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COMBINATION OF THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES. With the Scripture of the Day first.
SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 118A]
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:13 – 14, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
Here it is being emphasised that dull hearers make the preaching of the gospel difficult, and even those who have some faith may be dull hearers, and slow to believe. Much is looked for from those to whom much is given. To be unskilful, denotes want of experience in the things of the gospel. Christian experience is a spiritual sense, taste, or relish of the goodness, sweetness, and excellence of the truths of the gospel. Just as is written at Philippians 1:9, [AV] “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;” showing the need for maturity.
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THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES:
Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the Mango, Mangifera Indica, which originated in India and Southeast Asia, but has spread world wide in the tropics and is the largest fruit crop in the world on the basis of tons of fruit picked.
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).
And the Mango surely is a wonderful gift to mankind from our Creator, Almighty God (YHWH), and the are many varieties of Mangoes, even more than that of Apples. The trees are Evergreen and some varieties can reach 50 feet [15 to 16 meters] high, but there are miniature varieties such as the Fairchild that only grow to about 10 feet [8 meters] high. Most varieties have a very good flavor, but there are some that are known as the turpentine Mangoes that one can hardly eat; however, goats and pigs like them. My goat, named Billy, really loved them.
However, my favorite eating varieties are the Bombay, Carrie, Hayden, Julian, and Keith. I especially like the Bombay as it is one of the very few "freestone" mangoes and yet one of the very best tasting with almost no fiber - a true delight. Most Mango varieties are NOT free stone and the flesh tends to stick very hard to the big seed in the center of the fruit.
Mangoes vary in size, shape, and color. They can be round, oblong, or kidney shaped. The trees are quite beautiful and make nice additions to any tropical landscape. The leaves are long, narrow, and a beautiful deep green, and new growth comes out in flushes.
For fruit trees, the Mango is rather fast growing with respect production of fruit with the trees usually producing fruit by the third year if the trees are grafted trees or five years if they are not.
There are two principle types of Mangoes, the Indian and the Indo-Chinese. Indian mangoes usually have brightly colored fruit, but unfortunately are susceptible to anthracnose; whereas the Indo-Chinese usually do not produce brightly colored fruit, but are resistant to anthracnose.
One sad note, some people are very allergic to Mangoes and should not eat them or touch the tree.
Most Mangoes bear heavily in alternate years and the blossoms are very susceptible to cold weather, anything below 34 degrees F. can kill the blossoms and ruin the crop production. Fortunately, Mangoes for the most part are self-fruitful so you do not need more than one tree to obtain fruit. They should always be planted in full sun and well drained soil having a pH between 5.5 and 7.5.
The Mango can either be eaten fresh, made into pulp and frozen, made into jellies and jams, into pies and Mango cobbler, and into juices. The juice is a drink very rich in vitamin C and of excellent flavor if made from sweet Mangos. This fruit is one of my favorites.
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COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] Discourse on Keeping Oneself Apart From The World. With the Scripture of the Day first.
[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 119A]
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:8, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
Almighty God (YHWH) has shown His love for mankind by providing many items for our enjoyment and for food out of love and He will judge the inhabited earth in righteousness. He will appoint His Son, Jesus (Yeshua)to accomplish this task as revealed at Acts 17:31, [AV] “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” This judgment will be a blessing for all rightfully disposed individuals as they will enjoy life in a peaceful earth without war and crime and corruption as Jesus (Yeshua) will be in charge and not some individual basically only interested in himself.
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[2] Discourse on Keeping Oneself Apart From The World:
INTRODUCTION:
Now is a very critical time and it is imperative that all footstep followers of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ keep themselves apart from the things of the world, i.e., the worldly system of wrong doing and sin. Or as Jesus (Yeshua) stated it at Mark 12:17, "And Jesus said unto them, Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's. And they marvelled greatly at him." (American Standard Version; ASV). Now just what are the world's or Caesar's things and what are the things owing to God (YHWH)? Let's find out:
THE WORLD RULERS SHOULD BE SHOWN RESPECT, BUT NOT WORSHIP:
Clearly in Romans 13:1-7 it is shown what is owed to worldly rulers, "Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the `powers' that be are ordained of God. 2 Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: 4 for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore `ye' must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience' sake. 6 For this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God's service, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute `is due'; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor." (ASV); and Titus 3:1, "Put them in mind to be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready unto every good work," (ASV); and 1 Timothy 2:1-3, "I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; 2 for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;" (ASV); and Acts 26:1-3, "And Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand, and made his defence: 2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before thee this day touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews: 3 especially because thou art expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently." (ASV).
WE SHOULD PAY OUR TAXES FOR SERVICES RENDERED:
The Bible clearly shows we should pay taxes for services rendered which of course are many, and this is made clear at Luke 20:21-25, "And they asked him, saying, Teacher, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest not the person `of any', but of a truth teachest the way of God: 22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, 24 Show me a denarius. Whose image and superscription hath it? And they said, Caesar's. 25 And he said unto them, Then render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." (ASV); and highlighted by Romans 13:7, "Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute `is due'; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor." (ASV).
TRUE CHRISTIANS SHOULD OBEY THE WORLD'S LAWS FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE IF THEY DO NOT TRANSGRESS THE WORD OF GOD (YHWH):
This is clearly shown in Romans 13:5-6, previously quoted and in 1 Peter 3:16-17, "having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing." (ASV); and at Acts 24:16, "Herein I also exercise myself to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always." (ASV).
TRUE CHRISTIAN SUBJECTION TO POLITICAL AUTHORITIES DOES NOT IGNORE SUPREME AUTHORITY OF GOD (YHWH):
As was highlighted in the introduction by a quote from Jesus (Yeshua) at Mark 12:17, "And Jesus said unto them, Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's. And they marvelled greatly at him." (ASV) we are to render our obedience first to God (YHWH), and only to worldly rulers when they do NOT demand what is only due God (YHWH). This fact was even recognized by Caliph Saladin who was a Muslim as being a fact, and reinforced by Matthew 22:21, "'Then pay Caesar what is due to Caesar, and pay God what is due to God.'" (the New English Bible; NEB); and at 1 Peter 2:13-15, "Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme; 14 or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:" (ASV).
OUR WORSHIP AND DEVOTION IS TO GOD (YHWH) AND NOT TO CAESAR:
Our worship and devotion belong to God (YHWH) and not to Caesar as shown at Psalms 66:8-9, "Bless our God, all nations; let his praise be heard far and near. He sets us in the land of the living; he keeps our feet from stumbling." (NEB); and at Revelation 7:9-10, "After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of `all' tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 and they cry with a great voice, saying, Salvation unto our God who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb." (ASV); and at Revelation 14:6-7, "And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven, having eternal good tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people; 7 and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters." (ASV).
CONCLUSION, WHEN CAESAR'S LAWS CONFLICT WITH GOD'S (YHWH'S) LAWS:
Now when the laws of the land conflict with God's (YHWH's) laws, we must obey the laws of God (YHWH) as they take precedence over all others. This is clearly shown by the example of several of the Apostles at Acts 5:27:29, "And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, We strictly charged you not to teach in this name: and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29 But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men." (ASV); and reaffirmed at Acts 5:19-20, "But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them out, and said, 20 Go ye, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life." (ASV); and by Acts 4:18-20, "And they called them, and charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye: 20 for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard." (ASV).
This was also testified to in the Old Testament [Hebrew Testament] at Daniel 3:16-17 by example, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego have answered, yea, they are saying to the king Nebuchadnezzar, `We have no need concerning this matter to answer thee 17 Lo, it is; our God whom we are serving, is able to deliver us from a burning fiery furnace; and from thy hand, O king, He doth deliver 18 And lo -- not! be it known to thee, O king, that thy gods we are not serving, and to the golden image thou hast raised up we do no obeisance.'" (Young's Literal Translation; YLT); and at Exodus 1:17-20, "And the midwives fear God, and have not done as the king of Egypt hath spoken unto them, and keep the lads alive; 18 and the king of Egypt calleth for the midwives, and saith to them, `Wherefore have ye done this thing, and keep the lads alive?' 19 And the midwives say unto Pharaoh, `Because the Hebrew women `are' not as the Egyptian women, for they `are' lively; before the midwife cometh in unto them -- they have borne!' 20 And God doth good to the midwives, and the people multiply, and are very mighty; 21 and it cometh to pass, because the midwives have feared God, that He maketh for them households;" (YLT).
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COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] Discourse on the Subject of Adultery. With the Scripture of the Day first.
[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 120A]
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. 2 Corinthians 9:15, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
Yes, Almighty God (YHWH) so loved the people on earth that John 3:16, [AV], shows, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” And 2 Corinthians 1:20, [AV] “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” So all believing in and worshipping him will receive all of his promises for mankind, and he sent His son to ensure that all believers would be freed from the imperfection of sin inherited from the first man. This is made clear at 1 John 4:9 – 10, [AV] “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
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[2] Discourse on the Subject of Adultery:
INTRODUCTION:
Today many do NOT consider adultery a major wrong, but these ones willfully forget that in the covenant, Mosaic Law, that God (YHWH), the party of the first part, concluded with Moses (Mosche) and the Israelite nation, the party of the second part, adultery was prohibited and series penalties were prescribed. This clearly shows that God (YHWH) took very seriously the principle he set forth in Genesis at Genesis 2:23-24, "and the man saith, `This `is' the `proper' step! bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh!' for this it is called Woman, for from a man hath this been taken; 24 therefore doth a man leave his father and his mother, and hath cleaved unto his wife, and they have become one flesh. " (Young's Literal Translation; YLT). Clearly showing that from the beginning God (YHWH) intended man to have one wife and stick with her and not go out and have relations with other women and for the wife to do likewise. This was emphasized by the statement, "they have become one flesh." Therefore, adultery would be willful disobedience with respect to God's (YHWH's) original purpose for mankind.
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ON ADULTERY:
What is Adultery?
Adultery, as used in the Bible, generally refers to voluntary sexual intercourse by a married person with one of the opposite gender other than one's mate, or, during the time that the Mosaic Law was in effect, any such intercourse by any man with a married or a betrothed women. Let's consider the ancient Hebrew root meaning of 'commit adultery' which is 'na'sph',' and its Koine Greek counterpart is 'moi-dheu'a' as used at Ezekiel 16:32, "A wife that committeth adultery! that taketh strangers instead of her husband!" (American Standard Version; ASV), and Matthew 5:32, "but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery." (ASV).
Of course the pagan nations around about the nation of ancient Israel did not subscribe to a high moral code and indulged freely in many cases in promiscuity as shown in the history of adultery as found in the Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend (1949, Volume 1, page 15, says, "It occurs in all parts of the world and though it is considered reprehensible by many cultures it has enjoyed a considerable popularity in all cultures and at all times." This was shown in the Bible with respect the attempted seduction of Joseph by the wife of Potiphar as recorded at Genesis 39:7-10, "And it cometh to pass after these things, that his lord's wife lifteth up her eyes unto Joseph, and saith, `Lie with me;' 8 and he refuseth, and saith unto his lord's wife, `Lo, my lord hath not known what `is' with me in the house, and all that he hath he hath given into my hand; 9 none is greater in this house than I, and he hath not withheld from me anything, except thee, because thou `art' his wife; and how shall I do this great evil? -- then have I sinned against God.' 10 And it cometh to pass at her speaking unto Joseph day `by' day, that he hath not hearkened unto her, to lie near her, to be with her;" (YLT). Historically as well as at present, adultery is generally forbidden, but penalties are seldom imposed.
God's (YHWH's) Law Separates Ancient Israel:
However God's (YHWH's) law separated Israel from the pagan nations and raised the moral status of marriage and family life to a much higher plain than that of the surrounding nations. In fact, the Seventh Commandment of the Decalogue stated in clear, unmistakable language at Exodus 20:14, "`Thou dost not commit adultery." (YLT); and at Deuteronomy 5:18, "`Thou dost not commit adultery." (YLT). This commandment was NOT done away with when Jesus (Yeshua) Christ instituted the new covenant as clearly shown at Luke 18:20, "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and mother." (ASV). Clearly showing that to present from the beginning that adultery was prohibited by God (YHWH) and went against his intended purpose for mankind.
Law Covenant:
Under the Law Covenant that God (YHWH) made with Moses (Mosche) and the ancient nation of Israel the penalty for adultery was severe; to wit, death for both guilty parties. This is recorded at Deuteronomy 22:22-24, "If a man be found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both of them die, the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away the evil from Israel. 23 If there be a damsel that is a virgin betrothed unto a husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; 24 then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them to death with stones; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbor's wife: so thou shalt put away the evil from the midst of thee." (ASV).
True Christians are not under the Mosaic Law:
While true Christians are not under the Mosaic Law, they are required to refrain from adultery. This is shown at Romans 13:8-:9, "Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." (ASV); and at Romans 2:22, "thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?" (ASV).
In teaching Bible principles, Jesus (Yeshua) raised the moral standard still higher for true Christians, his footstep followers. He broadened out the matter of adultery, saying it was not limited to sexual contact a man might have with a woman not his mate, but to wrong desire one may have for another as shown at Matthew 5:27-28, "Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." (ASV); and at 2 Peter 2:14, "They want to look at nothing else but immoral women; their appetite for sin is never satisfied. They lead weak people into a trap. Their hearts are trained to be greedy. They are under God's curse!" (The New Testament in Today's English Version; TEV).
In fact, Jesus (Yeshua) pointed out that the only scriptural grounds for divorce was fornication, Koine Greek 'por-nei'a', which is adultery and deviant sexual behavior. The remarriage of either mate who divorced on grounds other than fornication would constitute adultery. Even a single man who took such a divorced women as his wife would be guilty of adultery as testified to at Matthew 5:32, "but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery." (ASV); and Matthew 19:9, "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery." (ASV); and at Mark 10:11-12, "And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her: 12 and if she herself shall put away her husband, and marry another, she committeth adultery." (ASV); and at Luke 16:18, "Every one that putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth one that is put away from a husband committeth adultery." (ASV); and at Romans 7:2-3, "For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband. 3 So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man." (ASV).
Adultery is a Sin Against God (YHWH):
Adultery is actually a sin against God (YHWH) our creator, and this is clearly shown at Genesis 39:9, "none is greater in this house than I, and he hath not withheld from me anything, except thee, because thou `art' his wife; and how shall I do this great evil? -- then have I sinned against God.'" (YLT). This should NOT be taken lightly as God (YHWH) shall judge those guilty of adultery and deviant sex, and none who persist in such a course will per Malachi 3:5, "And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the sojourner `from his right', and fear not me, saith Jehovah of hosts." (ASV); and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, "Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." (ASV); and Hebrews 13:4, "`Let' marriage `be' had in honor among all, and `let' the bed `be' undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge." (ASV).
How true Proverbs 6:32-35, "He who committeth adultery `with' a woman lacketh heart, He is destroying his soul who doth it." (YLT). In fact, in a spiritual sense, adultery denotes unfaithfulness to God (YHWH) on the part of those who are joined to him in a covenant. Natural ancient Israel in the Law Covenant was, therefore, guilty of spiritual adultery because of deviant sex practices, including fornication/adultery, and false religious practices, some of which included sex-worship rites and the blatant disregard of the Seventh Commandment. This was brought out at Jeremiah 3:8-9, "And I saw, when, for this very cause that backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorcement, yet treacherous Judah her sister feared not; but she also went and played the harlot. 9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that the land was polluted, and she committed adultery with stones and with stocks." (ASV); and at Jeremiah 5:7-8, "How can I pardon thee? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves in troops at the harlots' houses. 8 They were as fed horses roaming at large; every one neighed after his neighbor's wife." (ASV); and at Jeremiah 9:2, "Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging-place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men." (ASV); and at Jeremiah 13:27, "I have seen thine abominations, even thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, on the hills in the field. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! thou wilt not be made clean; how long shall it yet be?" (ASV); and at Hosea 7:4, "They are all adulterers; they are as an oven heated by the baker; he ceaseth to stir `the fire', from the kneading of the dough, until it be leavened." (ASV).
CONCLUSION:
For similar reasons to those of the prophets of old, Jesus (Yeshua) denounce as adulterous the generation of the Jews of his day as testified to at Matther 12:39, "But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet:" (ASV); and at Mark 8:38, "If, then, a man is ashamed of me and of my teaching in this godliness and wicked day, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." (TEV). As James 4:4 states, "Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God." (ASV).
Clearly then, since the Nation of Ancient Israel had concluded a covenant with him, Almighty God (YHWH) clearly had every right to expect that they should live up to it, and to impose severe sanctions for its violation. This being especially so since adultery is actually a sin against him.
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COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] Discourse on the Kingdom of God. With the Scripture of the Day first.
[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 121A]
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. Revelation 12:12, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
There is an unusual large amount of trouble and agitation on earth in this period of the culmination of the end times draws ever nearer to its conclusion and the above scripture gives the root cause for it. The apostle Paul recognized that as the end times drew near there would be much consternation of the earth, and wrote a warning of things to come and how true followers of the Prince of Peace, Jesus (Yeshua) should behave. This is found at Galatians 5:16 - 26, [AV] “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” Clearly showing we should be doing the works of the spirit, and not of the flesh.
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To enjoy an online Bible study called “Follow the Christ” go to,
Your Friend in Christ Iris89
Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!
[2] Discourse on the Kingdom of God:
INTRODUCTION:
The Kingdom of God is a literal kingdom that will rule the entire earth and NOT a church or congregation, and at the present time this literal kingdom has not arrived. It is what is prayed for in the 'Lords Prayer' found at Matthew 6:6-14, "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee. 7 And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9 [b]After this manner therefore pray ye. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil [one.] 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. " (American Standard Version; ASV). This Kingdom of God is shown also at Revelation 11:15, "And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become [the kingdom] of out Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever." (ASV); and at Revelation 12:10, "And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night." (ASV). Clearly these scriptures and many others show it to be a literal kingdom and not just a fellowship of true believers in Jesus (Yeshua) Christ. So let's learn more.
WRONG CONCEPT OF THIS KINGDOM HELD BY MANY:
FIRST,
Some believe this kingdom to be as expressed by one individual, "the hope at the time; that most people who were qualified to become members of kingdoms of God (churches) did become members, and therefore they had left "the World". As soon as everybody would have left the world, and become followers of Jesus, then that would be the end of the world. Unfortunately that is far from the case at the present time." But this could never be the case as the Bible clearly showed that the true footstep followers of Jesus (Yeshua) would be few in number.
Let's consider what the Bible has to say with respect the number of true believers. First let's consider both Luke 13:24 and Matthew 7:13-14, it is in both of these that the road followed by true believers would be narrow and cramped, Luke 13:24, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." (Authorized King James Bible: AV); And Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, abroad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (AV); thereby, clearly showing few would be entering the narrow gate "which leadeth unto life." In reality, it will be difficult for even true Christians to enter as testified to at 1 Peter 4:18, "And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear." (AV). In order to enter, we must have the right sort of guide, Luke 1:79, "To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (AV). Now, if one picks the wrong group, just because it is popular or the so called 'one to belong to in a community' and not because of Bible Truths, there is an important warning given at Matthew 15:14, "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." (AV). In fact, being with the wrong group can mean you are NOT having fellowship with the Son of God, Jesus (Yeshua) as testified to at 1 John 1:6, "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not [have] the truth." (AV). This danger is made abundantly clear at Luke 12:32 when Jesus (Yeshua) spoke of his true followers as a little flock and not a large one, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (AV). Simply stated, his true followers will be relatively few in number which should cause all sincere individuals to question whether mainstream religion with its vast membership is heading for the narrow gate!
So it is clear that the idea of many; to wit, "As soon as everybody would have left the world, and become followers of Jesus, then that would be the end of the world." Is without foundation or support from the Bible.
SECOND,
Some individuals believe the following, "In those days it was an either or case; those who wanted to remain in "The World" couldn't be followers of Jesus at the same time. Compare with modern so-called Christians." But is this correct per the Word of God (YHWH), the Bible? No it is not. The standards for true Christians, true footstep followers of Jesus (Yeshua) have not changed. What has occurred is that many people and groups at the present time call themselves Christian, but are NOT true footstep followers of him whom they claim is their leader, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ. That is why Jesus (Yeshua) clearly said and his Father (YHWH) inspired the Apostle Matthew to record his words in the Bible at Matthew 7:21-27, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock: 25 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and if fell not: for it was founded upon the rock. 26 And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: 27 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof." (ASV).
Many today are of the mistaken opinion that they can worship and serve God (YHWH) in their own way, and are ignorant that they must worship and serve him in the way he has instructed them in the Bible exclusively and not necessarily as they desire. After all, it is his kingdom and he will be installing his own son, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ as its king for a period of time, and giving him full authority over all except himself as recorded at 1 Corinthians 15:22-28, "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming. 24 Then [cometh] the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be abolished is death. 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. 28 And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all." (ASV).
GOD (YHWH) IS THE KING OF ETERNITY:
God (YHWH) is the King of Eternity as clearly shown at 1 Timothy 1:17, "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, [be] honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." (ASV); and at Revelations 15:1-3, "And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having seven plagues, [which are] the last, for in them is finished the wrath of God. 2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and them that come off victorious from the beast, and from his image, and from the number of his name, standing by the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages." (ASV). This is also highlighted at Psalms 10:16, "Jehovah is King for ever and ever: The nations are perished out of his land." (ASV).
Therefore, as shown previously, he has full authority to install his Son, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ as the king of this kingdom for a period of time.
HIS SON WILL ADMINISTERS THE KINGDOM FOR HIS FATHER AS PROMISED:
As has been promised, his Son, Jesus (Yeshua), will administer this kingdom for him for a period as shown at Ephesians 1:9-14, "making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him 10 unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, [I say,] 11 in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will; 12 to the end that we should be unto the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ: 13 in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,-- in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of [God's] own possession, unto the praise of his glory" (ASV). This is also reaffirmed at Luke 22:29 when Jesus (Yeshua) said, "and I appoint unto you a kingdom, even as my Father appointed unto me," (ASV).
THIS KINGDOM IS A LITERAL GOVERNMENT WITH AUTHORITY:
The Bible clearly shows this to be a literal government on earth with rulers, authority, and subjects under which righteousness is to rein supreme at Psalms 2:6-8, " Yet I have set my king Upon my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee." (ASV) showing his intent on having his Son in charge of this kingdom long before his Son's incarnation on earth. In addition, this was testified to at Daniel 7:14-18, "And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. 15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. 17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, that shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever." (ASV).
And this yet to come earthly Kingdom of God (YHWH) was also foretold at Revelation 5:10, "and madest them [to be] unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon earth." (ASV); and at Revelation 12:10, "And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night." (ASV).
GOVERNMENT COMES FROM GOD (YHWH) NOT THROUGH HUMAN EFFORTS:
Some believe in error that this government will come about through the efforts of men, but this is NOT so as clearly shown by John 18:36, "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." (ASV); and at Daniel 2:44, "And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." (ASV); and at Isaiah 9:6-7, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this." (ASV).
NOT SIMPLY A STATE OF GOODNESS IN ONE'S HEART:
Some mistakenly believe this kingdom is a state of goodness in one's heart and/or congregation, but this is NOT the case as shown at Luke 17:20-21, "And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you." (ASV); and at Luke 10:10-11, " But into whatsoever city ye shall enter, and they receive you not, go out into the streets thereof and say, 11 Even the dust from your city, that cleaveth to our feet, we wipe off against you: nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh." (ASV).
KINGDOM TO BE HEAVENLY, NOT EARTHLY:
This kingdom will be heavenly, but rule over a righteous earth as revealed at 2 Timothy 4:18, "The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom [be] the glory forever and ever. Amen." (ASV); and at Matthew 13:44, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in the field; which a man found, and hid; and in his joy he goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field" (ASV); and affirmed at 1 Corinthians 15:50, "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption" (ASV).
KINGDOM WILL RULE BOTH HEAVEN AND EARTH:
This kingdom will rule both the heavens and the earth as testified to at Ephesians 1:19-21, " and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might 20 which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly [places], 21 far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:" (ASV); and at Revelation 212-4, "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven of God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God: 4 and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away." (ASV); and at 1 Corinthians 6:2-3, "Or know ye not that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world is judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more, things that pertain to this life?" (ASV).
JESUS (YESHUA) EMPOWERED BY GOD (YHWH) TO BE KING:
That Jesus (Yeshua) is empowered by his Father, God (YHWH), is shown at 1 Corinthians 15:22-28 previously quoted and at Psalms 2:4-6, " He that sitteth in the heavens will laugh: The Lord will have them in derision. 5 Then will he speak unto them in his wrath, And vex them in his sore displeasure: 6 Yet I have set my king Upon my holy hill of Zion." (ASV); and at Daniel 7:13-14, " I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." (ASV).
JESUS (YESHUA) THE PERMANENT HEIR OF THE COVENANT FOR THE KINGDOM:
Jesus (Yeshua) is the permanent heir of the covenant for the kingdom made with King David as shown at Luke 1:32-33, "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." (ASV); and at 2 Samuel 7:12-13, "When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever." (ASV); and at Acts 2:29-31, "Brethren, I may say unto you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us unto this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins he would set [one] upon his throne; 31 he foreseeing [this] spake of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he left unto Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption" (ASV).
HEAVENLY OFFICE OF KING-PRIEST PROMISED TO CHRIST:
This office has been promised to Jesus (Yeshua) as shown at Psalms 110:1-4, "Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 2 Jehovah will send forth the rod of thy strength out of Zion: Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3 Thy people offer themselves willingly In the day of thy power, in holy array: Out of the womb of the morning Thou hast the dew of thy youth. 4 Jehovah hath sworn, and will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek." (ASV); and at Hebrews 6:20 and 7:1-2, "whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek" and "For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is King of peace;" (ASV) and at Hebrews 7:15-17, "And [what we say] is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest, 16 who hath been made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life: 17 for it is witnessed [of him,] Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek." (ASV)..
THIS KINGDOM WILL MAGNIFY GOD (YHWH) AND DESTROY ALL THOSE OPPOSING HIM:
Revelations reveals at 11:17 that this kingdom will put an end to all the opposition to God (YHWH) and his Son, Jesus (Yeshua), "saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wast; because thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign." (ASV); and this is affirmed at Revelation 19:11, 16, 19-21, "And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteous he doth judge and make war., and, "16 And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written, KINGS OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" and "19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat upon the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone: 21 and the rest were killed with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, [even the sword] which came forth out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with their flesh": (ASV); and at 1 Corinthians 15:24-26, "Then [cometh] the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be abolished is death." (ASV); and at Daniel 2:44 previously quoted.
CONCLUSION:
As can be seen from the foregoing, this is to be a literal kingdom and NOT A FIGURATIVE KINGDOM. In addition, unlike the kingdoms [nations] of mankind, it will endure forever as clearly shown at 2 Peter 1:11, "for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (ASV); and at Revelation 11:15, "And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become [the kingdom] of out Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever." (ASV); and at Daniel 7:14, "And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." (ASV); and at Luke 32-33, "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." (ASV).
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COMBINATION OF THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES AND ON A SOURCE FOR A BOOK THAT TELLS WHAT THE BIBLE REALLY SAYS. With the Scripture of the Day first.
SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 122A]
And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. 2 Samuel 4:4, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
Yes, David had made a covenant with Jonathan to look after each others family, and now David set about keeping this covenant as detailed at 2 Samuel 9:1 – 11, [AV] “And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake? 2 And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. 3 And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet. 4 And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar. 5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. 6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant! 7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. 8 And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? 9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master’s son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house. 10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.” As can be seen, David upheld his end of the covenant with his friend Jonathan after his death, and we likewise should honour our covenants.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RELIGION AND THE BIBLE, GO TO,
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To enjoy an online Bible study called “Follow the Christ” go to,
Your Friend in Christ Iris89
Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!
THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES
Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the Mandarin orange, also known as the mandarin or mandarine (both lower-case), is a small citrus tree (Citrus reticulata) with fruit resembling other oranges. The mandarin orange gained its name from the bright orange robes worn by the mandarins, public officials in imperial China. When exporting began, local Mandarin oranges were named after their port of origin. Mandarin oranges are usually eaten plain or in fruit salads. Specifically reddish-orange mandarin cultivars can be marketed as tangerines, but this is not a botanical classification.
The tree is more drought-tolerant than the fruit. The mandarin is tender, and is damaged easily by cold. It can be grown in tropical and subtropical areas. Varieties
The mandarin orange is a variety of the orange family. Cultivars and crosses between the original mandarin and other citrus fruits include:
* Satsuma (Citrus unshiu), a seedless variety, of which there are over 200 cultivars, such as Owari and mikan; the source of most canned mandarins, and popular as a fresh fruit due to its ease of consumption
* Owari, a well-known Satsuma cultivar which ripens during the late fall season
* Clementine, sometimes known as a "Christmas orange", as its peak season is December; becoming the most important commercial Mandarin orange form, having displaced mikans in many markets
* Tangerine sometimes known as "Dancy Mandarin"
Tangor, also called the temple orange, a cross between the Mandarin orange and the common sweet orange; its thick rind is easy to peel and its bright orange pulp is sour-sweet and full-flavored
Canned and peeled mandarin orange segments.
The mandarin is easily peeled with the fingers, starting at the thick rind covering the depression at the top of the fruit, and can be easily split into even segments without squirting juice. This makes it convenient to eat, as utensils are not required to peel or cut the fruit.
Canned mandarin segments are peeled to remove the white pith prior to canning; otherwise, they turn bitter. Segments are peeled using a chemical process. First, the segments are scalded in hot water to loosen the skin; then they are bathed in a lye solution which digests the albedo and membranes. Finally, the segments undergo several rinses in plain water.
Biological characteristics
Citrus fruits are usually self-fertile (needing only a bee to move pollen within the same flower) or parthenocarpic (not needing pollination and therefore seedless, such as the satsuma).
Blossoms from the Dancy cultivar are one exception. They are self-sterile, and therefore must have a pollinator variety to supply pollen, and a high bee population to make a good crop. The fruit is oblate.
Medicinal uses
In traditional Chinese medicine, the dried peel of the fruit is used in the regulation of ch'i, and also used to treat abdominal distension, to enhance digestion, and to reduce phlegm. Mandarins have also been used in ayurveda (traditional medicine of India). (source - retrieved from on 1/21/2013)
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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].
Mandarin is a group name for a class of oranges with thin, loose peel, which have been dubbed "kid-glove" oranges. These are treated as members of a distinct species, Citrus reticulata Blanco. The name "tangerine" could be applied as an alternate name to the whole group, but, in the trade, is usually confined to the types with red-orange skin. In the Philippines all mandarin oranges are called naranjita. Spanish-speaking people in the American tropics call them mandarina. (source - retrieved from on 1/21/2013)
How this tree and other plants absorb water from the ground. Plants have developed an effective system to absorb, translocate, store, and utilize water. Plants contain a vast network of conduits, which consists of xylem and phloem tissues. These conducting tissues start in the roots and continue up through the trunks of trees, into the branches and then into every leaf. Phloem tissue is made of living elongated cells that are connected to one another and responsible for translocating nutrients and sugars (carbohydrates), which are produced by leaves for energy and growth. The xylem is also composed of elongated cells but once the cells are formed, they die. The walls of the xylem cells still remain intact and serve as an excellent peipline to transport water from the roots to the leaves.
The main driving force of water uptake and transport into a plant is transpiration of water from leaves through specialized openings called stomata. Heat from the sun causes the water to evaporate, setting this ‘water chain’ in motion. The evaporation creates a negative water vapor pressure. Water is pulled into the leaf to replace the water that has transpired from the leaf. This pulling of water, or tension, occurs in the xylem of the leaf. Since the xylem is a continuous water column that extends from the leaf to the roots, this negative water pressure extends into the roots and results in water uptake from the soil. [adapted from: ]
Clearly this clever water transport system shows a superior intelligence of the Creator (YHWH).
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Your Friend in Christ Iris89
Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth."Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to www.jw.org!
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COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] Discourse On What The Earliest Of Christians Believed. With the Scripture of the Day first.
[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 123A]
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
Yes, King David well understood what loyalty to Almighty God (YHWH) meant, and always sought to act in harmony with this understanding but sometimes failed. However with respect King Saul, he waited on God to remove him and stopped Abishai from killing him. The facts on this are found at 1 Samuel 26:8 - 10, [AV] “Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. 9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed, and be guiltless? 10 David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.”
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[2] Discourse On What The Earliest Of Christians Believed:
To understand what the earliest Christians believed we need to have an accurate understanding of who they were and where they had for the most part came from. The first Christians came out of Judaism and were strict monotheists. When they became Christian they maintained their monotheistic ways. Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) himself was born a Jew, he was trained by his Jewish parents in the Old Testament scriptures. His teachings were Jewish to the foundation; yes, he preached a new gospel, but he did not preach a new theology. As proof of this he accepted and quoted continually from the great test of Jewish monotheism, the divinely inspired Hebrew Text that we commonly call the Old Testament, and proclaimed " Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:" (Deuteronomy 6:4 AV). In the grammar of this verse, the word 'one' has no plural modifiers to even suggest it applied to anything other than one individual. Tom Harpur states, "As early as the 8th century, the Theologian St. John of Damascus frankly admitted what every modern critical scholar of the NT now realizes: that neither the Doctrine of the Trinity nor that of the 2 natures of Jesus Christ is explicitly set out in scripture. In fact, if you take the record as it is and avoid reading back into it the dogmatic definitions of a later age, you cannot find what is traditionally regarded as orthodox Christianity in the Bible at all." -- For Christ's Sake. And, The Encyclopedia Americana: "Christianity derived from Judaism and Judaism was strictly Unitarian [believing that God is one person]. The road which led from Jerusalem to Nicea was scarcely a straight one. Fourth century Trinitarianism did not reflect accurately early Christian teaching regarding the nature of God; it was, on the contrary, a deviation from this teaching." -- (1956), Vol. XXVII, p. 294L. And "The belief as so defined was reached only in the 4th and 5th centuries AD and hence is not explicitly and formally a biblical belief. The trinity of persons within the unity of nature is defined in terms of "person" and "nature: which are Gk philosophical terms; actually the terms do not appear in the Bible. The trinitarian definitions arose as the result of long controversies in which these terms and others such as "essense" and "substance" were erroneously applied to God by some theologians." Dictionary of the Bible by John L. McKenzie, S.J. p. 899
PART 2:
During his life, while he was gathering followers, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) never claimed to be God. Always in everything he said and did he never considered himself as being equal to God in any way, not in power, not in knowledge, and not in age. In all periods of his existence, both on earth and in Heaven, he always spoke and acted as a subordinate to his Father, Almighty God (YHWH). He was always the lessor or subordinate one to Almighty God (YHWH). After his resurrection by his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), he told Mary Magdalene to tell his disciples, "" Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (John 20:17 AV). This clearly showed that the resurrected Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) although now a mighty spirit being was still not Almighty God (YHWH). As reported by the Apostle John in the last book of the Bible, Revelation, "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 1:5-6 AV), " Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." (Revelation 3:12 AV). Also, Paul confirms his relationship to Almighty God (YHWH) " Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;" (2 Corinthians 1:3 AV).
The Apostle Paul clearly spoke of Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) and Almighty God (YHWH) as distinctly separate individuals " But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." (1 Corinthians 8:6 AV), and also shows this clear diferentiation when he mentions " I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality." (1 Timothy 5:21 AV).
Very significantly Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) tole the Jews, " For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." (John 6:38 AV), then further draws the distinction between himself and Almighty God (YHWH) by saying " And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." (Mark 10:18 AV). Also, most significant are his words "It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. 19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. 20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come." (John 8:17-20 AV). Thus Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) shows that he and his Father, God Almighty (YHWH) must be two distinct individuals as how else could there really be two witnesses?
When Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) started his ministry as he came out of the baptismal water, his Father, God Almighty (YHWH) spoke, "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:16-17 AV). God Almighty (YHWH) definitely was not saying that he was his own son, and that he approved of himself or sent himself. Absolutely not, he was saying as the supreme one (superior one) that he was approving a lessor one, his son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves). Again Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) acknowledged his Father's superiority when he said, " The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised," (Luke 4:18 AV). This was when he, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) was given authority or commission by his superior Almighty God (YHWH) and only a superior can give authority to a lessor one or subordinate.
Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) continued to make his Father's superiority very clear as shown when the mother of two of his disciples asked that her two sons sit one on the right and one on the life of Jesus when he came into his Kingdom, and Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) told her, " And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father." (Matthew 20:23 AV). If Jesus had also been Almighty God (JHWH) those positions would have been his to give, but since he was not, they were not his to give. In fact Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) own prayers are a clear proof of his subordinate position to Almighty God (YHWH), "And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." (Luke 22:41-42 AV). Obviously he was praying to someone other than himself and that someone would have to be superior to him as it would require a superior to be able to answer his prayers.
When his death as a human neared, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) cried out, "And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. 36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. 37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. 38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. 39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God." Obviously he was not deserted by himself and surely that cry was not from someone who thought himself to be God, but from one who recognized a superior. This is clearly shown by " And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost." (Luke 23:46 AV). This clearly showed beyond doubt that Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) trusted in a superior one, Almighty God (YHWH) to resurrect him. After he died, he was dead and in a tomb for parts of three days. If he were God (YHWH) the Bible would be at odds with itself as " Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction." (Habakkuk 1:12 AV) would be wrong. Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves), however, was resurrected by God (YHWH) and this is made clear at " Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it." (Acts 2:24 AV), i.e., the superior, Almighty God (YHWH) did indeed resurrect the lessor one, his son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves).
Now Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) prophecy about the end-times stated, " But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." (Mark 13:32 AV). If Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) had been the Almighty God (YHWH) he would have known the exact time for the end-times; however, since he was not, he did not know it. Likewise, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;" (Hebrews 5:8 AV). Now can we imagine that Almighty God had to learn anything; this is patently ridicules. Also, God (YHWH) does not have to obey anyone as he is the supreme one whether those deluded in believing in a trinity recognize it or not.
Many misinformed individuals point to "Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:" (John 5:18-22 AV) as support for a Trinity; however, it clearly says that the Jews wanted to kill Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) because he said "God was his Father, " but who said that he was making himself equal to God (YHWH). Definitely not Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) as he defended himself against this false accusation "The answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do" in the very next verse, see above. Thus Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) showed the Jews that he was not equal to God and thus could not act on his own initiative. Also, "I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;" (John 10:30-35 AV). Here Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) was showing the Jews they were one in purpose, but not the same entity as he made clear in what sense he was using the title God, "Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;" thus anyone trying to use this scripture to prove a trinity or even a duality is definitely coming to a wrong conclusion.
To gain a better understanding of what Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) meant by being "one" with the Father (YHWH) "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 24 Father, I will 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. 25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:21-26 AV), clearly shows as previously stated they were one in purpose just as Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) is one in purpose with his genuine follower. As an example let's consider "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." (1 Corinthians 3:6-9 AV) clearly drives home about how they are 'one' just as Apollos and Paul are 'one.' They were definitely two different individuals. It is interesting to note that Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) says "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one," he uses the word 'one' (Jewish, hen) in these cases, which proves he was speaking of unity of thought and purpose, but not two individuals existing as one entity.
PART 3
Now let's consider the thoughts of his Apostles and Disciples as the earliest Christians.
The Apostle Paul clearly believed that Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) and Almighty God (YHWH) were two distinct individuals for he wrote, " For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:" (Hebrews 9:24 AV), and it would clearly be absurd to believe an individual would appear before himself.
Likewise the Apostle Peter believed they were two separate entities and made this clearly known when speaking of the resurrection of Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves), "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him." (Acts 5:31-32 AV), and Paul also says, "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11 AV). If he was also God (YHWH), how could Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) be exalted to a superior position?
Just before being stoned to death, the martyr Stephen (a disciple of Jesus) "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul." (Acts 7:55-58 AV). Obviously Stephen saw two separate individuals in the vision.
The Apostle John clearly believed that they were too separate individuals with Al Mighty God (YHWH) being the superior as shown by "And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 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. 1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne." (Revelation 4:8-5:7 AV), it is clear here that the individual on the throne is Almighty God (YHWH) and the "Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David...stood a Lamb" clearly refer to Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves). This proves that the Apostle John did not believe in a trinity or even a "duality." An interesting commentary on this, states, "In his post-resurrection heavenly life, Jesus is portrayed as retaining a personal individuality every bit as distinct and separate from the person of God as was his in his life on earth as the terrestrial Jesus." (the "Bulletin of the John Rylands Library," Manchester, UK).
Likewise Thomas, who had to have everything proven to him, considered Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) a subordinate to Almighty God (YHWH) "The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." Of course some will say Thomas was calling Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves), Almighty God (YHWH), but he was not, but was simply recognizing as one superior to himself. The actual Koine Greek God (ho The·os'): however, some scholars have clearly viewed this expression as an exclamation of astonishment spoken to Jesus, but directed to God. Others claim the original Koine Greek requires these words to be considered as directed to Jesus. Either way, this expression "My Lord and my God" would still have to harmonize with the rest of the Bible. The record shows that Jesus had previously sent his disciples the message, " Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (John 20:17 AV), thus there is absolutely no reason for believing that Thomas thought that Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) was Almighty God (YHWH).
Clearly all of Jesus's (Jeshua or YHWH saves) Apostles and Disciples knew that he was not Almighty God (YHWH) and this is shown many times by what is written in the New Testament as previously gone over. In addition, there are many more scriptures that clearly show this and Jesus's (Jeshua or YHWH saves) subordinate position such as:
" Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I." (John 14:28 AV), " But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." (1 Corinthians 11:3 AV), " And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." (1 Corinthians 15:28 AV), " Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." (John 5:19 AV), etc. Likewise, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) clearly taught his followers not to worship him, but to worship Almighty God (YHWH) as shown, " 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." (Matthew 4:10 AV), " But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him." (John 4:23 AV), " God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24 AV), " Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (John 20:17 AV), " And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." (Luke 4:8 AV), etc. It is to be noted that Almighty God (YHWH) used Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) to create all things on earth, "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: "And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;" (Colossians 1:16-19 AV), "2 The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men." John 1:2-4 AV), " He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." (John 1:10 AV).
PART 4
Let's now consider what some of the early 'church' fathers thought. But first let's look at what "The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology," "Primitive Christianity did not have an explicit doctrine of the Trinity such as subsequently elaborated in the creeds," and what the book, "The Paganism in Our Christianity," says, "The early Christians, however, did not at first think of applying the idea [trinity] to their own faith. They paid their devotions to God [YHWH] the Father and to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and they recognised...the Holy Spirit; but there was no thought of these three being an actual Trinity, co-equal and united in One." In fact it was not so in the apostolic and sub-apostolic ages and this is clearly shown in "The Two Babylons," by Rev. Alexander Hilsop (philologos.org/__eb-ttb/default.htm (The Two Babylons on the Internet)), and in the "Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics." The New Catholic Encyclopedia states: "The formulation 'one God in three Persons' was not solidly established, certainly not fully assimilated into Christian life and its profession of faith, prior to the end of the 4th century. But it is precisely this formulation that has first claim to the title the Trinitarian dogma. Among the Apostolic Fathers, there had been nothing even remotely approaching such a mentality or perspective." - (1967), Vol. XIV, p. 299. Last but not least, "The Church of the First Three Centuries," by Alvan Lamson stated, "The modern popular doctrine of the Trinity..derives no support from the language of Justin [Martyr]: and this observation may be extended to all the ante-Nicene Fathers; that is, to all Christian writers for three centuries after the birth of Christ. It is true, they speak of the Father, Son, and...holy Spirit, but not as co-equal, not as one numerical essence, not as Three in One, in any sense now admitted by Trinitarians. The very reverse is the fact."
The Ante-Nicene Fathers were acknowledged leading religious teachers in the early centuries after the death of Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves); therefore, what they taught and believed:
Justin Martyr, died approximately 165 A.D., stated that Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) had been a created angel who is "other than the God who made all things," before coming onto the earthly scene. He said that Jesus was inferior to God and "never did anything except what the Creator...willed him to do and say."
Clement of Alexandria, died approximately 215 A.D., called God "the uncreated and imperishable and only true God." He stated that the Son "is next to the only omnipotent Father" but not equal to him.
Irenaeus, died approximately 200 A.D., stated that the prehuman Jesus had a separate existence from God and was inferior to him. He showed that Jesus is not equal to the "one true and only God," who is "supreme over all, and besides whom there is no other.
Tertullian, died approximately 230 A.D., taught the supremacy of God. He observed: "The Father is different from the Son, as he is greater; as he who begets is different from him who is begotten; he who sends, different from him who is sent." Also, he stated: "There was a time when the Son was not...Before all things God was alone." Note: "The Doctrine of The Trinity defies the universally accepted and historically always held meaning of the words for father and son. Not only does it defy the meaning of these words, it destroys their meaning! This fact is important to realize for God gave us language. It was not invented by man as the evolutionist tries to say. Thus, we are not destroying man made terms, but God-given terms! These terms, as given to us by God, require that the father exists before the son, and for the son to be brought into existence by the father. This universally accepted and recognized definition is what these terms have meant from the beginning of this creation. Therefore, who has given anyone the authority to change these God-given terms now? In fact, The Lord Jesus Christ verifies the meaning of these terms when he says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him." John 13:16 "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I." John 14:28. Here, he establishes that God is his lord, that he was sent by his lord, that God is his Father, and that his Father is greater than he himself. How could any of these declarations be true if the Doctrine of The Trinity is true? It is clearly impossible for these declarations of The Lord Jesus Christ to be true and the Doctrine of The Trinity to be True! It is easy to see that these words of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine of the Trinity are mutually exclusive and opposing views!" [from a letter of of Bro. Scaramastro one of the greatest exposers of false doctrine of all times of the Antipas Organization].
Further with respect Tertullian, The Catholic Encyclopedia also says: "In Scripture there is as yet no single term by which the Three Divine Persons are denoted together. The word [tri'as] (of which the Latin trinitas is a translation) is first found in Theophilus of Antioch about A. D. 180 . . . Shortly afterwards it appears in its Latin form of trinitas in Tertullian." However, this is no proof in itself that Tertullian taught the Trinity. The Catholic work Trinitas - A Theological Encyclopedia of the Holy Trinity, for example, notes that some of Tertullian's words were later used by others to describe the Trinity. But then it states: "But hasty conclusions cannot be drawn from usage, for he does not apply the words to Trinitarian theology."
Hippolytus, died approximately 235 A.D., stated that God is "the one God, the first and the only One, the Maker and Lord of all," who "had nothing co-eval [of the same age] with him...But he was One, alone by himself; who, willing it called into being what had no being before," one of these created individuals being the created prehuman Jesus.
Origen, died approximately 250 A.D., stated "the Father and Son are two substances...two things as to their essence," and "compared with the Father, [Jesus, the son] is a very small light."
As Alvan Lamson stated in "The Church of the First Three Centuries," see the first part of PART 4 above, the early church fathers, ante-Nicene Fathers, had no belief in a Trinity of a co-equal, not one in a numerical essence, nor not one as Three in One. They were basically monotheists in belief the same as Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) and his Apostles and Disciples. However, the further in the stream of time from Jesus and his Apostles and Disciples the more divergence from the original beliefs became the beliefs of many so called Christians. Or in other words the greater became the variance from the proclaimed " Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:" (Deuteronomy 6:4 AV). This degeneration from genuine beliefs taught by Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) and his contemporary followers became greater over time and culminated in an apostate church taking orders from a pagan Roman Emperor, Constantine, whose only interest was to bring religious unity in his empire so as to keep it strong. He, Emperor Constantine, called the Council of Nicea [325 A.D.] and sent out letters to all Bishops to attend, and he dictated what doctrine would become the central doctrine of this apostate church. However, one historian of the 3 century rote of this gradual drift to the God dishonoring concept gradually coming to full fruitation as follows:
"One early witness who testifies to these early developments regarding the Trinity is Gregory of Nazianzus. In the work _Epistles 58_ Gregory Nazianzus explained the absence of the Holy Spirit from the discussions about the Godhead, by stating that "the Old Testament proclaimed the Father manifestly, and the Son more hiddenly. The New [Testament] manifested the Son and suggested the deity of the Spirit. Now the Spirit himself is resident among us, and
provides a clearer explanation of himself." As late as 380, Gregory Nazianzus wrote, "to be slightly in error [about the Holy Spirit] was to be orthodox." This statement too proves that the orthodox understanding of the Holy Spirit was not "clear" until 381. As a matter
of fact, this statement further demonstrates that the church neither subscribed to nor affirmed the teaching of the Trinity until 381 C.E. Even at that point, the "details" of the Trinity still had to be worked out." (The Christian Tradition, Jaroslav Pelikan, Vol. I, p.
213. Cf. also Gregory Nazianzus--Orations 31.5).
"From a brief look at these developments, it seems warranted to conclude that the NT does not present a clear expression of the Triune Godhead. Therefore, we could reasonably conclude that neither the primitive church, nor the ante-Nicene fathers taught the Trinity.
Gregory Nazianzus even exclaimed that Scripture did not, "very clearly or very often call him [the Holy Spirit] God in so many words, as it does the Father and later on the Son" (Gregory Nazianzus, Orations 31.12). Gregory's testimony is so important because he lived at the time when the Trinity assimilated its way into Christian didache. Concerning this prominent Christian "father," Jaroslav Pleikan says: "In remarkable summary of
the controversy within the orthodox camp, composed in the same year, he [Gregory Nazianzus] declared: "Of the wise men among ourselves, some have conceived of him
[the Holy spirit] as an activity, some as a creature, some as God; and some have been uncertain which to call him . . . And therefore they neither worship him nor treat him with dishonor, but take up a neutral position." He did add, however, that "of those who onsider him to be God, some are orthodox in mind only, while others venture to be so with the lips also." It was apparently not only "careful distinctions, derived from unpractical philosophy and vain delusion" that could be blamed for this confusion, but also the undeveloped state of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit in relation to the Son in the Trinity." ( The Christian Tradition, Jaroslav Pelikan, p. 213. Cf. Gregory Nazianzus, Orations,
21.33, 31:5. Also Basil, On The Holy Spirit 3.5).
But this is another part of history that will not be further dealt with in this writing.
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COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] Discourse on Purgatory. With the Scripture of the Day first.
[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 124A]
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
Yes, King David well understood what loyalty to Almighty God (YHWH) meant, and always sought to act in harmony with this understanding but sometimes failed. However with respect King Saul, he waited on God to remove him and stopped Abishai from killing him. The facts on this are found at 1 Samuel 26:8 - 10, [AV] “Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. 9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed, and be guiltless? 10 David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.”
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[2] Discourse on Purgatory:
INTRODUCTION:
Does it exist or is it a myth? Let's examine the facts. In doing so we will first examine the Catholic Doctrine [RCC] on same as follows:
EXERT FROM THE CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA:
"Purgatory (Lat., "purgare", to make clean, to purify) in accordance with Catholic teaching is a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God's grace, are, not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions. The faith of the Church concerning purgatory is clearly expressed in the Decree of Union drawn up by the Council of Florence (Mansi, t. XXXI, col. 1031), and in the decree of the Council of Trent which (Sess. XXV) defined: "Whereas the Catholic Church, instructed by the Holy Ghost, has from the Sacred Scriptures and the ancient tradition of the Fathers taught in Councils and very recently in this Ecumenical synod (Sess. VI, cap. XXX; Sess. XXII cap.ii, iii) that there is a purgatory, and that the souls therein are helped by the suffrages of the faithful, but principally by the acceptable Sacrifice of the Altar; the Holy Synod enjoins on the Bishops that they diligently endeavor to have the sound doctrine of the Fathers in Councils regarding purgatory everywhere taught and preached, held and believed by the faithful" (Denzinger, "Enchiridon", 983). Further than this the definitions of the Church do not go, but the tradition of the Fathers and the Schoolmen must be consulted to explain the teachings of the councils, and to make clear the belief and the practices of the faithful.
Temporal Punishment
That temporal punishment is due to sin, even after the sin itself has been pardoned by God, is clearly the teaching of Scripture. God indeed brought man out of his first disobedience and gave him power to govern all things (Wis. x, 2), but still condemned him "to eat his bread in the sweat of his brow" until he returned unto dust. God forgave the incredulity of Moses and Aaron, but in punishment kept them from the "land of promise" (Num., xx, 12). The Lord took away the sin of David, but the life of the child was forfeited because David had made God's enemies blaspheme His Holy Name (II Kings, xii, 13, 14). In the New Testament as well as in the Old, almsgiving and fasting, and in general penitential acts are the real fruits of repentance (Matt., iii, 8; Luke, xvii, 3; iii, 3). The whole penitential system of the Church testifies that the voluntary assumption of penitential works has always been part of true repentance That temporal punishment is due to sin, even after the sin itself has been pardoned by God, is clearly the teaching of Scripture. God indeed brought man out of his first disobedience and gave him power to govern all things (Wis. x, 2), but still condemned
Venial Sins
All sins are not equal before God, nor dare anyone assert that the daily faults of human frailty will be punished with the same severity that is meted out to serious violation of God's law. On the other hand whosoever comes into God's presence must be perfectly perfectly pure for in the strictest sense His "eyes are too pure, to behold evil" (Hab., i, 13). For unrepented venial faults for the payment of temporal punishment due to sin at time of death, the Church has always taught the doctrine of purgatory.
So deep was this belief ingrained in our common humanity that it was accepted by the Jews, and in at least a shadowy way by the pagans, long before the coming of Christianity. ("Aeneid," VI, 735 sq.; Sophocles, "Antigone," 450 sq.)." [source = Catholic Encyclopedia]
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS:
Now let's look at what the Bible has to say on the subject. Interestingly at Psalms 145:4, "His spirit shall go forth, and he shall return into his earth: in that day all their thoughts shall perish." (Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible; DRCB); Now if this is the case, how can the souls that are "therein detained be aided by the suffrages of the faithful and principally by the acceptable sacrifice of the alter....It is the common teaching of Catholic theologians that (1) indulgences may be applied to the sourls detained in purgatory; and (2) that indulgences are available for them by way of suffrage." [source = "The Catholic Encyclopedia, NY 1911, Vol XII, pages 575, 578, 579]. And how would this concept of purgatory as put forth by the RCC harmonize with Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death. But the grace of God, life everlasting in Christ Jesus our Lord." (DRCB)? Or with Job 3:17, "There the wicked cease from tumult, and there the wearied in strength are at rest." (DRCB)?
Nor would this doctrine harmonize with Ezekiel 14:4, "Behold all souls are mine: as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, the same shall die." (DRCB) which clearly shows only two possible states. Or James 5:20, "He must know that he who causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his way shall save his soul from death and shall cover a multitude of sins." (DRCB) which clearly does not recognize the existence of an 'in-between place;' as neither does Josue 10:32-37, "And the Lord delivered Lachis into the hands of Israel, and he took it the following day, and put it to the sword, and every soul that was in it, as he had done to Lebna. 33 At that time Horam, king of Gazer, came up to succour Lachis: and Josue slew him with all his people so as to leave none alive. 34 And he passed from Lachis to Eglon, and surrounded it, 35 And took it the same day: and put to the sword all the souls that were in it, according to all that he had done to Lachis. 36 He went up also with all Israel from Eglon to Hebron, and fought against it: 37 Took it, and destroyed it with the edge of the sword: the king also thereof, and all the towns of that country, and all the souls that dwelt in it: he left not therein any remains: as he had done to Eglon, so did he also to Hebron, putting to the sword all that he found in it." (DRCB).
HOW SIN IS CLEANSED:
The Bible clearly shows sin is NOT cleansed through payment of indulgences to release someone from Purgatory; this is clearly shown at 1 John 1:7-9, "But if we walk in the light, as he also is in the light, we have fellowship one with another: And the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all iniquity (DRCB) which shows that sin is forgiven, not by the payment of indulgences, but on the basis of the shed blood of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ. And this fact is ratified by Revelation 1:5, "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth, who hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood" (DRCB); and by Ephesians 1:7, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins, according to the riches of his, grace," (DRCB); and Revelation 7:9 & 14, "After this, I saw a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and in sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands." And 14 And I said to him: My Lord, thou knowest. And he said to me: These are they who are come out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and have made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (DRCB).
CHRIST DIED ONCE SO CONTINUOUS SAYING OF MASS BRINGS NO RELIEF:
Hebrews 7:26-27 highlight that Christ died once for us not continually setting the pattern, "For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens: 27 Who needeth not daily (as the other priests) to offer sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, in offering himself." (DRCB); and this is also affirmed at Hebrews 9:26-28, "For then he ought to have suffered often from the beginning of the world. But now once, at the end of ages, he hath appeared for the destruction of sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment: 28 So also Christ was offered once to exhaust the sins of many. The second time he shall appear without sin to them that expect him unto salvation." (DRCB). And made very clear at 1 Peter 3:18, "Because Christ also died once for our sins, the just for the unjust: that he might offer us to God, being put to death indeed in the flesh, but enlivened in the spirit," (DRCB).
GOD'S (YHWH'S) GIFT OF LIFE IS FREE:
That God's (YHWH's) gift of life is free and not requiring payment of indulgences is made clear at Acts 8:18-20, "And when Simon saw that, by the imposition of the hands of the apostles, the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying: Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I shall lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said to him: 20 Keep thy money to thyself, to perish with thee: because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money." (DRCB); and affirmed at Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace you are saved through faith: and that not of yourselves, for it is the gift of God." (DRCB). And Romans 6:23 shows the wages of sin is death, "For the wages of sin is death. But the grace of God, life everlasting in Christ Jesus our Lord." (DRCB).
TESTING OF ONE'S WORTHINESS IS DURING LIFE, NOT AFTER DEATH:
Individuals will be tested with respect worthiness during life and not after death as shown at 1 Peter 1:7, "That the trial of your faith (much more precious than gold which is tried by the fire) may be found unto praise and glory and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ." (DRCB); and further testified to at Malachi 3:1-3, "Behold I send my angel, and he shall prepare the way before my face. And presently the Lord, whom you seek, and the angel of the testament, whom you desire, shall come to his temple. Behold, he cometh, saith the Lord of hosts. 2 And who shall be able to think of the day of his coming? and who shall stand to see him? for he is like a refining fire, and like the fuller's herb: 3 And he shall sit refining and cleansing the silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and shall refine them as gold, and as silver, and they shall offer sacrifices to the Lord in justice." (DRCB).
PURGATORY IS NOT EVEN MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE:
Nowhere can you find the word Purgatory in the Bible, not even in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible from which all quotes in this discourse have been taken. The Encyclopedia Britannica says, "It is impossible to point out in any writing of the first four centuries any passage which describes the state of any of the faithful departed as one of acute suffering...Still less would it be possible to show that the intermediate state was regarded by them as one in which satisfaction was made for sin." [source = The Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 th. Edition - 1907, Volume XX, page 121 ]. Even the Catholic Encyclopedia says, "There is no clear and explicit scriptural text in favour of prayers for the dead, except the above test of II Machabees" [Note, this book, II Machabees, is not a part of the legitimate Bible canon, but a part of the Apochrypha][source = The Catholic Encyclopedia, NY 1908, Volume IV, page 654 ].
NOT FROM THE BIBLE, BUT A TEACHING OF MEN:
Let's face it the doctrine of Purgatory is based on the teachings of men and is covered by 2 Corinthians 4:4, "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of unbelievers, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine unto them." (DRCB). The Catholic Encyclopedia, previously quoted in the Excerts From the Catholic Encyclopedia part of this discourse says, "That temporal punishment is due to sin, even after the sin itself has been pardoned by God, is clearly the teaching of Scripture. God indeed brought man out of his first disobedience and gave him power to govern all things (Wis. x, 2), but still condemned.... That temporal punishment is due to sin, even after the sin itself has been pardoned by God, is clearly the teaching of Scripture. God indeed brought man out of his first disobedience and gave him power to govern all things (Wis. x, 2), but still condemned" [source = The Catholic Encyclopedia ]. Clearly the words of men as nothing like this is found in the Bible as previously shown.
TRADITION MAKES VOID THE WORD OF GOD (YHWH):
Some feel their tradition is more important than the Word of God (YHWH), but the Bible clearly shows otherwise at Matthew 15:1-3 & 6-9, "Then came to him from Jerusalem scribes and Pharisees, saying: 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the ancients? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answering, said to them: Why do you also transgress the commandment of God for your tradition? For God said:" and "And he shall not honour his father or his mother: and you have made void the commandment of God for your tradition. 7 Hypocrites, well hath Isaias prophesied of you, saying: 8 This people honoureth me with their lips: but their heart is far from me. 9 And in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines and commandments of men." (DRCB); and this is warned against at Colossians 2:8, "Beware lest any man cheat you by philosophy and vain deceit: according to the tradition of men according to the elements of the world and not according to Christ." (DRCB).
CONCLUSION:
Clearly the Bible shows the doctrine of Purgatory is a teaching of men and in no way from God (YHWH). In fact, the Bible clearly shows that the hope for the dead is through a resurrection and not the paying of indulgences as made clear at John 5:28-29, "Wonder not at this: for the hour cometh wherein all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God. 29 And they that have done good things shall come forth unto the resurrection of life: but they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment." (DRCB).
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COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] Discourse on Jesus' (Yeshua's) Command, "Go and Make Disciples". With the Scripture of the Day first.
[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 125A]
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
Yes, King David well understood what loyalty to Almighty God (YHWH) meant, and always sought to act in harmony with this understanding but sometimes failed. However with respect King Saul, he waited on God to remove him and stopped Abishai from killing him. The facts on this are found at 1 Samuel 26:8 - 10, [AV] “Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. 9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed, and be guiltless? 10 David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.”
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RELIGION AND THE BIBLE, GO TO,
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2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
To enjoy an online Bible study called “Follow the Christ” go to,
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Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!
[2] Discourse on Jesus' (Yeshua's) Command, "Go and Make Disciples"
It was a spring day in Israel in 33 C.E. and Jesus (Yeshua) commanded his disciples to, per Matthew 28:18-20, "And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: 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." (American Standard Version; ASV). This was reaffirmed by his commission he gave his true followers at Matthew 24:14, "And this good news of the kingdom must be preached all over the inhabited world, for a testimony to all the heathen, and then the end will come." (The New Testament by Charles B. Williams; TNTCW).
Now some may ask by what authority did Jesus (Yeshua) issue such a commission or command and this is authority he issued it on came right from his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) as testified to at Matthew 28:18-20, as previously quoted. It is affirmed and the extent of this authority is clearly shown at 1 Corinthians 15:22-28, "Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumblingblock, and unto Gentiles foolishness; 24 but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, `are called': 27 but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; 28 and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, `yea' and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are:" (American Standard Version; ASV), and he is clearly shown as the only mediator between God (YHWH) and mankind at 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God, and also one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus." (The New English Bible; NEB).
Therefore, as we have seen his authority is both very great and very broad in that he was given authority over all except his Father (YHWH) as clearly shown at 1 Corinthians 15:27, "For the scripture says, 'God put all things under his feet.' It is clear, of course, that the words 'all things' do not include God himself, who puts all things under Christ." (The New Testament in Today's English Version; TEV
). He, Jesus (Yeshua) has authority over both his congregation and over God's (YHWH's) newly established Kingdom as shown by Colossians 1:13, "For he rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son," (TEV). And this is reaffirmed and further clarified at Revelation 11:15, "Then the seventh angle blew; and loud voices followed in heaven, crying, 'The rule of the world has passed to our Lord [YHWH] and his Christ [Yeshua], and he shall reign for ever and ever." (The Bible, A New Translation by Dr. James Moffatt, D.D., D.Litt., M.A.; JM). He has been empowered by his Father (YHWH) to bring to nothing, per 1 Ephesians 1:20-23, "which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." (The New King James Version; NKJV). His authority is not limited to only the living. He is also to the dead as testified to at Acts 10:42-43, "and he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify fully that it is he who hath been ordained by God judge of living and dead - 43 to this one do all the prophets testify, that through his name every one that is believing in him doth receive remission of sins.'" (Young's Literal Translation; YLT); and John 5:25-30, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, that an hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that have heard shall live. 26 For even as the Father has life in himself, so he has given to the Son also to have life in himself, 27 and has given him authority to execute judgment [also], because he is Son of man. 28 Wonder not at this, for an hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs shall hear his voice, 29 and shall go forth; those that have practised good, to resurrection of life, and those that have done evil, to resurrection of judgment. 30 I cannot do anything of myself; as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous, because I do not seek my will, but the will of him that has sent me." (The Darby Translation; DT).
What should we be doing now that we know Jesus (Yeshua) truly has total legitimate authority toward both the living and the dead of manking? We should be respectful and willingly obey Jesus (Yeshua) Christ's command to "go and make disciples," i.e., preach the word of God (YHWH).
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COMBINATION OF THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES. With the Scripture of the Day first.
SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 126A]
Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. Acts 15:14, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
The Apostle Luke wrote at Luke 4:43 - 44, [AV] “And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. 44 And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.” And the Apostle Matthew showed just how important this taking of the word to all people was at Matthew 24:14, [AV] “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” And Jesus (Yeshua) in his model prayer at Matthew 6:9, [AV] said, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RELIGION AND THE BIBLE, GO TO,
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2)
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5)
6)
7)
To enjoy an online Bible study called “Follow the Christ” go to,
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Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!
THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES:
Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) as provided for mankind, specifically the Amaranthus Spp., Pigweed.
Pigweed is an annual great leafy green vegetable that many gardeners love to hate as it tends to show up in gardens uninvited. This wild edible can be a beneficial weed as well as a companion plant serving as a trap for leaf miners and some other pests; also, it tends to shelter ground beetles (which prey upon insect pests) and breaks up hard soil for more delicate neighboring plants. Because of its valuable nutrition, some farmers grow amaranth today.
Distinguishing Features: The stem of the pigweed is what makes this plant so distinctive. Stems are erect, and can grow anywhere from 10 cm - 2 m high, but usually 50 - 90 cm, simple or branched, lower part thick and smooth, upper part usually rough with dense short hair, greenish to slightly reddish but usually red near the roots.
Flowers: The flowers are small, green and crowded into coarse, bristly spikes at the top of the plant. Smaller spikes are located in the leaf axils below. [sourc - retrieved from on 4/07/2016]
SPECIAL WARNING – PIGWEED IS POISONESS TO MANY ANIMALS AND SOME ALERGIC INDIVIDUALS, AND THERE ARE VARIOUS VARIETIES OF IT, SO ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS OF ANY TYPE SHOULD BE SAMPLED UNTIL PROVEN SAFE. HERE IS THE DATA ON THAT:
{{THIS PAGE CONTAINS INFORMATION REGARDING A PLANT "KNOWN TO BE POISONOUS" TO GOATS AS WELL AS OTHER ANIMALS. THIS INFORMATION WAS RESEARCHED FROM VARIOUS RESOURCES. PLEASE NOTE, THAT THE AUTHOR IS NOT A BOTANIST OR SPECIALIST REGARDING PLANTS. THIS INFORMATION IS POSTED FOR YOUR REFERENCE AND COMPARISON PURPOSES ONLY.
ALSO KNOWN AS:
REDROOT PIGWEED
DESCRIPTION:
REDROOT PIGWEED IS A LARGE, COARSE, ANNUAL WITH RED STEMS AND SIMPLE, EGG-SHAPED, WAVY-MARGINED, ALTERNATE LEAVES. THE GREEN, INCONSPICUOUS FLOWERS ARE BORNE IN SHORT, COMPACT CLUSTERS ALONG WITH GREEN SPINES. SEEDS ARE SMALL, SHINY, AND BLACK. FIELDS, BARNYARDS, AND WASTE AREAS ARE THE FAVORITE HABITATS OF THIS WEED.
DANGEROUS PARTS OF PLANT:
ROOTS, LEAVES, STEMS.
SIGNS:
PIGWEED CONTAINS A NEPHROTOXIN THAT CAUSES KIDNEY FAILURE, AND ALSO CONTAINS SOLUBLE OXALATES AND IS CAPABLE OF ACCUMULATING NITRATES. THEREFORE, TOXICITY CAN BE DUE TO ANY COMBINATION OF THESE TOXICOSES.
ANIMALS NEED TO CONSUME PIGWEED IN FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT QUANTITIES OVER SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE SIGNS APPEAR. TYPICALLY, ONSET OF SIGNS IS 3 TO 7 DAYS FROM THE ONSET OF INGESTION. ANIMALS WILL USUALLY AVOID PIGWEED IF THERE ARE BETTER FORAGES AVAILABLE. COMMON INCIDENCES OF POISONINGS HAVE OCCURRED WHEN SWINE HAVE BEEN RAISED IN CONFINEMENT AND ARE THEN TURNED OUT INTO A PIGWEED-INFESTED PASTURE IN THE LATE SUMMER TO EARLY FALL. UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SWINE CONSUME LARGE AMOUNTS OF THE PLANT QUICKLY, WITH 5-90% OF THE ANIMALS BECOMING AFFECTED, WITH 75% OR GREATER MORTALITY AMONG THE AFFECTED ANIMALS. MODERN MANAGEMENT PRACTICES HAVE LARGELY ELIMINATED THIS TYPE OF POISONING, BUT IT CAN STILL OCCUR. IN CATTLE, PIGWEED TOXICOSIS RESEMBLES OAK TOXICOSIS.
IN AFFECTED ANIMALS, EARLY SIGNS INCLUDE WEAKNESS, TREMBLING AND INCOORDINATION. THIS PROGRESSES TO AN INABILITY TO STAND AND PARALYSIS, YET THE ANIMALS MAY STILL BE ALERT AND ABLE TO EAT. NEAR THE END OF THE CLINICAL COURSE, THE AFFECTED ANIMALS MAY GO INTO A COMA, AND HAVE EDEMA UNDER THE SKIN OF THE ABDOMEN AND THE LEGS, HAVE A BLOATED ABDOMEN, AND DIE. THE COURSE OF THE DISEASE IS APPROXIMATELY 48 HOURS AND IS PRIMARILY CONSISTENT WITH KIDNEY FAILURE. CASES WHERE ANIMALS CONSUME SMALLER AMOUNTS OF PLANTS OVER LONG TIME PERIODS HAVE NOT BEEN WELL STUDIED, BUT THIS IS ALSO BELIEVED TO CAUSE TOXICOLOGY PROBLEMS.
TREATMENT WITH HERBICIDES MAY RENDER PIGWEED EVEN MORE PALATABLE, THEREFORE MAKE SURE ALL TREATED PLANTS ARE DEAD PRIOR TO INTRODUCING ANIMALS.
TOXICITY RATING:
HIGH. THE PLANT IS QUITE COMMON AND VERY TOXIC.
ANIMALS AFFECTED:
CATTLE AND SWINE ARE THE ANIMALS MOST LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED; GOATS AND SHEEP CAN ALSO BE POISONED.
CLASS OF SIGNS:
BREATHING PROBLEMS, TREMBLING, WEAKNESS, ABORTIONS, COMA, DEATH.
FIRST AID:
IF PIGWEED IS BEING RAPIDLY CONSUMED, LIMIT FURTHER ACCESS AND INGESTION OF THE PLANTS. A VETERINARIAN WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE CARE FOR THE DIFFERENT TOXICANTS CONTAINED IN PIGWEED, BUT THE ANIMALS MAY STILL SUCCUMB TO THE NITRATES, SOLUBLE OXALATES OR THE KIDNEY TOXIN.
SAFETY IN PREPARED FEEDS:
PIGWEED IS NOT SAFE IN HAY OR OTHER PREPARED FEEDS.
PREVENTION:
TO PREVENT PIGWEED POISONING, DO NOT ALLOW ANIMALS TO HAVE ACCESS TO AFFECTED PASTURES, ESPECIALLY IF THE ANIMALS ARE HUNGRY. SPRAY OR MOW PLANTS DOWN, MAKING SURE THEY ARE DEAD BEFORE ANIMALS ARE ON PASTURE. PROVIDE FOR SUPPLEMENTAL FEED IF PASTURE QUALITY IS POOR, SINCE WELL-FED ANIMALS ARE LESS LIKELY TO CONSUME PIGWEED.]] [SOURC - RETRIEVED FROM HTTP://WWW.GOATWORLD.COM/HEALTH/PLANTS/PIGWEED.SHTML ON 4/07/2016]
AND, ON POSSIBLE DANGERS:
[[ENTDOCSEAR, NOSE, THROAT & ALLERGY TESTING & TREATMENT
* (972) 492-6990PIGWEED INFORMATION
AMARANTHUS RETROFLEXUS
FAMILY: AMARANTHACEAE
COMMON NAMES: COMMON PIGWEED, REDROOT PIGWEED
SOURCE MATERIAL: POLLEN
NOTE: LAMB’S QUARTERS (CHENOPODIUM ALBUM) IS OCCASIONALLY ALSO CALLED PIGWEED OR SMOOTH PIGWEED BUT DOES NOT BELONG TO THE AMARANTHACEAE FAMILY. THERE IS A PARTICULAR RESEMBLANCE IN THE COTYLEDON STAGE, BUT LAMB’S QUARTERS COTYLEDONS OFTEN HAVE A MEALY GREY CAST AND THE FIRST TRUE LEAVES ARE ALTERNATE, UNLIKE THOSE OF ANY OF THE PIGWEED SPECIES.
PALMER AMARANTH (AMARANTHUS PALMERI) ALSO RESEMBLES COMMON AND SMOOTH PIGWEED, BUT THE TERMINAL PANICLES OF THIS SPECIES ARE MUCH LONGER AND NARROWER. COMMON PIGWEED IS ALSO OFTEN CONFUSED WITH OTHER PIGWEED SPECIES.
A WEED SPECIES PRODUCING POLLEN, WHICH OFTEN INDUCES HAYFEVER, ASTHMA AND CONJUNCTIVITIS IN SENSITISED INDIVIDUALS
ALLERGEN EXPOSURE
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
THE PIGWEED FAMILY CONTAINS MANY GENERA AND OVER 500 SPECIES, INCLUDING COMMON PIGWEED, POWELL AMARANTH, PROSTRATE PIGWEED, AND TUMBLE PIGWEED, THE MOST COMMON OF THESE BEING COMMON PIGWEED. PIGWEEDS ARE ANNUAL PLANTS THAT GERMINATE FROM SEEDS FROM LATE WINTER THROUGH SUMMER.
COMMON PIGWEED IS A COMMON WEED FOUND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, IN PARTICULAR IN EUROPE, THE USA, BRAZIL, KOREA, SPAIN, MOZAMBIQUE, MEXICO, HUNGARY, GERMANY, AND AFGHANISTAN.
COMMON PIGWEED IS AN ERECT SUMMER ANNUAL THAT MAY REACH 2M IN HEIGHT. THE STEMS ARE STOUT, ERECT, AND BRANCHED, USUALLY WITH SHORT HAIRS, ESPECIALLY NEAR THE UPPER PORTIONS OF THE PLANT. THE PLANT HAS A SHALLOW TAPROOT THAT IS OFTEN REDDISH IN COLOUR.
THE LEAVES ARE GREY-GREEN AND OVAL-SPEARHEAD-SHAPED, AND COVERED WITH DENSE, COARSE HAIR. RED OR LIGHT-GREEN STRIPES RUN THE LENGTH OF THE TALL MAIN STEM. SEEDS ARE IN BUSHY SPIKES AT THE TOP OF THE PLANT AND IN THE AXILS OF THE LEAVES. ALTHOUGH PIGWEED IS PRIMARILY AN UPRIGHT GROWER, IT WILL LIE NEAR THE GROUND WITH CONSTANT MOWING.
THE FLOWERS ARE GREENISH-GREY AND INCONSPICUOUS, AND ARE PRODUCED IN DENSE, COMPACT, TERMINAL PANICLES THAT ARE APPROXIMATELY 2CM WIDE AND FROM 5 TO 20CM IN LENGTH. THEY ARE MIXED WITH BRISTLE-LIKE BRACTS. SMALLER INFLORESCENCES ALSO OCCUR BETWEEN THE STEM AND THE LEAF AXILS. MALE AND FEMALE FLOWERS OCCUR ON THE SAME PLANT (I.E., THE STRUCTURE IS MONOECIOUS). COMMON PIGWEED FLOWERS IN HIGH SUMMER AND FALL, VERY SHORTLY AFTER GERMINATION, AND DEPOSITS THOUSANDS OF SEEDS DURING A SINGLE SEASON, PRODUCING OVER 100,000 SEEDS PER PLANT. THE SEEDS ARE SMALL, SHINY, AND BLACK.
ENVIRONMENT
THE COMMON PIGWEED IS FOUND IN HORTICULTURAL, NURSERY, AND AGRONOMIC CROPS, WILD LANDSCAPES, ROADSIDES, AND ALSO IN PASTURES AND FORAGES.
UNEXPECTED EXPOSURE
NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS USED A. RETROFLEXUS FOR FLOUR AND WARM DRINKS.
PIGWEED CONTAINS A NEPHROTOXIN THAT CAUSES KIDNEY FAILURE. IT ALSO CONTAINS SOLUBLE OXALATES AND IS CAPABLE OF ACCUMULATING NITRATES. TOXICITY CAN BE DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THESE CAUSES.
ALLERGENS
A 14-KDA AND A 35-KDA ALLERGEN HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, BUT THE ALLERGENS HAVE NOT YET BEEN FULLY CHARACTERISED(1,2).
POTENTIAL CROSS-REACTIVITY
AN EXTENSIVE CROSS-REACTIVITY AMONG THE DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL SPECIES OF THE GENUS COULD BE EXPECTED, AS WELL AS TO A CERTAIN DEGREE AMONG MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY AMARANTHACEAE(3) AND CHENOPODIACEAE(2). ATRIPLEX LATIFOLIA, BETA VULGARIS, SALSOLA KALI AND AMARANTHUS RETROFLEXUS WERE COMPARED WITH AN EXTRACT FROM CHENOPODIUM ALBUM BY BOTH IN VIVO AND IN VITRO METHODS. THE STUDY’S RESULTS SUGGEST THAT COMMON ALLERGENIC DETERMINANTS ARE PRESENT(2).
IN A STUDY USING A FLUORESCENT ALLERGOSORBENT TEST, SIMILAR ANTIGENIC DETERMINANTS WERE FOUND BETWEEN SHORT RAGWEED AND GIANT RAGWEED, COCKLEBUR, LAMB’S QUARTERS, ROUGH PIGWEED, MARSH ELDER, AND GOLDENROD. COCKLEBUR AND GIANT RAGWEED WERE HIGHLY POTENT IN COMPETITIVELY BINDING TO SHORT RAGWEED IGE. THE OTHER POLLENS DEMONSTRATED LOWER POTENCY OF CROSS-REACTING ANTIGENS(4).]] [SOURC - RETRIEVED FROM HTTP://ENTDOCS.COM/PIGWEED-ALLERGY/ ON 4/07/2016]
Leaves: The leaves are alternate on the stem, long-stalked, and range from dull green to shiny or reddish green. The leaf blade is oval to diamond-shaped, but is usually broader at the base. The margins of the leaves are smooth. The tips of the leaves are pointed or sometimes slightly notched.
Height: Pigweed can grow to 2 metres high.
Habitat: Pigweed is generally found in gardens, cultivated or abandoned fields.
Edible parts: Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked like spinach, sautéed, etc. Pigweed has a mild flavour and is often mixed with stronger flavoured leaves. Fresh or dried pigweed leaves can be used to make tea. The seed is very small but easy to harvest and very nutritious. The flavour is greatly improved by roasting the seed before grinding it. Pigweed seed can be ground into a powder and used as a cereal substitute, it can also be sprouted and added to salads. The seed is very small but easy to harvest and very nutritious. [sourc - retrieved from on 4/07/2016]
Uses – FROM AN ONLINE ENCLOPEDIA:
The leaves, stems and seeds of Palmer amaranth, like those of other amaranths, are edible and highly nutritious.[1][3] Palmer amaranth was once widely cultivated and eaten by Native Americans across North America, both for its abundant seeds and as a cooked or dried green vegetable.[3] Other related Amaranthus species have been grown as crops for their greens and seeds for thousands of years in Mexico, South America, the Caribbean, Africa, India, and China.
The plant can be toxic to livestock animals due to the presence of nitrates in the leaves.[4] Palmer amaranth has a tendency to absorb excess soil nitrogen, and if grown in overly fertilized soils, it can contain excessive levels of nitrates, even for humans. Like spinach and many other leafy greens, amaranth leaves also contain oxalic acid, which can be harmful to individuals with kidney problems if consumed in excess,.[5]
Because of its toxicity to livestock,[4] and scarce familiarity in the United States with the uses of amaranths as food, Palmer amaranth is rarely consumed nowadays, despite its ubiquity and resistance to drought. Unlike the grain and leaf amaranths of other regions, it has not been cultivated or further improved by recent agricultural breeding.[6] As a result, the primary economic importance of Palmer amaranth to American farmers has been as a noxious weed and a competitor to more marketable crops, rather than as a crop in its own right.[1]
Growth]
Palmer amaranth may be the most aggressive pigweed species with respect to growth rate and competitive ability.[17]Palmer amaranth or Palmer pigweed in particular is highly competitive. It will outgrow cotton and is much more efficient. Growers of crops have not been able to provide adequate moisture to offset temperatures staying above 85 °F with 112 °F heat indices. In these conditions, many herbicides break down over time and Palmer pigweed will keep thrusting. It can grow from 2-5 inches in three days or less.[18] In only a few weeks, it can grow from 12 to 18 in compared to cotton at 5 to 8 in.[19]
Spread
Pollen is most commonly spread by wind.[20] The male produces the pollen and the female plant produces the seed. The wind carries the pollen from resistant male plants to female plants. In addition, the seed is spread by traditional means, such as harvesting, lack of cleaning equipment, and the spreading of infested materials, such as manure.[21]
Notes
1. ^ to:a b c "Amaranthus palmeri". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved7 January 2016.
2. ^ "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
3. ^ to:a b [1], Native American Ethnobotany (University of Michigan — Dearborn)
4. ^ to:a b [2], Cornell University Department of Animal Science, Plants Poisonous to Animals
5. ^ [3], University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Low-Oxalate Diet(pdf)
6. ^ [4], Purdue University Center for New Crops and Plants Products: Amaranths
7. ^ Andrew Leonard, "Monsanto's bane: The evil pigweed",Salon.com, Aug. 27, 2008
8. ^ Clea Caulcutt, "‘Superweed’ explosion threatens Monsanto heartlands", France 24, Apr. 19, 2009
9. ^ Culpepper AS, Grey TL, Vencill WK, Kichler JM, Webster TM, Brown SM, et al, Glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) confirmed in Georgia. Weed Sci 54: 620–626 (2006). doi 10.1614/WS-06-001R.1
10. ^ Roberson,Roy."Herbicide resistance may change..."Southeast Farm PressN.p 8 Aug. 2006.Web.14 Oct. 2009
11. ^ Hager,Aaron and Christy Sprague."Water-hemp Biology Identicication and management."University of Illinois Extension.N.p 27 April.2001. Web. 19 Oct. 2009
12. ^ Hawkes, Logan (23 June 2014). "TDA seeking emergency approval for propazine". South West Farm Press. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
13. ^ Bunge, Jacob (22 July 2014). "EPA Denies Texas Emergency Weedkiller Request". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
14. ^ Roberson,Roy."Herbicide may change..."Southeast Farm press"N.p 8 Aug. 2006. Web. 14 Oct.2009
15. ^ Roberson,Roy."Herbicide resistance may change..."Southeast Farm Press"N.p. 8 Aug.2006. Web. 14 Oct. 2009.
16. ^ Hollis,Paul."Reduce Seed Bank"Southeast Farm Press.N.p. 18 Sep.2009. Web. 14Oct.2009
17. ^ Hollis,Paul. "Reduce seed Bank."Southeast Farm Press.N.p. 18 Sep.2009. Web. 14 Oct. 2009.
18. ^ Roberson,Roy. "Herbicide resistance may change..."Southeast Farm Press.N.p. 8 Aug. 2006. Web. 14 Oct. 2009
19. ^ Langcuster,james."Resistant pigweed: the ultimate monkey wrench." Southeast Farm Press. N.p. 14 Oct. 2009. Web. 14 Oct. 2009.
20. ^ Roberson,Roy. "Herbicide resistance may change..."Southeast Farm Press.N.p.8 Aug.2006. Web. 14 Oct.2009.
21. ^ Hollis, Paul."Reduce Seed Bank."Southeast Farm Press.N.p.18 Sep.2009. Web. 14 Oct.2009.
22. ^ Julienne Isaacs (January 20, 2015), Palmer amaranth is a looming concern: This aggressive, herbicide resistance weed has been travelling north, and may be in our fields soon(PDF) 41 (2), Grain News, retrieved 7 August 2015
[SOURC - RETRIEVED FROM ON 4/07/2016]
Herb: Pigweed
Family: Amaranthaceae (Amaranth Family, Pigweed Family)
Medicinal use of Pigweed:
A tea made from the leaves is astringent. It is used in the treatment of profuse menstruation, intestinal bleeding, diarrhoea etc. An infusion has been used to treat hoarseness.
Habitat of the herb:
A casual of cultivated land and waste places in Britain.
Edible parts of Pigweed:
Young leaves - raw or cooked as a spinach. A mild flavour, it is often mixed with stronger flavoured leaves. Very rich in iron, it is also a good source of vitamins A and C. Seed - raw or cooked. Ground into a powder and used as a cereal substitute, it can also be sprouted and added to salads. The seed is very small but easy to harvest and very nutritious. The flavour is greatly improved by roasting the seed before grinding it. It is often added to maize meal. The seed can be cooked whole, and becomes very gelatinous like this, but it is rather difficult to crush all of the small seeds in the mouth and thus some of the seed will pass right through the digestive system without being assimilated.
Other uses of the herb:
Yellow and green dyes can be obtained from the whole plant.
Propagation of Pigweed:
Seed - sow late spring in situ. An earlier sowing can be made in a greenhouse and the plants put out after the last expected frosts. Germination is usually rapid and good if the soil is warm. A drop in temperature overnight aids germination. Cuttings of growing plants root easily.
Cultivation of the herb:
A casual of cultivated land and waste places in Britain.
Known hazards of Amaranthus retroflexus:
No members of this genus are known to be poisonous, but when grown on nitrogen-rich soils they are known to concentrate nitrates in the leaves. This is especially noticeable on land where chemical fertilizers are used. Nitrates are implicated in stomach cancers, blue babies and some other health problems. It is inadvisable, therefore, to eat this plant if it is grown inorganically. [SOURC - RETRIEVED FROM ON 4 /07/2016]
NOTE: Before consuming wild plants, contact your doctor to make sure it is safe, and make positive identification in the field using a good source such as Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West. Michael Moore’s books contain an excellent glossary of medical terms, as well as maps. )
#44
Common Name: Amaranth, Pigweed,
Latin Name: Amaranthus L.
Family: Amarathaceae
Range: World Wide in some form . (This is usda’s main database for Amaranthus L., as you can see, every state, and most of Canada have Amaranth. I’ll cover some of the +50 species that grow on the North American continent. All are very useful. I’ll go through PFAF website, and finish off with Michael Moore, a website, and Carla Emery on all species. )
44(a)
Common Name: Slender Amaranth (A. blitum )
Range: All States east of the Mississippi except Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, W. Virginia, Vermont, Maine, and Mississippi – in states west of the Mississippi the species is found in Louisiana, Missouri, Texas, Utah, California, Washington, and Hawaii.
Photos:
Appearance and Habitat: A cosmopolitan weed growing on waste ground in Temperate and Tropical zones. An annual growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). It is hardy to zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf 10-Apr It is in flower in August, and the seeds ripen in September.
Warnings: None on wild plants
Edible Uses: Leaves – raw or cooked as a spinach. The leaves contain about 3.88% protein, 1.1% fat, 9.38% carbohydrate, 3.2% ash, 323mg Ca, 8.3mg Fe, they are very rich in Vitamins A & C, rich in vitamin B1. The leaves are used as a potherb in order to remove poison from the system. Seed – cooked. Used as a cereal substitute in cakes, porridge etc. Very small, about 1.2mm in diameter, but it is easy to harvest and very nutritious. The seed can be cooked whole, and becomes very gelatinous like this, but it is rather difficult to crush all of the small seeds in the mouth and thus some of the seed will pass right through the digestive system without being assimilated. An edible dye is obtained from the seed capsules.
Medicinal Uses: A fluid extract of the plant is used as an astringent internally in the treatment of ulcerated mouths and throats, externally as a wash for ulcers and sores. The juice of the roots is used externally to relieve headaches. The plant has a folk reputation for being effective in the treatment of tumours and warts.
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44(b)
Common Name: Red Amaranth, Purple Amaranth (A. cruentus )
Range: All States east of the Mississippi River excluding Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia; States west of the Mississippi River including: Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii.
Photos:
Appearance and Habitat: Original habitat is obscure, probably tropical America. An annual growing to 2 m (6ft 7in). It is frost tender. It is in flower from Jul to September, and the seeds ripen from Aug to September.
Warnings: None on wild plants
Edible Uses: Leaves – cooked as a spinach. The mild-flavoured leaves are rich in vitamins and minerals. Seed – very small but easy to harvest and very nutritious. They are eaten cooked or ground into a powder and used for making cakes etc. They can also be sprouted and used in salads. The seed can be cooked whole, and becomes very gelatinous like this, but it is rather difficult to crush all of the small seeds in the mouth and thus some of the seed will pass right through the digestive system without being assimilated. The flowers are used as a food colouring in ceremonial maize bread.
Medicinal Uses: None
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44(c)
Common Name: Slim Amaranth, Rough Pigweed (A. hybridus)Range: All states with the exception of Alaska, Wyoming, Utah
Photos:
Appearance and Habitat: The Amaranthaceae are a family of annual or perennial herbs with small, crowded flowers. There are usually 5 sepals and no petals. Filaments of the stamens are often united into a short tube. Bloom time June through October. (1) Of uncertain origins, it grows wild in cultivated fields and waste places. An annual growing to 2 m (6ft 7in). It is frost tender. It is in flower from Jul to September. (2)
Warnings: None on wild plants (3)
Edible Uses: Leaves and young seedlings – cooked as a spinach, added to soups etc or eaten raw. The nutritious leaves have a mild flavour. Seed – raw or cooked. Used as a cereal substitute, the seed is usually ground into a flour for use in porridges, bread etc. It is rather small, about 1mm in diameter, but is easy to harvest and very nutritious[K]. The seed can be cooked whole, and becomes very gelatinous like this, but it is rather difficult to crush all of the small seeds in the mouth and thus some of the seed will pass right through the digestive system without being assimilated.(4)
Medicinal Uses: A tea made from the leaves is astringent. It is used in the treatment of intestinal bleeding, diarrhoea, excessive menstruation etc. (5)
Foot Notes: (1)
Foot Notes: (2, 3, 4, 5)
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44(d)
Common Name: Redroot Amaranth, Pigweed, (A. retroflexus)
Range: All States and much of Canada.
Photos:
Appearanceand Habitat: A casual of cultivated land and waste places in Britain and Tropical America. An annual growing to 0.9 m (3ft). It is frost tender. It is in flower from Jul to September, and the seeds ripen from Aug to October.
Warnings: None on wild plants
Edible Uses: Young leaves – raw or cooked as a spinach. A mild flavour, it is often mixed with stronger flavoured leaves. Very rich in iron, it is also a good source of vitamins A and C. Seed – raw or cooked. Ground into a powder and used as a cereal substitute, it can also be sprouted and added to salads. The seed is very small, about 1mm in diameter, but easy to harvest and very nutritious. The flavour is greatly improved by roasting the seed before grinding it. It is often added to maize meal. The seed can be cooked whole, and becomes very gelatinous like this, but it is rather difficult to crush all of the small seeds in the mouth and thus some of the seed will pass right through the digestive system without being assimilated.
Medicinal Uses: A tea made from the leaves is astringent. It is used in the treatment of profuse menstruation, intestinal bleeding, diarrhoea etc. An infusion has been used to treat hoarseness.
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(Moving on to Michael Moore, website for Growing Amaranth As Food Plant, and Carla Emery)
Common Name: Amaranth, Red Cockscomb, Alegria, Pigweed (Amaranthus spp.)(1)
Appearance and Habitat: They are originally of tropical nature, but have spread to all altitudes. They have many dense spikes of flowers and immense numbers of little dark seeds. A common habit upon maturity, they have red stems. In fact the redder the stem, the better the medicinal traits. The leaves are alternate, oblong or long stemmed oval, bright green and from 1 to 4 inches long. Some varieties can reach 6 foot in good soil with lots of sunlight, or growing without much sunlight, to 3 inches with a single tuft of flowers. (2)
Edible Uses: All amaranths grow vigorously are hardy and bug resistant. Seed color red, orange, purple, burgundy, golden; wild amaranth have black seeds. The seed are tiny (3) The seed can be popped into cereal, ground, and baked into breads. The young leaves can be used in a salad while the older leaves can be steamed as a green. Regardless of the amaranth that grows in your area it can be eaten. Compared to other grains amaranth seeds have a much higher content of the minerals calcium, magnesium, iron and of the amino acid Lysine. Amaranth seeds are also high in potassium, zinc, Vitamin B and E. The leaves are nutritionally similar to beets, Swiss chard and spinach, but are much superior. For example amaranth leaves contain three times more calcium and three times more niacin (vitamin B3) than spinach leaves. Or twenty times more calcium and seven times more iron than lettuce. (4) The leaves are rather bland when cooked, so think about adding rice vinegar to add flavor. If the seed is not ground (or popped) it passes undigested through the stomach. (5)
Recipe: In a wok or frying pan pop the seeds. Then mix them with honey or molasses and shape into popcorn type balls. You can also use them as a cereal with milk. If the seed is old, it won’t pop. (6)
Medicinal Use: Amaranth is an astringent, but the dried plant works much better. Harvest the plant while still in bloom and allow it to dry out of the sun. Bundle the plants together and place newpaper under them if you are planning on using the seed. About the only use of the fresh plant is as a cooling poultice. A Tablespoon of the chopped leaves can be made into a tea for stomach and intestinal problems and can be drunk every few hours. It is especially good when getting over the flu or gastroenteritis. It also helps with mild diarrhea and hemorrhoid inflammation. A douche made from a handful of leaves in a pint of water will help end vaginal itching and inflammation. (7)
Warnings: It is best to use the plant where it doesn’t pick up nitrogen from artificial fertilizers. ( 8 ) [SOURCE - RETRIEVED FROM ON 4/07/2016]
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].
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COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] Discourse On the Law Covenant Made by God With Israel and Fulfilled By The Ransom Sacrifice of his Son. With the Scripture of the Day first.
[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 127A]
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. Acts 10:34 – 35, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
Yes, all who are doing His will are acceptable to Him as shown by Acts 24:15, [AV] “And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” And Galatians gives a warning all should heed, Galatians 6:7, [AV] “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Also, it is important that we keep testing ourselves per 2 Corinthians 13:5, [AV] “Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
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[2] Discourse On the Law Covenant Made by God With Israel and Fulfilled By The Ransom Sacrifice of his Son:
INTRODUCTION:
God (YHWH) made a covenant with natural Israel that remained in force until his son, Jesus (Yeshua) gave his life as a ransom sacrifice as the fulfillment as shown in Matthew 5:17, "Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil." (American Standard Version; ASV). So Jesus (Yeshua) fulfilled the law and it is NO longer in effect, but the principles embodied in the Law Covenant are beneficial for true Christians today. Now let's look at the details with respect the Law Covenant God (YHWH) made with Israel in ancient times and its fulfillment.
MADE WITH ISRAEL ONLY:
The Law Covenant was NOT made with all tribes and nations, but only with the nation of Israel as shown at Exodus 24:3-8, "And Moses came and told the people all the words of Jehovah, and all the ordinances: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which Jehovah hath spoken will we do. 4 And Moses wrote all the words of Jehovah, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the mount, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt-offerings, and sacrificed peace-offerings of oxen unto Jehovah. 6 And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that Jehovah hath spoken will we do, and be obedient. 8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which Jehovah hath made with you concerning all these words." (American Standard Version; ASV). God's (YHWH's) specific words with respect the covenant are, Exodus 34:27-29, "And Jehovah said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel. 28 And he was there with Jehovah forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. 29 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of the testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses knew not that the skin of his face shone by reason of his speaking with him." (ASV). And God (YHWH) by means of his Holy Spirit, his active force or power spoke to the people of Israel out of a fire as recorded at Deuternonmy 4:12-13, "And Jehovah spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of words, but ye saw no form; only `ye heard' a voice. 13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even the ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone." (ASV).
This Law Covenant was given to the nation of Israel under awe-inspiring circumstances as clearly testified to at Exodus 19:18-20, "And mount Sinai, the whole of it, smoked, because Jehovah descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 19 And when the voice of the trumpet waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. 20 And Jehovah came down upon mount Sinai, to the top of the mount: and Jehovah called Moses to the top of the mount; and Moses went up." (ASV). And this was mentioned in the New Testament at Hebrews 12:18-21, "For ye are not come unto `a mount' that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which `voice' they that heard entreated that no word more should be spoken unto them; 20 for they could not endure that which was enjoined, If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned; 21 and so fearful was the appearance, `that' Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:" (ASV). Thus, we see here the harmony between the Old and the New Testament which shows God's (YHWH's) authorship of the entire Bible.
LAW COVENANT MADE ONLY WITH THE NATION OF ISRAEL:
The Law Covenant was NOT made with any nation, but Israel. This fact is testified to at many places in the Bible such as at Psalms 147:19-20, "He showeth his word to Jacob, his statutes and his judgments to Israel. 20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD." (the Webster Bible; WB); And at Deuteronomy 4:7-8, "`For which `is' the great nation that hath God near unto it, as Jehovah our God, in all we have called unto him? 8 and which `is' the great nation which hath righteous statutes and judgments according to all this law which I am setting before you to-day?" (Young's Literal Translation; YLT); And at Exodus 31:15-17, "Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Jehovah: whosoever doeth any work on the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed."; And at Deuteronomy 5:2-3, "Jehovah our God made with us a covenant in Horeb; 3 not with our fathers hath Jehovah made this covenant, but with us; we -- these -- here to-day -- all of us alive." (YLT).
GOD'S (YHWH'S) STATED PURPOSE FOR THE LAW COVENANT:
At Exodus 19:4-6 God (YHWH) stated his purpose for the Law Covenant, "Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine: 6 and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." (ASV); And this is testified to in the New Testament at Galatians 3:19 showing the harmony once more of the entire Bible, "Why, then, the law? on account of the transgressions it was added, till the seed might come to which the promise hath been made, having been set in order through messengers in the hand of a mediator -" (YLT). The Law Covenant was intended to produce righteousness, but due to the hard heartedness of many of the nation of Israel, it did not.
DID NOT PRODUCE RIGHTEOUSNESS AS INTENDED:
The Law Covenant with the nation of Israel did NOT produce righteousness as it was intended. Why? Let's look at what the Bible says with respect this in the New Testament at Romans 8:3-4, "for what the law was not able to do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, His own Son having sent in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, did condemn the sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteousness of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (YLT); And at Acts 13:38-39 showing, "`Let it therefore be known to you, men, brethren, that through this one to you is the forgiveness of sins declared, 39 and from all things from which ye were not able in the law of Moses to be declared righteous, in this one every one who is believing is declared righteous;" (YLT).
Why did the nation of Israel not obtain righteousness under the Law Covenant is addressed at Romans 9:30-32, "What, then, shall we say? that nations who are not pursuing righteousness did attain to righteousness, and righteousness that `is' of faith, 31 and Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, at a law of righteousness did not arrive 32 wherefore? because -- not by faith, but as by works of law; for they did stumble at the stone of stumbling," (YLT); And at Galatians 3:21-22, "the law, then, `is' against the promises of God? -- let it not be! for if a law was given that was able to make alive, truly by law there would have been the righteousness, 22 but the Writing did shut up the whole under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ may be given to those believing." (YLT).
LAW COVENANT LED THOSE OF FAITH TO CHRIST:
The Law Covenant became our tutor that leads to Christ as testified to at Galatians 3:24, "so that the law became our child-conductor -- to Christ, that by faith we may be declared righteous," (YLT); And at Romans 10:4, "For Christ is an end of law for righteousness to every one who is believing," (YLT).
But, as indicated above, the Law Covenant embodied prophetic pattern or shadow of things to come as shown at Hebrews 10:1, "For the law having a shadow of the good `things' to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh." (ASV); And at Colossians 2:16-17, "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day: 17 which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's." (ASV); And at Hebrews 8:4-5, "for if, indeed, he were upon earth, he would not be a priest -- (there being the priests who are offering according to the law, the gifts, 5 who unto an example and shadow do serve of the heavenly things, as Moses hath been divinely warned, being about to construct the tabernacle, for `See (saith He) thou mayest make all things according to the pattern that was shewn to thee in the mount;') -" (YLT); And at, Hebrews 9:7-9 and 23-24, "and into the second, once in the year, only the chief priest, not apart from blood, which he doth offer for himself and the errors of the people, 8 the Holy Spirit this evidencing that not yet hath been manifested the way of the holy `places', the first tabernacle having yet a standing; 9 which `is' a simile in regard to the present time, in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, which are not able, in regard to conscience, to make perfect him who is serving," and "`It is' necessary, therefore, the pattern indeed of the things in the heavens to be purified with these, and the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these; 24 for not into holy places made with hands did the Christ enter -- figures of the true -- but into the heaven itself, now to be manifested in the presence of God for us;" (YLT).
JESUS (YESHUA) FULFILLED THE LAW AND GOD (YHWH) TERMINATED IT:
Jesus (Yeshua) came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it as testified to at Matthew 5:17-19, "Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (ASV); And at Colossians 2:13-14, "And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, `I say', did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses; 14 having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out that way, nailing it to the cross;" (ASV); And at Ephesians 2:13-15, "But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, 15 having abolished in the flesh the enmity, `even' the law of commandments `contained' in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, `so' making peace;" (ASV).
However, the principles embodied in the Law Covenant are beneficial for true Christians as clearly testified to at Romans 13:8-10, "Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: love therefore is the fulfilment of the law." (ASV); And at Romans 12:18-19, "If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. 19 Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath `of God': for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord." (ASV); And at Ephesians 6:1-3, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise), 3 that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." (ASV). So we can clearly see Jesus (Yeshua) Christ fulfilled the Law Covenant and it was done away with, but its principles still apply. Also, we see the New Testament is not separate from the Old Testament, but its fulfillment.
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