Proverbs 3

Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 

2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.

 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 

4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 

6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 

8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 

10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

 11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, 

12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. 

13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, 

14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 

15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 

17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 

18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. 

19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; 20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. 

21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; 

22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. 

23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.

 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 

25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, 

26 for the LORD will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared. 

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. 

28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you.

 29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. 

30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason— when they have done you no harm.

31 Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways. 

32 For the LORD detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence. 

33 The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. 

34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed. 

35 The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame.

Proverbs 2

Moral Benefits of Wisdom

1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— 3 indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, 8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. 9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. 11 Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. 12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, 13 who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways, 14 who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, 15 whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways. 16 Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words, 17 who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God. 18 Surely her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead. 19 None who go to her return or attain the paths of life. 20 Thus you will walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; 22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

Proverbs 1

Proverbs

Chapter 1

1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; 3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,knowledge and discretion to the young— 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— 6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. 9 They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. 10 My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. 11 If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul; 12 let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; 13 we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; 14 cast lots with us; we will all share the loot”— 15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; 16 for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood. 17 How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it! 18 These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves! 19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.

Wisdom’s Rebuke

20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; 21 on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech: 22 “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? 23 Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. 24 But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, 25 since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, 26 I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you— 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. 28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, 29 since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD. 30 Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, 31 they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. 32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

“What is the meaning of the Parable of the Ten Virgins?”

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins/ 1822: Tate Gallery, London (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As we take a good look at the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), we must acknowledge up front that there has been much debate as to the meaning of these words of our Savior. At least one aspect of this parable can be known with absolute certainty. The bridegroom is Jesus Christ, and this parable describes His return. Both the Old Testament (Isaiah 54:4-6; 62:4-5; Hosea 2:19) and the New Testament (John 3:27-30; Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:19-20) represent the Messiah as a bridegroom. Both God’s people Israel and the Church are described in Scripture as the bride (Ephesians 5:25-32) for the Messiah.
The historical setting can also be known with a fair amount of certainty. In describing a first-century Jewish wedding, D.A. Carson in the Expositor’s Bible Commentary describes the setting this way: “Normally the bridegroom with some close friends left his home to go to the bride’s home, where there were various ceremonies, followed by a procession through the streets – after nightfall – to his home. The ten virgins may be bridesmaids who have been assisting the bride; and they expect to meet the groom as he comes from the bride’s house…Everyone in the procession was expected to carry his or her own torch. Those without a torch would be assumed to be party crashers or even brigands. The festivities, which might last several days, would formally get under way at the groom’s house.” The torch was either a lamp with a small oil tank and wick or a stick with a rag soaked in oil on the end of it which would require occasional re-soaking to maintain the flame.
Of interpretive significance is which return of Christ is this? Is it His return for the rapture of the Church, or is it His return to set up the Millennial Kingdom at the end of the Tribulation? Dispensational scholars divide over this issue, and no attempt will be made to answer that question here. Regardless of which return it is, the lessons to be learned are relevant to both.
The overall and easily seen thrust of the parable is that Christ will return at an unknown hour and that His people must be ready. Being ready means preparing for whatever contingency arises in our lives and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus at all times while we eagerly await His coming. As seen in the fact that all the virgins were sleeping when the call came indicates that it doesn’t matter what we are doing when Christ returns. We may be working, eating, sleeping, or pursuing leisure activities. Whatever it is, we must be doing it in such a way that we don’t have to “make things right” (get more oil) when He comes. This would apply to either the coming of Christ for His Church or for the Tribulation saints as they await His second coming.
Being ready for Christ’s return ultimately involves one major thing which manifests itself in several areas of our lives. If we would be ready for Christ’s return, we must be born again through saving faith in Jesus Christ…His death, burial and literal resurrection from the dead (John 3:16; 14:6; Romans 10:9 and 10; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 2:1-10). Saving faith in Jesus Christ will manifest itself in every aspect of our lives. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) will begin to show. A desire for greater holiness and less sin will be apparent. And a consistent looking for His coming will mark our lives. One of the best passages articulating what saving grace and faith look like in a believer’s life is Titus 2:11-14; “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
The five virgins who have the extra oil represent the truly born again who are looking with eagerness to the coming of Christ. They have saving faith and have determined that, whatever occurs, be it lengthy time or adverse circumstances, when Jesus returns, they will be looking with eagerness. The five virgins without the oil represent false believers who enjoy the benefits of the Christian community without true love for Christ. They are more concerned about the party than about longing to see the bridegroom. Their hope is that their association with true believers (“give us some of your oil” of verse 8) will bring them into the kingdom at the end. This, of course, is never the case. One person’s faith in Jesus cannot save another. The “Lord, lord” and “I do not know you” of verses 11 and 12 fit very well with Jesus’ condemnation of the false believers of Matthew 7:21-23; “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”
May we not be found “going away to make the purchase” (v. 10) when Christ returns. Take the time now to fill your lamp with oil and take extra along. Keep waiting and watching with joy and anticipation.
Recommended Resource: Parables of Jesus by James Montgomery Boice

Appearances Of The LORD God

Appearances Of The LORD God

by Wayne Blank

See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

A very plain statement, by the Messiah Himself, that He was the only man (after He was born as one, as we will get to) to have seen God the Father.

"1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." (John 1:18 KJV)
But, as we will read, many people, men and women, throughout Bible History (beginning right at the time of the creation of the first humans; see also The First Act Of Faith and How Many Days Of Creation Were There?) saw "the LORD God" ("LORD" is the English rendering of the four-lettered Hebrew Name for the God of the Israelites). Who was "the LORD God? Answer: "that Rock was Christ" and "neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents."

YHVH
"10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea [see The Night Crossing and Paul's Geography Lesson]; 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play [see The Mount Sinai Riot and The Stones Of Mount Sinai]. 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents." (1 Corinthians 10:1-4 KJV)

Jesus Christ (see A History Of Jerusalem: The Coming Of The Messiah) was "the LORD God," Who, upon His return (as we will read), is going to "judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom." Notice very carefully how the Scriptures speak of "God" (i.e. the Father) and "the Lord Jesus Christ" in "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ."

"4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom [see The True Gospel Of Christ]" (2 Timothy 4:1 KJV)


"The Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way"

Abram (later renamed as Abraham; see Abram and Sarai) was a righteous man, period (i.e. Abraham was not "Jew" or "gentile" - Jews didn't exist yet, and therefore there was no distinction between them in the time of Abraham). Abraham was a key ancestor of the Messiah to come (see What Did Jesus Christ Say About Abraham?), so "the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him."

Abraham and The Three Angels

"12:4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. 12:5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls [see What Does The Bible Really Say About Your Soul?] that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
12:6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land [see also The Sin Of Canaan]. 12:7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him." (Genesis 12:4-7 KJV)

Later, after He had changed Abram's name to Abraham, the LORD God appeared to announce the coming birth of Abraham's son Isaac (the LORD also destroyed Sodom at that time; see The LORD And The Two Angels and Why Did Lot's Wife Look Back?).

"18:1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 18:2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
18:3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: 18:4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: 18:5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant.

And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

18:6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah Sarah's Promise], and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.

18:7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. 18:8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat." (Genesis 18:1-8 KJV)

The LORD also appeared to Abraham's son Isaac during which He said "I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake" (keep note of the continuity of all of these verses - that continue right on into the "New" Testament; again see What Did Jesus Christ Say About Abraham?).

"26:17 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. 26:18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water [see also How Did The Flood Happen? and The Floods Brought By Christ], which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
26:19 And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. 26:20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. 26:21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. 26:22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.

26:23 And he went up from thence to Beersheba [see also The Negev Of Israel]. 26:24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.

26:25 And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well." (Genesis 26:17-25 KJV)

Jacob most-surely saw the LORD God when He changed Jacob's name to Israel (the photo shows the area near the Jabbok River where the name change occurred; see Where Jacob Became Israel). Jacob even named the place after what happened "I have seen God face to face" (keeping in mind that, centuries later, Jesus Christ said that no man has seen the Father).

The Jabbok River
"32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
32:29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name.

And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

32:30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." (Genesis 32:28-30 KJV)

Moses saw and spoke directly with "the LORD God" many times, beginning with the famous "burning bush" on Mount Sinai (see also Moses Of Midian).

"3:1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian [see also What Did The Elders Of Israel Do?]: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3:3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
3:4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses.

And he said, Here am I.

3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God." (Exodus 3:1-6 KJV)

After the establishment of the Levite priesthood (see The Origin Of The Levite Priesthood), "the LORD God" appeared as a demonstration of the authority that He gave His servants during their service to Him.

The Holy Place
"9:22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people [see The First Christian Church], and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
9:23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. 9:24 And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces." (Leviticus 9:22-24 KJV)

Jesus Christ, as the Lamb of God (the prophetic meaning and purpose of Passover) delivered His Blood Sacrifice to the Father to complete the atonement for sin (the prophetic meaning and purpose of the Day of Atonement). The Levite High Priest was a living prophecy of the Messiah delivering the blood sacrifice to the Most Holy Place i.e. the Throne of God. It is entirely understandable and appropriate then that "the LORD God" appeared in accompaniment of the Levitical High Priest into the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement ("I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat"; see Christ's Mercy Seat).

"16:2 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
16:3 Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. 16:4 He shall put on the holy linen coat [see Linen In History And Prophecy], and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre [see 'Raghead' Racism] shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. 16:5 And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

16:6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. 16:7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 16:8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat [see Sending Away The Escapades Goat]. 16:9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. 16:10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness." (Leviticus 16:2-10 KJV)

Many other people saw "the LORD God" when He appeared to them ("the angel of the LORD," as we will get to, wasn't a mere "angel" but rather an appearance of the LORD).

The Holy Scriptures
"6:12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
6:13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

6:14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?" (Judges 6:12-14 KJV)

The parents of Samson also saw "the angel of the LORD," but notice carefully the meaning of that term: "we have seen God," as in "the LORD God" (Jesus Christ said that no man, except Him, has seen the Father).

"13:16 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the LORD.
13:17 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?

13:18 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret? 13:19 So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wonderously; and Manoah and his wife looked on. 13:20 For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground. 13:21 But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.

13:22 And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

13:23 But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have showed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these.

13:24 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson [see Samson And Goliath, Yesterday And Today]: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him." (Judges 13:16-24 KJV)

The prophet / judge Samuel saw "the LORD God" numerous times, beginning when he was just a child (see Hannah's Dedication).

"3:19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 3:20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD [see The Prophets: Samuel]. 3:21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD." (1 Samuel 3:19-21 KJV)
While the angel Gabriel was sent to announce the birth of the Messiah to Mary ("1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary." Luke 1:26-27 KJV), the LORD God made the announcement to Joseph - the LORD's own about-to-become human stepfather.

Nazareth
"1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
1:20 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. 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 1:23 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.

1:24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS." (Matthew 1:18-25 KJV)

After His resurrection, "the LORD God" appeared to many people (e.g. "1:3 To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God" Acts 1:3 KJV). There were also appearances after His ascension, most-notably to the Pharisee Saul during his conversion (see The Crossing Of Philip And Saul).

"9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house [see Straight Street]; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 9:19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened.
Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 9:21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 9:22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ." (Acts 9:17-22 KJV)

The LORD God now awaits the time when the Father has appointed Him to return (see Times And Seasons).

"6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 6:12 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. 6:13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 6:15 Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen." (1 Timothy 6:11-16 KJV)
When the LORD God returns, "with power and great glory," He will bring about His Kingdom on Earth, as summed in the famous "swords into plowshares" prophecy ("4:2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4:3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." Micah 4:2-3 KJV; see A History Of Jerusalem: Zionism and A History Of Jerusalem: War And Peace).

The Light Of Heaven
"24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other [see When And Where Your Eternal Life Will Begin]." (Matthew 24:30 KJV)
"19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven [see Legions Of Men And Angels] followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING of kings, and LORD of lords.

19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 19:18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him [see Constantine's Crusades In History And Prophecy], with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." (Revelation 19:11-21 KJV)

Fact Finder: How is "the LORD God" also "the Word of God"?
See What Does Word of God Mean To You?

How Many Days Of Creation Were There?

How Many Days Of Creation Were There?

by Wayne Blank

See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan
While Genesis 1:1 is usually regarded as the beginning of the Holy Scriptures, the apostle John, as taught to him by Jesus Christ (e.g. see 'Before Abraham Was, I AM'), provided information for before "in the beginning." It explains exactly Who "let us" was in Genesis.

"1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God. 1:3 All things were made by him [see Christ The Creator]; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not ... 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-5,14 KJV)
The actual Hebrew word for the book of Genesis, pronounced bere-shith, means "in the beginning" - as found in the first words of the book.

"1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." (Genesis 1:1 KJV)
Was Genesis 1:1 the beginning of the first day? Or do Earth days apply only to Earth? Many have debated that point, just as they have debated when Satan's rebellion occurred. The "weaken the nations," as quoted below, was written in the time of Isaiah when Satan had already been on a destructive rampage on earth for many centuries. All that the Holy Bible reveals for certain is that Lucifer (which means Light Bringer) rebelled and became known as Satan (which means accuser) after the Earth had been created, and before, or while, there were only two humans, while they were yet in Eden.

"14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." (Isaiah 14:12-14 KJV)
As explained in the verses of John quoted above, the Word of God, Who was born as Jesus Christ, existed at that early time. Jesus Christ witnessed Satan's fall.

"10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." (Luke 10:18 KJV)
"On the seventh day God ended His work"

The first day on the newly-created earth began with darkness i.e. "the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep." That initial sequence is perhaps the primary reason that Biblical days begin with sunset - the first part of the day is night, followed by the light part of the day, as declared by "Let there be light."

Earth
"1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day." (Genesis 1:2-5 KJV)
Then, on the second day, the separation of the waters. All of the water was in the form of a vapor, a worldwide super-fog, extending high into the atmosphere. God's "hovering over the waters" in verse 2 describes His being above that gaseous-water atmosphere, not a liquid ocean - oceans and seas did not exist yet. God then caused most of the water to condense onto the cooling earth which simultaneously formed a whole-planet ocean and cleared the sky, or "heaven" (see Are We In Heaven Now?).

"1:6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 1:8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day." (Genesis 1:6-8 KJV)
On the third day, dry ground appeared as the further cooling of the surface set in motion a process of natural contraction, uplifting and motion of the crust (the process continues today, called "plate tectonics"). The earth changed from a smooth one-level, very-warm "cue ball" to a planet with an irregular surface with ocean basins and continental landmasses. With dry ground available, the first plants were made to grow in great abundance.

"1:9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 1:10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
1:11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 1:12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 1:13 And the evening and the morning were the third day." (Genesis 1:9-13 KJV)

On the fourth day, with the atmosphere now clear, the sun, moon and stars became clearly visible. They were to "serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years." The sun marked the day (sunset to sunset), the moon the month (new moon to new moon) and the stars the seasons.

"1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 1:15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 1:17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 1:18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 1:19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day." (Genesis 1:14-19 KJV)
On the fifth day, great numbers of birds and sea creatures. God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth."

"1:20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. 1:21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 1:22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. 1:23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day." (Genesis 1:20-23 KJV)
On the sixth day, animals, then humans - the last life form created.

"1:24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. 1:25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

1:28 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.

1:29 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. 1:30 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.

1:31 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 1:24-31 KJV)

And so, at the end of the sixth day, "the heavens and the earth were finished."

"2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them." (Genesis 2:1 KJV)
But was that the end of Creation? What still didn't exist at the end of the sixth day? Answer: the week and the Sabbath. The Hebrew word for week, pronounced sheb-oo-aw, means sevening, or to seven. The Creator completed His Creation "week" with the Seventh Day - that He made, created, "blessed" and "sanctified." Notice that "on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made" - His "work" that day was to create the Sabbath by resting.

"2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." (Genesis 2:2-3 KJV)
Fact Finder: As we've plainly read from the Word of God, it was Jesus Christ through Whom all things were created - including His Sabbath, which has been Christian literally from day seven. How has a deceived world turned its back on Christ's true Sabbath Day and instead made a "sun day" - a Satanic mockery of "let there be light" on the first day of the week?
See Why Observe The True Sabbath? and Do You Observe Christ's Sabbath Or Babylon's Sun Day?

Holy Week

Holy Week

The first day of April on the Roman calendar is known in some parts of the world as “April Fool’s Day,” or “All Fool’s Day.” It’s a day in which tricks are inflicted upon people to make a “fool” of them – although from the Bible perspective, the “fool” is actually perpetrator, not the victim:


“10:23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.” (Proverbs 10:23 KJV)


The origin of April Fool’s Day is obscure. Historians debate how and when it began, but it was obviously another consequence of the calendar change in which the start of the Roman calendar year was changed from around the spring equinox (as God‘s calendar always has, because it is based on Creation; see How Many Days Of Creation Were There?) to winter, thereby further withdrawing their calendar from God’s natural reality. Rome, in effect, replaced astronomy with pagan astrology.

The Empire and Church of Rome (see A History Of Jerusalem: Constantine and Muhammad) have turned numerous other calendar realities into illusions – from God’s true Christian calendar (see The First Act Of Faith and The First Christian Church) to Pope Gregory’s Calendar (see The Antichrist Calendar), from the true Christian Passover (see The Sacrifice Of Nisan 14 and The Cross Of Christ, Or The Cross Of Men?) to the Babylonian Ishtar/Easter, from the true Christian Sabbath (see Why Observe The True Sabbath?) to the Babylonian “Sunday” (see Constantine’s Crusades In History And Prophecy), the true early-autumn birthdate of the Messiah (see Does Rome Have Christ’s Birth Certificate?) to the time of the ancient Babylonian/Roman sun festival on December 25. Increasingly as well, Roman calendars blasphemously show “Sun day” as the seventh day (as in the illustration).




Calendar The English word “fool” originated from a Latin word, follus (folly and follies originated


from the same Latin word), which meant cheeks puffed out, or bellows, referring either to a mocking facial expression, or “foolish” words that are being loudly spoken i.e. bellowed. Later, the definition of “fool” included not only sound and appearance, but behavior in general i.e. “one who is destitute of reason; a person who acts absurdly, irrationally or unwisely.”

“Fool” is used to translate a number of different Hebrew and Greek words of the Holy Scriptures (see also Translation Of Translations), including:

the Hebrew word, pronounced saw-kawl, which means to play silly
the Hebrew word, pronounced naw-bawl, which means stupid, or wicked
the Hebrew word, pronounced kes-eel, which means loose-jowled, or silly
the Hebrew word, pronounced ev-eel, which means perverse
the Greek word, pronounced mo-rose, which means heedless
the Greek word, pronounced par-af-ron-eh-o, which means defective thinking
the Greek word, pronounced af-ros, which means foaming
the Greek word, pronounced as-oon-ay-tos, which means without understanding
“Every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man”

There are many who claim to be “Christian.” They may have built great “churches” and done many things in “Christ’s Name,” but unless it was all done according to what Christ actually taught, it’s a foolish waste, for “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 which is in heaven” (see also What’s Your Angle?).

The Holy Scriptures

“7:21 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 which is in heaven. 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 7:23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them [e.g. see Why Observe The True Sabbath?], I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 7:27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority [again, see Appearances Of The LORD God], and not as the scribes.” (Matthew 7:21-29 KJV)

The use of “fool” in Matthew 5:22 has been a matter of controversy for centuries. Does it mean that Christ’s people are not to call a foola “fool,” as Christ’s people, and Christ Himself, are recorded as themselves having done? No. The statement is more complex than just a matter of calling someone a fool.

The keys to understanding are (a) in the word “brother” – don’t call a fellow true Christian a “fool,” which is a blasphemy of the Holy Spirit in them (b) “without a cause” and (c) in uncontrolled anger, which is a spirit of murder, as Cain did to his brother Abel.

“5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire [see The Lake Of Fire Into An Ocean Of Fire – When?].5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” (Matthew 5:21-24 KJV)

The religious “authorities” were called fools because they made their activities at the Temple into a religious end in and of itself (see Is Your Religion Your Religion?), while ignoring the very purpose of the Temple – genuineworship and obedience to God.

The Pharisee and the Publican

“23:16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 23:17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? 23:18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. 23:19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 23:20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 23:21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 23:22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.” (Matthew 23:16-22 KJV)

The purpose of our physical lives is not to live as though our physical lives were an end in themselves (which they will be if we wasted our lives that way) – that’s what the religious “authorities” were doing in “their” Temple, as explained above. The parable of the “ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom” is about living our lives with the purposeof being ready for Christ’s return (see the Fact Finder question below).

“25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 25:5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.25:6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps [see also Lampstands Or Candlesticks?]. 25:8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

25:9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

25:10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

25:11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

25:12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 25:1-13 KJV)

The lesson of the parable of “the rich fool” is the same as for the virgins who went through life with empty lamps.

The Night

“12:15And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 12:17And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 12:19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

12:20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:15-21 KJV)

The Messiah plainly stated that foolishness itself is as evil as “adulteries, fornications, murders,” not merely a cause of other wickedness.

“7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mark 7:21-23 KJV)

After His resurrection, the Christ gently chided His people as “fools” (the original term was used in the context of a parent speaking to a child) for having been slow to learn their lessons (see also Their Eyes Opened After Christ’s Tomb Did).

“24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:25-27 KJV)