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10/11/2019 11:27 am  #2241


Re: Scripture of the Day

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2]  LOVE THY NEIGHBOR BY WARNING HIM OF DANGER.   With the Scripture of the Day first.

[1]  SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [65B]]

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.  3  For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.  4  But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.  5  For every man shall bear his own burden.  Galatians 6:1 – 5,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Matthew Henry on Galatians 6:1 – 5  in his Matthew Henry Concise Commentary:
#1-5 We are to bear one another’s burdens. So we shall fulfil the law of Christ. This obliges to mutual forbearance and compassion towards each other, agreeably to his example. It becomes us to bear one another’s burdens, as fellow-travellers. It is very common for a man to look upon himself as wiser and better than other men, and as fit to dictate to them. Such a one deceives himself; by pretending to what he has not, he puts a cheat upon himself, and sooner or later will find the sad effects. This will never gain esteem, either with God or men. Every one is advised to prove his own work. The better we know our own hearts and ways, the less shall we despise others, and the more be disposed to help them under infirmities and afflictions. How light soever men’s sins seem to them when committed, yet they will be found a heavy burden, when they come to reckon with God about them. No man can pay a ransom for his brother; and sin is a burden to the soul. It is a spiritual burden; and the less a man feels it to be such, the more cause has he to suspect himself. Most men are dead in their sins, and therefore have no sight or sense of the spiritual burden of sin. Feeling the weight and burden of our sins, we must seek to be eased thereof by the Saviour, and be warned against every sin.   
   
[2]  LOVE THY NEIGHBOR BY WARNING HIM OF DANGER

Now one’s neighbor is all fellow humans as clearly shown by Jesus (Yeshua) at Luke 10:28 – 37, [authorized King James Bible; AV], “And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.  29  But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?  30  And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.  31  And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  32  And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.  33  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,  34  And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.  35  And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.  36  Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?  37  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.”
   
Just as Noah warned all of his neighbors of the impending global flood, we likewise must warn our neighbors of the impending end of this system of things per Colossians 1:28, [AV]  “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:”     We must warn them to turn to Almighty God (YHWH) , the Creator of heaven and earth, and away from false gods and practices such as the worship of idols, animals, icons, crosses, powerful people, meteorites’ in Mecca, etc, as the true God requires we worship him exclusively as shown by his Son, Jesus (Yeshua) at Matthew 4:10, [AV]  “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
We must love our neighbor and not treat others to hate him/her, love violence, or to disrespect his/her person and/or property as many false religions do.    Unfortunately, we see too much hate, violence, and a disrespect of the person and property of others in the world today.   Many show disrespect of the person and property to others of a different faith and/or gender.    One excellent example of this was shown recently in Pakistan as follows:

"’Christian girls are only meant for one thing, the pleasure of Muslim men," Muslim killer said,

Kit Daniels | Infowars.com - JANUARY 25, 2016 
A group of Muslims reportedly mowed down three Christians with their car, killing one of them, while claiming Christian girls are only meant for “the pleasure of Muslim men.”

Pakistani police are slow to investigate the Jan. 13 attack by four Muslims who spotted the girls while they were walking home to the Christian community of Baowala and proceeded to flirt with them unsuccessfully.

“How dare you run away from us, Christian girls are only meant for one thing, the pleasure of Muslim men,” one of the murderers shouted.
The men then rammed their cars into the girls.
“Two girls fell to the ground; one’s hip was broken, the other’s ribs were shattered,” journalist Raymond Ibrahim reported. “The youngest, Kiran Masih, aged 17, flew up in the air and crashed into the speeding car’s windshield.”

The killers laughed as Masih died from her injuries.
“In any other nation, the perpetrators would be arrested, convicted for murder and sentenced for a long term,” human rights activist Wilson Chowdhry said. “Violence against Christians is rarely investigated and highly unlikely to be met with justice.”
“Women have a low status in Pakistan, but none more so than Christian women who find themselves under the grip or terror, especially after this attack.”

Meanwhile, in Lübben, Germany, a pregnant woman was sexually assaulted by six Muslim migrants, who only stopped their attack when a bystander stepped in and distracted the migrants.
Other migrants also raped women in Cologne, Hamburg, Stuttgart and other cities during a country-wide mass sexual rampage on New Year’s Eve.
“I am Syrian: you have to treat me kindly; [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel invited me,” one of the rapistssaid to his victim.

A well-known psychiatrist has since said that Merkel’s refusal to reverse her “completely irrational” open borders policy for migrant rapists is evidence that the German Chancellor is undergoing a “mental breakdown.”   [SOURC - RETRIEVED FROM   http://www.infowars.com/islamic-murderer-christian-girls-exist-to-pleasure-muslim-men/  ON  1/ 27/2016]

Hate for others, an violence against them in a complete disregard of their person and property is against humanity and something all right thinking persons should have.

All genuine followers of the Prince of Peace need to show true love for others by warning them of the coming conclusion of the end of this system and the dangers of false religions and doctrine.

It is a genuine (true) follower of Jesus (Yeshua) obligation to warn all about false religion and doctrine.   All genuine (true) followers should show love to all by exposing false doctrine so they have an opportunity to get in good standing with Jesus (Yeshua) and his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) per John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me." (American Standard Version; ASV); and this in keeping with what Jesus (Yeshua) said at Matthew 22:37-40, "And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second like unto it is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets." (ASV).

Exposure of false religion and doctrines would of course include the exposure of false religious books that many claim falsely came from the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, and Jacob, creator of all there is, Almighty God (YHWH) by an angel or some other medium including ones that are a knockoff of the Bible.   To understand why, let's look at what the Bible actually is.   It is NOT the product of one committee or strongman. It has over 40 individual writers who wrote under divine inspiration/guidance putting the thoughts of God (YHWH) into the words of men much as transcribing secretaries today taking transcription and then later typing it out. In other words one real author, God (YHWH), and many scribes each of whom wrote in his own style over a period of approximately 1,600 years. All of what people call or consider inconsistencies are really not such, but most often just a problem of translation and/or understanding, i.e., lack of understanding of what the original writer writing in his own language and culture meant/said in his original writing. What is remarkable, is the writers over such a period of time all wrote in harmony when even most posters on threads on this forum can not even stay on track or subject over a period of a few days and/or weeks at most with the original subject of the thread. This fact of harmony over a period so great as to almost stagger the imagination shows that it had one guiding force or author who divinely inspired its writers as humans of their own volition can not keep on track over short periods of time.


To wit, the Bible is the ONLY book God (YHWH) ever inspired men to write as his scribes. In other words, God is its author and men only put his thoughts given to them by divine inspiration into their own words, the words of men. Not only that, all the other writers of later so called religious guidance books borrowed from it and made changes in accord with their strong man or so called prophet. Take the example of Joseph Smith who borrowed from it to write the Book of Mormon, but failed to give credit or source to the Bible and twisted some borrowed things into bizarre distortions. Other examples are of course the bizarre writings of David Koresh the Prophet of the Branch Dividians of Waco, Texas; and the Quran, etc.

WHY EXPOSURE IS NECESSARY AND LOVING:

Now all need to be showing love to their neighbors including Jews and telling them of the first step toward salvation given at John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (AV).   Messages of hate assist no one in learning the truth per John 8:32, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Authorized King James Bible; AV).

With respect post of exposure of false religions, doctrine, traditions, etc., they have a worthy objective; to wit, enabling individuals to correct their wrong path. Articles of exposure of wrong are NOT ones of hate, as are many of others, but ones that expose false doctrine and wrong practice to lovingly give all the correct information so they can bring their life in harmony with the will of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ and his Father, Almighty God (YHWH).   All should read these articles instead of writing hate literature and articles making false accusations.  In any article I write you will find not one word of hate or bashing, only truth.   They are posted to assist all in knowing the truth, per John 8:32, and to assist all in making a change in their lives by getting out of groups and/or religions that practice false doctrine and wrong practices.

All need to learn about love and that includes warning others with respect false doctrine and wrong practices instead of thinking of hate as many do and attacking the messenger who brings them the truth.  One writer wrote,

Love is patient and is kind, love does not envy. Love does not brag, is not proud, does not behave itself inappropriately, does not seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil. does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things... I Corinthians 13

Love is the power of faith. Faith needs love to be made perfect, because perfect faith results in faithfullness and faithfullness is a work of love. Faith and love go hand in hand because faith wants to believe, just as love trusts, faith sees through the darkness and weathers the storm, just as love endures all things, and faith seeks to put God first just as love always gives. 1 Corinthians 13 :4-7 Our faith is not just knowledge about God but a personal relationship with Him as Lord, and any relationship requires love to succeed, to endure trials and to grow, including our relationships with one another because we are called to be family in the Lord and to love one another. The perfect example of faith powered by love is seen in the life of Jesus Christ, who manifests Gods love ...
Because love is the power of faith we should focus on love, seize it and cultivate it... and we can because God is love, and He imparts that love to us when we draw near to Him as the scripture says... whatever touches what is holy shall become holy Leviticus 6:27, and love is of the Holy Spirit. By faith we draw near to God through sincere prayer, entering into His presence, because when Jesus died on the cross, the temple curtain separating God and man was torn in two from top to bottom... Mathew 27:51 Gods promise says that if we draw near to Him then He will draw near to us, James 4:8 and when He who is Holy draws near to us then our spirits are sanctified by His Holy Spirit as His holiness is imparted to our spirits. If we allow God to fill our hearts with His Holy Spirit then we are filled with the love of God because love is the pre-eminate characteristic of God's holiness. Because God is the source of our love, love is the fruit of faith... Galatians 5: 22
When we submit to the love of God we have combined faith with love and have the power to fulfill the royal law, which is to love the Lord with all our heart, mind and soul... Mathew 22:37-39 If we keep the royal law James 2:8 we are being faithful and are perfecting faith by faithfullness... James 2:22 If we love God we will seek to please Him and keep the royal law because the royal law embraces Gods will and all of His commandments. Without love we can't fulfill the royal law because we can't love the Lord unless we have love. To manifest the love of God is to overcome sin, whereas to not manifest the love of God is to sin. For the royal law is not to know about the Lord, but to love the Lord... and to love one another as ourselves. We can't do one without the other, because we can't truly love God whom we can't see if we don't love mankind who is made in the image of God. When we love one another we are manifesting our love for God whom we can't see by loving His image. If we love one another then we also love God because we can't love the reflection without loving its source. And if we love God we will love Jesus Christ and allow Him to reign in our hearts, keepings all of His commandments John 14:21 by subduing the will and power of the flesh through the power of the Holy Spirit, so that faith working through love does the will of God by turning the thought into reality which pleases Him and fulfills the royal law...
Faith without love is incomplete, residing only in the mind as knowledge, and knowledge of Gods will alone can not perfect us by saving us from sin but allowing Jesus Christ to reign in our hearts. If knowledge of Gods will alone could save us then salvation would have been through the law of Moses or even a Christian law handed down by Jesus, and there would not have been any need for Christ to die for our sins Galatians 2:21 and dwell in our hearts. If Jesus reigns in our hearts then the love of Christ also reigns because He is the manifestation of Gods love. The heart without the love of God does not have Jesus Christ and the soul without the Spirit of Christ is not born again Romans 8:9 and cannot be perfected by being transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ which is true salvation and the result of faith. But the soul which manifests the love of God has been washed clean by the Holy Spirit Romans 15:16 and manifests the spirit and glory of Jesus Christ... "[source - Simon Strahler]

Which does a very good job of summarizing what love is all about.

CONCLUSION:

If one fails to lovingly warn others with respect false religion, doctrine, etc., it is quite possible Almighty God (YHWH) might reject him/her for not showing love by warning his/her neighbor.  So be diligent in sounding the warning.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION - BOTH TRUE AND FALSE - AT  WWW.JW.ORG

 

10/13/2019 7:31 am  #2242


Re: Scripture of the Day

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2]   DISCOURSE ON LYING.   With the Scripture of the Day first.

[1]  SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [66B]

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.  9  Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.   Joshua 1:8, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Is important to focus on the meaning of what you are reading in Almighty God’s (YHWH’s) book for our guidance, the Bible; in other words, we must meditate on what we are reading in order to gain an accurate understanding.  This is stressed at Psalms 63:6, [AV] “When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.”  In fact Jesus (Yeshua) meditated a lot and prayed constantly to His Father as shown at Luke 6:12, [AV] “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”   

[2]  DISCOURSE ON LYING:

INTRODUCTION:

What is lying?   It is the opposite of truth.   It involves saying something false in some medium of expression to a person who is entitled to know the truth and doing so with the intent to deceive or to injure him/her and/or another person.   It need not be verbal.   It can be written or implied by action.   
In the Bible, the Old Testament, the two ancient Hebrew verbs most often translated as lying or having that meaning are 'sha-gar' as used in Leviticus 19:11, ""You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another." (Revised Standard Version; RSV); and at Leviticus 19:12, "And you shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD." (RSV); and at Psalms 44:17, "All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten thee, or been false to thy covenant." (RSV); and at Isaiah 57:4, "Of whom are you making sport? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and put out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit," (RSV); which means to deal or act falsely, and the noun form is rendered lie, deception, falsehood.   The other verb is 'ka-zav' as used at Proverbs 14:5, "A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies." (RSV); which means speaking something which is untrue.   Some translations do not always render these two verbs with 'lying' but use other words implying the same thing as can be seen above with the quotes from the Revised Standard Version.

IS LYING ALWAYS WRONG?

Some ask is it always wrong to lie, but let's look at what was previously said, "It involves saying something false in some medium of expression to a person who is entitled to know the truth and doing so with the intent to deceive or to injure him/her and/or another person."  So we see lying involves by definition deceiving or making false statements to those who have a right to know.   This fact is driven home by  Exodus 1:15-21, " Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiph'rah and the other Pu'ah, 16 "When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, she shall live." 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. 18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives, and said to them, "Why have you done this, and let the male children live?" 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and are delivered before the midwife comes to them." 20 So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God he gave them families." (RSV).   Here we see that the midwives did NOT tell Pharaoh the truth.   Why?   Because he was NOT a person who was entitled to know the truth.   Yet God (YHWH) dealt well with the midwives for not telling Pharaoh what he had no right to know as shown, "So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God he gave them families."

WHO IS THE FATHER OF THE LIE?

Let's look at the Bible and uncover who is the originator of lying.   Let's go to John 8:44, "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (RSV).   What was the first lie to someone who had the right to know?   Satan the Devil lied to Eve and ultimately brought death to all of mankind by it as shown at Genesis 3:1-5, "Now the serpent was more subtle than any other wild creature that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God say, 'You shall not eat of any tree of the garden'?" 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" 4 But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."" (RSV).  This was the first lie and it was rooted in selfishness and in wrong desire.   Satan wanted the worship and adoration that belonged to God (YHWH) and his lie was designed to divert the love and obedience of the first human pair to Satan, the liar.  He had presented himself as a benefactor, an angel of light; but he was neither.   

All MALICIOUS lies uttered since that time are likewise done for selfish and wrong motives and to wrongly harm and/or discredit others.   People tell lies to escape deserved punishment, to profit at the expense of others, and to gain and/or maintain some advantages either material rewards and/or the praise of men.

The most serious lies have been the religious lies.  Why so?   Because they endanger the future life of individuals deceived by them.  These lies are such beliefs and fables of men such as a charismatic leader having direct communication with a deity or ex-Cathedra communications with a deity; that Almighty God (YHWH) and his Son, Jesus (Yeshua) are one and the same and/or co-equal and/or co-eternal, that the Virgin Mary remained ever virgin, that religious leaders are superior to others, that God (YHWH) blesses one nation over another nation today in war time-the so called patriotism, making idols out of sports and/or movie heroes, etc.  As Jesus (Yeshua) Christ said at Matthew 23:15-22, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you traverse sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. 16 "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If any one swears by the temple, it is nothing; but if any one swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, 'If any one swears by the altar, it is nothing; but if any one swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.' 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; 21 and he who swears by the temple, swears by it and by him who dwells in it; 22 and he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it." (RSV).   Their lie involved an exchange of God's (YHWH's) truth for the 'lie.'   This deception or falsehood is idolatory, and can cause a person to become a practicer of what is degrading and vile as revealed by Romans 1:24-32, "Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a base mind and to improper conduct. 29 They were filled with all manner of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them but approve those who practice them." (RSV).

LIARS IN ACTION IN THE TIME OF JESUS (YESHUA):

The religious leaders in Judaism when Jesus (Yeshua) was on earth conducting his earthly ministry give a good example of what can happen when one substitutes a lie for the truth which he has abandoned.  They became so deceitful and evil that they even schemed to get Jesus (Yeshua) put to death as recorded as a warning to us today at Matthew 12:14, "But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him, how to destroy him." (RSV); and at Matthew 27:1-2, "When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death; 2 and they bound him and led him away and delivered him to Pilate the governor." (RSV); and at Matthew 27:62-65, " Next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, "Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise again.' 64 Therefore order the sepulchre to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away, and tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last fraud will be worse than the first." 65 Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can." (RSV); and at Mark 14:1, "It was now two days before the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth, and kill him;" (RSV); and at Luke 20:19, "The scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people; for they perceived that he had told this parable against them." (RSV).

HOWEVER, UNLIKE MEN, GOD (YHWH) CAN NOT LIE:

As shown at Numbers 23:19, God (YHWH) can not lie, "God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfil it?" (RSV); and re-affirmed at Hebrews 6:13-18, "For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. 16 Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, 18 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us." (RSV).

In fact, God (YHWH) hates a 'false tongue' as testified to at Proverbs 6:16-19, "There are six things which the LORD hates, seven which are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and a man who sows discord among brothers." (RSV).   We see a lot of these 'false tongues' today.   Intolerant ones and religious bigots full of hate tell falsehoods against those we hate.   We see this in political speeches, deceptive and false postings against others on the Internet and in pamphlets and other printed material; this is what God (YHWH) hates.   This also applies to those giving false testimony to inflict damage and harm on others and malicious lying as testified to at Deuteronomy 19:15-21, " "A single witness shall not prevail against a man for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed; only on the evidence of two witnesses, or of three witnesses, shall a charge be sustained. 16 If a malicious witness rises against any man to accuse him of wrongdoing, 17 then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days; 18 the judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, 19 then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother; so you shall purge the evil from the midst of you. 20 And the rest shall hear, and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. 21 Your eye shall not pity; it shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot." (RSV); and at Leviticus 6:2-7, " "If any one sins and commits a breach of faith against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor 3 or has found what was lost and lied about it, swearing falsely--in any of all the things which men do and sin therein, 4 when one has sinned and become guilty, he shall restore what he took by robbery, or what he got by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him, or the lost thing which he found, 5 or anything about which he has sworn falsely; he shall restore it in full, and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it belongs, on the day of his guilt offering. 6 And he shall bring to the priest his guilt offering to the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, valued by you at the price for a guilt offering; 7 and the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD, and he shall be forgiven for any of the things which one may do and thereby become guilty." (RSV); and at Leviticus 19:11-12, ""You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. 12 And you shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD." (RSV).

It is to be noted, God's (YHWH's) view of MALICIOUS lying has not changed.   Those wishing to gain his approval must not engage in the practice of malicious lying as testified to at Psalms 5:6, "Thou destroyest those who speak lies; the LORD abhors bloodthirsty and deceitful men." (RSV); and at Proverbs 20:19, "He who goes about gossiping reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with one who speaks foolishly.' (RSV); and at Colossians 3:9, "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices." (RSV); and at 1 Timothy 3:11, "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices." (RSV); and at Revelation 21:8 & 27, "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death." (RSV) & "But nothing unclean shall enter it, nor any one who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life." (RSV); and at Revelation 22:15, "Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and every one who loves and practices falsehood." (RSV).   

ONE NOT NECESSARILY UNDER OBLIGATION TO DIVULGE THE TRUTH:

While MALICIOUS lying is condemned in the Bible, this in no way implies that individuals are under any obligation to divulge truthful information to individuals and/or groups who are not entitled to it as shown previously in Exodus 1:15-21 previously quoted.  Jesus (Yeshua) Christ himself counseled at Matthew 7:6, ""Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you" (RSV)..    In fact, on certain occasions, he refraimed from giving full information and/or direct answers to some questions because it could have caused unnecessary harm as shown at Matthew 15:1-6, "Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 "Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat." 3 He answered them, "And why do you transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die.' 5 But you say, 'If any one tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is given to God, he need not honor his father.' 6 So, for the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God." (RSV); and at Matthew 21:32-27, " And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" 24 Jesus answered them, "I also will ask you a question; and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 26 But if we say, 'From men,' we are afraid of the multitude; for all hold that John was a prophet." 27 So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things." (RSV); and at John 7:3-13, "So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples may see the works you are doing. 4 For no man works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world." 5 For even his brothers did not believe in him. 6 Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8 Go to the feast yourselves; I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come." 9 So saying, he remained in Galilee. 10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, "Where is he?" 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, "He is a good man," others said, "No, he is leading the people astray." 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him." (RSV).

But God (YHWH) allows for the misdirecting or of the withholding full facts from none worshippers of him that have no right to full information.  This is shown by the following scriptures.   Let's look at the following, Genesis 12:10-19, "Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. 11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sar'ai his wife, "I know that you are a woman beautiful to behold; 12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife'; then they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister,"that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared on your account." 14 When Abram entered Egypt the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15 And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. 16 And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, he-asses, menservants, maidservants, she-asses, and camels. 17 But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sar'ai, Abram's wife. 18 So Pharaoh called Abram, and said, "What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her, and be gone." (RSV); and at Genesis 26:1-10, "Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar, to Abim'elech king of the Philistines. 2 And the LORD appeared to him, and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you; for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will fulfil the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. 4 I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give to your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall bless themselves: 5 because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws."  6 So Isaac dwelt in Gerar. 7 When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister"; for he feared to say, "My wife," thinking, "lest the men of the place should kill me for the sake of Rebekah"; because she was fair to look upon. 8 When he had been there a long time, Abim'elech king of the Philistines looked out of a window and saw Isaac fondling Rebekah his wife. 9 So Abim'elech called Isaac, and said, "Behold, she is your wife; how then could you say, 'She is my sister'?" Isaac said to him, "Because I thought, 'Lest I die because of her.'" 10 Abim'elech said, "What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us." (RSV); and at James 2:25, "And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?" (RSV).

CONCLUSION:

In fact, God (YHWH) allows those who prefer falsehood to believe in the lie rather than in the truth about his Son, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ as shown by 2 Timothy 2:9-12, " the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory. 11 The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; 12 if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;" (RSV).   This principle has been illustrated many times in the scriptures as shown WHEN LYING PROPHETS ASSURED King Ahab of certain success in war as recorded at 1 Kings 22:1-38, "For three years Syria and Israel continued without war. 2 But in the third year Jehosh'aphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3 And the king of Israel said to his servants, "Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?" 4 And he said to Jehosh'aphat, "Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?" And Jehosh'aphat said to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses." 5 And Jehosh'aphat said to the king of Israel, "Inquire first for the word of the LORD." 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I forbear?" And they said, "Go up; for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king." 7 But Jehosh'aphat said, "Is there not here another prophet of the LORD of whom we may inquire?" 8 And the king of Israel said to Jehosh'aphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, Micai'ah the son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil." And Jehosh'aphat said, "Let not the king say so." 9 Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, "Bring quickly Micai'ah the son of Imlah." 10 Now the king of Israel and Jehosh'aphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Sama'ria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 11 And Zedeki'ah the son of Chena'anah made for himself horns of iron, and said, "Thus says the LORD, 'With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.'" 12 And all the prophets prophesied so, and said, "Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the LORD will give it into the hand of the king." 13 And the messenger who went to summon Micai'ah said to him, "Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king; let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably." 14 But Micai'ah said, "As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I will speak."  15 And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, "Micai'ah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear?" And he answered him, "Go up and triumph; the LORD will give it into the hand of the king." 16 But the king said to him, "How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?" 17 And he said, "I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd; and the LORD said, 'These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.'" 18 And the king of Israel said to Jehosh'aphat, "Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?" 19 And Micai'ah said, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; 20 and the LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said one thing, and another said another. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, 'I will entice him.' 22 And the LORD said to him, 'By what means?' And he said, 'I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And he said, 'You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go forth and do so.' 23 Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the LORD has spoken evil concerning you." 24 Then Zedeki'ah the son of Chena'anah came near and struck Micai'ah on the cheek, and said, "How did the Spirit of the LORD go from me to speak to you?" 25 And Micai'ah said, "Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself." 26 And the king of Israel said, "Seize Micai'ah, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Jo'ash the king's son; 27 and say, 'Thus says the king, "Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with scant fare of bread and water, until I come in peace."'" 28 And Micai'ah said, "If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me." And he said, "Hear, all you peoples!"  29 So the king of Israel and Jehosh'aphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 30 And the king of Israel said to Jehosh'aphat, "I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes." And the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. 31 Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, "Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel." 32 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehosh'aphat, they said, "It is surely the king of Israel." So they turned to fight against him; and Jehosh'aphat cried out. 33 And when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 34 But a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate; therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn about, and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded." 35 And the battle grew hot that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians, until at evening he died; and the blood of the wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot. 36 And about sunset a cry went through the army, "Every man to his city, and every man to his country!" 37 So the king died, and was brought to Sama'ria; and they buried the king in Sama'ria. 38 And they washed the chariot by the pool of Sama'ria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and the harlots washed themselves in it, according to the word of the LORD which he had spoken." (RSV); and at 2 Chronicles 18:1-34, "Now Jehosh'aphat had great riches and honor; and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab. 2 After some years he went down to Ahab in Sama'ria. And Ahab killed an abundance of sheep and oxen for him and for the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead. 3 Ahab king of Israel said to Jehosh'aphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?" He answered him, "I am as you are, my people as your people. We will be with you in the war."
4 And Jehosh'aphat said to the king of Israel, "Inquire first for the word of the LORD." 5 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I forbear?" And they said, "Go up; for God will give it into the hand of the king." 6 But Jehosh'aphat said, "Is there not here another prophet of the LORD of whom we may inquire?" 7 And the king of Israel said to Jehosh'aphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, Micai'ah the son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil." And Jehosh'aphat said, "Let not the king say so." 8 Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, "Bring quickly Micai'ah the son of Imlah." 9 Now the king of Israel and Jehosh'aphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes; and they were sitting at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Sama'ria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 10 And Zedeki'ah the son of Chena'anah made for himself horns of iron, and said, "Thus says the LORD, 'With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.'" 11 And all the prophets prophesied so, and said, "Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the LORD will give it into the hand of the king." 12 And the messenger who went to summon Micai'ah said to him, "Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king; let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably." 13 But Micai'ah said, "As the LORD lives, what my God says, that I will speak." 14 And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, "Micai'ah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?" And he answered, "Go up and triumph; they will be given into your hand." 15 But the king said to him, "How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?" 16 And he said, "I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd; and the LORD said, 'These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.'" 17 And the king of Israel said to Jehosh'aphat, "Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?" 18 And Micai'ah said, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left; 19 and the LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab the king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said one thing, and another said another. 20 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, 'I will entice him.' And the LORD said to him, 'By what means?' 21 And he said, 'I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And he said, 'You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go forth and do so.' 22 Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; the LORD has spoken evil concerning you." 23 Then Zedeki'ah the son of Chena'anah came near and struck Micai'ah on the cheek, and said, "Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go from me to speak to you?" 24 And Micai'ah said, "Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself." 25 And the king of Israel said, "Seize Micai'ah, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Jo'ash the king's son; 26 and say, 'Thus says the king, Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with scant fare of bread and water, until I return in peace.'" 27 And Micai'ah said, "If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me." And he said, "Hear, all you peoples!"
28 So the king of Israel and Jehosh'aphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 29 And the king of Israel said to Jehosh'aphat, "I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes." And the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into battle. 30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, "Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel." 31 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehosh'aphat, they said, "It is the king of Israel." So they turned to fight against him; and Jehosh'aphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. God drew them away from him, 32 for when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 33 But a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate; therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn about, and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded." 34 And the battle grew hot that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Syrians until evening; then at sunset he died" (RSV)..

As we can see, God (YHWH) revealed to Micaiah the facts, but allowed a spirit creature to become a deceptive spirit in the mouths of Ahab's prophets.   They spoke, not the truth, but what Ahab wanted to hear.   So as we can see from this lying to harm others in some way is always evil and wrong, but not telling the truth to those who are not entitled to know it is NOT necessarily wrong.   However, making false accusations and lying to discredit and/or hurt is someway others is always wrong; as is lying to promote destructive myths and fables of men per 2 Corinthians 4:4, "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God." (RSV).

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION - BOTH TRUE AND FALSE - AT  WWW.JW.ORG

 

10/15/2019 10:06 am  #2243


Re: Scripture of the Day

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND  [2] JESUS (YESHUA) NOT CO-EQUAL OR CO-ETERNAL WITH HIS FATHER (YHWH):.   With the Scripture of the Day first.

[1]  SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [67B]

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.  11  And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.  12  And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.  1 Samuel 1:10 – 12,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Here Hannah was deeply distressed because her husband’s other wife was making her life miserable and rubbing it in because she was childless, so she prayed to Almighty God (YHWH) for a male child as she knew He could grant her prayers.  Nothing is above Him and her prayer was granted per Psalms 34:18, [AV] “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” And we are shown that we should do likewise atJohn 14:16, [AV] “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”
   
[2]  JESUS (YESHUA) NOT CO-EQUAL OR CO-ETERNAL WITH HIS FATHER (YHWH):

INTRODUCTION;

The Trinity is a God (YHWH) Dishonoring  False Doctrine or Fable that seeks to do the work of the Devil per 2 Corinthians 4:4, "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God." (Revised Standard Version; RSV).

Many believe in tthis False Dogma of the Trinity and really have only a superficial knowledge of the Theology. So before I discuss this false doctrine using only the Bible I am going into what this false theology really is from an impeccable source.

The Trinitarian dogma, The Cyclopoedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, New York 1871, by John M'Clintock and James Strong, Vol. II, page 560-561, states, "We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the
persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost.....The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal...So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Ghost almighty...So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet there are not three Gods, but one God...The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding...And in this Trinity none is afore or after other; none is greater or less than another. But the whole three persons are coeternal together, and coequal. So that in all things, as is afore said, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity." [this is the Athanasian Creed quoted in the above mentioned Cyclopoedia].

NOT CO-EQUAL AS JESUS (YESHUA) IS ONLY AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD (YHWH):

To be co-equal two individuals or beings would have to have equal standing; whereas, in the case of Jesus (Yeshua) he does NOT.   This is clearly shown since he when his Father (YHWH) resurrected him bacts k to heaven, he did NOT sit on his Father's (YHWH's) throne with him, but was in a position at his right hand which signified clearly in ancient times a hierarchical position of second in importance.   Hence he is NOT in the position at the top of the hierarchy in heaven as his Father (YHWH).   

Now, let's look at Bible proofs of this:

Matthew 19:16 - [Revised Standard Version; RSV]
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

Luke 22:69 - [RSV]
But from now on the Son of man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God."

Acts  2:33 - [RSV]
Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear.

Acts  5:31 - [RSV]
God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

Acts  7:55 - [RSV]
But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;

Acts  7:56 - [RSV]
and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God."

Romans 8:34 - [RSV]
who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us?

2Corinthians 6:7 - [RSV]
truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;

Colossians 3:1 - [RSV]
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Hebrews 1:3 - [RSV]
He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Hebrews 10:12 - [RSV]
But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacts rifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,

Hebrews 12:2 - [RSV]
looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

1Peter 3:22 - [RSV]
who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.

NOT CO-EQUAL AS JESUS (YESHUA) TEACHES HIS FATHER NOT HIMSELF:

The Bible clearly shows that what Jesus (Yeshua) taught were the words and thoughts of his Father (YHWH) and not his own as he clearly testified to as follows:

John 14:10 - [RSV]
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.

John 14:24 - [RSV]
He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

NOT CO-EQUAL AS JESUS (YESHUA) COMES IN HIS FATHER'S (YHWH'S) GLORY NOT HIS OWN:

The Bible clearly that Jesus (Yeshua) came in his Father's (YHWH's) glory and not his own.   Let's take a look at the scriptural proof of this:

Markr 8:38 - [RSV]
For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

Luke 9:26 - [RSV]
For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

John 8:54 - [RSV]
Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing; it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is your God.

John 16:14 - [RSV]
He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.


NOT CO-EQUAL AS JESUS (YESHUA) IS GIVEN ALL HE HAS BY HIS FATHER (YHWH):

Jesus (Yeshua) now has authority over all except his Father (YHWH), but only because his Father (YHWH) gave it to him.   This fact was clearly shown when he asked his Father (YHWH) for the glory he had alongside Almighty God (YHWH) before he came to earth to be born as a human at:

John 17:5 - [RSV]
and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made.

That he was given authority over all except his Father (YHWH) by his Father (YHWH) is clearly shown at:

1 Corinthians 15:22-28 - [RSV]
    For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 "For God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "All things are put in subjection under him," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be everything to every one.


As can be seen, his Father (YHWH) subjected all things to his Son, Jesus (Yeshua) for a period of time except himself, ""All things are put in subjection under him," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be everything to every one."

And his Father (YHWH) appointed him the only mediator between God (YHWH) and man as shown at:

1 Timothy 2:5 - [RSV]
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

JESUS (YESHUA) TESTIFIED THAT HIS FATHER (YHWH) WAS GREATER:

Jesus (Yeshua) testified that his Father (YHWH) was greater than himself, and we know that he does not lie, at:

John 14:28 - [RSV]
You heard me say to you, 'I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.

And to his position as second in the hierarchy at:

1 Corinthians 11:3 - [RSV]
But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

And that he, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ can not do anything of his own initiative;

John 5:19 - [RSV]
Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does likewise.

And that even though existing in the form of God (YHWH) did not count himself equal to his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), and even humbled himself when he found himself in fashion as a man.   For this, he was rewarded by his Father (YHWH) as shown at:

Philippians 2:5-8 - [RSV]
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

JESUS (YESHUA) NOT CO-ETERNAL WITH HIS FATHER (YHWH):

Whereas God Almighty (YHWH) had no beginning but always existed; his only begotten Son, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ did.   In fact, Jesus (Yeshua) was the first of his Father's (YHWH's) creative works as shown at:

Proverbs 8:22-31 - [RSV]
    The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. 23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth; 26 before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. 27 When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, 29 when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 then I was beside him, like a master workman; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, 31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the sons of men.

This fact, that Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, God's (YHWH's) only begotten Son was the first of creation is clearly shown at:

Colossians 1:12-15 - [RSV]
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation;

Revelation 3:14 - [RSV]
"And to the angel of the church in La-odice'a write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.

CONCLUSION:

As can be seen from the foregoing, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ is NEITHER CO-EQUAL OR CO-ETERNAL with his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) who has always existed.   

But let's not forget that it would have been impossible for Jesus (Yeshua) Christ to have resurrected himself as he was dead; therefore, it was his Father (YHWH) who resurrected him as testified to at:

Acts 17:24-31 - [RSV]
The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us, 28 for 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your poets have said, 'For we are indeed his offspring.' 29 Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the Deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, a representation by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead."
   
The fact that Jesus (Yeshua) was dead for parts of three (3) days clearly shows he is NOT co-eternal with his Father (YHWH) since his Father (YHWH) has always existed and NEVER died; whereas, Jesus (Yeshua) did.   Hence, a second reason that Jesus (Yeshua) could in NO WAY BE CO-ETERNAL with his Father, Almighty God (YHWH).

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION - BOTH TRUE AND FALSE - AT  WWW.JW.ORG

 

10/17/2019 6:18 am  #2244


Re: Scripture of the Day

COMBINATION OF THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES - Marmalade Box Tree Genipa    With the Scripture of the Day first.

[1]   SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [68B]

For Jehovah is a great God, And a great King above all gods.   4  In his hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the mountains are his also.   5  The sea is his, and he made it; And his hands formed the dry land.  6  Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before Jehovah our Maker:    Psalms 95.3 – 6, [American Standard Version: AVS]

Yes, Almighty God (YHWH)  is the great God above all the false ones which are nothing imaginary ones put in the minds of man by none other than Satan the Devil, and this is testified to at Psalms 96:4 – 6, [authorized King James Bible; AV]  “For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.  5  For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.  6  Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.”    And as Psalms 97:9, affirms, [AV] “For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.”    We should love the Creator as shown by Isaiah 44:8, [AV]  “Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.”    Of course there are many false gods such as Thor, Allah, etc., but as Isaiah 44:9 – 15, [AV]  “They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.   10  Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?   11  Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.   12  The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.   13  The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.   14  He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.   15  Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.”    Yea, it is high time for all those now worshiping false puppet gods which have the Devil behind them to switch over to worshipping the Creator, and becoming genuine followers of his son, Jesus (Yeshua).   

[2]   THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES - Marmalade Box Tree Genipa

Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the Marmalade Box Tree Genipa Americana

Marmalade Box Tree is a small to medium-sized tropical tree. It is 20 to 50 feet and it has thick, smooth bark.

In most of Amazon Basin the trees flower in May to September and give fruit between September and April. It takes up to one year for the fruits to mature. In most trees, bees pollinate the flowers. Its fruit is a large, rounded berry, which is 4 to 6 inches long, 2 to 3 inches wide, weighing between 8 and 16 ounces. It has a thin and leathery covering and a thick layer of soft, yellow-brown pulp. The central cavity contains up to 300 seeds, enclosed in membranes.
The fruit is edible only when overripe and soft to the touch, when the flavor (acid to subacid) resembles that of dried apples or quinces. Genipap is widely distributed throughout the South American tropics and parts of the subtropical areas of Latin America. Areas were it grows naturally or where it has been introduced range from Mexico to Argentina and include the Caribbean as well. In most places Genipap is restricted to the lowlands. The tree may have originated in the Amazon where it grows naturally. It is found especially in the "várzeas", the part of the Amazon forest that lies next to rivers and is flooded annually for several months. Occurrence also extends into the open forest and the savannah transition zone. It is also common in secondary forests on sites abandoned by shifting agriculture.

In Guyana, the ripe fruit is used mainly as fish bait. The fallen, astringent fruits are much eaten by wild and domestic animals. The juice of the unripe fruit is colorless but oxidizes on exposure to the air and gradually turns light brown, then blue-black, and finally jet black. It has been commonly employed by South American Indians to paint their faces and bodies for adornment and to repel insects; and to dye clothing, hammocks, utensils and basket materials a bluish-purple. The dye is indelible on the skin for 15 to 20 days. This very common use is probably the reason why the tree is so dispersed in all tropical America. The fruit juice is recommended against rheumatism. Amerindians make a syrup from the juice of the mesocarp or cook the fruit and seeds and use the residual water against asthma and to reduce inflammations of the respiratory system. The fruit pulp is used as a dental anesthetic. The scraped green fruit is used against itching.

In Puerto Rico, the fruit is cut up and put in a pitcher of water with sugar added to make a summer drink like lemonade. Sometimes it is allowed to ferment slightly. A bottled concentrate is served with shaved ice by street vendors. In the Philippines the fruit is used to make cool drinks, as well as jelly, sherbet and ice cream. The flesh is sometimes added as a substitute for commercial pectin to aid the jelling of low-pectin fruit juices. Rural Brazilians prepare sweet preserves, syrup, a soft drink (called genipapada), wine, and a potent liqueur from the fruits.

The fruit is eaten as a remedy for jaundice in El Salvador. Ingested in quantity, it is said to act as a vermifuge. The fruit juice is given as a diuretic. It is a common practice in Puerto Rico to cut up the fruits, steep them in water until there is a little fermentation, then add flavoring and drink the infusion as a cold remedy. The crushed green fruit and the bark decoction are applied on venereal sores and pharyngitis. The root decoction is a strong purgative. The seeds are crushed and added to water and taken as an emetic in Brazil. When cut, the bark exudes a whitish, sweetish gum which is diluted and used as an eyewash and is claimed to alleviate corneal opacities. The juice expressed from the leaves is commonly given as a febrifuge in Central America. The flower decoction is taken as a tonic and febrifuge. (source - retrieved from http://www.seedman.com/fruit.htm    on  4/3/2013)

ating low as an edible fruit but popular as a source of beverages, the genipap, Genipa americana L. (syns. G. americana var. caruto Schum.; G. caruto HBK.), of the family Rubiaceae, has a number of colloquial names: marmalade box in former British West Indies; genipa, jagua or caruto in Puerto Rico and several other Spanish-speaking countries; genipapo or jenipapo in parts of Colombia and Brazil; chipara or chibara or guanapay among Colombian Indians; carcarutoto, caruto rebalsero, or guaricha in Venezuela; tapoeripa in Surinam; lana in Guyana; bi, bicito or totumillo in Bolivia; huitoc, vito, vitu or palo colorado in Peru; maluco in Mexico; crayo, irayol de montaña, or guali in Guatemala; guaitil or tapaculo in Costa Rica; irayol, tambor or tiñe-dientes in El Salvador; guayatil colorado or jagua blanca in Panama.

Fig. 117: The genipap (Genipa americana L.) photographed by P.H. Dorsett, plant explorer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry, in Bahia, Brazil, November 12, 1913.
Description
The tree is erect, to 60 or even 110 ft (18-33 m), with a tall, slender trunk and spreading branches. One form with a dense coating of soft hairs on the young branchlets and underside of the leaves has been separated by some botanists as a distinct species, G. caruto or G. americana var. caruto, though most botanists now view this as just a variation of G. americana. The leaves are abundant, deciduous, short-petioled, opposite but mostly clustered at the branch tips; oblong-obovate, 4 to 13 in (10-33 cm) long, 1 1/2 to 5 1/4 in (4-13 cm) wide; sometimes faintly toothed, and with prominent whitish midrib. The faintly fragrant pale-yellow or white, tubular, 5-petalled flowers, to 1 1/2 in (4 cm) wide, are borne in short, branched, terminal clusters.
The fruit, 3 1/2 to 6 in (9-15 cm) long, 2 3/4 to 3 1/2 in (7-9 cm) wide, weighing 7 to 14 oz (200-400 g), is elliptic or rounded-oval tapering briefly at the stem end, and having a short hollow tube at the apex. It has a thin leathery, yellow-brown, scurfy skin adherent to a 1/4 to 1/2 in (6-12.5 mm) layer of muskily odorous, rubbery, whitish flesh (turning yellowish on exposure). The central cavity is filled with flat, circular, yellowish or brown seeds 3/8 to 1/2 in (1-1.25 cm) long, enclosed in grayish-yellow, mucilaginous membranes arranged in rows around a central fleshy core. The fruit, like the European medlar (Mespilus germanica L.) is edible only when overripe and soft to the touch, when the flavor, acid to subacid, resembles that of dried apples or quinces.
Origin and Distribution
The genipap is native to wet or moist areas of Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and from Guadeloupe to Trinidad; also from southern Mexico to Panama, and from Colombia and Venezuela to Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. Its usefulness to the Indians was reported by several European writers in Brazil in the 16th Century. It is widely cultivated in dooryards as an ornamental tree and for its fruits, but Patiño stated in 1967 that it was no longer as commonly grown in the Cauca Valley of Colombia as it had been in the past. In Trinidad, the tree is occasionally planted as a living fencepost for pasture fences. In 1965, a program was launched to utilize the genipap for reforestation in northeastern Brazil and plantations were established with a view to the exploitation of the fruit for liquor manufacture and the timber and other products for local use and possible export.
The tree first fruited in the Philippines in 1913 and is occasionally planted there. Otherwise, it is virtually unknown in the Old World. Burkill wrote that it had been tried in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula several times but without success.
P.J. Wester sent seeds from the Philippines to the United States Department of Agriculture in 1917 (S.P.I. #44090). A tree at the Plant Introduction Station, Miami, was 20 ft (6 m) tall in 1951 but had never bloomed. It is still alive and well today. There was a large tree at the Agricultural Research and Education Center, Homestead. It did not bear fruit and was killed by a freeze. A tree at the Fairchild Tropical Garden, Coral Gables, bloomed for the first time in the spring of 1980 but did not produce fruit. A few small seedlings were distributed by the Rare Fruit Council in 1980.

Plate LXVII: GENIPAP, Genipa americana
Varieties
It is reported in Brazil that there are varieties that bear all year. There is a shrubby form, jenipaporana, or jenipapo-bravo, no more than 10 to 13 ft (3-4 m) high, that grows in swamps along the edges of rivers and lakes in Brazil. The fruit is small and inedible.
Climate and Soil
The tree is strictly tropical; is limited to elevations below 3,300 ft (100 m) in Peru and has been killed by low temperatures in Florida. The genipap flourishes best in a humid atmosphere and deep, rich, loamy, moist soil.
Propagation
The genipap is mostly grown from seed but P.J. Wester determined that it can be propagated by shield-budding, using mature, non-petioled scions.
Culture
Seeds germinate in 25 to 30 days. The seedlings reach 4 3/4 in (12 cm) in 3 to 4 months and are transplanted when 6 to 12 months old at a height of 8 in (20 cm). The tree requires little cultural attention and thrives even in and situations. For fruit production, the trees are spaced 33 to 50 ft (10-15 m) apart. Temporary crops such as cassava or cotton are interplanted to provide shade for the young trees and income for the farmer. For purposes of reforestation, the spacing may be 5 x 10 ft (1.5 x 3 m) or up to 10 x 10 ft (3 x 3 m). The heavy leaf fall of the genipap is important in improving the soil of the plantation.
Season
Flowers and fruits appear continuously from spring to fall in Puerto Rico. In Brazil, the tree flowers in November and the fruits appear in the markets in February and March.
Food Uses
In Puerto Rico, the fruit is cut up and put in a pitcher of water with sugar added to make a summer drink like lemonade. Sometimes it is allowed to ferment slightly. A bottled concentrate is served with shaved ice by street vendors. In the Philippines, also, the fruit is used to make cool drinks, as well as jelly, sherbet and ice cream. The flesh is sometimes added as a substitute for commercial pectin to aid the jelling of low-pectin fruit juices. Rural Brazilians prepare sweet preserves, sirup, a soft drink, genipapada, wine, and a potent liqueur from the fruits.
Food Value
Analyses made in the Philippines many years ago show the following values for the edible portion (70%) of the fruit: protein, 0.51%; carbohydrates, 11.21%; sugar, 4.30%; ash, 0.20%; malic acid, 0.63%.
Recent analyses made at the Fundacion Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica show:
Food Value per 100 g of Edible Portion
 
Calories
113
Moisture
67.6 g
Protein
5.2 g
Lipids
0.3 g
Glycerides
25.7 g
Fiber
9.4 g
Ash
1.2 g
Calcium
40.0 mg
Phosphorus
58.0 mg
Iron
3.6 mg
Vitamin B,
0.04 mg
Vitamin B2
0.04 mg
Niacin
0.50 mg
Ascorbic Acid
33.0 mg
Amino Acids
 
(per g of nitrogen [N 6.25])
 
Lysine
316 mg
Methionine
178 mg
Threonine
219 mg
Tryptophan
57 mg
The fruit contains too much-tannin to be a desirable article of diet.
Other Uses
Fruit: In Guyana, the ripe fruit is used mainly as fish bait. The fallen, astringent fruits are much eaten by wild and domestic animals. The juice of the unripe fruit is colorless but oxidizes on exposure to the air and gradually turns light brown, then blue-black, and finally jet black. It has been commonly employed by South American Indians to paint their faces and bodies for adornment and to repel insects; and to dye clothing, hammocks, utensils and basket materials a bluish-purple. The dye is indelible on the skin for 15 to 20 days. Oviedo wrote that the Indian men sometimes playfully sprinkled the women with the fresh juice mixed with perfume so that mysterious spots would appear on their bodies and alarm them. Cardenas tells of seeing the robe of a Franciscan monk which was dyed a very dark purple with this juice.
Leaves: The foliage is readily eaten by cattle.
Bark: The bark, rich in tannin, has been used for treating leather. It also yields a fiber employed in making rough clothing.
Wood: When 5 or 6 years old, saplings can be harvested for firewood, poles or fenceposts. Ten-year-old trees can be cut for timber. The wood is yellowish-white or sometimes slightly pinkish or lavender, with light, reddish-brown streaks. It is fibrous, compact, hard, elastic, strong but not durable, being subject to attack by termites, borers and fungi. It has been used for spears, rifle stocks, shoe lasts, frames for sieves, barrel hoops, ammunition chests and other boxes, packing cases, plows, tool handles, boards for flooring, door frames and cabinetwork.
Flowers: The flowers yield nectar for honeybees.
Medicinal Uses: The fruit is eaten as a remedy for jaundice in El Salvador. Ingested in quantity, it is said to act as a vermifuge. The fruit juice is given as a diuretic. It is a common practice in Puerto Rico to cut up the fruits, steep them in water until there is a little fermentation, then add flavoring and drink the infusion as a cold remedy.
Because the fruit and its infusion have unusually good keeping quality, Puerto Rican scientists investigated the possible presence of antibiotic principles and proved the existence of antibiotic activity in all parts of the fruit. In 1964, Dr. W.H. Tallent of G.D. Searle & Company in Chicago, isolated and identified 2 new antibiotic cyclopentoid monoterpenes, primarily genipic acid and secondarily genipinic acid, its carbomethoxyl derivative.
The crushed green fruit and the bark decoction are applied on venereal sores and pharyngitis. The root decoction is a strong purgative.
The bark exudes when cut a whitish, sweetish gum which is diluted and used as an eyewash and is claimed to alleviate corneal opacities. The juice expressed from the leaves is commonly given as a febrifuge in Central America. The pulverized seeds are emetic and caustic. The flower decoction is taken as a tonic and febrifuge.
Superstitious Uses: Guatemalan Indians carry the fruits in their hands in the belief that this will provide protection from disease and ill-fortune.  (source - retrieved from   http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/genipap.html  on  4/3/2013)

In Genesis 1:11-13, "And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit-trees bearing fruit after their kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after their kind: and God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. (American Standard Version, ASV)[for more details, go to  www.jw.org].

View plant and fruit at,  http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/Genipa_americana.htm

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION - BOTH TRUE AND FALSE - AT  WWW.JW.ORG

 

10/19/2019 2:11 pm  #2245


Re: Scripture of the Day

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2]  DISCOURSE ON THE MISCONCEPTION WITH RESPECT 'I AM'.   With the Scripture of the Day first.

[1]  SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [69B]

Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.  16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.  1 Timothy 4:15 – 16,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Almighty God (YHWH) has given mankind amazing abilities that He did not give to the animals.  Man is able to communicate with the spoken word, read, write and understand the spoken word.  He can use these miraculous gifts to praise God, or he can use them for unworthy purposes.  As Revelation 4:11 states, [AV] “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” 

He created us with His attributes of cognitive reasoning, the ability to love, and the ability to meditate on spiritual things per Genesis 1:27, [AV] “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”   

[2]  DISCOURSE ON THE MISCONCEPTION WITH RESPECT 'I AM'

Many have a misconception with respect the use of 'I am' in the New Testament [Greek Testament] due to the false teachings of false prophets of the pagan so called Christianized doctrine of the Trinity and Duality in accordance with Matthew 7:15, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves." (American Standard Version; ASV); And are as the Bible says at 1 John 2:1, "But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of." (ASV). Their true nature is exposed at 2 Corinthians 4:4, "in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn `upon them'." (ASV).

These false prophets latch on to Exodus 3:14, "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." (ASV), and try to wrongly link it to John 8:58, "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am." (ASV) in a vain, straw grabbing attempt, to justify their false doctrines, either the Trinity or the Duality depending on which 'flavor' their particular group of false prophets have lead them to believe in without regard to reality. They willingly fail to recognize the fact that God (YHWH) the Father, and the Son of God, Jesus (Yeshua) are two distinct individuals when even the terms father and son should tell them that, and the Bible makes this distinction quite clear at John 14:28, "Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you. If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I." (ASV), wherein Jesus (Yeshua) testifies to the fact, "for the Father is greater than I." Also, this fact is clearly borne out at 1 Corinthians 15:27, "For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him." (ASV), where we see that Almighty God (YHWH) has put everything EXCEPT himself under his Son, Jesus (Yeshua), how much clearer can the fact get that they are two distinct individuals since if they were not, this scripture would be a lie and we know that is not true.

Interestingly, the scripture they wrongly try to link to in the Old or Hebrew Testament in Hebrew reads: "I am that I am" or as it is sometimes rendered: "I will be what I will be." [source, "Gems from the New Testament" by Vivian Capel, page 56]. If this does not show their perception of reality is completely wrong, this book, "Gems from the New Testament," goes on to say, ""In the Greek Septuagint version of Exodus the statement is: "I am the Being." Here the `I am' is not part of the title as it may
appear from the way the Hebrew is translated and capitalized in many translations. It is just part of a statement describing the title `the Being.' There is thus no connection between this and the words of Jesus.

'Just a few verses farther on in John the _expression `I am' occurs again. This time it was said by the blind beggar who was healed by Jesus, but whose identity was doubted (John 9:9). As with the words of Jesus in the previous chapter it was just an affirmation of his existence and identity, and no connection with any other text can be
implied.'" [source, "Gems from the New Testament" by Vivian Capel, page 56].

This is collaborated by many other sources such as, The Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary on the Bible: "The meaning is obscured by the conventional translation I am who I am, which implies that God is the ground of his own existence. The Hebrew verb denotes, not abstract being, but manifestation in a definite character, or name;
and its form indicates habitual manifestation in past, present, or future. Since English requires a tense, the best rendering is 'I will be as I will be.'" [source, "The Interpreter's Onv-Volume Commentary on the Bible]. And by, Rabbi Jordan D. Cohen: "Moses perceived that the people would want to know which attribute of God they can expect to encounter; that is, what their experience of God will be, and what is going to happen to them. God's answer, then, leaves things open-ended. Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh is based on the future tense conjugation of the Hebrew verb meaning "to be." Often translated as "I Am Who I Am," the phrase is more accurately translated as "I Will Be That Which I Will Be." The people will come to know God through their unfolding experiences together." And Rabbi Stephen Pearce, Senior Rabbi at Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco. "God's answer in Exodus 3:14, "'Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh' -- 'I will
be what I will be' -- sent me to you" is so illusive and ambiguous that this description could not have been very believable."

These facts really blow apart what the Trinitarian and Modalist scholars have attempted to define Jesus by the name "I AM." It is claimed that God used such as a name in the Hebrew scriptures and that Jesus makes the same application to himself. We will
examine a number of verses on this matter, first considering if "I AM" is really a name of God, and then considering the where people say the name is applied to Jesus.

But let's consider every use of 'I am' in the Gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the American Standard Version, and see the following two facts, FIRST, 'I am' was a common idiomatic expression of the day and was used in many ways, none however, giving personality to it, SECOND, none of them supporting in any way the Trinitarian and Modalist scholars who could not admit that their perception was in error. The following exhaustive list was made using a special software program at a Pentacostal seminary in Puerto Rico where the administration kindly gave permission to use their equipment.

Now note, not one use herein given would give any justification for linking Exodus 3:14 to it in a vain attempt to mislead people into believing the false manmade doctrine that the Father (YHWH) and the Son, Jesus (Yeshua) are one and the same individual which of course they are not.

The number in the front is the number of scriptures from Genesis 1:1 in the American Standard Version so clearly identifying the scripture for scholarly pursuits, then the Book of the Bible is given, then the Chapter, and last the verse. Where 'I am' occurs has been highlighted as <I am> to make it easy for readers to find: [a great example of true 'Sola Scriptura,' note that John 8:58 is scripture #26440]

23963        Matthew        24        5        For many shall come in my name, saying, <I am> the Christ; and shall lead many astray.

23963        Matthew        24        5        For many shall come in my name, saying, <I am> the Christ; and shall lead many astray.

24087        Matthew        26        32        But after <I am> raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.

24116        Matthew        26        61        and said, This man said, <I am> able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

24154        Matthew        27        24        So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, <I am> innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye `to it'.

24173        Matthew        27        43        He trusteth on God; let him deliver him now, if he desireth him: for he said, <I am> the Son of God.

24216        Matthew        28        20        teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, <I am> with you always, even unto the end of the world.

24223        Mark        1        7        And he preached, saying, There cometh after me he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes <I am> not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

24227        Mark        1        11        And a voice came out of the heavens, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee <I am> well pleased.

24528        Mark        8        27        And Jesus went forth, and his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi: and on the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Who do men say that <I am>?


24530        Mark        8        29        And he asked them, But who say ye that <I am>? Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

24627        Mark        10        38        But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I drink? or to be baptized with the baptism that <I am> baptized with?

24628        Mark        10        39        And they said unto him, We are able. And Jesus said unto them, The cup that I drink ye shall drink; and with the baptism that <I am> baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

24724        Mark        13        6        Many shall come in my name, saying, <I am> `he'; and shall lead many astray.

24783        Mark        14        28        Howbeit, after <I am> raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.

24817        Mark        14        62        And Jesus said, <I am>: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.

24912        Luke        1        18        And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for <I am> an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

24913        Luke        1        19        And the angel answering said unto him, <I am> Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.

25042        Luke        3        16        John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but there cometh he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes <I am> not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and `in' fire:

25048        Luke        3        22        and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form, as a dove, upon him, and a voice came out of heaven, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee <I am> well pleased.

25116        Luke        5        8        But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for <I am> a sinful man, O Lord.

251Matthew        42        5        32        <I am> not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

25202        Luke        7        6        And Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself; for <I am> not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof:

25320        Luke        9        18        And it came to pass, as he was praying apart, the disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Who do the multitudes say that <I am>?

25322        Luke        9        20        And he said unto them, But who say ye that <I am>? And Peter answering said, The Christ of God.

25511        Luke        12        51        Think ye that <I am> come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

25551        Luke        13        32        And he said unto them, Go and say to that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third `day' <I am> perfected.

25608        Luke        15        19        <I am> no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

25610        Luke        15        21        And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: <I am> no more worthy to be called thy son.

25624        Luke        16        3        And the steward said within himself, What shall I do, seeing that my lord taketh away the stewardship from me? I have not strength to dig; to beg <I am> ashamed.

25625        Luke        16        4        <I am> resolved what to do, that, when <I am> put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

25645        Luke        16        24        And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for <I am> in anguish in this flame.

25700        Luke        18        11        The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that <I am> not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

25754        Luke        19        22        He saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that <I am> an austere man, taking up that which I laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow;

25835        Luke        21        8        And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, <I am> `he'; and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them.

25892        Luke        22        27        For which is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but <I am> in the midst of you as he that serveth.

25898        Luke        22        33        And he said unto him, Lord, with thee <I am> ready to go both to prison and to death.

25923        Luke        22        58        And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou also art `one' of them. But Peter said, Man, <I am> not.

25935        Luke        22        70        And they all said, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that <I am>.

26065        John        1        20        And he confessed, and denied not; and he confessed, <I am> not the Christ.

26066        John        1        21        And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, <I am> not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No.

26068        John        1        23        He said, <I am> the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.

26072        John        1        27        `even' he that cometh after me, the latchet of whose shoe <I am> not worthy to unloose.

26149        John        3        28        Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, <I am> not the Christ, but, that <I am> sent before him.

26149        John        3        28        Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, <I am> not the Christ, but, that <I am> sent before him.

26149        John        3        28        Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, <I am> not the Christ, but, that <I am> sent before him.

26149        John        3        28        Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, <I am> not the Christ, but, that <I am> sent before him.

26218        John        5        7        The sick man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while <I am> coming, another steppeth down before me.

26254        John        5        43        <I am> come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

26293        John        6        35        Jesus said unto them. <I am> the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

26296        John        6        38        For <I am> come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

26299        John        6        41        The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, <I am> the bread which came down out of heaven.

26300        John        6        42        And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how doth he now say, <I am> come down out of heaven?

26306        John        6        48        <I am> the bread of life.

26309        John        6        51        <I am> the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: yea and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.

26357        John        7        28        Jesus therefore cried in the temple, teaching and saying, Ye both know me, and know whence <I am>; and <I am> not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.

26363        John        7        34        Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where <I am>, ye cannot come.

26365        John        7        36        What is this word that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me; and where <I am>, ye cannot come?

26394        John        8        12        Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, <I am> the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.

26398        John        8        16        Yea and if I judge, my judgment is true; for <I am> not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

26Matthew0        John        8        18        <I am> he that beareth witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

26405        John        8        23        And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; <I am> from above: ye are of this world; <I am> not of this world.

26406        John        8        24        I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for except ye believe that <I am> `he', ye shall die in your sins.

26410        John        8        28        Jesus therefore said, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that <I am> `he', and `that' I do nothing of myself, but as the Father taught me, I speak these things.

26440        John        8        58        Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, <I am>.

26446        John        9        5        When <I am> in the world, <I am> the light of the world.

26450        John        9        9        Others said, It is he: others said, No, but he is like him. He said, <I am> `he'.

26489        John        10        7        Jesus therefore said unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, <I am> the door of the sheep.

26491        John        10        9        <I am> the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture.

26493        John        10        11        <I am> the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep.

26496        John        10        14        <I am> the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me,

26518        John        10        36        say ye of him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, <I am> `the' Son of God?

26539        John        11        15        And <I am> glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

26549        John        11        25        Jesus said unto her, <I am> the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live;

26607        John        12        26        If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where <I am>, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor.

26627        John        12        46        <I am> come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me may not abide in the darkness.

26644        John        13        13        Ye call me, Teacher, and, Lord: and ye say well; for so <I am>.

26650        John        13        19        From henceforth I tell you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that <I am> `he'.

26664        John        13        33        Little children, yet a little while <I am> with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say unto you.

26672        John        14        3        And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where <I am>, `there' ye may be also.

26675        John        14        6        Jesus saith unto him, <I am> the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.

26679        John        14        10        Believest thou not that <I am> in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works.

26680        John        14        11        Believe me that <I am> in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

26689        John        14        20        In that day ye shall know that <I am> in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

26701        John        15        1        <I am> the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

26705        John        15        5        <I am> the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.

26759        John        16        32        Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and `yet' <I am> not alone, because the Father is with me.

26770        John        17        10        and all things that are mine are thine, and thine are mine: and <I am> glorified in them.

26771        John        17        11        And <I am> no more in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we `are'.

26774        John        17        14        I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as <I am> not of the world.

26776        John        17        16        They are not of the world even as <I am> not of the world.

26784        John        17        24        Father, I desire that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where <I am>, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

26791        John        18        5        They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, <I am> `he'. And Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them.

26791        John        18        5        They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, <I am> `he'. And Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them.

26792        John        18        6        When therefore he said unto them, <I am> `he', they went backward, and fell to the ground.

26794        John        18        8        Jesus answered, I told you that <I am> `he'; if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:

26803        John        18        17        The maid therefore that kept the door saith unto Peter, Art thou also `one' of this man's disciples? He saith, <I am> not.

26811        John        18        25        Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore unto him, Art thou also `one' of his disciples? He denied, and said, <I am> not.

26823        John        18        37        Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that <I am> a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION - BOTH TRUE AND FALSE - AT  WWW.JW.ORG

 

10/21/2019 2:18 pm  #2246


Re: Scripture of the Day

COMBINATION OF [1]  THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2]  GOD'S FAVOR IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE FAVOR OF THE WORLD.     With the Scripture of the Day first.    

[1]  SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [70B]

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.  Mark 13:8,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Perilous times will be upon us at this time as testified to at 2 Timothy 3:1 – 5, [AV]  “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

But we must have strong faith as weak faith is not desirable as shown by Proverbs 24:10, [AV] “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.”  We should rest on the Lord to provide us the strength per Psalms 37:39, [AV] “But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.”   

[2]  GOD'S FAVOR IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE FAVOR OF THE WORLD:

Jesus (Yeshua) Christ said at Luke 9:23, "And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Revised Standard Version; RSV).   Now being hung on a tree or torture stake represented suffering, shame, and death in the First Century.   This was done to Christ as testified to at Acts 10:39-40, "And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest;" (RSV), but as shown, God (YHWH) raised him from the dead.

This type of death, on a torture stake was normally reserved for the worst of criminals.   So by his expression at Luke 9:23, previously quoted, Jesus (Yeshua) showed that his footstep followers, true Christians, must be prepared to accept persecution, contempt, etc. from the infidels, since they are no part of this wicked world per John 15:18-20, ""If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also." (RSV).

The stand of true Christians must set them apart from the world; therefore the world will speak abusively of them per 1 Peter 4:4, "They are surprised that you do not now join them in the same wild profligacy, and they abuse you;" (RSV); but they will give account for this per 1 Peter 4:5, "but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." (RSV).

This can take place at work, at school, on the internet, etc.  It can happen even in the family.   Nevertheless, true Christians are willing to endure the world's contempt because they no longer live for themselves.   As Christ said at Matthew 5:11-12, ""Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you." (RSV).   In reality, having God's favor is what matters.

In fact these ungodly ones will not only make false accusations and tell lies about you; they will try to side track true Christians from the central issues given at Matthew 22:37-40, "And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."" (RSV), i.e., God's (YHWH) way is love and the loving exposing of false doctrine.   Whereas the worldly wicked ones try and side tract all doing righteousness with 'red herrings' such as attempt to bog one down on BBs with secondary issues of no real importance to salvation such as speculation on when Jesus (Yeshua) threw Satan out of heaven.   Is this really important to Salvation?   No, what is important is trying to live a good life in an ungodly world without getting involved with it, and showing love to our neighbor by letting him/her know the facts about God's (YHWH's) love and warning them of wrong practices and false doctrine.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION - BOTH TRUE AND FALSE - AT  WWW.JW.ORG

 

10/23/2019 12:06 pm  #2247


Re: Scripture of the Day

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] DISCOURSE ON JAMES 2:17 THAT FAITH MOTIVATES ONE TO ACTION.   With the Scripture of the Day first.

[1]  SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [71B]

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.  11  And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.  12  And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.  1 Samuel 1:10 – 12,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Here Hannah made a vow in her prayer to give any son that she bore to the service at Shiloh, the site of true worship at that time.  She was later blessed with a son, Samuel, whom she took to Shiloh once he had been weaned (probably 3 to 5 years of age) and gave him to High Priest Eli to raise at Shiloh as a servant of the Most High, Almighty God (YHWH).  He continued to learn and progress there, and later became the prophet Samuel.  This clearly showed that nothing is above the the power of the Creator, as stated at Psalms 34:18, [AV] “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

When we are deeply stressed, we should follow Hannah’s example and pray as shown by John 14:16, [AV] “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”  We should in our prayer ask for Almighty God (YHWH) for his Holy Spirit, Acts 4:31, [AV] “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”   
   

[2]  DISCOURSE ON JAMES 2:17 THAT FAITH MOTIVATES ONE TO ACTION:

INTRODUCTION:

Let's face it James 2:17, "So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead." (Revised Standard Version; RSV) makes it quite clear that true faith will motivate one to produce works.   This fact is clearly affirmed by James 2:19-26, You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder. 20 Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works, 23 and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness"; and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead. " (RSV).

WHAT SOME SAY:

Some incorrectly claim that faith alone is all that is necessary completely overlooking the fact stated at James 2:17 that faith without works is dead; now what good is something that is dead to anyone?   This is clearly testified to at Hebrews 11:1-407, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old received divine approval. 3 By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear.  4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he received approval as righteous, God bearing witness by accepting his gifts; he died, but through his faith he is still speaking. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was attested as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, took heed and constructed an ark for the saving of his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith. 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. 13 These all died in faith, not having received what was promised, but having seen it and greeted it from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your descendants be named." 19 He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; hence, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his burial. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered abuse suffered for the Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king; for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the first-born might not touch them. 29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as if on dry land; but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given friendly welcome to the spies. 32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets-- 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated-- 38 of whom the world was not worthy--wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect." (RSV).

CONCLUSION:

It is clear as shown in James 2:17 that true faith will move/motivate us to works.    In fact, God (YHWH) sent his own beloved only begotten Son, Jesus (Yeshua) to provide a way for us which of course was his Son who became a live giving spirit per 1 Corinthians 15:45-50, " Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual which is first but the physical, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. 50 I tell you this, brethren: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." (RSV); in fact His beloved only begotten Son, Jesus (Yeshua) he appointed as the only mediator between God (YHWH), the Father, and mankind as testified to at 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus," (RSV).

Therefore as recorded at Titus 3:5-8, "he [God , YHWH] saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, 6 which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men." (RSV).   So be not mislead by those that say have faith who overlook the reality that true faith will move a true follower of God's (YHWH's) Son, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ to have works.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION - BOTH TRUE AND FALSE - AT  WWW.JW.ORG

 

10/25/2019 12:54 pm  #2248


Re: Scripture of the Day

COMBINATION OF THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES - Reishi Mushrooms    With the Scripture of the Day first.

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [72B]

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.  2 Timothy 3:16 – 17, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Almighty God (YHWH) gave mankind the gift of language so they could pray to Him and give Him praise.  Psalmss 40:5, [AV] “Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us–ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.”  Which high-lights the wonderful gifts He has given mankind. 

In fact Psalmss 92:5, shows how in-depth this gifts, [AV] “O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.”  Which clearly shows His thoughts go very deep.  This same thought is amplified at Psalmss 139:17, [AV] “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!”   
   
THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES - Reishi Mushrooms

Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the Ganoderma lucidum, Reishi Mushrooms

Abundance: rare
What: mushroom
How: tea, tincture 
Where: woods, pine stumps, oak trees, wood duff 
When: spring, summer, fall 
Nutritional Value: very medicinal
Dangers: normal mushroom cautions apply

WARNIMG. COLLECTING MUSHROOM REQUIRES 100% CERTAINTY. WWW.FORAGINGTEXAS.COM NOR ANYONE ELSE ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR IDENTIFICATION ERRORS BY ANY READERS.

The only public lands you can legally harvest mushrooms are National forests and grasslands.

Reishi mushrooms abound throughout the wooded areas of Texas. Most commonly found growing at the base of dead pine tree stumps, they will also be seen poking up through the pine needles and wood duff of forest floors. Dying hardwood trees such as oaks, sweetgums, elms and locusts are also common homes for these shiny, red mushrooms. Spores of Reishi are brown so make spore prints on white paper. These are hard, woody mushrooms. Originally from the tropics, look for them during hot weather though old, dry, unusable ones can be found all year long. 

Being polypores, these mushrooms do not have any gills on their underside. Instead, the bottom of fresh Reishi mushrooms will appear white and smooth, but upon closer inspection/magnification many tiny holes/pores will be seen. This mushroom, especially when growing from the forest floor, will often be kidney-shaped with the stem located at the center of the back/non-curved edge of the mushroom. When growing directly from a dead/dying tree Reishi mushrooms will grow flush off the tree bark and be fan shaped, usually with no stem. The topside of Reishi while be a shiny red, looking as if it were coated with a varnish, while the bottom will be white. There may occasionally be layers of red or white in between the top and bottom. The stems, when present, will be the same red as the top of the Reishi.

The medicinal benefits of this mushroom are almost legendary. It contains compounds that function as anti-virals, anti-tumor and anti-cancer, antibiotics, immune system stimulants, respiratory aids, antioxidants, anti-aging and more. The traditional method to consume these mushrooms is to grind dried Reishi into a fine powder which is then used to make a tea or added to coffee. Once dried, these mushrooms are very tough and hard to grind so a good mortar and pestle are needed or a very powerful coffee grinder.

Another way to extract the medicinal properties of these mushrooms is by making an alcohol tincture. Shredded Reishi are soaked in vodka or other 100-proof alcohol. Half-fill a jar with chopped/shredded Reishi then add enough vodka to cover the mushrooms with 1" alcohol above the Reishi. Tightly cap then vigorously shake the bottle. Shake it 1-2 times a day for six weeks then strain out any mushrooms solids. Place the filtered tincture in a colored, stoppered bottle and store in a cool, dark place. Traditionally, 3-5 drops of this tincture would be taken daily, though do not consider this medical advice.

Often the alcohol-extracted mushroom material was then be boiled in water to extract any water-soluble medicinal molecules. Starting with twice as much water (by weight) as mushrooms, this was boiled down to half. The decoction was allowed to cool, solids were strained out, and then added to an equal amount of the alcohol tincture. This gave a solution that was 25% alcohol which was enough to preserve it. The dosage of this solution was still 3-5 drops a day.

A comprehensive review of the medicinal properties, including many scientific journal referneces, of Reishi mushrooms can found in MycoMedicinals.

The only mimic to Reishi mushrooms are Red-Belted Brackets (Fomitopsis pinicola) which are native to Europe. Being polypores, Red-Belted Brackets are non-toxic though care should always be used when trying a new mushroom. These mushrooms produce yellow spores and grow into thick, many-layered "conks".

When identifying mushrooms always cross reference them with several books to achieve the proper level of certainty. I'm not trying to sell you books, I'm trying to help you avoid a mistake.   [sourc - retrieved from   http://www.foragingtexas.com/2012/02/reishi-mushroom.html  on  1/19/2016]

In Genesis 1:11-13, "And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit-trees bearing fruit after their kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after their kind: and God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. (American Standard Version, ASV)[for more details, go to  www.jw.org].

To view this plant, go to,  http://www.foragingtexas.com/2012/02/reishi-mushroom.html

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION - BOTH TRUE AND FALSE - AT    WWW.JW.ORG

 

10/27/2019 10:29 am  #2249


Re: Scripture of the Day

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] DISCOURSE ON MATTHEW 27:51-55. With the Scripture of the Day first.

[1]  SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [73B]

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Hebrews 11:1, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Yes, Almighty God (YHWH) is all powerful and will always do as he says.  And there is no other you can liken him to as shown at Isaiah 40:25 – 26, [AV] “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.  26  Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.”  And that his word can not fail is testified to at Joshua 23:14, [AV] “And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.”     

[2]  DISCOURSE ON MATTHEW 27:51-55

INTRODUCTION:

Matthew 27:51-56, "And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split; 52 the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe, and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!" 55 There were also many women there, looking on from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him; 56 among whom were Mary Mag'dalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zeb'edee." (RSV) has caused much speculation with respect its significance and especially with respect the so called resurrection of the deat that many speculators read into Matthew 27:52-53, "the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many." (RSV).

Many tek this to be a large scale resurrection of the dead either to life on earth and/or life in heaven, but there is little supporting evidence for either as reflected in a statement by Matthew Henry in his "Concise Commentary on The Whole Bible where he said, "The graves were opened, and many bodies of saints which slept, arose.   To whom they appeared, in what manner, and how they disappeared, we are not told; and we must not desire to be wise above what is written." [source - Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible by Matthew Henry, 17 century].

UNDUE SPECULATION BY THE UN-STEADFAST:

Yet many speculate on this scripture and desire to be wise above what is written in the Bible.   However, a heavenly resurrection at this time would have been impossible as Jesus (Yeshua) had NOT yet assended to prepare the way as the first as shown at John 20:17, "Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." (RSV), and the events recorded at Matthew 27:52-53 occurred before this time.   That when Jesus (Yeshua) later went to heaven as the first one resurrected to heaven to prepare the way for others, he was given authority over all but his Father (YHWH) by his Father (YHWH) as recorded at 1 Peter 3:22, "who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him." (RSV); and at 1 Corinthians 15:27, ""For God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "All things are put in subjection under him," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things under him." (RSV); and at Ephesians 1:20-22, "which he accomplished in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come; 22 and he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church," (RSV); and at Philipians 2:9, "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name," (RSV); and at John 5:22-23, "The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him." (RSV).

PROBABLY NO RESURRECTION:

That this was in no way a resurrection to life is clearly indicated by the parallel accounts of Mark and Luke which did NOT even mention the dead coming out of the tombs.    Surely if it had been a resurrection as many speculate this would have been a salient event much worthy of note and would have been recorded by both Mark and Luke.   However, let's look at their paraller accounts which carry nothing on it.   Mark 15:34-39, " And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "E'lo-i, E'lo-i, la'ma sabach-tha'ni?" which means, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" 35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, "Behold, he is calling Eli'jah." 36 And one ran and, filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Wait, let us see whether Eli'jah will come to take him down." 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that he thus breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" (RSV); and at Luke 23:44-47, "It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, "Certainly this man was innocent!" (RSV).   However, its complete absence clearly indicates that what occurred was not a resurrection at  all.

What could it have been then?    A newspaper article from Columbia, South America gives the most likely scenario as follows,  Here is an article from "El Tiempo", bo Bogota, Columbia, July 31, 1962 that explains what happened at Matthew 27:52-53.

"Tombs opened at Jesus' Death"

The text at Matthew 27:52-53 concerning 'the memorial tombs [that] were opened' as the result of an earthquake occurring at the time of Jesus' death has caused considerable discussion, some holding that a resurrection occurred.   However, a comparison with the text concerning the resurrection makes clear that these verses do not describe a resurrection but merely a throwing of bodies out of the tombs, similar to incidents that have taken place in more recent times, as in Ecuador in 1949 and again in Bogota, Columbia, in 1962, when 200 corpses in the cemetery were thrown out of their tombs by a violent earth tremor. [source - "El Tiempo," Bogota Columbia, July 31, 1962]

Another scenario is given by Matthew Henry as, "  I. The manner how he breathed his last (v. 50); between the third and the sixth hour, that is, between nine and twelve o'clock, as we reckon, he was nailed to the cross, and soon after the ninth hour, that is, between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, he died. That was the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, and the time when the paschal lamb was killed; and Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us and offered himself in the evening of the world a sacrifice to God of a sweet-smelling savour. It was at that time of the day, that the angel Gabriel delivered to Daniel that glorious prediction of the Messiah, Dan. ix. 21, 24, &c. And some think that from that very time when the angel spoke it, to this time when Christ died, was just seventy weeks, that is, four hundred and ninety years to a day, to an hour; as the departure of Israel out of Egypt was at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the self-same day, Exod. xii. 41.
      Two things are here noted concerning the manner of Christ's dying.
      1. That he cried with a loud voice, as before, v. 46. Now,
      (1.) This was a sign, that, after all his pains and fatigues, his life was whole in him, and nature strong. The voice of dying men is one of the first things that fails; with a panting breath and a faltering tongue, a few broken words are hardly spoken, and more hardly heard. But Christ, just before he expired, spoke like a man in his full strength, to show that his life was not forced from him, but was freely delivered by him into his Father's hands, as his own act and deed. He that had strength to cry thus when he died, could have got loose from the arrest he was under, and have bid defiance to the powers of death; but to show that by the eternal Spirit he offered himself, being the Priest as well as the Sacrifice, he cried with a loud voice.
      (2.) It was significant. This loud voice shows that he attacked our spiritual enemies with an undaunted courage, and such a bravery of resolution as bespeaks him hearty in the cause and daring in the encounter. He was now spoiling principalities and powers, and in this loud voice he did, as it were, shout for mastery, as one mighty to save, Isa. lxiii. 1. Compare with this, Isa. lxxii. 13, 14. He now bowed himself with all his might, as Samson did, when he said, Let me die with the Philistines, Judg. xvi. 30. Animamque in vulnere ponit--And lays down his life. His crying with a loud voice when he died, signified that his death should be published and proclaimed to all the world; all mankind being concerned in it, and obliged to take notice of it. Christ's loud cry was like a trumpet blown over the sacrifices.
      2. That then he yielded up the ghost. This is the usual periphrasis of dying; to show that the Son of God upon the cross did truly and properly die by the violence of the pain he was put to. His soul was separated from his body, and so his body was left really and truly dead. It was certain that he did die, for it was requisite that he should die; thus it was written, both in the close rolls of the divine counsels, and in the letters patent of the divine predictions, and therefore thus it behoved him to suffer. Death being the penalty for the breach of the first covenant (Thou shalt surely die), the Mediator of the new covenant must make atonement by means of death, otherwise no remission, Heb. ix. 15. He had undertaken to make his soul an offering for sin; and he did it, when he yielded up the ghost, and voluntarily resigned it.
      II. The miracles that attended his death. So many miracles being wrought by him in his life, we might well expect some to be wrought concerning him at his death, for his name was called Wonderful. Had he been fetched away as Elijah in a fiery chariot, that had itself been miracle enough; but, being sent for away by an ignominious cross, it was requisite that his humiliation should be attended with some signal emanations of the divine glory.
      1. Behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain. This relation is ushered in with Behold; "Turn aside, and see this great sight, and be astonished at it." Just as our Lord Jesus expired, at the time of the offering of the evening-sacrifice, and upon a solemn day, when the priests were officiating in the temple, and might themselves be eyewitnesses of it, the veil of the temple was rent by an invisible power; that veil which parted between the holy place and the most holy. They had condemned him for saying, I will destroy this temple, understanding it literally; now by this specimen of his power he let them know that, if he had pleased, he could have made his words good. In this, as in others of Christ's miracles, there was a mystery.
      (1.) It was in correspondence with the temple of Christ's body, which was now in the dissolving. This was the true temple, in which dwelt the fulness of the Godhead; when Christ cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost, and so dissolved that temple, the literal temple did, as it were, echo to that cry, and answer the stroke, by rending its veil. Note, Death is the rending of the veil of flesh which interposes between us and the holy of holies; the death of Christ was so, the death of true Christians is so.
      (2.) It signified the revealing and unfolding of the mysteries of the Old Testament. The veil of the temple was for concealment, as was that on the face of Moses, therefore it was called the veil of the covering; for it was highly penal for any person to see the furniture of the most holy place, except the High-Priest, and he but once a year, with great ceremony and through a cloud of smoke; all which signified the darkness of that dispensation; 2 Cor. iii. 13. But now, at the death of Christ, all was laid open, the mysteries were unveiled, so that now he that runs may read the meaning of them. Now we see that the mercy-seat signified Christ the great Propitiation; the pot of manna signified Christ the Bread of life. Thus we all with open face behold, as in a glass (which helps the sight, as the veil hindered it), the glory of the Lord. Our eyes see the salvation.
      (3.) It signified the uniting of Jew and Gentile, by the removing of the partition wall between them, which was the ceremonial law, by which the Jews were distinguished from all other people (as a garden enclosed), were brought near to God, while others were made to keep their distance. Christ, in his death, repealed the ceremonial law, cancelled that hand-writing of ordinances, took it out of the way, nailed it to his cross, and so broke down the middle wall of partition; and by abolishing those institutions abolished the enmity, and made in himself of twain one new man (as two rooms are made one, and that large and lightsome, by taking down the partition), so making peace, Eph. ii. 14-16. Christ died, to rend all dividing veils, and to make all his one, John xvii. 21.
      (4.) It signified the consecrating and laying open of a new and living way to God. The veil kept people off from drawing near to the most holy place, where the Shechinah was. But the rending of it signified that Christ by his death opened a way to God, [1.] For himself. This was the great day of atonement, when our Lord Jesus, as the great High-Priest, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, entered once for all into the holy place; in token of which the veil was rent, Heb. ix. 7, &c. Having offered his sacrifice in the outer court, the blood of it was now to be sprinkled upon the mercy-seat within the veil; wherefore lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; for the King of glory, the Priest of glory, shall come in. Now was he caused to draw near, and made to approach, Jer. xxx. 21. Though he did not personally ascend into the holy place not made with hands till above forty days after, yet he immediately acquired a right to enter, and had a virtual admission. [2.] For us in him: so the apostle applies it, Heb. x. 19, 20. We have boldness to enter into the holiest, by that new and living way which he has consecrated for us through the veil. He died, to bring us to God, and, in order thereunto, to rend that veil of guilt and wrath which interposed between us and him, to take away the cherubim and flaming sword, and to open the way to the tree of life. We have free access through Christ to the throne of grace, or mercy-seat, now, and to the throne of glory hereafter, Heb. iv. 16; vi. 20. The rending of the veil signified (as that ancient hymn excellently expresses it), that, when Christ had overcome the sharpness of death, he opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Nothing can obstruct or discourage our access to heaven, for the veil is rent; a door is opened in heaven, Rev. iv. 1.
      2. The earth did quake; not only mount Calvary, where Christ was crucified, but the whole land, and the adjacent countries. This earthquake signified two things.
      (1.) The horrible wickedness of Christ's crucifiers. The earth, by trembling under such a load, bore its testimony to the innocency of him that was persecuted, and against the impiety of those that persecuted him. Never did the whole creation, before, groan under such a burthen as the Son of God crucified, and the guilty wretches that crucified him. The earth quaked, as if it feared to open its mouth to receive the blood of Christ, so much more precious than that of Abel, which it had received, and was cursed for it (Gen. iv. 11, 12); and as if it fain would open its mouth, to swallow up those rebels that put him to death, as it had swallowed up Dathan and Abiram for a much less crime. When the prophet would express God's great displeasure against the wickedness of the wicked, he asks, Shall not the land tremble for this? Amos viii. 8.
      (2.) The glorious achievements of Christ's cross. This earthquake signified the mighty shock, nay, the fatal blow, now given to the devil's kingdom. So vigorous was the assault Christ now made upon the infernal powers, that (as of old, when he went out of Seir, when he marched through the field of Edom) the earth trembled, Judg. v. 4; Ps. lxviii. 7, 8. God shakes all nations, when the Desire of all nations is to come; and there is a yet once more, which perhaps refers to this shaking, Hag. ii. 6, 21.
      3. The rocks rent; the hardest and firmest part of the earth was made to feel this mighty shock. Christ had said, that if the children should cease to cry Hosanna, the stones would immediately cry out; and now, in effect, they did so, proclaiming the glory of the suffering Jesus, and themselves more sensible of the wrong done him than the hard-hearted Jews were, who yet will shortly be glad to find a hole in the rocks, and a cleft in the ragged rocks, to hide them from the face of him that sitteth on the throne. See Rev. vi. 16; Isa. ii. 21. But when God's fury is poured out like fire, the rocks are thrown down by him, Nah. i. 6. Jesus Christ is the Rock; and the rending of these rocks, signified the rending of that rock, (1.) That in the clefts of it was may be hid, as Moses in the cleft of the rock at Horeb, that there we may behold the glory of the Lord, as he did, Exod. xxxiii. 22. Christ's dove is said to be hid in the clefts of the rock (Cant. ii. 14), that is, as some make the allusion, sheltered in the wounds of our Lord Jesus, the Rock rent. (2.) That from the cleft of it rivers of living water may flow, and follow us in this wilderness, as from the rock which Moses smote (Exod. xvii. 6), and which God clave (Ps. lxxviii. 15); and that rock was Christ, 1 Cor. x. 4. When we celebrate the memorial of Christ's death, our hard and rocky hearts must be rent--the heart, and not the garments. That heart is harder than a rock, that will not yield, that will not melt, where Jesus Christ is evidently set forth crucified.
      4. The graves were opened. This matter is not related so fully as our curiosity would wish; for the scripture was not intended to gratify that; it should seem, that same earthquake that rent the rocks, opened the graves, and many bodies of saints which slept, arose. Death to the saints is but the sleep of the body, and the grave the bed it sleeps in; they awoke by the power of the Lord Jesus, and (v. 53) came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into Jerusalem, the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now here,
      (1.) We may raise many enquiries concerning it, which we cannot resolve: as, [1.] Who these saints were, that did arise. Some think, the ancient patriarchs, that were in such care to be buried in the land of Canaan, perhaps in the believing foresight of the advantage of this early resurrection. Christ had lately proved the doctrine of the resurrection from the instance of the patriarchs (ch. xxii. 32), and here was a speedy confirmation of his argument. Others think, these that arose were modern saints, such as had been Christ in the flesh, but died before him; as his father Joseph, Zecharias, Simeon, John Baptist, and others, that had been known to the disciples, while they lived, and therefore were the fitter to be witnesses to them in an apparition after. What if we should suppose that they were the martyrs, who in the Old-Testament times had sealed the truths of God with their blood, that were thus dignified and distinguished? Christ particularly points at them as his forerunners, ch. xxiii. 35. And we find (Rev. xx. 4, 5), that those who were beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, arose before the rest of the dead. Sufferers with Christ shall first reign with him. [2.] It is uncertain whether (as some think) they arose to life, now at the death of Christ, and disposed of themselves elsewhere, but did not go into the city till after his resurrection; or whether (as others think), though their sepulchres (which the Pharisees had built and varnished, ch. xxiii. 29), and so made remarkable, were shattered now by the earthquake (so little did God regard that hypocritical respect), yet they did not revive and rise till after the resurrection; only, for brevity-sake, it is mentioned here, upon the mention of the opening of the graves, which seems more probable. [3.] Some think that they arose only to bear witness of Christ's resurrection to those to whom they appeared, and, having finished their testimony, retired to their graves again. But it is more agreeable, both to Christ's honour and theirs, to suppose, though we cannot prove, that they arose as Christ did, to die no more, and therefore ascended with him to glory. Surely on them who did partake of his first resurrection, a second death had no power. [4.] To whom they appeared (not to all the people it is certain, but to many), whether enemies or friends, in what manner they appeared, how often, what they said and did, and how they disappeared, are secret things which belong not to us; we must not covet to be wise above what is written. The relating of this matter so briefly, is a plain intimation to us, that we must not look that way for a confirmation of our faith; we have a more sure word of prophecy. See Luke xvi. 31.
      (2.) Yet we may learn many good lessons from it. [1.] That even those who lived and died before the death and resurrection of Christ, had saving benefit thereby, as well as those who have lived since; for he was the same yesterday that he is to-day, and will be for ever, Heb. xiii. 8. [2.] That Jesus Christ, by dying, conquered, disarmed, and disabled, death. These saints that arose, were the present trophies of the victory of Christ's cross over the powers of death, which he thus made a show of openly. Having by death destroyed him that had the power of death, he thus led captivity captive, and gloried in these re-taken prizes, in them fulfilling that scripture, I will ransom them from the power of the grave. [3.] That, in virtue of Christ's resurrection, the bodies of all the saints shall, in the fulness of time, rise again. This was an earnest of the general resurrection at the last day, when all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God. And perhaps Jerusalem is therefore called here the holy city, because the saints, at the general resurrection, shall enter into the new Jerusalem; which will be indeed what the other was in name and type only, the holy city, Rev. xxi. 2. [4.] That all the saints do, by the influence of Christ's death, and in conformity to it, rise from the death of sin to the life of righteousness. They are raised up with him to a divine and spiritual life; they go into the holy city, become citizens of it, have their conversation in it, and appear to many, as persons not of this world." [source - Matthew Henry's "Commentary on the Whole Bible (1721), ]

CONCLUSION:

Obviously the time of Jesus' (Yeshua's) death was a momentous occasion that even caused the pagan Roman soldiers to say as recorede at Matthew 27:54, "54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe, and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"" (RSV); and at Mark 15:39, "And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that he thus breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" (RSV); and at Luke 23:47, " Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, "Certainly this man was innocent!" (RSV).   Strange that all should record the reaction of the Roman soldiers, yet only one Matthew recorded the dead as coming out of the graves which the RSV renders as bocies , and not as resurrected ones, Matthew 27:52, "52 the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised," (RSV); and the Authorized King James renders as, "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose," (Authorized King James; AV).

So as can be seen by all reasonable ones as Matthew Henry put it, "We must not desire to be wise above what is written," which means we should not indulge in or let our minds run away with useless speculation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION - BOTH TRUE AND FALSE - AT  WWW.JW.ORG

 

10/29/2019 9:47 am  #2250


Re: Scripture of the Day

COMBINATION OF THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES - Gynostemma pentaphyllum   With the Scripture of the Day first.


[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [74B]

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:  5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.  Romans 5:2 – 5,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Yes, we must be patient, but Almighty God (YHWH) intends to bring a righteous rule to this earth as foretold at Daniel 2:44, “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”  His kingdom will be one of mercey and will endure forever quite unlike worldly nations (kingdoms) of today as shown by Psalms 145:7 – 13, [AV] “They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.  8  The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.  9  The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.  10 All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.  11  They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;  12  To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.  13  Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.”  For our part we should per Psalms 145:18, [AV] “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.”   

[2] THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES -  Gynostemma pentaphyllum

Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the Gynostemma pentaphyllum, Jiaogulan
This story from a popular Chinese newspaper reports on a study in the 1970s. The Chinese government asked scientists to research the unusually large number of centagenarians in the small mountain provinces of Guizhou, Guangxi and Shicuan . In addition to unusual longevity the researchers found low incidences of many common ailments associated with aging including, diabetes, high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s and cancer. After over 10 years of study they found one common thread, a plant the locals called “xiancao” the “immortality” plant. The villagers drank it several times a day simply because it tasted good and is naturally sweet. The researchers identified the plant as Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum).

Free radicals are one of the primary causes of aging. Anti-oxidants have been found to eliminate free radicals from the body. See our anti-oxidant link regarding research on Jiaogulan and anti-oxidants.  [sourc - retrieved from   Guangxi Ribao (Guanxi Daily News) March 4, 1972.  on  1/19/2016]
JIAOGULAN AND AGING, JIAOGULAN AND CANCER, JIAOGULAN AND YOUR HEALTH, JIAOGULAN AND YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
HOW JIAOGULAN HELPS PREVENT AGING AND ILLNESS
Jiaogulan ( gynostemma pentaphyllum) is a very unique herb which can have many positive effects on our health and will even help us to prevent aging. Many factors play a role when it comes to aging, and scientists are just beginning to appreciate that infections caused by viruses have a huge impact on aging and our general well-being. Pharmaceutical companies around the world are spending millions of dollars researching the relationship between aging and viruses
If, we can prevent infections, and boost our immune systems, we will age at a slower pace and live healthier lives. Often in the fight against infections caused by viruses and bacteria, we employ a spectrum of antibiotics or virus suppressing drugs. HIV is a perfect example of a virus which is suppressed by drugs and we treat the most common throat infections with a plethora of antibiotics. But, shouldn’t we really be asking ourselves if we are taking the right approach, and shouldn’t we be boosting our immune systems instead. Perhaps, it is time to turn to nature to help us provide a permanent solution which would allow us to focus on prevention rather than cure.
Understanding Viral Infections
Doctors often talk about that viruses can be difficult to detect. It is true and has to do with the way they reproduce. A virus is not a cell in its own right, it is a genetic code which uses our cells to reproduce.
A virus can invade a cell and not start to reproduce straight away. HIV and herpes are perfect examples of this process. They can lay dormant in a cell for a long time, and all of a sudden as the cell starts to reproduce, they switch on and start to copy their genetic code.
The virus genetic code becomes part of the host cell, and the cell now reproduces with the new genetic information. It is called the lysogenic cycle and the cells are referred to as lysogenic cells. In other words, they are cells that contain a genetic virus code and behave differently than other cells. They are reproducing complete with their original code PLUS the viral genetic code.
But viral infections do not age us, do they?
Yes, they do and we know that viruses are probably behind many diseases such as cancer and heart disease. We already know that some cancers are caused by viruses, and scientists are trying to ascertain how many more types of cancers are experienced as a result of viruses.
Some of the most common cancers such as cervical cancer are caused by one or more of 150 virus strains belonging to the Human papilloma viruses ( HPVs). Even the common Epstein Barr virus is now being linked to some stomach cancers.
However, we are not sure what switches these viruses on and what makes them turn a cell into a cancer cell.
Viruses also cause other problems which are associated with aging such as heart disease and liver health problems. Scientists even suspect that many of the other signs of aging such as eye sight problems and wrinkles may be caused by viruses.
The problem is that there are millions of viruses, and one group of virus may be made up out of thousands of virus offsprings (strains) and mutated viruses. We need to learn a lot more about viruses and what makes them mutate to lead to disease and aging.
Free Radicals and Viruses
Free radicals are atoms, or groups of atoms, with one unpaired electron or more. These electrons are always looking for a friend to pair up with and they can by doing so, cause cellular damage or damage to DNA.
This may sound very complicated, but it simply means that they may have the ability to switch on a dangerous invasive virus, or cause a harmless bacteria to act differently. This is what many scientists believe cause viruses to start to behave differently and become dangerous.
The body has its own range of weapons against free radicals called antioxidants, but we can also eat foods and use herbs to increase our body’s range of weapons against free radicals.
Herbs and Antioxidants
Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Jiaogulan) is very special in terms of it’s antioxidant benefits. Usually, we consume antioxidants in foods. This is why, for example, we are told to drink orange juice when we have a cold. Oranges are rich in antioxidants. However, the reality is that up to 90% of the antioxidants are actually lost during the digestive process.
Gynostemma works differently. Gynostemma stimulates your body to increase production of an enzyme called Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD). SOD is your own body’s most powerful antioxidant. Because it is internally produced, none of the benefit is lost during digestions.
This may explain why gynostemma has been used for many thousands of years in Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM) to combat different types of diseases. In recent studies Chinese scientists have discovered that Jiaogulan can boost a cell’s immune defense system by inhibiting a virus coping its genetic code. The rate of inhibition, rate of genetic copy, was reduced by 70% giving the body’s own system of antioxidants more of a chance to fight the virus and reduce the amount of free radicals.
How Can This Help Me to Prevent Disease?
All this talk about viruses, free radicals and antioxidants can sound like something for the ears of scientists only, but the way it works is very straight forward. If, the cells in our bodies can copy their genetic material without the interference of viruses and free radicals, they would be able to do so in a much better way.
It would result in better and healthier cells which would be less likely to carry any type of genetic material that can potentially cause disease and aging. We would have a much better chance to fight off infections and therefore live longer. The best way to explain it, would be that we would consist of better copied material which would be stronger and more disease resistant.
We should not try to suppress our immune system in all cases. Most of the time we should boost our immune system to help us fight of viruses, bacteria and free radicals. Hidden or “sneaked in” viruses cause a lot of the health problems we face today. By a herb such as Gynostemma, we can help our bodies to boost its defense system and help us to live both longer and healthier lives. Adding Gynostemma to your health routine would allow you to prevent disease rather than cure it.  [sourc - retrieved from   http://www.jiaogulan.org/jiaogulan-helps-prevent-aging-illness/  on  1/19/2016]
JIAOGULAN AND AGING, JIAOGULAN AND CANCER, JIAOGULAN AND YOUR HEALTH, JIAOGULAN AND YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
HOW JIAOGULAN HELPS PREVENT AGING AND ILLNESS
Jiaogulan ( gynostemma pentaphyllum) is a very unique herb which can have many positive effects on our health and will even help us to prevent aging. Many factors play a role when it comes to aging, and scientists are just beginning to appreciate that infections caused by viruses have a huge impact on aging and our general well-being. Pharmaceutical companies around the world are spending millions of dollars researching the relationship between aging and viruses
If, we can prevent infections, and boost our immune systems, we will age at a slower pace and live healthier lives. Often in the fight against infections caused by viruses and bacteria, we employ a spectrum of antibiotics or virus suppressing drugs. HIV is a perfect example of a virus which is suppressed by drugs and we treat the most common throat infections with a plethora of antibiotics. But, shouldn’t we really be asking ourselves if we are taking the right approach, and shouldn’t we be boosting our immune systems instead. Perhaps, it is time to turn to nature to help us provide a permanent solution which would allow us to focus on prevention rather than cure.
Understanding Viral Infections
Doctors often talk about that viruses can be difficult to detect. It is true and has to do with the way they reproduce. A virus is not a cell in its own right, it is a genetic code which uses our cells to reproduce.
A virus can invade a cell and not start to reproduce straight away. HIV and herpes are perfect examples of this process. They can lay dormant in a cell for a long time, and all of a sudden as the cell starts to reproduce, they switch on and start to copy their genetic code.
The virus genetic code becomes part of the host cell, and the cell now reproduces with the new genetic information. It is called the lysogenic cycle and the cells are referred to as lysogenic cells. In other words, they are cells that contain a genetic virus code and behave differently than other cells. They are reproducing complete with their original code PLUS the viral genetic code.
But viral infections do not age us, do they?
Yes, they do and we know that viruses are probably behind many diseases such as cancer and heart disease. We already know that some cancers are caused by viruses, and scientists are trying to ascertain how many more types of cancers are experienced as a result of viruses.
Some of the most common cancers such as cervical cancer are caused by one or more of 150 virus strains belonging to the Human papilloma viruses ( HPVs). Even the common Epstein Barr virus is now being linked to some stomach cancers.
However, we are not sure what switches these viruses on and what makes them turn a cell into a cancer cell.
Viruses also cause other problems which are associated with aging such as heart disease and liver health problems. Scientists even suspect that many of the other signs of aging such as eye sight problems and wrinkles may be caused by viruses.
The problem is that there are millions of viruses, and one group of virus may be made up out of thousands of virus offsprings (strains) and mutated viruses. We need to learn a lot more about viruses and what makes them mutate to lead to disease and aging.
Free Radicals and Viruses
Free radicals are atoms, or groups of atoms, with one unpaired electron or more. These electrons are always looking for a friend to pair up with and they can by doing so, cause cellular damage or damage to DNA.
This may sound very complicated, but it simply means that they may have the ability to switch on a dangerous invasive virus, or cause a harmless bacteria to act differently. This is what many scientists believe cause viruses to start to behave differently and become dangerous.
The body has its own range of weapons against free radicals called antioxidants, but we can also eat foods and use herbs to increase our body’s range of weapons against free radicals.
Herbs and Antioxidants
Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Jiaogulan) is very special in terms of it’s antioxidant benefits. Usually, we consume antioxidants in foods. This is why, for example, we are told to drink orange juice when we have a cold. Oranges are rich in antioxidants. However, the reality is that up to 90% of the antioxidants are actually lost during the digestive process.
Gynostemma works differently. Gynostemma stimulates your body to increase production of an enzyme called Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD). SOD is your own body’s most powerful antioxidant. Because it is internally produced, none of the benefit is lost during digestions.
This may explain why gynostemma has been used for many thousands of years in Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM) to combat different types of diseases. In recent studies Chinese scientists have discovered that Jiaogulan can boost a cell’s immune defense system by inhibiting a virus coping its genetic code. The rate of inhibition, rate of genetic copy, was reduced by 70% giving the body’s own system of antioxidants more of a chance to fight the virus and reduce the amount of free radicals.
How Can This Help Me to Prevent Disease?
All this talk about viruses, free radicals and antioxidants can sound like something for the ears of scientists only, but the way it works is very straight forward. If, the cells in our bodies can copy their genetic material without the interference of viruses and free radicals, they would be able to do so in a much better way.
It would result in better and healthier cells which would be less likely to carry any type of genetic material that can potentially cause disease and aging. We would have a much better chance to fight off infections and therefore live longer. The best way to explain it, would be that we would consist of better copied material which would be stronger and more disease resistant.
We should not try to suppress our immune system in all cases. Most of the time we should boost our immune system to help us fight of viruses, bacteria and free radicals. Hidden or “sneaked in” viruses cause a lot of the health problems we face today. By a herb such as Gynostemma, we can help our bodies to boost its defense system and help us to live both longer and healthier lives. Adding Gynostemma to your health routine would allow you to prevent disease rather than cure it.  [sourc - retrieved from   http://www.jiaogulan.org/jiaogulan-helps-prevent-aging-illness/  on  1/19/2016]

What is Jiaogulan?
 Jiaogulan (Latin name:Gynostemma pentaphyllum) is a low-lying
vine from the Cucurbiticeae family of plants. Jiaogulan is indigenous to Southern China but is now cultivated widely throughout Asia, most notably in Thailand and Vietnam.Jiaogulan is produced primarily as an herbal tea and is also available as both whole leaf
and extracted supplement.

Traditional Chinese Medicine recommends Jiaogulan as a general health tonic and in some regions of china it is called Xian Cao (the Immortality Herb) due to its association with longevity and robust health.
The plant first came to the attention of modern researchers
in the 1970’s as a result of China’s first nationwide census. Demographers noted a statistically significant higher percentage of centenarians in two small Southern provinces. The Chinese
government dispatched a team of researchers whom ultimately conducted a ten-year study.The researchers attributed the unusual longevity in those areas to the regular traditional consumption of jiaogulan tea in those areas. Following these findings,  Dr. Jialiu Liu of Guiyang Medical College conducted extensive research including human clinical studies into the plant. His research identified active ingredients in Jiaouglan that provided a broad range of health benefits, including, cardiovascular health, improved immune systems, protection from and faster recovery from oxidative stress, cancer protection and improved blood flow
resulting in better mentation and organ health. Dr. Lu authored a book with American researcher Michael Blumert extolling jiaogulan as the Herb of Immortality.
Jiaogulan was also the subject of extensive research in the 1980’s by Japanese researchers who, noting the natural sweetness of jiaogulan, hoped jiaogulan could be developed as a natural sweetener. While the project was unfruitful, Japanese researchers also compiled an impressive list of provenhealth benefits.
Today herbalists recommend jiaogulan for three main health
benefits.
1) Put your body in
the optimal state of balance –
Adaptogens are a class of herbs identified by herbalists as helping the human body maintain a state of “homeostasis”, i.e. balance. The mechanisms vary from herb to herb but primarily adaptogens work by supporting the neuroendocrine system. The neuroendocrine system is the combined systems of hormones and nervous system. Modern researchers have proclaimed jiaogulan the world’s most potent adaptogen. One theory is jiaogulan’s stimulation of Nitric
Oxide production improves the overall function of the neuroendocrine system
2) Reduce blood pressure
and improve cardiovascular health – Chinese research has proven that jiaogulan stimulates the human body to increase production of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a natural vasodilator. Increased vascular size makes it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body and reduces blood pressure. The increased blood flow also mitigates the  harm from arterial build up due to arteriosclerosis.
Jiaogulan also reduces cholesterol. Since high cholesterol is the number one cause of clogged arteries, there is a double benefit to cardiovascular health. Blood vessels are less likely to develop obstructions and, when they do occur, the impact is mitigated by increased blood vessel size.
Increased Nitric oxide production is also the reason jiaogulan is popular with endurance athletes. The increased blood vessel size increases oxygen flow which directly result sin greater endurance. This increased blood flow is also believed beneficial to sufferers of Erectile Dysfunction and to improved mentation in the elderly.
3) Fight the effects
of aging and strengthen the immune system – Most people have read about the
health benefits of antioxidants. One can hardly visit the grocery store without being bombarded by marketing messages on products touting their high antioxidant content. Marketers have gone so far as to co-op a formerly scientific measure of antioxidant called the ORAC scale. ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. It is a measure of the anti-oxidant levels in a food. Marketers engage in heated debate over whose product as the higher ORAC value.
But the reality is that most of the health benefit of antioxidants consumed in food is wasted. When we digest food only a small
percentage of the antioxidants present actually survive the digestive process and enter the blood stream where they can be distributed throughout the body and help destroy free radicals and boost the immune system.
However, there is a solution. The human body does produce
it’s own natural antioxidants, two enzymes Super-Oxide Dismutase (SOD for short) and catalase.
These internally produced antioxidants are crucial to all
animal life as they are the main mechanism of cleansing and protecting the body from free-radicals created during the metabolization of foods. Increased productions of these
internally produced antioxidants is far more effective than consumption of antioxidants because the internally produced antioxidants to not undergo digestion and are therefore 100% bioavailable.
Research proves jiaogulan increases SOD production in
humans. Researchers speculate this is the primary reason the herb is so strongly associated with longevity is Traditional Chinese Medicine. There has also been substantial research in Canada using jiaogulan to support the compromised immune systems of chemotherapy patients. This improved immunity has resulted in jiaogulan’s popularity as a immune support supplement during cold
and flu season.
Recent media attention has been focused on jiaogulan for
weight loss. Researchers in Korea have determined that jiaogulan is a potent activator of the AMPK enzyme in humans. AMPK plays a crucial role in the regulation of human metabolism. In one Korean study, obese men were given jiaogulan extract for 14 weeks. The placebo group experienced no significant change. However the jiaogulan group lost an average of 2Kg., saw reduction in their waistlines, improved body mass index and lower cholesterol levels.
Jiaogulan is a perennial and can be harvested throughout the
year. Jiaogulan Tea is produced by a three-stage process. The plant is
harvested and stems removed by hand. The plant is quickly pan dried to form the typical 5 leaf clusters of dried tea and then air dried on raised platforms with forced air. The resulting tea is simultaneously slightly bitter and slightly sweet. The tea is popular in Southern China often consumed as a substitute for tea from Camelia sinensis. Jiaogulan can also be consumed as a supplement,
in extract form, as a tincture and the raw leaves may be added directly to foods.  [sourc - retrieved from   http://www.jiaogulan.org/what-is-jiaogulan-2/  on  1/19/2016]
My investigation has uncovered a source for this plant in North America – only one source, Michigan Bulb Company, POB 4180, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025-4180, FAX 513-354-1499, www.MichiganBulb.com.  It is listed as SKU #81062, on page 8 of their Spring 2016 Catelogue.
In Genesis 1:11-13, "And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit-trees bearing fruit after their kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after their kind: and God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. (American Standard Version, ASV)[for more details, go to  www.jw.org].

To view this plant, go to, https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hspart=avg&hsimp=yhs-fh_lsonsw&type=ch.47.w7.dsp.04-02.us.avg.t12.1215tb&param1=NU9NT8MwDP0rXOpbq3zW6SGHfSIkhBAMdk6bpOu0riXJNvbvCUJItvxsv6dnd4PVBbbbtaw3m_Wi3DCGpUBU5UKuRalq2UjBt2rJRIEWunHOAsqoTC1kIKjkXDCFhBCwUS8-H-Fkzr12Zxgz0zZdQ1rSKS-FQGta4pml0iFSbpjEkmJ2wLrmnlCrFCdOSEobJTx654RCx4hqvIdf31u6wBy0D3DVomKVqKiUsLqE4M7p1fTu4-1ZH1KaC24K5nOM9-hM6A6VufZVN415NGdezPV_EefvgvtwTQW3tGB1NFlubZwz_sroOJipv-SnCtaWOYdxnEIypyHdc3dwoYV3F64uPK31bsnK3cuu3G83hEPqdHIxUQbDrCmyfG1FVV1RImGKej-c7XSLDwitXh3CNDpo819YEeic3oWLg2P8Az81&param2=browser_search_provider&param3=ch.47.w7.dsp.04-02.us.avg.t12.1215tb&p=jiaogulan+-+immortality+herb

Or in Michigan Bulb Company, Spring 2016 catalogue on page 8.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION - BOTH TRUE AND FALSE - AT  WWW.JW.ORG

 

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