Month: October 2018

Pillar in the Temple of My God

This is one of the promises for overcomers.

“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.”
Revelation 3:12 NKJV   (Greek, Strong’s G4769 – stulos)

There is a temple in heaven.

Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.
Revelation 11:19 NKJV

The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
Revelation 15:8 NKJV

Note that there is a throne in this temple.

Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”
Revelation 16:17 NKJV

Yet, there is no temple in the New Jerusalem.

But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
Revelation 21:22 NKJV

I have been puzzling over this seeming contradiction a long time. If I overcome, I get to be a pillar in God’s temple, and I won’t go out. But in the New Jerusalem there is no separate temple, “for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”

However this promise is fulfilled, it is going to be good!

But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV

Do you have thoughts how this will be fulfilled?

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Job – Be Careful Giving Advice

Job’s three friends came to comfort him in his affliction. Initially they did well, because they didn’t say anything.

11 When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.
Job 2:11-13 NKJV

But then they started talking, telling Job he had to have done something to deserve what had happened to him.

5 “For your iniquity teaches your mouth,
And you choose the tongue of the crafty.
6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;
Yes, your own lips testify against you.”
Job 15:5-6 NKJV

5 “Is not your wickedness great,
And your iniquity without end?
6 For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason,
And stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 You have not given the weary water to drink,
And you have withheld bread from the hungry.”
Job 22:5-7 NKJV

God was not happy with how Job’s friends had spoken.

7 And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. 8 Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord commanded them; for the Lord had accepted Job.
Job 42:7-9 NKJV

When we give advice, let us be sure it is good advice!

19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
James 1:19-20 NKJV

The heart of the righteous studies how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.
Proverbs 15:28 NKJV

Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
Proverbs 17:28 NKJV

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
James 3:1-5 NKJV

This is why my posts have lots of Bible quotes. I trust HIS Words far more than mine!

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Beware Being Wise In Your Own Eyes!

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
And prudent in their own sight!
Isaiah 5:21 NKJV

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.
Proverbs 3:5-7 NIV

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
Proverbs 3:7 NKJV

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But he who heeds counsel is wise.
Proverbs 12:15 NKJV

There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
Proverbs 14:12 NKJV

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
But the Lord weighs the spirits.
Proverbs 16:2 NKJV

Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18 NKJV

There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
Proverbs 16:25 NKJV

A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all wise judgment.
Proverbs 18:1 NKJV

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own esteem.
Proverbs 18:11 NKJV

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
But the Lord weighs the hearts.
Proverbs 21:2 NKJV

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Turn From Evil

“And to man He said,
‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
And to depart from evil is understanding.’ ”
Job 28:28 NKJV

But God will wound the head of His enemies,
The hairy scalp of the one who still goes on in his trespasses.
Psalms 68:21 NKJV

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
Proverbs 3:7 NKJV

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.”
Proverbs 8:13 NKJV

A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
Proverbs 13:19 NKJV

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.
Proverbs 14:27 NKJV

The way of life winds upward for the wise,
That he may turn away from hell below.
Proverbs 15:24 NKJV

In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
Proverbs 16:6 NKJV

The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
Proverbs 16:17 NKJV

A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,
But the simple pass on and are punished.
Proverbs 22:3 NKJV

1 THESSALONIANS 5:22

Abstain from all appearance of evil. (KJV)

Abstain from every form of evil. (NKJV ESV BSB NASB)

Stay away from every kind of evil. (NLT HCSB)

Keep away from every kind of evil. (ISV)

Other translations: BibleGateway, BibleHub

11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 NKJV

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Knowledge

13 Therefore my people have gone into captivity,
Because they have no knowledge;
Their honorable men are famished,
And their multitude dried up with thirst.
14 Therefore Sheol has enlarged itself
And opened its mouth beyond measure;
Their glory and their multitude and their pomp,
And he who is jubilant, shall descend into it.
15 People shall be brought down,
Each man shall be humbled,
And the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled.
16 But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment,
And God who is holy shall be hallowed in righteousness.
17 Then the lambs shall feed in their pasture,
And in the waste places of the fat ones strangers shall eat.
Isaiah 5:13-17 NKJV

Hosea 4:1-3 New King James Version (NKJV)

4 Hear the word of the Lord,
You children of Israel,
For the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land:

“There is no truth or mercy
Or knowledge of God in the land.
2 By swearing and lying,
Killing and stealing and committing adultery,
They break all restraint,
With bloodshed upon bloodshed.
3 Therefore the land will mourn;
And everyone who dwells there will waste away
With the beasts of the field
And the birds of the air;
Even the fish of the sea will be taken away.”

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.”
Hosea 4:6 NKJV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7 NKJV

The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
Proverbs 11:9 NKJV

Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,
But he who hates correction is stupid.
Proverbs 12:1 NKJV

A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.
Proverbs 12:23 NKJV

Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool lays open his folly.
Proverbs 13:16 NKJV

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
    but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
Proverbs 14:6 NIV
More translations: BibleGateway, BibleHub

6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it,
But knowledge is easy to him who understands.
7 Go from the presence of a foolish man,
When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
But the folly of fools is deceit.
Proverbs 14:6-8 NKJV

The simple inherit folly,
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
Proverbs 14:18 NKJV

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
Proverbs 15:14 NKJV

The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Proverbs 18:15 NKJV

Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary;
Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.
Proverbs 19:25 NKJV

The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,
But He overthrows the words of the faithless.
Proverbs 22:12 NKJV

5 A wise man is strong,
Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength;
6 For by wise counsel you will wage your own war,
And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.
10 If you faint in the day of adversity,
Your strength is small.
Proverbs 24:5-6, 10 NKJV

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

 

Be Strong in the Grace

I really like this verse!

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:1 NKJV
Other translations: BibleGateway, BibleHub

Grace is God’s gift that saves us.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV

 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 NKJV

4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:4-7 NKJV

Rest your hope fully on God’s grace.

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1 Peter 1:13 NKJV

Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus!

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

 

Promises: Peace and Security

I suppose that for most Christians, the most familiar Peace and Safety! / Peace and Security! Bible passage is the Day of the Lord Scripture in 1 Thessalonians 5.

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-10 NKJV

When man says, “Peace and safety,” beware. But I noticed reading through Jeremiah that three places God promises “Peace and security.” Hallelujah!

“‘So do not be afraid, Jacob my servant;
    do not be dismayed, Israel,’
declares the Lord.
‘I will surely save you out of a distant place,
    your descendants from the land of their exile.
Jacob will again have peace and security,
    and no one will make him afraid.’”
Jeremiah 30:10 NIV

“‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.’”
Jeremiah 33:6 NIV

“Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant;
    do not be dismayed, Israel.
I will surely save you out of a distant place,
    your descendants from the land of their exile.
Jacob will again have peace and security,
    and no one will make him afraid.”
Jeremiah 46:27 NIV

Will you have God’s peace and security?

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

 

Zedekiah Almost Believed

Zedekiah was king of Judah during part of the time Jeremiah was telling the people to repent and get right with God. I believe Zedekiah wanted to believe Jeremiah, and came close to believing him.

Jeremiah 38:14-18 New King James Version (NKJV)

14 Then Zedekiah the king sent and had Jeremiah the prophet brought to him at the third entrance of the house of the Lord. And the king said to Jeremiah, “I will ask you something. Hide nothing from me.”

15 Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “If I declare it to you, will you not surely put me to death? And if I give you advice, you will not listen to me.”

16 So Zedekiah the king swore secretly to Jeremiah, saying, “As the Lord lives, who made our very souls, I will not put you to death, nor will I give you into the hand of these men who seek your life.”

17 Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘If you surely surrender to the king of Babylon’s princes, then your soul shall live; this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your house shall live. 18 But if you do not surrender to the king of Babylon’s princes, then this city shall be given into the hand of the Chaldeans; they shall burn it with fire, and you shall not escape from their hand.’ ”

But Zedekiah chose the fear of man over the fear of the Lord.

And Zedekiah the king said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Jews who have defected to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they abuse me.”
Jeremiah 38:19 NKJV

To cut the story short, Zedekiah does not obey Jeremiah’s advice, and it ends horribly for him. This is one of the saddest passages in the Bible.

6 Then the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes in Riblah; the king of Babylon also killed all the nobles of Judah. 7 Moreover he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him with bronze fetters to carry him off to Babylon.
Jeremiah 39:6-7 NKJV

The Word of the Lord through Jeremiah came true.

“‘But if you do not surrender to the king of Babylon’s princes, then this city shall be given into the hand of the Chaldeans; they shall burn it with fire, and you shall not escape from their hand.’ ”
Jeremiah 38:18 NKJV

We are to learn from the Old Testament stories.

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
1 Corinthians 10:11 NKJV

The story of Zedekiah proves this scripture!

The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.
Proverbs 29:25 NKJV

Jesus said this.

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Matthew 10:28 NKJV

Oh, run to safety!

The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe.
Proverbs 18:10 NKJV

Does God consider you righteous? Are you safe?

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

KJV – NIV Revelation Different Greek Text?

Reading Revelation in my NIV last night, I noticed what is to me a major difference in the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and Revelation 3. In the KJV, NKJV, and other translations, all seven letters begin with a form of, “I know thy works.” But in the NIV, only five of the seven begin that way. (“I know your deeds.” -NIV) I was prepared to be quite hard on the NIV for these difference, but now having done a little research, I’m not so sure.

Here is Revelation 2:9, the first of the differences.

“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”
Revelation 2:9 NKJV

“I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”
Revelation 2:9 NIV

Other translations: BibleGateway, BibleHub

Here is Revelation 2:13, the second difference.

“I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.”
Revelation 2:13 NKJV

“I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.”
Revelation 2:13 NIV

Other translations: BibleGateway, BibleHub

It appears many to most translations of these verses do not have a form of “I know thy works.” Is this another case where a monk’s notes were erroneously copied into later copies of of the text, and became part of the Texts Receptus? I don’t know. There appear to be significant differences in the Greek texts of Revelation 2:9.

Greek Texts

SBL Greek New Testament 2010
Οἶδά σου τὴν θλῖψιν καὶ τὴν πτωχείαν, ἀλλὰ πλούσιος εἶ, καὶ τὴν βλασφημίαν ἐκ τῶν λεγόντων Ἰουδαίους εἶναι ἑαυτούς, καὶ οὐκ εἰσίν, ἀλλὰ συναγωγὴ τοῦ Σατανᾶ.

Nestle Greek New Testament 1904
Οἶδά σου τὴν θλῖψιν καὶ τὴν πτωχείαν, ἀλλὰ πλούσιος εἶ, καὶ τὴν βλασφημίαν ἐκ τῶν λεγόντων Ἰουδαίους εἶναι ἑαυτούς, καὶ οὐκ εἰσίν ἀλλὰ συναγωγὴ τοῦ Σατανᾶ.

Westcott and Hort 1881
Οἶδά σου τὴν θλίψιν καὶ τὴν πτωχείαν, ἀλλὰ πλούσιος εἶ, καὶ τὴν βλασφημίαν ἐκ τῶν λεγόντων Ἰουδαίους εἶναι ἑαυτούς, καὶ οὐκ εἰσίν, ἀλλὰ συναγωγὴ τοῦ Σατανᾶ.

Westcott and Hort / [NA27 variants]
Οἶδά σου τὴν θλίψιν καὶ τὴν πτωχείαν, ἀλλὰ πλούσιος εἶ, καὶ τὴν βλασφημίαν ἐκ τῶν λεγόντων Ἰουδαίους εἶναι ἑαυτούς, καὶ οὐκ εἰσίν, ἀλλὰ συναγωγὴ τοῦ Σατανᾶ.

RP Byzantine Majority Text 2005
Οἴδά σου τὰ ἔργα καὶ τὴν θλίψιν καὶ τὴν πτωχείαν, ἀλλὰ πλούσιος εἴ· καὶ τὴν βλασφημίαν ἐκ τῶν λεγόντων Ἰουδαίους εἴναι ἑαυτούς, καὶ οὐκ εἰσίν, ἀλλὰ συναγωγὴ τοῦ Σατανᾶ.

Greek Orthodox Church 1904
οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα καὶ τὴν θλῖψιν καὶ τὴν πτωχείαν· ἀλλὰ πλούσιος εἶ· καὶ τὴν βλασφημίαν ἐκ τῶν λεγόντων Ἰουδαίους εἶναι ἑαυτούς, καὶ οὐκ εἰσὶν, ἀλλὰ συναγωγὴ τοῦ σατανᾶ.

Tischendorf 8th Edition
εἴδω σύ ὁ θλῖψις καί ὁ πτωχεία ἀλλά πλούσιος εἰμί καί ὁ βλασφημία ἐκ ὁ λέγω Ἰουδαῖος εἰμί ἑαυτοῦ καί οὐ εἰμί ἀλλά συναγωγή ὁ Σατανᾶς

Scrivener’s Textus Receptus 1894
Οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα καὶ τὴν θλῖψιν καὶ τὴν πτωχείαν, πλούσιος δὲ εἶ· καὶ τὴν βλασφημίαν τῶν λεγόντων Ἰουδαίους εἶναι ἑαυτούς, καὶ οὐκ εἰσὶν, ἀλλὰ συναγωγὴ τοῦ Σατανᾶ.

Stephanus Textus Receptus 1550
Οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα καὶ τὴν θλῖψιν καὶ τὴν πτωχείαν πλούσιος δὲ εἶ καὶ τὴν βλασφημίαν τῶν λεγόντων Ἰουδαίους εἶναι ἑαυτούς καὶ οὐκ εἰσὶν ἀλλὰ συναγωγὴ τοῦ Σατανᾶ

But thanks, NIV, for prompting me to dig deeper in the Word. 🙂

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.