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This Commentary is based on 40+ years of daily Bible reading by the editor, comparing English translations with biblical languages, along with the work of respected scholars. Scripture passages often appear in the top portion of each post (most translator supplements are in [brackets]) Scroll down to see commentary in the numbered footnotes. Use the "search this blog" feature located in the side bar (top right) to find commentary on scripture passages or books of the Bible.
Are Bible Promises of Healing for Today? Exodus 15:26
Can New Testament Christians believe Bible promises for healing? ABSOLUTELY!
Healing: We Have God's Promise, Deuteronomy 7:15
I will take away thee ALL sickness...In Deut 7:15 We have a promise in the Word of God that He will take away from us ALL sickness. Bible promises of healing are not unconditional, but they are promises non-the less. And they were not just for God's people in the Old Testament.
No Pity : God of Mercy God of Wrath...? Deuteronomy 7:16
In light of scripture which tells us God does not Change, how do we reconcile the God of the Old Testament who commands his people to have NO PITY upon the people of the land they were commanded to possess, with the God of the New Testament who says, Blessed are the merciful?
2 Thessalonians 2:1-13 A Time of Departing
Can a Christian Fall Away? This question is explored beginning at 2 Thessalonians chapter two which speaks of a falling away in which those who fall away will receive no other chances for repentence.
Millennial Priesthood Isaiah 2:03
For out of Zion will go forth the law and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem....Isaiah 2:3
During the first 1000 years of Christ's reign (and beyond), Israel will be the head nation and will be responsible for flooding the earth with the knowledge of Christ.
Those who survive the great tribulation and the judgment of the nations will know who the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is--but they will be giving birth to children who did not have first hand knowledge (as they will have) of these things. They will be responsible for teaching their children, and the teachings they will be passing on to their children will be coming out of Jerusalem.
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Zechariah all tell us that the millennial worship of the Lord will include Holy Days, Sabbaths and Sacrifices (Isaiah 56:7, Jeremiah 33:17-18, 66:22-23, Ezekiel 40:38, Zechariah 14:11).
The sons of Zadok will be singled out and honored to serve as priests of the Lord during this time (Levites of other lineage will serve as ministers but will not come close to the Lord by offering sacrifices), but exactly who are the sons of Zadok, and why are they chosen to be honored so?
Zadok was descended from Phinehas who was the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron. (Exodus 6:23-25, 1 Chronicles 24:3, 1 Chronicles 6:50-53).
Both of these men (both Phinehas and Zadok) distinguished themselves greatly in the eyes of the Lord--and God doesn't overlook or forget about those who love and obey him--ever .
Just as David was promised that he would never lack a man to sit on his throne, because Phinehas dared to stand for the Lord when no one else would (Numbers 25:6-9), he was promised an everlasting priesthood (the King James Bible is the only version that I know of that is consistent in translating the "everlastings." They are found throughout the Word of God in reference to the millenium and beyond--see "Bible Versions" in the navigation bar)
Among the descendants of Phinehas, the sons of Zadok were singled out to be the recipients of the everlasting priesthood and serve in the millenial temple (Zadok was a priest during the reign of David who distinguished himself by staying true to the Lord while others of the priestly line went astray ( Ezekiel 12-15, 1 Chronicles 24:3).
During the first 1000 years of Christ's reign (and beyond), Israel will be the head nation and will be responsible for flooding the earth with the knowledge of Christ.
Those who survive the great tribulation and the judgment of the nations will know who the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is--but they will be giving birth to children who did not have first hand knowledge (as they will have) of these things. They will be responsible for teaching their children, and the teachings they will be passing on to their children will be coming out of Jerusalem.
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Zechariah all tell us that the millennial worship of the Lord will include Holy Days, Sabbaths and Sacrifices (Isaiah 56:7, Jeremiah 33:17-18, 66:22-23, Ezekiel 40:38, Zechariah 14:11).
The sons of Zadok will be singled out and honored to serve as priests of the Lord during this time (Levites of other lineage will serve as ministers but will not come close to the Lord by offering sacrifices), but exactly who are the sons of Zadok, and why are they chosen to be honored so?
Zadok was descended from Phinehas who was the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron. (Exodus 6:23-25, 1 Chronicles 24:3, 1 Chronicles 6:50-53).
Both of these men (both Phinehas and Zadok) distinguished themselves greatly in the eyes of the Lord--and God doesn't overlook or forget about those who love and obey him--ever .
Just as David was promised that he would never lack a man to sit on his throne, because Phinehas dared to stand for the Lord when no one else would (Numbers 25:6-9), he was promised an everlasting priesthood (the King James Bible is the only version that I know of that is consistent in translating the "everlastings." They are found throughout the Word of God in reference to the millenium and beyond--see "Bible Versions" in the navigation bar)
Among the descendants of Phinehas, the sons of Zadok were singled out to be the recipients of the everlasting priesthood and serve in the millenial temple (Zadok was a priest during the reign of David who distinguished himself by staying true to the Lord while others of the priestly line went astray ( Ezekiel 12-15, 1 Chronicles 24:3).
Ephesians 6:12 Spiritual Warfare
A random segment of Sharecropper Christian Radio that features a bible study on Spiritual Warfare (the armour of God) followed by a short Bible dramatization.
Book of Revelation Video Series
New "Book of Revelation" video series has been started at:
http://the-bookofrevelation.blogspot.com/
Add your email to the form in sidebar to subscribe to the studies or to update your subscription to receive notices and links to the video studies.
http://the-bookofrevelation.blogspot.com/
Add your email to the form in sidebar to subscribe to the studies or to update your subscription to receive notices and links to the video studies.
Links to studies not on this or the Revelation site for: Rev 1:10, Rev 2:1-6, Rev 5:1-5, Rev 6, Rev 7:1-3, Rev 12:12, Rev 19:7-9, Rev 22:19
Armageddon, Book of Revelation Studies, Great Tribulation, Jacob's Trouble, Rapture: Rev 01:10, Rev 02:1-6, Rev 05:1-5, Rev 06, Rev 07:1-3, Rev 12:12, Rev 19:7-9, Rev 22:19
- http://hungryheartsministries.blogspot.com/2007/07/wrath-to-come-1212-revelation.html
- http://hungryheartsministries.blogspot.com/2007/07/do-not-take-away-even-one.html
- http://hungryheartsministries.blogspot.com/2007/07/wedding-supper-of-lamb-revelation-197-9.html
- http://hungryheartsministries.blogspot.com/2007/07/four-angels-four-winds-revelation-71-3.html
- http://hungryheartsministries.blogspot.com/2007/07/four-horseman-of-apocalypse-revelation.html
- http://hungryheartsministries.blogspot.com/2007/07/when-will-we-rule-reign-with-christ.html
- http://hungryheartsministries.blogspot.com/2007/07/pray-that-ye-may-escaperevelation-51-5.html
- http://hungryheartsministries.blogspot.com/2007/07/when-we-do-right-but-were-not-right-021.html
- http://hungryheartsministries.blogspot.com/2007/07/lords-day-revelation-110.html
Bible Version Q & A
Question: Isn’t the New King James Version essentially the same as the KING JAMES VERSION only without the "Thee's and Thou's?"
Answer: No. The Old Testament of the KING JAMES VERSION, and a few other versions, is translated from the Ben Chayyim Masoretic Text, which was edited by a Born Again Masorite Jew, and the New Testament of the KJV is translated from the Greek Textus Receptus, (also known as Majority or Received Text). Many Christians are surprised to find, that in spite of the misleading title, the texts underlying the NKJV are not the same Greek and Hebrew texts the KJV is translated from...
Just as Hort and Westcott rejected the Majority/Received Text for their Greek New Testament, and chose instead deeply flawed Egyptian Minority texts, the translators of the New King James Version rejected the Ben Chayyim Masoretic text for the Old Testament and chose instead a Masoretic text that differs significantly from the text the King James Version was translated from.
In addition to using differing texts in translating the Old Testament portion of the NKJV, the Egyptian Minority texts were consulted and used to some extent in the New testament portion. Although the translators attempted to retain the familiar rhyme and rhythm of the KING JAMES VERSION, and it does adhere in places to the Received Text *it does not entirely do so. It is deceptive to lead the readers of the NKJV into believing they are reading the same Bible as the KJV--only without the thee's an thou's--when in reality they are not.
Question: Who are Hort and Westcott?
Answer: Professor Fenton John Anthony Hort and Bishop Brooke Foss Westcott were the [human] driving forces behind the Revised Standard Version (RSV).
These two Anglicans formulated the theory that the Received text (Third Edition--which the N.T. of KING JAMES VERSION is translated from) is full of errors (it is not) and that the Egyptian Minority Texts (that they based their Greek New Testament on) were pure texts and completely error-free (a preposterous claim that no one today takes seriously). Their theory is known as The Hort Westcott Theory. Today, the Greek text they created (or one virtually identical to it) is used to train ministers in almost every English speaking Bible college.
Facts pertaining to both Hort and/or Westcott:
Answer: No. The Old Testament of the KING JAMES VERSION, and a few other versions, is translated from the Ben Chayyim Masoretic Text, which was edited by a Born Again Masorite Jew, and the New Testament of the KJV is translated from the Greek Textus Receptus, (also known as Majority or Received Text). Many Christians are surprised to find, that in spite of the misleading title, the texts underlying the NKJV are not the same Greek and Hebrew texts the KJV is translated from...
Just as Hort and Westcott rejected the Majority/Received Text for their Greek New Testament, and chose instead deeply flawed Egyptian Minority texts, the translators of the New King James Version rejected the Ben Chayyim Masoretic text for the Old Testament and chose instead a Masoretic text that differs significantly from the text the King James Version was translated from.
In addition to using differing texts in translating the Old Testament portion of the NKJV, the Egyptian Minority texts were consulted and used to some extent in the New testament portion. Although the translators attempted to retain the familiar rhyme and rhythm of the KING JAMES VERSION, and it does adhere in places to the Received Text *it does not entirely do so. It is deceptive to lead the readers of the NKJV into believing they are reading the same Bible as the KJV--only without the thee's an thou's--when in reality they are not.
Question: Who are Hort and Westcott?
Answer: Professor Fenton John Anthony Hort and Bishop Brooke Foss Westcott were the [human] driving forces behind the Revised Standard Version (RSV).
These two Anglicans formulated the theory that the Received text (Third Edition--which the N.T. of KING JAMES VERSION is translated from) is full of errors (it is not) and that the Egyptian Minority Texts (that they based their Greek New Testament on) were pure texts and completely error-free (a preposterous claim that no one today takes seriously). Their theory is known as The Hort Westcott Theory. Today, the Greek text they created (or one virtually identical to it) is used to train ministers in almost every English speaking Bible college.
Facts pertaining to both Hort and/or Westcott:
- Involvement in the occult (séances etc.)
- Professed disbelief in either the divine inspiration of scripture or the deity and physical resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- Hated the idea of the blood atonement, hence preference for manuscripts which deleted references to both the blood and deity of Christ (see insidious footnotes, omissions and changes to Colossians 1:14 and 1 Timothy 3:16 in most Bibles).
Hort and Westcott were likely unsaved men. No one can be saved who denies either the Deity or the resurrection of Jesus Christ (see John 8:24, Romans 10:9-10,13).
Their scholarship and fitness for handling the Word of God was challenged by godly scholars of their day. And godly scholars, today, continue to stand against the heresy that has flooded the church as a result of the translations based on the Greek New Testament text these two unregenerate men produced. In more recent years, many have attempted to distance themselves from the flawed Hort Wescott Greek New Testament, but the United Bible Society's Nestle-Aland Greek text (used in its stead) is virtually identical to it (approximately 85% identical).
This means that almost every modern Version--including the New King James Version--is heavily influenced by the work of two men who demonstrated no fear of God nor respect for his Word during the course of their lifetimes.
Question: Why should we trust the Received Text the New Testament that the KJV and a few other versions are based upon (Young's and Green to name a few)?
Answer: Although all Bible translations are flawed to some extent due to human fallibility, the New Testament of the King James Version is based on texts that can be traced to Apostolic times. There are over 5000 extant (existing in their original forms) copies of Majority/Received Text manuscripts, texts and versions available today that exhibit the agreement needed to be considered reliable. These texts come from all over the world and can be traced to many different time periods--including the time period of the the early church.
The Received Text is not riddled with errors, but that claim is made with accuracy in connection with the Minority Texts, which not only exhibit obvious errors but contradict both one another and the Majority Texts in denying the blood atonement, deity, and virgin birth of Christ (without which eternal life for all who accept Jesus as Savior would be impossible).
A copy of, MY BIBLE DOESN'T SAY THAT!, discusses the Bible version debate and deals with textual issues in detail. It is currently available only as a bonus book included in the first edition of, REDEMPTION: Bible Prophecy Simplified..
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Their scholarship and fitness for handling the Word of God was challenged by godly scholars of their day. And godly scholars, today, continue to stand against the heresy that has flooded the church as a result of the translations based on the Greek New Testament text these two unregenerate men produced. In more recent years, many have attempted to distance themselves from the flawed Hort Wescott Greek New Testament, but the United Bible Society's Nestle-Aland Greek text (used in its stead) is virtually identical to it (approximately 85% identical).
This means that almost every modern Version--including the New King James Version--is heavily influenced by the work of two men who demonstrated no fear of God nor respect for his Word during the course of their lifetimes.
Question: Why should we trust the Received Text the New Testament that the KJV and a few other versions are based upon (Young's and Green to name a few)?
Answer: Although all Bible translations are flawed to some extent due to human fallibility, the New Testament of the King James Version is based on texts that can be traced to Apostolic times. There are over 5000 extant (existing in their original forms) copies of Majority/Received Text manuscripts, texts and versions available today that exhibit the agreement needed to be considered reliable. These texts come from all over the world and can be traced to many different time periods--including the time period of the the early church.
The Received Text is not riddled with errors, but that claim is made with accuracy in connection with the Minority Texts, which not only exhibit obvious errors but contradict both one another and the Majority Texts in denying the blood atonement, deity, and virgin birth of Christ (without which eternal life for all who accept Jesus as Savior would be impossible).
A copy of, MY BIBLE DOESN'T SAY THAT!, discusses the Bible version debate and deals with textual issues in detail. It is currently available only as a bonus book included in the first edition of, REDEMPTION: Bible Prophecy Simplified..
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Do you have the assurance
of knowing that if you died today, you have Eternal
Life?
The Midnight Cry: Matthew 25:1-13
"And at midnight, there was a cry made Behold the bridegroom comes go ye out to meet him...and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut...Watch therefore for you know neither the day nor the hour the Son of Man comes Matthew 25:1-13."
In Matthew 25:1-13, the bridegroom is Jesus. The text says the bridegroom is the Son of Man—Jesus --Matthew 25:10-13.
The context also tells us that it is the virgins--not the Bride--to whom the Midnight Cry is being made --Matthew 25:6-7.
So the question is, Who are the virgins?
A companion verse that interprets Matthew 25 is Psalm 45:14-15: “And the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.”
The virgins are the companions of The Bride!
The companions of the bride are those who will come to Christ during The Great Tribulation. Note that Psalm 45 says the Bride's companions will follow after. Old Covenant believers are not part of that special group saved during the Age of Grace--the time of Christ In You--known as The Church, and neither are those who come to Christ during the Time of Jacob's Trouble/The Great Tribulation.
It is often, but erroneously taught that the “Midnight Cry” of Matthew Twenty-five is synonymous with the “Shout” in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 [where Jesus descends from Heaven to raise the dead and catch up the living]. But the Midnight Cry is not being made to the Bride--the Church. It is being made to her companions who follow after.
Jesus is not a polygamous husband. He has only one bride--one Church. And he cleaves only to her. Matthew twenty-five speaks of multiple virgins. These are not Christ's Bride --Psalms 45:14-15.
The King (Christ) will bring his daughter (his Bride/Church--Believers are both Children of God and the Bride of Christ) into his palace which is even now being prepared in Heaven --John 14:2. The companions of the King's Daughter/Bride will be brought to the King later --1 Thessalonians, 4:16-18, Psalm 45:14, Matthew 25:6-13.
Jesus is coming for his Bride. And he is coming for her companions as well...but not for both at the same time.
Look closely at what Jesus said concerning his coming, “...as in the days of Noah...so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be --Matthew 24:37-39.
Just as he brought Noah and his family into the ark before judgment fell in the form of the flood, the Son of Man is coming for his Bride before he sends judgment on a world that has rejected him.
As in the days of Noah....
It is wise not to disregard the references our Lord makes to "the Days of Noah." That statement is multi-faceted and rich, referring to much more than simply the sinful, carefree, lifestyles Noah's contemporaries continued in even as devastating judgment bore down upon them.
We must be careful to observe that in the days of Noah, the righteous were brought into the ark of safety "before" judgment came. We must also note that the door to that ark remained open for a short time...it seems that others could have come on board during that time (??) though they did not. And then the door was shut. --Genesis 7:1-10.
At midnight a cry was made....
After the bridegroom (Jesus) comes for his Bride, the door to the ark—as in the days of Noah—will remain open for a short time. This is so the virgins, the companions of the bride, who will follow after her (Psalms 45:14-15) can also be brought in.
The word of God says that every word of scripture is pure and good for reproof, rebuke, exhortation, and instruction in righteousness...every word. That is why we pay attention to words Jesus chooses, words like, “as in the days of Noah,” and words like “midnight.”
Midnight means "halfway through the night."
What is significant about this? In John 9:4, Jesus said he must work the works of him that sent him while it is day. For the “night” was coming in which no one could work.
In this passage, Jesus made references to light, day, and night that provide us with insight into the pre-appointed times and seasons the Bible speaks of. It is in John 9:4, that Jesus defines the word "midnight" for us.
The “night,” Jesus refers to, is the calamitous night of wrath and judgment that is coming on all who dwell upon the face of the earth. In Luke 21:35, Jesus called it a snare and warned everyone to pray that they would be counted worthy to escape all of the devastation that would be coming upon the inhabitants of the earth.
Jesus said that he is the light of the world, and in Matthew 5:14 he told his followers that we are the light of the world. Jesus is the light of the world through his followers. When Jesus is no longer in the world through his followers, the inhabitants of the earth will find themselves trapped in the season he calls night.
So, has the night already come? The time when Jesus said no one can work? If that is the case, then why are all who name the name of Christ working right now? It is because he is here. Jesus is still in the kosmos (the earth and its systems), because he dwells within all who belong to him, and we are still here. Our bodies are his temple.
It is because of this, that his followers are also the light of the world Matthew 5:14-16. Isn’t that amazing?
It is still day. Jesus still lives in those whose bodies are his dwelling place here on earth.
So, when will the "night" begin?
The “night” will begin when Jesus exits earth...by removing his followers.
He entered the world when he was born of a virgin --Hebrews 1:6. He remains in the world because he lives in those who belong to him --John 14:16-18. And he will leave the world when he descends from Heaven, with a shout, to raise the dead and catch up the living bodies of all those who are "in Him"—His Bride/His Church --1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Romans 8:23, 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7.
After those whose bodies are his temple have been brought to King Jesus (at the harpazo: 1 Thessalonians 4:17, 1 Corinthians 15:51), he will no longer be in the world in the way described in Acts chapter two and in the way he described in John 9:4-5. By his own definition, night, will have officially begun.
So, when is midnight?
Midnight is halfway through the night—which Jesus said would begin the moment he was no longer in the world—that means, that by midnight, his Bride will have exited with him --John 9:4-5, Matthew 5:14-16,1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7.
But the exodus of Christ’s Bride does not signify the end. He will return for the virgins her companions who will follow after. At the mid-way point, half-way through the night—midnight—Jesus says a cry will be made to the virgins--the Bride's companions.
These virgins will come to Christ after the Bride is caught out at the resurrection and catching up. They will be redeemed out of the Time of Jacob’s Trouble at or just before its inauguration, which will be heralded by the appearance of the "Abomination of Desolation" that will be set up in the Holy of Holies in Jerusalem --Daniel 9:27, Matthew 13:13, Matthew 24:15 John 3:29, Revelation 14:1-4, 7:4.
At this time, the companions will follow after and go with the bridegroom into Heaven where the marriage but not the reception (the marriage feast) will take place.
After the virgins--the Bride's companions--join her with the Bridegroom, the door to the wedding will be shut (Psalm 45:14, Matthew 25:6-13, Genesis 7:16).
The inhabitants of earth will be trapped in that horrendous time Jesus called "Night" and Joel called a Day of Clouds and of Thick Darkness. All who hope to survive without losing their souls must endure to the end to be saved (Matthew 10:22, 24:9-13).
This devastating time is called by various other names, including the Great Tribulation, the Time of the Nations, and the Time of Jacob's Trouble (Ezekiel 30:3, Joel 2:1-2)
Jesus is coming for his bride. And he is coming for her before the night begins. When he returns to earth, at the battle of Armageddon, His Wife will be coming out of Heaven with him. The virgins, her companions, will be returning with them as well. And after that, a reception--a marriage feast—the likes of which this world has never seen—will be held here on earth --Matthew 22.
You do not want to miss it.
If you haven’t received one yet, consider this your invitation to the wedding. It will be the biggest event in the history of the universe.
Romans 10:9-10,13 tells how to send your RSVP. Better look it up in a King James Bible though, most other versions tamper with the instructions.
Author and speaker, Jocelyn Andersen, is an eclectic Christian writer. She is a Bible teacher who writes about many subjects including Bible prophecy and equality of the sexes. She is best known for her advocacy in domestic violence awareness. Her book, Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence, has been a staple in the library of resources on that subject.
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James 5:1-3 Gold and Siver Can Rust??
There is a passage located in the book of James which refers to the rust of gold and silver. It all sounds well and good. The lesson is clear. We should not love money. We should not allow gold and silver to become our gods. But there is a serious problem with this passage, at least some say there is a problem, and that is the fact that gold and silver do not rust!
Except...in the case of nuclear fallout. Nuclear fallout can cause both gold and silver to rust.
Isn't it wonderful that the Bible is never wrong?
Except...in the case of nuclear fallout. Nuclear fallout can cause both gold and silver to rust.
Isn't it wonderful that the Bible is never wrong?
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