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Re: Scripture of the Day
MAKING THE MOST OF LIFE TODAY, THIS VOL 909B, [1] INTERESTING SOURCE FOR READING THE BIBLE ON LINE, AND THE WONDERS OF CREATION REVEAL GOD'S GLORY—THE DESIGN OF LIFE, [2] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY, A LINK TO A DATA SERIES ON 2MANY SUBJECTS, INTRODUCTION TO JOEL, A BIBLE STUDY, AND 3 VIDEOS, [3] FOREKNOWLEDGE, FORE ORDINATION – PART 1, [4] WAS IT DESIGNED? The dung Beetle’s Navigation Skill, [5] WAS IT DESIGNED? The Upturned Wing Tip of Soaring Birds, [6] WAS IT DESIGNED? The Upturned Wing, [7] WAS IT DESIGNED? The Resilient Brain of the Arctic Ground Squirrel
(1A) READ THE BIBLE ON LINE:
(1B) TEAMWORK MEANS THAT YOU ARE PILOT AND COPILOT WITH THE SAME FLIGHT PLAN,
COMBINATION OF]2] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [3] FOREKNOWLEDGE, FORE ORDINATION – PART 1
[2] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [909B]
John 8:42 Jesus (Yeshua) said to them, " Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me." (Authorized King James Bible; AV).
Jesus (Yeshua) said he comes from God. The flesh cannot be speaking for the flesh was created. So Jesus (Yeshua)'s spiritual being came from God. Jesus (Yeshua) did not send himself, he did not come on his own, but before he was on earth Almighty God [YHWH] sent him. Jesus (Yeshua) was sent by God into the world, so Jesus (Yeshua) is before the world with God. He is referred to a Pr. 8:22-31, “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. “
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[3] FOREKNOWLEDGE, FORE ORDINATION – PART 1
Foreknowledge means knowledge of a thing before it happens or exists; also called prescience. In the Bible it relates primarily, though not exclusively, to the Creator and his purposes. Fore ordination means the ordaining, decreeing, or determining of something beforehand; or the quality or state of being foreordained.
Original-Language Words. "Foreknowledge" translates the Greek pro'gno?sis (from pro, before, and gno'sis, knowledge). (Ac 2:23; 1Pe 1:2) The related verb pro?gi?no'sko is used in two cases with regard to humans: in Paul's statement that certain Jews 'knew him from the beginning,' and in Peter's reference to those who 'knew these things before' (had advanced knowledge). (Ac 26:4, 5; 2Pe 3:17) In this latter case it is obvious that such foreknowledge was not infinite; that is, it did not mean that those Christians knew all the details of time, place, and circumstance about the future events and conditions Peter had discussed. But they did have a general outline of what to expect, received as a result of God's inspiration of Peter and of other contributors to the Bible.
"Foreordain" translates the Greek pro?o?ri'zo (from pro, before, and ho?ri'zo, mark out or set the bounds). (The English word "horizon" transliterates the Greek word ho?ri'zon, meaning the "bounding" or "limiting.") Illustrating the sense of the Greek verb ho?ri'zo is Jesus Christ's statement that, as "the Son of man," he "goeth, as it was determined [marked out, ho?ri?sme'non]." Paul said that God had "hath determined [marked out, ho?ri'sas] the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation." (Lu 22:22; Ac 17:26) The same verb is used of human determination, as when the disciples "determined [ho'ri?san]" to send relief to their needy brothers. (Ac 11:29) However, specific references to foreordaining in the New Testament are applied only to God.
Factors to Recognize. To understand the matter of foreknowledge and foreordination as relating to God, certain factors necessarily must be recognized.
First, God's ability to foreknow and foreordain is clearly stated in the Bible. God himself sets forth as proof of his Godship this ability to foreknow and foreordain events of salvation and deliverance, as well as acts of judgment and punishment, and then to bring such events to fulfillment. His chosen people are witnesses of these facts. (Isa 44:6-9; 48:3-8) Such divine foreknowledge and foreordination form the basis for all true prophecy. (Isa 42:9; Jer 50:45; Am 3:7, 8) God challenges the nations opposing his people to furnish proof of the godship they claim for their mighty ones and their idol-gods, calling on them to do so by foretelling similar acts of salvation or judgment and then bringing them to pass. Their impotence in this respect demonstrates their idols to be 'mere wind and unreality.'-Isa 41:1-10, 21-29; 43:9-15; 45:20, 21.
A second factor to be considered is the free moral agency of God's intelligent creatures. The Scriptures show that God extends to such creatures the privilege and responsibility of free choice, of exercising free moral agency (De 30:19, 20; Jos 24:15), thereby making them accountable for their acts. (Ge 2:16, 17; 3:11-19; Ro 14:10-12; Heb 4:13) They are thus not mere automatons, or robots. Man could not truly have been created in "God's image" if he were not a free moral agent. (Ge 1:26, 27.) Logically, there should be no conflict between God's foreknowledge (as well as his foreordaining) and the free moral agency of his intelligent creatures.
A third factor that must be considered, one sometimes overlooked, is that of God's moral standards and qualities, including his justice, honesty, impartiality, love, mercy, and kindness. Any understanding of God's use of the powers of foreknowledge and foreordination must therefore harmonize with not only some of these factors but with all of them. Clearly, whatever God foreknows must inevitably come to pass, so that God is able to call "things which be not as though they were."-Ro 4:17.
Does God know in advance everything that people will do?
The question then arises: Is his exercise of foreknowledge infinite, without limit? Does he foresee and foreknow all future actions of all his creatures, spirit and human? And does he foreordain such actions or even predestinate what shall be the final destiny of all his creatures, even doing so before they have come into existence?
Or, is God's exercise of foreknowledge selective and discretionary, so that whatever he chooses to foresee and foreknow, he does, but what he does not choose to foresee or foreknow, he does not? And, instead of preceding their existence, does God's determination of his creatures' eternal destiny await his judgment of their course of life and of their proved attitude under test?
The answers to these questions must necessarily come from the Scriptures themselves and the information they provide concerning God's actions and dealings with his creatures, including what has been revealed through his Son, Christ Jesus.-1Co 2:16.
Predestinarian view. The view that God's exercise of his foreknowledge is infinite and that he does foreordain the course and destiny of all individuals is known as predestinarianism. Its advocates reason that God's divinity and perfection require that he be omniscient (all-knowing), not only respecting the past and present but also regarding the future. According to this concept, for him not to foreknow all matters in their minutest detail would evidence imperfection. Examples such as the case of Isaac's twin sons, Esau and Jacob, are presented as evidence of God's foreordaining creatures before their birth (Ro 9:10-13); and texts such as Ephesians 1:4, 5 are cited as evidence that God foreknew and foreordained the future of all his creatures even before the start of creation.
To be correct, this view would, of course, have to harmonize with all the factors previously mentioned, including the Scriptural presentation of God's qualities, standards, and purposes, as well as his righteous ways in dealing with his creatures. (Re 15:3, 4) We may properly consider, then, the implications of such a predestinarian view.
This concept would mean that, prior to creating angels or earthling man, God exercised his powers of foreknowledge and foresaw and foreknew all that would result from such creation, including the rebellion of one of his spirit sons, the subsequent rebellion of the first human pair in Eden (Ge 3:1-6; Joh 8:44), and all the bad consequences of such rebellion down to and beyond this present day. This would necessarily mean that all the wickedness that history has recorded (the crime and immorality, oppression and resultant suffering, lying and hypocrisy, false worship and idolatry) once existed, before creation's beginning, only in the mind of God, in the form of his foreknowledge of the future in all of its minutest details.
If the Creator of mankind had indeed exercised his power to foreknow all that history has seen since man's creation, then the full weight of all the wickedness thereafter resulting was deliberately set in motion by God when he spoke the words: "Let us make man." (Ge 1:26) These facts bring into question the reasonableness and consistency of the predestinarian concept; particularly so, since the disciple James shows that disorder and other vile things do not originate from God's heavenly presence but are "earthly, sensual, devilish" in source.-Jas 3:14-18.
Infinite exercise of foreknowledge? The argument that God's not foreknowing all future events and circumstances in full detail would evidence imperfection on his part is, in reality, an arbitrary view of perfection. Perfection, correctly defined, does not demand such an absolute, all-embracing extension, inasmuch as the perfection of anything actually depends upon its measuring up completely to the standards of excellence set by one qualified to judge its merits. Ultimately, God's own will and good pleasure, not human opinions or concepts, are the deciding factors as to whether anything is perfect.-De 32:4; 2Sa 22:31; Isa 46:10.
To illustrate this, God's almightiness is undeniably perfect and is infinite in capacity. (1Ch 29:11, 12; Job 36:22; 37:23) Yet his perfection in strength does not require him to use his power to the full extent of his omnipotence in any or in all cases. Clearly he has not done so; if he had, not merely certain ancient cities and some nations would have been destroyed, but the earth and all in it would have been obliterated long ago by God's executions of judgment, accompanied by mighty expressions of disapproval and wrath, as at the Flood and on other occasions. (Ge 6:5-8; 19:23-25, 29; compare Ex 9:13-16; Jer 30:23, 24.) God's exercise of his might is therefore not simply an unleashing of limitless power but is constantly governed by his purpose and, where merited, tempered by his mercy.-Ne 9:31; Ps 78:38, 39; Jer 30:11; La 3:22; Eze 20:17.
Similarly, if, in certain respects, God chooses to exercise his infinite ability of foreknowledge in a selective way and to the degree that pleases him, then assuredly no human or angel can rightly say: 'What are you doing?' (Job 9:12; Isa 45:9; Da 4:35) It is therefore not a question of ability, what God can foresee, foreknow, and foreordain, for "with God all things are possible." (Mt 19:26) The question is what God sees fit to foresee, foreknow, and foreordain, for "everything that he delighted to do he has done."-Ps 115:3.
Selective exercise of foreknowledge. The alternative to predestinarianism, the selective or discretionary exercise of God's powers of foreknowledge, would have to harmonize with God's own righteous standards and be consistent with what he reveals of himself in his Word. In contrast with the theory of predestinarianism, a number of texts point to an examination by God of a situation then current and a decision made on the basis of such examination.
Thus, at Genesis 11:5-8 God is described as directing his attention earthward, surveying the situation at Babel, and, at that time, determining the action to be taken to break up the unrighteous project there. After wickedness developed at Sodom and Gomorrah, God advised Abraham of his decision to investigate (by means of his angels) to "see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know." (Ge 18:20-22; 19:1) God spoke of 'becoming acquainted with Abraham ["I know him"]' and after Abraham went to the point of attempting to sacrifice Isaac, the Lord said, "now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me." -Ge 18:19; 22:11, 12; compare Ne 9:7, 8; Ga 4:9.
Selective foreknowledge means that God could choose not to foreknow indiscriminately all the future acts of his creatures. This would mean that, rather than all history from creation onward being a mere rerun of what had already been foreseen and foreordained, God could with all sincerity set before the first human pair the prospect of everlasting life in an earth free from wickedness. His instructions to his first human son and daughter to act as his perfect and sinless agents in filling the earth with their offspring and making it a paradise, as well as exercising control over the animal creation, could thus be expressed as the grant of a truly loving privilege and as his genuine desire toward them-not merely as the giving of a commission that, on their part, was foredoomed to failure. God's arranging for a test by means of "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" and his creation of "the tree of life" in the garden of Eden also would not be meaningless or cynical acts, made so by his foreknowing that the human pair would sin and never be able to eat of "the tree of life."-Ge 1:28; 2:7-9, 15-17; 3:22-24.
To offer something very desirable to another person on conditions known beforehand to be unreachable is recognized as both hypocritical and cruel. The prospect of everlasting life is presented in God's Word as a goal for all persons, one possible to attain. After urging his listeners to 'keep on asking and seeking' good things from God, Jesus pointed out that a father does not give a stone or a serpent to his child that asks for bread or a fish. Showing his Father's view of disappointing the legitimate hopes of a person, Jesus then said: "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"-Mt 7:7-11.
Thus, the invitations and opportunities to receive benefits and everlasting blessings set before all men by God are bona fide. (Mt 21:22; Jas 1:5, 6) He can in all sincerity urge men to 'turn back from transgression and keep living,' as he did with the people of Israel. (Eze 18:23, 30-32; compare Jer 29:11, 12.) Logically, he could not do this if he foreknew that they were individually destined to die in wickedness. (Compare Ac 17:30, 31; 1Ti 2:3, 4.) As God told Israel: "I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right . . . .Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth . . ."-Isa 45:19-22.
In a similar vein, the apostle Peter writes: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise [of the coming day of reckoning], as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2Pe 3:9) If God already foreknew and foreordained millenniums in advance precisely which individuals would receive eternal salvation and which individuals would receive eternal destruction, it may well be asked how meaningful such 'patience' of God could be and how genuine his desire could be that 'all attain to repentance.' The inspired apostle John wrote that "God is love," and the apostle Paul states that love "hopes all things." (1Jo 4:8; 1Co 13:4, 7) It is in harmony with this outstanding, divine quality that God should exercise a genuinely open, kindly attitude toward all persons, he being desirous of their gaining salvation, until they prove themselves unworthy, beyond hope. (Compare 2Pe 3:9; Heb 6:4-12.) Thus, the apostle Paul speaks of "the goodness [kindly quality] of God [that] leadeth thee to repentance."-Ro 2:4-6.
Finally if, by God's foreknowledge, the opportunity to receive the benefits of Christ Jesus' ransom sacrifice were already irrevocably sealed off from some, perhaps for millions of individuals, even before their birth, so that such ones could never prove worthy, it could not truly be said that the ransom was made available to all men. (2Co 5:14, 15; 1Ti 2:5, 6; Heb 2:9) The impartiality of God is clearly no mere figure of speech. "But in every nation he that feareth him [God], and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." (Ac 10:34, 35; De 10:17; Ro 2:11) The option is actually and genuinely open to all men "seek the Lord, if haply they might feel [grope] after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us." (Ac 17:26, 27) There is no empty hope or hollow promise set forth, therefore, in the divine exhortation at the end of the book of Revelation inviting: "let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." -Re 22:17.
The Things Foreknown and Foreordained. Throughout the Bible record, God's exercise of foreknowledge and foreordination is consistently tied in with his own purposes and will. "To purpose" means to set something before oneself as an aim or an object to be attained. (The Greek word pro'the?sis, translated "purpose," means, literally, "something placed or set forth before.") Since God's purposes are certain of accomplishment, he can foreknow the results, the ultimate realization of his purposes, and can foreordain them as well as the steps he may see fit to take to accomplish them. (Isa 14:24-27) Thus, God is spoken of as 'forming' or 'fashioning' (from the Hebrew ya?tsar', related to the word for "potter" [Jer 18:4]) his purpose concerning future events or actions. (2Ki 19:25; Isa 46:11; compare Isa 45:9-13, 18.) As the Great Potter, God "worketh all things after the counsel of his own will," in harmony with his purpose (Eph 1:11), and makes "all things work together for good to them," loving him. (Ro 8:28) It is, therefore, specifically in connection with his own foreordained purposes that God tells "the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done."-Isa 46:9-13.
When God created the first human pair they were perfect, and God could look upon the result of all his creative work and find it "very good." (Ge 1:26, 31; De 32:4) Instead of distrustfully concerning himself with what the human pair's future actions would be, the record says that he 'proceeded to rest.' (Ge 2:2) He could do so since, by virtue of his almightiness and his supreme wisdom, no future action, circumstance, or contingency could possibly present an insurmountable obstacle or an irremediable problem to block the realization of his sovereign purpose. (2Ch 20:6; Isa 14:27; Da 4:35) There is, therefore, no Scriptural basis for the argument of predestinarianism that for God to refrain from exercising his powers of foreknowledge in this way would jeopardize God's purposes, making them "always liable to be broken through want of foresight, and [that] he must be continually putting his system to rights, as it gets out of order, through the contingence of the actions of moral agents." Nor would this selective exercise of foresight give his creatures the power to "break [God's] measures, make him continually to change his mind, subject him to vexation, and bring him into confusion," as predestinarians claim. (M'Clintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia, 1894, Vol. VIII, p. 556) If even God's earthly servants have no real need to be "anxious about the next day," it follows that their Creator, to whom mighty nations are as "a drop from a bucket," neither had nor has such anxiety.-Mt 6:34; Isa 40:15.
Concerning classes of persons. Cases are also presented in which God did foreknow the course that certain groups, nations, or the majority of mankind would take, and thus he foretold the basic course of their future actions and foreordained what corresponding action he would take regarding them. However, such foreknowledge or foreordination does not deprive the individuals within such collective groups or divisions of mankind of exercising free choice as to the particular course they will follow. This can be seen from the following examples:
Prior to the Flood of Noah's day, God announced his purpose to bring about this act of destruction, resulting in loss of human as well as animal life. The Biblical account shows, however, that such divine determination was made after the conditions developed that called for such action, including violence and other badness. Additionally, God, who is able to "knowest the hearts of the children of men [sons of mankind]," made examination and found that "saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his [mankind's] heart was only evil continually." (2Ch 6:30; Ge 6:5) Yet individuals, Noah and his family, gained God's favor and escaped destruction.-Ge 6:7, 8; 7:1.
Similarly, although God gave the nation of Israel the opportunity to become "a kingdom of priests and, an holy nation" by keeping his covenant, yet some 40 years later, when the nation was at the borders of the Promised Land, God foretold that they would break his covenant and, as a nation, would be forsaken by him. This foreknowledge was not without prior basis, however, as national insubordination and rebellion already had been revealed. Hence, God said: "for I know their imagination [inclination] which they go about [developing], even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware." (Ex 19:6; De 31:16-18, 21; Ps 81:10-13) The results to which such manifest inclination would now lead in the way of increased wickedness could be foreknown by God without its making him responsible for such conditions, even as one's foreknowing that a certain structure built of inferior materials and with shoddy workmanship will deteriorate does not make that one responsible for such deterioration. The divine rule governs that 'what is sown is what will be reaped.' (Ga 6:7-9; compare Ho 10:12, 13.) Certain prophets delivered prophetic warnings of God's foreordained expressions of judgment, all of which had basis in already existing conditions and heart attitudes. (Ps 7:8, 9; Pr 11:19; Jer 11:20) Here again, however, individuals could and did respond to God's counsel, reproof, and warnings and so merited his favor.-Jer 21:8, 9; Eze 33:1-20.
READ THE REMAINDER OF THIS DOCUMENT, PART 2 OF FOREKNOWLEDGE, FORE ORDINATION, AT VOL 910B.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG
[4] WAS IT DESIGNED? The dung Beetle’s Navigation Skill,
[5] WAS IT DESIGNED? The Upturned Wing Tip of Soaring Birds,
[6] WAS IT DESIGNED? The Upturned Wing,
https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/g201502/birds-upturned-wing-tip/
[7] WAS IT DESIGNED? The Resilient Brain of the Arctic Ground Squirrel
tn=H-R&c[0]=AUBK2t0oK9tVQ2aoazcSShOD660Xuph-nMBH0sXHpkX9LWWCqXt6_-T5775TrgOkeKgFjnhvledCvzZLpIgg5iXJrQRUdlY7v0Qm2u3BP5tRaxiYdgjhpIED72UqeX07HOj2RiAO8nVy7q233r0a9mzNxHs_S116FAkzm2PypoomUgFEq9WfhgBGvHBvOAAbjdSMX8UBz9wxwkBwN92bWg
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Re: Scripture of the Day
MAKING THE MOST OF LIFE TODAY, THIS VOL 910B, [1] INTERESTING SOURCE FOR READING THE BIBLE ON LINE, AND THE WONDERS OF CREATION REVEAL GOD'S GLORY—THE DESIGN OF LIFE, [2] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY, A LINK TO A DATA SERIES ON MANY SUBJECTS, INTRODUCTION TO AMOS, A BIBLE STUDY, AND 3 VIDEOS, [3]
PART 2 OF FOREKNOWLEDGE, FORE ORDINATION, [PART 1 IS AT VOL 909B ] , [4] WAS IT DESIGNED? The Ant’s Neck, [5] WAS IT DESIGNED? The Gastric Brooding Frog’s Reproductive System, [6] WAS IT DESIGNED? The Locust’s Motion-Sensitive Neurons, [7] WAS IT DESIGNED? The Mathematical Ability of Plants
(1A) READ THE BIBLE ON LINE:
(1B) TEAMWORK MEANS THAT YOU ARE PILOT AND COPILOT WITH THE SAME FLIGHT PLAN,
COMBINATION OF [2] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [3] PART 2 OF FOREKNOWLEDGE, FORE ORDINATION, [PART 1 IS AT VOL 909B ]
[2] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [910B]
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
We must have faith to win Almighty God’S (YHWH’s) approval as clearly shown by the examples given at Hebrews 11:4 – 6, [AV] “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” And as Hebrews 10:22, [AV], says, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
TO VIEW THE INTRODUCTION TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RELIGION AND THE BIBLE, GO TO,
TO VIEW THE INTRODUCTION TO AMOS; CLICK OR ENTER IN BROWSER, THE FOLLOWING,
AN ONLINE BIBLE STUDY CALLED “FOLLOW THE CHRIST”: CLICK OR POST IN BROWSER, THE FOLLOWING.
VIDEO - Pray Anytime, GO TO:
VIDEO – OBEY YOUR PARENTS, GO TO:
VIDEO – HELP OTHERS, GO TO:
[3] PART 2 OF FOREKNOWLEDGE, FORE ORDINATION, [PART 1 IS AT VOL 909B & PART 2 IS AT VOL 910B ]
God's Son, who also could read the hearts of men (Mt 9:4; Mr 2:8; Joh 2:24, 25), was divinely endowed with powers of foreknowledge and foretold future conditions, events, and expressions of divine judgment. He foretold the judgment of Gehenna for the scribes and Pharisees as a class (Mt 23:15, 33) but did not say thereby that each individual Pharisee or scribe was foredoomed to destruction, as the case of the apostle Paul shows. (Ac 26:4, 5) Jesus predicted woes for unrepentant Jerusalem and other cities, but he did not indicate that his Father had foreordained that each individual of those cities should so suffer. (Mt 11:20-23; Lu 19:41-44; 21:20, 21) He also foreknew what mankind's inclination and heart attitude would lead to and foretold the conditions that would have developed among mankind by the time of "the end of the world," as well as the outworkings of God's own purposes. (Mt 24:3, 7-14, 21, 22) Jesus' apostles likewise declared prophecies manifesting God's foreknowledge of certain classes, such as the "antichrist" (1Jo 2:18, 19; 2Jo 7), and also the end to which such classes are foreordained.-2Th 2:3-12; 2Pe 2:1-3; Jude 4.
Concerning individuals. In addition to foreknowledge concerning classes, certain individuals are specifically involved in divine forecasts. These include Esau and Jacob (mentioned earlier), the Pharaoh of the Exodus, Samson, Solomon, Josiah, Jeremiah, Cyrus, John the Baptizer, Judas Iscariot, and God's own Son Jesus.
In the cases of Samson, Jeremiah, and John the Baptizer, God exercised foreknowledge prior to their birth. This foreknowledge, however, did not specify what their final destiny would be. Rather, on the basis of such foreknowledge, God foreordained that Samson should live according to the Nazirite vow and should initiate the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines, that Jeremiah should serve as a prophet, and that John the Baptizer should do a preparatory work as a forerunner of the Messiah. (Jg 13:3-5; Jer 1:5; Lu 1:13-17) While highly favored by such privileges, this did not guarantee their gaining eternal salvation or even that they would remain faithful until death (although all three did). Thus, God foretold that one of David's many sons would be named Solomon and he foreordained that Solomon would be used to build the temple. (2Sa 7:12, 13; 1Ki 6:12; 1Ch 22:6-19) However, though favored in this way and even privileged to write certain books of the Holy Scriptures, Solomon nevertheless fell into apostasy in his later years.-1Ki 11:4, 9-11.
Likewise with Esau and Jacob, God's foreknowledge did not fix their eternal destinies but, rather, determined, or foreordained, which of the national groups descending from the two sons would gain a dominant position over the other. (Ge 25:23-26) This foreseen dominance also pointed to the gaining of the right of the firstborn by Jacob, a right that brought along with it the privilege of being in the line of descent through which the Abrahamic "seed" would come. (Ge 27:29; 28:13, 14) By this means God made clear that his choice of individuals for certain uses is not bound by the usual customs or procedures conforming to men's expectations. Nor are divinely assigned privileges to be dispensed solely on the basis of works, which might allow a person to feel he has 'earned the right' to such privileges and that they are 'owed to him.' The apostle Paul stressed this point in showing why God, by undeserved kindness, could grant to the Gentile nations privileges once seemingly reserved for Israel.-Ro 9:1-6, 10-13, 30-32.
Paul's quotations concerning God's 'love for Jacob [Israel] and his hatred for Esau [Edom]' comes from Malachi 1:2, 3, written long after Jacob and Esau's time. So the Bible does not necessarily say that God held such opinion of the twins before their birth. It is a scientifically established fact that much of a child's general disposition and temperament is determined at the time of conception because of the genetic factors contributed by each parent. That God can see such factors is self-evident; David speaks of God as seeing "my substance [or, "my embryo"]." (Ps 139:14-16; see also Ec 11:5.) To what extent such divine insight affected God's foreordination concerning the two boys cannot be said, but at any rate, his choice of Jacob over Esau did not of itself doom Esau or his descendants, the Edomites, to destruction. Even individuals from among the accursed Canaanites gained the privilege of association with God's covenant people and received blessings. (Ge 9:25-27; Jos 9:27) The "change of mind" that Esau earnestly sought with tears, however, was only an unsuccessful attempt to change his father Isaac's decision that the firstborn's special blessing should remain entirely with Jacob. Hence, this indicated no repentance before God on Esau's part as to his materialistic attitude.-Ge 27:32-34; Heb 12:16, 17.
God's prophecy concerning Josiah called for some descendant of David to be so named, and it foretold his acting against false worship in the city of Bethel. (1Ki 13:1, 2) Over three centuries later a king so named fulfilled this prophecy. (2Ki 22:1; 23:15, 16) On the other hand, he failed to heed "the words of Necho from the mouth of God," and this led to his being killed. (2Ch 35:20-24) Hence, while foreknown by God and foreordained to do a particular work, Josiah was still a free moral agent able to choose to heed or disregard advice.
Similarly, God foretold nearly two centuries beforehand that he would use a conqueror named Cyrus to effect the release of the Jews from Babylon. (Isa 44:26-28; 45:1-6) But the Persian to whom that name eventually was given in fulfillment of divine prophecy is not stated in the Bible to have become a genuine worshiper of God, and secular history shows him continuing his worship of false gods.
These cases of foreknowledge prior to the individual's birth thus do not conflict with God's revealed qualities and announced standards. Nor is there any indication that God coerced the individuals to act against their own will. In the cases of Pharaoh, Judas Iscariot, and God's own Son, there is no evidence that God's foreknowledge was exercised prior to the person's coming into existence. Within these individual cases certain principles are illustrated, bearing on God's foreknowledge and foreordination.
One such principle is God's testing of individuals by causing or allowing certain circumstances or events, or by causing such individuals to hear his inspired messages, the result being that they are obliged to exercise their free choice to make a decision and thus reveal a definite heart attitude, read by God. (Pr 15:11; 1Pe 1:6, 7; Heb 4:12, 13) According to the way the individuals respond, God can also mold them in the course they have selected of their own volition. (1Ch 28:9; Ps 33:13-15; 139:1-4, 23, 24) Thus, 'the heart of earthling man' first inclines toward a certain way before God does the directing of the steps of such a one. (Pr 16:9; Ps 51:10) Under testing, one's heart condition can become fixed, either hardened in unrighteousness and rebellion or made firm in unbreakable devotion to God and the doing of his will. (Job 2:3-10; Jer 18:11, 12; Ro 2:4-11; Heb 3:7-10, 12-15) Having reached such a point of his own choice, the end result of the individual's course can now be foreknown and foretold with no injustice and no violation of man's free moral agency.-Compare Job 34:10-12.
The case of faithful Abraham, already discussed, illustrates these principles. A contrasting case is that of the unresponsive Pharaoh of the Exodus. God foreknew that Pharaoh would refuse permission for the Israelites to leave except "by a mighty hand" (Ex 3:19, 20), and he foreordained the plague resulting in the death of the firstborn. (Ex 4:22, 23) The apostle Paul's discussion of God's dealings with Pharaoh is often incorrectly understood to mean that God arbitrarily hardens the heart of individuals according to his foreordained purpose, without regard for the individual's prior inclination, or heart attitude. (Ro 9:14-18) Likewise, according to many translations, God advised Moses that he would "harden [Pharaoh's] heart." (Ex 4:21; compare Ex 9:12; 10:1, 27.) However, some translations render the Hebrew account to read that God "let [Pharaoh's] heart wax bold" (Rotherham); "allow his [Pharaoh's] heart to be hardened" (Spurrell) In support of such rendering, the appendix to Rotherham's translation shows that in Hebrew the occasion or permission of an event is often presented as if it were the cause of the event, and that "even positive commands are occasionally to be accepted as meaning no more than permission." Thus at Exodus 1:17 the original Hebrew text literally says that the midwives "caused the male children to live," whereas in reality they permitted them to live by refraining from putting them to death. After quoting Hebrew scholars M. M. Kalisch, H. F. W. Gesenius, and B. Davies in support, Rotherham states that the Hebrew sense of the texts involving Pharaoh is that "God permitted Pharaoh to harden his own heart-spared him-gave him the opportunity, the occasion, of working out the wickedness that was in him. That is all."-Rotherham's "The Emphasised Bible," appendix, p. 919; compare Isa 10:5-7.
Corroborating this understanding is the fact that the record definitely shows that Pharaoh himself "hardened his heart." (Ex 8:15, 32, KJ; "made his heart dull," Rotherham; "he became stubborn" An American Translation; "he steeled his heart," Knox) He thus exercised his own will and followed his own stubborn inclination, the results of which inclination God accurately foresaw and predicted. The repeated opportunities given him by God obliged Pharaoh to make decisions, and in doing so he became hardened in his attitude. (Compare Ec 8:11, 12.) As the apostle Paul shows by quoting Exodus 9:16, God allowed the matter to develop in this way to the full length of ten plagues in order to make manifest his own power and cause his name to be made known earth wide.-Ro 9:17, 18.
Did God predestine Judas to betray Jesus in order to fulfill prophecy?
The traitorous course of Judas Iscariot fulfilled divine prophecy and demonstrated God's foreknowledge as well as that of his Son. (Ps 41:9; 55:12, 13; 109:8; Ac 1:16-20) Yet it cannot be said that God foreordained or predestinated Judas himself to such a course. The prophecies foretold that some intimate acquaintance of Jesus would be his betrayer, but they did not specify which of those sharing such acquaintance it would be. Again, Bible principles rule against God's having foreordained Judas' actions. The divine standard stated by the apostle is: "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure." (1Ti 5:22; compare 1Ti 3:6.) Evidencing his concern that the selection of his 12 apostles be wisely and properly made, Jesus spent the night in prayer to his Father before making known his decision. (Lu 6:12-16) If Judas were already divinely foreordained to be a traitor, this would result in inconsistency in God's direction and guidance and, according to the rule, would make him a sharer in the sins that one committed.
Thus, it seems evident that at the time of his being selected as an apostle, Judas' heart presented no definite evidence of a treasonous attitude. He allowed a 'poisonous root to spring up' and defile him, resulting in his deviation and in his accepting, not God's direction, but the Devil's leading in a course of thievery and treachery. (Heb 12:14, 15; Joh 13:2; Ac 1:24, 25; Jas 1:14, 15.) By the time such deviation reached a certain point, Jesus himself could read Judas' heart and foretell his betrayal.-Joh 13:10, 11.
True, in the account at John 6:64, on the occasion of some disciples stumbling over certain teachings of Jesus, we read that "For Jesus knew from the beginning ["from the outset," Jerusalem Bible; "from early days," Rieu] who they were that believed not, and who should betray him." While the word "beginning" (Gr., ar?khe') is used at 2 Peter 3:4 to refer to the start of creation, it can also refer to other times. (Lu 1:2; Joh 15:27) For example, when the apostle Peter spoke of the holy spirit falling on Gentiles just as it did also "as us at the beginning," he obviously was not referring to the beginning of his discipleship or apostleship but to an important point in his ministry, the day of Pentecost, 33 C.E., "the beginning" of the outpouring of the holy spirit for a certain purpose. (Ac 11:15; 2:1-4) It is therefore interesting to note this comment on John 6:64 in Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures (p. 227): "Beginning . . . means not, metaphysically from the beginning of all things, . . . nor from the beginning of His [Jesus'] acquaintance with each one, . . . nor from the beginning of His collecting of the disciples around Him, or the beginning of His Messianic ministry, . . . but from the first secret germs of unbelief [that produced the stumbling of some disciples]. So also He knew His betrayer from the beginning."-Translated and edited by P. Schaff, 1976; compare 1Jo 3:8, 11, 12.
Foreordination of the Messiah. God foreknew and foretold the Messiah's sufferings, the death he would undergo, and his subsequent resurrection. (Ac 2:22, 23, 30, 31; 3:18; 1Pe 1:10, 11) The realization of things determined by God's exercise of such foreknowledge depended in part upon God's own exercise of power and in part upon the actions of men. (Ac 4:27, 28) Such men, however, willingly allowed themselves to be overreached by God's Adversary, Satan the Devil. (Joh 8:42-44; Ac 7:51-54) Hence, even as Christians in Paul's day were "not ignorant of his [Satan's] devices," God foresaw the wicked desires and methods the Devil would devise against Jesus Christ, God's Anointed One. (2Co 2:11) Obviously, God's power could also thwart or even block any attacks or attempts upon the Messiah that did not conform to the manner or time prophesied.-Compare Mt 16:21; Lu 4:28-30; 9:51; Joh 7:1, 6-8; 8:59.
The apostle Peter's statement that Christ, as the sacrificial Lamb of God, was "was foreordained before the foundation [form of Greek ka?ta?bo?le'] of the world [ko'smou]" is construed by advocates of predestinarianism to mean that God exercised such foreknowledge before mankind's creation. (1Pe 1:19, 20) The Greek word ka?ta?bo?le', translated "foundation [AV]" literally means "a throwing down" and can refer to the 'conceiving of seed,' as at Hebrews 11:11. While there was 'the founding' of a world of mankind when God created the first human pair, as is shown at Hebrews 4:3, 4, that pair thereafter forfeited their position as children of God. (Ge 3:22-24; Ro 5:12) Yet, by God's undeserved kindness, they were allowed to conceive seed and produce offspring, one of whom is specifically shown in the Bible to have gained God's favor and placed himself in position for redemption and salvation, namely, Abel. (Ge 4:1, 2; Heb 11:4) It is noteworthy that at Luke 11:49-51 Jesus refers to "the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world" and parallels this with the words "from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias [Zechariah]." Thus, Abel is connected by Jesus with 'the founding of the world.'
The Messiah, or Christ, was to be the promised Seed through whom all righteous persons of all the families of the earth would be blessed. (Ga 3:8, 14) The first mention of such "seed" came after the rebellion in Eden had already been initiated, but prior to the birth of Abel. (Ge 3:15) This was some 4,000 years before "the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began," and was made by the clear identification of that Messianic "seed." Hence, it was, indeed, "in other ages was not made known ."-Ro 16:25-27; Eph 1:8-10; 3:4-11.
In his due time God God assigned his own firstborn Son to fulfill the prophesied role of the "seed" and become the Messiah. There is nothing to show that the Son was predestined to such a role before rebellion broke out in Eden. God's eventual selection of him as the one charged with fulfilling the prophecies likewise was not made without prior basis. The period of intimate association between God and his Son previous to the Son's being sent to earth undoubtedly resulted in God's 'knowing' his Son to an extent that He could be certain of his Son's faithful fulfillment of the prophetic promises and pictures.-Compare Ro 15:5; Php 2:5-8; Mt 11:27; Joh 10:14, 15.
Fatalism and Predestinarianism. Among the pagan peoples of ancient times, including the Greeks and Romans, one's fate, particularly the length of the individual's life, was often considered to be determined beforehand for all individuals by the gods. Grecian mythology represented the control of men's destiny by three goddesses: Clotho (spinner), who spun the thread of life; Lachesis (disposer of lots), who determined the length of life; and Atropos (inflexible), who cut life off when the time expired. A similar triad was found among the Roman deities.
According to Jewish historian Josephus (first century C.E.), the Pharisees endeavored to harmonize the idea of fate with their belief in God and with the free moral agency granted to man. (The Jewish War, II, 162, 163 [viii, 14]; Jewish Antiquities, XVIII, 13, 14 [i, 3]) The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge says: "Previous to Augustine [of the fourth and fifth centuries C.E.] there was no serious development in Christianity of a theory of predestination." Before Augustine, earlier so-called "Church Fathers" such as Justin, Origen, and Irenaeus "know nothing of unconditional predestination; they teach free will." (Hastings' Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics, 1919, Vol. X, p. 231) In their refutation of Gnosticism, they are described as regularly expressing their belief in the free moral agency of man as "the distinguishing characteristic of human personality, the basis of moral responsibility, a divine gift whereby man might choose that which was well-pleasing to God," and as speaking of "the autonomy of man and the counsel of God who constraineth not."-The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, edited by S. Jackson, 1957, Vol. IX, pp. 192, 193.
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[4] WAS IT DESIGNED? The Ant’s Neck,
[5] WAS IT DESIGNED? The Gastric Brooding Frog’s Reproductive System,
[6] WAS IT DESIGNED? The Locust’s Motion-Sensitive Neurons,
[7] WAS IT DESIGNED? The Mathematical Ability of Plants
AC_SY879.jpg%3Ffbclid%3DIwcGRvZgFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFuTlpham05anBNSFJ1MkZIc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvu21P_9Ey7pUdvDnVgt1Y5p2nJNfXnKNhMQ3kd5IMbvq9rbdKhQ1DbZmIh-_aem_d-y5Fb5sET9uUdFgATu5Rg&h=AUD9WQ0f7vPFRIZ2gBLDT4JDAxUtAOHMNy4FHJvuBfLGOrDg9I9tAafskm7sYl5kf_OMR4Rin6R-CZpSZ-6VDKSUGLVZOI-NPoRiEkfioXLEmrT6pDZB3u_tlXOkreuFoqJHmXi3LE3waft-yqBidQ8piySBDw&tn=EH-R&c[0]=AUBbj08jdLyfx7TPrcQCEyr09k0wcY7Udo1m_9ejI1jzAibT1EMAvK0KWoI3d3BjKvMrrTY7xSkb7mL_m1rFsuHOPCj0gUNWS1sbRd_1euD70pc11AFKa335fR8BAzJGCbvb8XjQX4DPuaWJVjCdqcN2ph3__GH7dfJAP1naOIpMIXLV68VKQsaLSwuLDYyszHnJ0NJ5x5HqkBchg1GF_alEKjaASg
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Re: Scripture of the Day
MAKING THE MOST OF LIFE TODAY, THIS VOL 911B, [1] INTERESTING SOURCE FOR READING THE BIBLE ON LINE, AND WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT GREAT EARTH QUAKES? [2] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY, A LINK TO A DATA SERIES ON MANY SUBJECTS, INTRODUCTION TO OBADIAH, A BIBLE STUDY, AND 3 VIDEOS, [3] FROM LIFE TO DEATH TO LIFE! [4] BIBLE QUESTIONS ANSWERED, Does the Bible Comment on Same-Sex Marriages? [5] WHAT THE UNIVERSE TELLS US ABOUT A CREATOR, [6] CREATION OR EVOLUTION?—PART 4: HOW CAN I EXPLAIN MY BELIEF IN CREATION? [7] WHAT LIFE TELLS US ABOUT A CREATOR,
(1A) READ THE BIBLE ON LINE:
(1B) WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT GREAT EARTH QUAKES? (A READ)hat Did
/
What Did Jesus Say About “Great Earthquakes”?
COMBINATION OF [2] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [3] FROM LIFE TO DEATH TO LIFE!
[2] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [911B]
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
The weights we must lay aside are described at 1 Peter 2:1 - 3, [AV] “
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” And we should take heed per Hebrews 3:12, [AV] “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” We must per 1 Timothy 6:12, [AV] “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
TO VIEW THE INTRODUCTION TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RELIGION AND THE BIBLE, GO TO,
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[3] FROM LIFE TO DEATH TO LIFE!
To fully understand what happens to mankind at death, we must understand first how man got here in the first place, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. 31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:27-31 AV) shows that God created mankind and every living thing on the earth.
Man was originally intended by God to live for ever so what happened? “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17 AV) However, Adam, the first man, disobeyed God and all of mankind inherited Death as a result, “And the serpent (Satan the Devil) said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5 AV), and “ And the LORD God said unto the serpent (Satan the Devil), Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:” (Genesis 3:14 AV). Therefore, eventuality of Death came upon all of mankind that descended from Adam, all of us; it was NOT God’s original purpose for mankind, “ Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12 AV).
But God loved mankind and provided a means for obedient mankind to eventually have this sentence lifted from him/her, “ For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)” (Romans 5:17 AV) and “ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19 AV). Now that we have seen how Death came to be on mankind, we need to look at the condition of the dead to understand what happens when one dies, “ His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” (Psalms 146:4 AV), “ For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten” (Ecclesiastes 9:5 AV), “ Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 AV), and “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.” (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20 AV). There is no ‘soul’ that goes somewhere at death since we are living souls, “ And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7 AV), “ And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam (Jesus) was made a quickening spirit.” (1 Corinthians 15:45 AV), “ And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” (1 Corinthians 15:45 AV).
The Bible clearly shows that, “ Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4 AV), and “ And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:23 AV). Therefore, when we die we cease to exist, but God holds out to all obedient mankind a hope for a resurrection onto a perfect earth under his kingdom, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10 AV). Clearly there is hope for life again in a righteous kingdom under Jesus on earth as he taught us to prey for, but how will we get into this kingdom when it is established if we are already dead, i.e., non-existent in any form? It will be by means of a resurrection or recreating of us by God, “ Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.” (Isaiah 26:19 AV) and “ O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!” (Job 14:13 AV). “But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matthew 22:31-32 AV), “ But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” (Daniel 12:13 AV)
This concept of a resurrection may be difficult for some to accept, but temporary resurrections have already occurred, “And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: 21 And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee,” (1 Kings 17:22-24 AV), “ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (Hebrews 11:13 AV). However what Jesus Christ taught all of his followers to pray for “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10 AV) was a permanent resurrection into a righteous kingdom under him as its king, and this will be “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:39-40 AV), “Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” (John 11:23-24 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.” (Acts 24:15 AV), and “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:26-29 AV). Therefore, it is clear that at present all of mankind will die, be non-existent until the end of this system when Jesus Christ will set up his kingdom on earth, and then, if we have won God’s favor be resurrected to life in a righteous kingdom under Jesus Christ as its king. If you would like more information and/or a free Bible study with a qualified individual one-on-one let me know and I can arrange it. You can contact me at iris89@altavista.net or iris89@uymail.com
To fully understand what happens to mankind at death, we must understand first how man got here in the first place, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. 31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:27-31 AV) shows that God created mankind and every living thing on the earth.
Man was originally intended by God to live for ever so what happened? “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17 AV) However, Adam, the first man, disobeyed God and all of mankind inherited Death as a result, “And the serpent (Satan the Devil) said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5 AV), and “ And the LORD God said unto the serpent (Satan the Devil), Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:” (Genesis 3:14 AV). Therefore, eventuality of Death came upon all of mankind that descended from Adam, all of us; it was NOT God’s original purpose for mankind, “ Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12 AV).
But God loved mankind and provided a means for obedient mankind to eventually have this sentence lifted from him/her, “ For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)” (Romans 5:17 AV) and “ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19 AV). Now that we have seen how Death came to be on mankind, we need to look at the condition of the dead to understand what happens when one dies, “ His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” (Psalms 146:4 AV), “ For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten” (Ecclesiastes 9:5 AV), “ Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 AV), and “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.” (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20 AV). There is no ‘soul’ that goes somewhere at death since we are living souls, “ And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7 AV), “ And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam (Jesus) was made a quickening spirit.” (1 Corinthians 15:45 AV), “ And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” (1 Corinthians 15:45 AV).
The Bible clearly shows that, “ Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4 AV), and “ And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:23 AV). Therefore, when we die we cease to exist, but God holds out to all obedient mankind a hope for a resurrection onto a perfect earth under his kingdom, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10 AV). Clearly there is hope for life again in a righteous kingdom under Jesus on earth as he taught us to prey for, but how will we get into this kingdom when it is established if we are already dead, i.e., non-existent in any form? It will be by means of a resurrection or recreating of us by God, “ Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.” (Isaiah 26:19 AV) and “ O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!” (Job 14:13 AV). “But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matthew 22:31-32 AV), “ But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” (Daniel 12:13 AV)
This concept of a resurrection may be difficult for some to accept, but temporary resurrections have already occurred, “And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: 21 And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee,” (1 Kings 17:22-24 AV), “ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (Hebrews 11:13 AV). However what Jesus Christ taught all of his followers to pray for “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10 AV) was a permanent resurrection into a righteous kingdom under him as its king, and this will be “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:39-40 AV), “Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” (John 11:23-24 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.” (Acts 24:15 AV), and “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:26-29 AV). Therefore, it is clear that at present all of mankind will die, be non-existent until the end of this system when Jesus Christ will set up his kingdom on earth, and then, if we have won God’s favor be resurrected to life in a righteous kingdom under Jesus Christ as its king. If you would like more information and/or a free Bible study with a qualified individual one-on-one let me know and I can arrange it. You can contact me at iris89@cheerful.com.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG
[4] BIBLE QUESTIONS ANSWERED, Does the Bible Comment on Same-Sex Marriages?
[5] WHAT THE UNIVERSE TELLS US ABOUT A CREATOR
[6] CREATION OR EVOLUTION?—PART 4: HOW CAN I EXPLAIN MY BELIEF IN CREATION?
[7] WHAT LIFE TELLS US ABOUT A CREATOR,
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Re: Scripture of the Day
MAKING THE MOST OF LIFE TODAY, THIS VOL 912B, [1] INTERESTING SOURCE FOR READING THE BIBLE ON LINE, AND WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT GREAT EARTH QUAKES? [2] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY, A LINK TO A DATA SERIES ON MANY SUBJECTS, INTRODUCTION TO JONAH, A BIBLE STUDY, AND 3 VIDEOS, [3] THE RARE FRUIT AND VEGETABLES - Stelechocarpus burahol. [4] Can Our Planet Survive?—Forests, [5] WHAT MOVES MANY PEOPLE TO CONSIDER THE EXISTENCE OF A CREATOR? [6] BIBLE QUESTIONS ANSWERED, Why Is Jesus Called the Son of God? [7] BIBLE QUESTIONS ANSWERED, Can the Devil Control Humans?
(1A) READ THE BIBLE ON LINE:
(1B) WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT GREAT EARTH QUAKES? (A READ)
COMBINATION OF [2] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY, AND [3] THE RARE FRUIT AND VEGETABLES - Stelechocarpus burahol.
[2] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [912B]
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” Proverbs 3:5 – 6, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
Remember Psalms 62:8, [AV] “The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.” Clearly shows his power and why we should not rest on our own understanding. This is made even clearer at Proverbs 28:26, [AV] “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”
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[3] Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the Stelechocarpus burahol, known as the burahol,[2] kepel, kepel fruit, keppel fruit, or kepel apple, is an annonaceous plant from the humid evergreen forests of Southeast Asia,[3] known for producing an edible fruit. The fruit is grown only in central Java, Indonesia.[4]
The plant is an evergreen, with stiff, elliptical, glossy leaves.[5]
The fruits of S. burahol grow on the lower part of the trunk,[4] on the larger branches.[5] They have a spicy flavor akin to that of the mango.[4] They are greenish-yellow and oval, 3–4 centimetres (1.2–1.6 in) long.[5] The new growth is bright pink or burgundy,[3] known for producing an edible fruit.
One can propagate S. burahol from the seeds of ripe fruit. The fruit of this species has traditionally been known in Java to have value as an oral deodorant. Out of the pulp, seed and peel, the peel has the best adsorbent ability. A 2012 study showed that it reduced the odor of feces by activating the probiotic bacteria Bifidobacterium bifidum.[6] Stelechocarpus burahol is also an antihyperuricemic, and has traditionally been used to treat gout.
This fruit is an identity flora of Daerah Istimewa Jogjakarta.
Stelechocarpus burahol was loved by Javanese princesses because it was a symbol of unity and mental and physical integrity. Because it functioned as a deodorant, many common people did not have this tree planted because they believed they would get cursed. That made this tree rare.
This fruit was also believed to be used by Javanese princesses as contraception. The fruit is believed to have the function of preventing kidney inflammation. The wood can be made into house tools, the leaves used to lower cholesterol.
This rare fruit can be found at Keraton Jogjakarta area, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Taman Kiai Langgeng Magelang and Kebun Raya Bogor.[citation needed]
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stelechocarpus burahol.
1.
• "Stelechocarpus burahol (Blume) Hook.f. & Thomson". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
• "Stelechocarpus burahol". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
• Tropical & Subtropical Trees: an encyclopedia, Margaret Barwick, Timber Press (C) 2004, p. 381
• "Kepel Stelechocarpus burahol". tradewindsfruit.com. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
• Encyclopaedia of Food Science, Food Technology, and Nutrition: Eating habits-gelatine, R. Macrae, Richard Kenneth Robinson, Michèle J. Sadler, Academic Press, 1993, pp. 2, 126.
• Darusman, H.S.; Rahminiwati, M.; Sadiah, S.; Batubara, I.; Darusman, L.K.; Mitsunaga, T. (2 November 2011). "Indonesian Kepel Fruit (Stelechocarpus burahol) as Oral Deodorant". Research Journal of Medicinal Plants. 6 (2): 180–188. doi:10.3923/rjmp.2012.180.188. ISSN 1819-3455. OCLC 761052058. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
• Arief Rahman Hakim; Indah Purwantini; Purwantiningsih (2010). "Antihyperuricemic activity of the Kepel [Stelechocarpus burahol (Bl.) Hook. F. & Th.] leaves extract and xanthine oxidase inhibitory study" (PDF). International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2 (2): 123–127. ?[SOURCE - RETRIVED FROM ON 3/17/2018]
Seeds can be obtained from Tradewinds, and here is their catalog description, 2444 - Stelechocarpus burahol - Kepel
An rare relative in the Annonaceae family (cherimoya, sugar apple). Bears brown fruits about the size of an orange, with highly aromatic flesh that has a passing taste resemblance to fruity-coconut. Fruits are born directly from the trunk. A large tree and is ultra-tropical, will not stand frosts or temperatures below 50F for any extended period of time.
[4] Can Our Planet Survive?—Forests,
[5] What Moves Many People to Consider the Existence of a Creator?
[6] BIBLE QUESTIONS ANSWERED, Why Is Jesus Called the Son of God?
[7] BIBLE QUESTIONS ANSWERED, Can the Devil Control Humans?
READ MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG
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Re: Scripture of the Day
MAKING THE MOST OF LIFE TODAY, THIS VOL 913B, [1] INTERESTING SOURCE FOR READING THE BIBLE ON LINE, AND [b]IMITATE THEIR FAITH | JOSEPH, [/b]“Do Not Interpretations Belong to God?” [2] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY, A LINK TO A DATA SERIES ON MANY SUBJECTS, NTRODUCTION TO MICAH, A BIBLE STUDY, AND 3 VIDEOS, [3] GOD ALWAYS EXISTED AND HAS NO MOTHER: [4] BIBLE QUESTIONS ANSWERED, What Does the Bible Say About Pornography and Cybersex?
[5] MARRIAGE & FAMILY, Pornography Can Shatter Your Marriage. [6] BIBLE QUESTIONS ANSWERED, What Does the Bible Say About Pornography and Cybersex? [7] PORNOGRAPHY—HARMLESS OR TOXIC?
(1A) READ THE BIBLE ON LINE:
(1B) [b]IMITATE THEIR FAITH | JOSEPH, [/b]“Do Not Interpretations Belong to God?”
COMBINATION OF [2] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [3] GOD ALWAYS EXISTED AND HAS NO MOTHER:
[2] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [913B]
‘Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. ‘ Ecclesiastes 11:9, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
Yes rejoice just as shown at Deuteronomy 16:11, [AV] “And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.” Remember Job 31:7, [AV] “If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;” but keep walking only in the way of the Lord.”
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VIDEO - Pray Anytime, GO TO:
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VIDEO – HELP OTHERS, GO TO:
[2] GOD ALWAYS EXISTED AND HAS NO MOTHER:
There are some who say that God (YHWH) has a mother, but that is an absurdity as shall shortly be seen. How can God (YHWH) have a mother, he always existed “ Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” (Psalms 90:2 AV), and always in a spirit form, the Bible clearly says “ And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” (Exodus 33:20 AV) and “ Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:17 AV) he can not be seen by humans if they are to live and that he is invisible so to say he has a 'mother' is not only impossible but absurd. Now, with respect to his son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) that is indeed the case “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” (Luke 1:26-31 AV), and “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” (Matthew 1:22-25 AV). So when Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) was born of a virgin, she was NOT the mother of God (YHWH) [which as previously shown would be impossible and absurd], but the earthly mother of his son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves), who had a mission, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)" (Romans 5:12-17 AV), “ For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28 AV), “ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29 AV).
[4] BIBLE QUESTIONS ANSWERED, What Does the Bible Say About Pornography and Cybersex?
[5] MARRIAGE & FAMILY, Pornography Can Shatter Your Marriage.
[6] BIBLE QUESTIONS ANSWERED, What Does the Bible Say About Pornography and Cybersex?
[7] PORNOGRAPHY—HARMLESS OR TOXIC?
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG
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