Matthew 13:24-30.
Those who truly delve into modern theological studies and doctrines, often get confused and loaded it down with doubts and obscure thoughts that lead us not to the throne of God (where the fullness of knowledge and wisdom resides), but away from it.
There have been countless young enthusiastic students entering into seminaries with a hope to grow in the knowledge of God, but upon their graduation, a vast amount of graduates had been puffed up with the knowledge of men, and walked away with their degree, poor: both financially, and spiritually, then when they entered into such man-made institutions
And instead of growing closer to God, and becoming more intimate, and their knowledge of him, having a deeper and bolder conviction and clarity, on how to walk out the wheel of God in their lives, instead, they are more oozed, and divided in their walk with God.
In their faith, they are more puffed up in their minds, and more corrupted in their souls learning the traditions of men, rather than being equipped to do the marvelous and miraculous Will of God. Why is that? Because they had not been taught nor trained, nor even challenged to overcome the 7 Hurdles we have mentioned already.
God has called us to become disciples of Christ, who alone is the true Teacher, the holy Leader of his church. And the job of a true disciple maker is to connect the disciple with Jesus to become a follower of Christ, not to make him a follower of men. And we are not called to create new religions, that deny the basic core realities of Christ and his kingdom, which block people from being truly connected to the one and only true king of heaven: As you can see in the video below.
Are You Curious to Know:
What wisdom is being hidden from “the wise and prudent”?
(If so, click the triangle below)
What does Jesus mean by: “Good in Thy Sight”?
Mark this Down: “Good in Thy Sight” means that:
It is “Good from God’s Heavenly, Eternal, and Unchanging Perspective.” God’s Eternal Perspective is the missing ingredient, in every false convert, false teacher, false leader, false religion, and self absorbed person.
To Be Clear: My Perspective (or your perspective) is not what matters here. Why is that?
Our Natural Perspective is not Eternal. Not Unchanging. Not Everlasting.
Our comprehension is limited to our own finite Reality. God’s Reality is Infinite. In order to see anything from God’s eternal perspective, one must humble himself. He must suspend his own natural, self-centered, prideful, prejudice, and his limited preconceived notions: In order to gain God’s Unlimited Perspective.
Due to man’s own preprogrammed pride, such true humility, may only come through some miraculous intervention, or terrible fall: Only then will some people find the grace to see, “What is good in Thy Sight.” (Romans 5:8)
So here lies an inherent challenge: God’s Word is Unchanging and Unbiased from the Beginning to the End. Therefore, every individual who enters the narrow road of humility before God, must choose to remove the log from his own eye. He must remove his own immature, adolescent, ignorant: judgments and prejudices, and his own self-absorbed egotistical pride, and arrogance, and his notions of superiority. Only such a person can pop the bubble of his own self importance. Such an individual can then put himself into the position of being able to receive the knowledge of God.
This illustration is simple. How much more liquid can you put into a completely full cup? None.
You cannot put any more liquid into a completely full cup. It is the same with the prideful man’s boastful self.
His cup is completely filled with himself. That is the basic definition of spiritual narcissism. (Everyone I know has been there at one time or another–and I put myself at the top of the list.)
His ideas, his goals, his reality, his reasons for pursuing his own pleasures and plans: fill his own cup to the brim. Therefore nothing else can come in. Period.
Such is the poisoned wine of a man’s own, self-imposed reality. Such a man can be understood, as being drunk on the wine of this world, on his own foolishness, ego, and doesn’t even know he is walking in his own pathway of death. (Some people call that drinking their own Kool-Aid.)
But, there is a far greater wine: far finer, far more healing, and far more life preserving wine that comes down from heaven.
That wine is not poisoned. Not tainted with the fouled ingredients in the wine of men. If any man should empty his cup of the polluted worldly wine, he would then be able to make room, and fill his cup with God’s heavenly wine.
Choose Humility: The Un-Poisoned Wine
If any man, should choose the vehicle of humility, and perchance should empty, the overweening pride filling his cup.
If a man should choose to completely empty all the foul, dirty, unclean liquid in his cup, and wash the cup completely clean, so that it might sparkle, and then pour the king’s new wine into his cup, then he might begin a totally new life experience.
Compare the difference between:
- Belshazar’s wine drinking, and the party spirit surrounding him, in Daniel 5:1-20, with:
- Jesus’ wine drinking party, and the celebration connected to him, in John 14:1-20.
You should be able to immediately see a clearly a vast difference between the two. Although both parties were drinking wine. Both were celebrating and dedicating themselves to their God–the outcome of each was radically different, although there are many parallels.
A man of Humility can begin a new journey
He could discover himself walking along a new narrow road, that he could not previously see, nor value, nor desire, having his eyes blinded, and his ears blocked to hearing about or seeing this new road, even though it has been traveled by the angels, the prophets, and the Saints of God for many millennia.
Taking a road to a place unknown is a mysterious journey. But with every new step, and every new revelation the path will become clearer, and straighter, and undeniable.
Check out this 1 minute clip. See Want to see: What is God in a Child’s Sight?
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children,
ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
(One minute clip: this woman, like so many today, could not see what was good, and God sight.)
That begs the question (and segues into Challenge #2 quite nicely):
Why are religion and politics taboo topics in many modern cultures?
Here’s my take on it. Because both topics will eventually boil down to the subject of morals and morality. Those who are insecure about their own morality positions, don’t want them exposed, and especially don’t want them challenged. How does Jesus express this phenomenon? He simply says that those who love to do evil, hate the light, and will not come into the light, for fear their evil deeds will be exposed. It’s that simple.
In other words, they want to remain in the dark, they don’t want the darkness in them to be exposed. (Almost none of us are comfortable about that prospect.)
It is in fact, one of our most primal fears. We are afraid of being exposed. We are afraid of being humiliated. We do things in the dark. We do things behind closed doors. We do things in secret, that we don’t want anyone else to find out about. That is until our conscience has been burned and singed as with a hot iron. At this tipping point, we no longer care about being exposed. We want to come out of the closet. We want to flaunt our evil. We want others, and push others to accept us in our evil state. That is the final state of immorality. That was the tipping point of Sodom and Gomorrah. It was the tipping point of the Roman Empire. It was the tipping point of Babylon. And the destruction that came upon it in Daniel chapter 5. Where the handwriting was written upon the wall with an invisible arm. Where men were weighed in the balance and found wanting.
Dear friends and family, the hour is late. The dark veil is thick. The demonic stronghold is developing our youth now starting in kindergarten. It began in college campuses. Then it descended down to high school age children, then it entered into elementary school, education, now it is entrenched in kindergarten classes, and cross-dressing demonically inspired homosexual Faerie Queene hour presentations.
Recommended Further Reading:
- Why is Jesus so concerned about loyalty?
- LaShon HaRa = The Evil Tongue
- The Faith of Unbelief
- Blood Covenant (2) Creating New Wine Skins
- Peace Child (1974)
- Skeptics Welcome (Part 1) The Evolution Challenge
- God’s 50 Judgments on America (This is a must read for Every American)
Footnotes:
- “The Lion” has many Symbolic meanings in God’s Word, depending on the Context. The Messiah was promised to come from the Tribe of Judah, and would be called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. (Revelation 5:5) In the age to come. The Lion will lie down with the Lamb, and eat grass like a cow … They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 11:6 (KJV) 6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
and a little child shall lead them.
Isaiah 65:25 (KJV) 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock:
and dust shall be the serpent’s meat.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.
. ↩︎ - The Lion Nebula, also known as Sh2-132 or Sharpless 132, is a deep-sky nebula located in the constellation Cepheus.
Characteristics:
Location: The Lion Nebula is situated in the southern part of the constellation Cepheus, bordering the constellation Lacerta ¹ ³.
Composition: It is a rich hydrogen region with star clusters, emission nebulae, and dark dust regions ¹ ³.
Distance: The Lion Nebula is approximately 10,000 light-years away in the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy.
Size: It has an angular size slightly greater than that of the full moon.
↩︎ - The Messiah came first as the Passover Lamb. This is the main reason, the Jewish Teachers, Rulers, Scribes, Pharisees, Saduccees, Priests, Lawyers, Rabbis, Zealots, and many Jewish Synagogues at Large rejected Jesus as their Messiah. Why? Because Jesus was not what they were looking for. They wanted the Conquering “Lion of Judah.” So the rejected the Humble, Suffering, Militarily Weak, and Passover Lamb, that John the Baptist Preached would come. The Lamb of God who takes away the Sins of the World. All those who rejected John’s Message, also rejected Jesus’ Message and Jesus’ Authority. Why? Again, because He wasn’t what they wanted. The same reason Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus’. Judas was smart. He could see the “Handwriting on the Wall.” He clearly saw that Jesus intended to die like all the other prophets before him, even John the Baptist, the most privileged Prophet of All, was beheaded by the Jews in conjunction with Herod,
But in. order to reject God’s Son, they only had to reject parts of the Revelations and Prophecies of God. They had so built their religion around their own personal prejudices, that their religion allowed to betray, torture, and crucify the Son of God, and still think that God would be ok with that. How Whack is That??!!
Sadly, these thing happen whenever we try to read God’s Heavenly Word, without seeing it through God’s Heavenly and Eternal Perspective.
↩︎ - The Lion of the Tribe of Judah:
Please Note: This is in Regard to the Future Coming of Christ. The first Time Christ appeared as a humble servant: The Lamb of God who taketh away the Sins of the World. But the Second time he comes in the Form of: “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah” with fearful judgments, and ruthless retribution on his enemies who have harmed his children.
Revelation 5:4-5 (KJV) 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda[h], the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
↩︎ - “The Lion” has several Symbolic meanings in God’s Word, depending on the Context.
The Messiah was promised to come from the Tribe of Judah, and would be called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. (Revelation 5:5) In the age to come.
The Devil himself is referred to as a roaring lion, seeking to devour the saints (and sometimes successfully).
1 Peter 5:8-11 (KJV) 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
For more understanding of this topic: Check out The Lion of Judah.
↩︎ - https://www.chrisharrison.net/index.php/Visualizations/BibleViz“>
63,779 cross references in total: where one scripture is connected to another scripture. That gives both scriptures a fuller meaning and a deeper understanding.
The more you read the Bible, the more familiar you will become with these illuminating interconnected cross references.
Sometimes connections are made by one Bible author quoting a previous Bible Author.
But most often there are no official quotes: just strong connections being made by the Spirit, who is guiding the Biblical Author to write down His Spiritual Words, for the Spiritual Minds, that will be reading His Words. They will be making the connections spiritually, using the same visuals, symbols, themes, metaphors, parables, and a preponderance of literary devices that illuminate His Purposes, but would be heavily overburdened by having to explain every nuance.
Each time you read more of the Bible, with good intention, you should expect to grow more in your understanding, and interpretation of the scriptures, and your eyes will become ns a ormally and spiritually connected to all these intended connections. That is all a part of the Spiritual Adventure you have embarked on.
.
↩︎