Pasted from https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=394579920561813&set=a.100181723334969.177.100000294243845&type=1&theater and https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=395182397168232&set=a.100181723334969.177.100000294243845&type=1&theater
Interestingly, a few
alert people aboard the Titanic sensed impending disaster. Why? Because the
ship was violating the most basic rules of sound seamanship. As one survivor
pointed out: “We understood all afternoon that we were breaking al...See More
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Chat-Hannah
Austria Layos likes this.
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James Edwards
Pamni So what do we do?
March 29 at 3:11pm · Unlike · 
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Shepherd Udobor HEED
THE WARNING! Of course, mere awareness of danger will not save a person from
the end of this world system, just as it did not save Mr. Hays on the Titanic.
The survivors of the Titanic were those who took the proper action in response
to warnings of danger.
For many, such action meant leaving a comfortable stateroom in the middle of the night to rush up to a chilly deck, clad only in a dressing gown. It meant strictly and humbly following the orders of stewards and crew to get into a small lifeboat, perhaps leaving a husband or a brother behind. It meant pulling away in that little boat from a ship described at the time as “a great fifteen-story floating palace, splendid and gigantic in every detail . . . with . . . great saloons and restaurants, a miniature theatre, squash and tennis courts, swimming pools and Turkish and electric baths; great smoking rooms, card rooms, beautiful music rooms, sun parlors, Winter gardens, palm courts, gymnasium, and . . . even a miniature golf links.” It meant giving up all that luxury and comfort for a hard seat in an open boat in a chilly sea. It meant, at least for those on the early lifeboats, overcoming the fear of ridicule by those who said they were “making fools of themselves” and would soon be sheepishly rowing back to the Titanic. Yes, even if you had heard the warning, heeding it might not have been easy! Heeding that warning called for determination, humility, a denial of materialism, and a spirit of self-sacrificing acceptance of hardship. But it was worth it! The alternative was a few more comfortable minutes, then death.
For many, such action meant leaving a comfortable stateroom in the middle of the night to rush up to a chilly deck, clad only in a dressing gown. It meant strictly and humbly following the orders of stewards and crew to get into a small lifeboat, perhaps leaving a husband or a brother behind. It meant pulling away in that little boat from a ship described at the time as “a great fifteen-story floating palace, splendid and gigantic in every detail . . . with . . . great saloons and restaurants, a miniature theatre, squash and tennis courts, swimming pools and Turkish and electric baths; great smoking rooms, card rooms, beautiful music rooms, sun parlors, Winter gardens, palm courts, gymnasium, and . . . even a miniature golf links.” It meant giving up all that luxury and comfort for a hard seat in an open boat in a chilly sea. It meant, at least for those on the early lifeboats, overcoming the fear of ridicule by those who said they were “making fools of themselves” and would soon be sheepishly rowing back to the Titanic. Yes, even if you had heard the warning, heeding it might not have been easy! Heeding that warning called for determination, humility, a denial of materialism, and a spirit of self-sacrificing acceptance of hardship. But it was worth it! The alternative was a few more comfortable minutes, then death.
March 29 at 4:10pm · Like
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James Edwards
Pamni In simple terms I thought accepting the window of
opportunity created for escape-Jesus Christ who is the way the truth and the
life. For there is no other way to be saved as no one comes to the father
except through him. Or is there any other way?
March 29 at 4:20pm · Unlike · 1
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Shepherd Udobor That's
correct! There is no other way except created by God through Jesus, who gave
warnings concerning the end of this system of things. This message is carried
by the Jehovah's witnesses to homes of those humble enough to listen and heed
the warnings. Moreover, they also carry a message of hope to all who obey Jesus
and follow the way he has directed.
March 29 at 4:31pm · Like
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Shepherd Udobor This
world system has been ‘sinking’ ever since 1914, when World War I began a
remarkable fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy found in the Bible at Matthew chapter
24, Luke chapter 21 and Mark chapter 13. Jesus put it this way: “Nation will
rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food
shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. All these things are a
beginning of pangs of distress.”—Matt 24:7, 8.
March 29 at 4:38pm · Like
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Shepherd Udobor As
Jesus went on to point out, those “pangs of distress” would be followed by
persecution of Christians, the rise of false prophets, increasing crime and
lawlessness, and the earth-wide preaching of the good news of God’s kingdom.
“And then,” said Jesus, “the end will come.”—Matt. 24:9-14.
March 29 at 4:51pm · Like
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James Edwards
Pamni The message is in the bible spread by faithful Christians
defined by the bible as where two or three are gathered in Jesus name. No group
has any exclusive preserve. Only the Holy Spirit. No body or group should think
they are standing as they will fall. Once one person or group think they are
the only on they are only opening door to Satan to derail them. Check the
history of all Christian groups from the early day and even that of witnesses
and you will understand what i know. Man and made organization can easily fall
by the way side the moment they start thinking they are those chosen by God. We
are saved as individuals not as groups. All groups are part of the world system
and will soon pass away with the world
March 29 at 4:59pm · Like
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James Edwards
Pamni 1914 is a false date created by Satan to deceive.
The Watchtower of Nov and Oct even confirmed that the date is incorrect by
secular chronology by which the actual date from the destruction of Jerusalem
would be 1934. There is no bible chronology different from secular chronology.
Check all the published bible chronologies and you would confirm that they are
the same as secular chronology. The bible affirms that no one knows that date
or time except the father. Let's keep to bible teachings and refuse to be
misled by organizational teachings.
March 29 at 5:48pm · Unlike · 1
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James Edwards
Pamni But after that the kindness and love of God our
Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and
renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ
our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs
according to the hope of eternal life .. Titus 3:4-6 † ༒ †
.➦. “Not by” .. A Negative .. This is because sin has caused all men to overestimate their own achievements! .. It is essential that we be continually reminded that the salvation of God is in no way comprised of the homogenization of the work of God and the doing of men. It is the doing of our race that got us into a fallen state; first in Adam, and then in all of his progeny, “for all have sinned” .. Romans 3:23; 5:12 ..
➦ This is a critical matter, dealing with salvation from the standpoint of its basis, not its experience, and there is a vast different between the two ✟ There is a marked tendency in the Christian community to trace the experience of the kindness and love of God back to something right that was done by the saved ones, i.e. “works of righteousness.” ✟ Some relegate the cause, basis, or foundation of their salvation to what they themselves have done .. Some associate it with, what they call, a simple prayer .. ➦ Others view their baptism as the basis ¤¤¤ Still others see the cause of their salvation as traceable to some extraordinary experience .. However, at the root of the matter, God did not save us because we did what was right
.➦. “Not by” .. A Negative .. This is because sin has caused all men to overestimate their own achievements! .. It is essential that we be continually reminded that the salvation of God is in no way comprised of the homogenization of the work of God and the doing of men. It is the doing of our race that got us into a fallen state; first in Adam, and then in all of his progeny, “for all have sinned” .. Romans 3:23; 5:12 ..
➦ This is a critical matter, dealing with salvation from the standpoint of its basis, not its experience, and there is a vast different between the two ✟ There is a marked tendency in the Christian community to trace the experience of the kindness and love of God back to something right that was done by the saved ones, i.e. “works of righteousness.” ✟ Some relegate the cause, basis, or foundation of their salvation to what they themselves have done .. Some associate it with, what they call, a simple prayer .. ➦ Others view their baptism as the basis ¤¤¤ Still others see the cause of their salvation as traceable to some extraordinary experience .. However, at the root of the matter, God did not save us because we did what was right
March 29 at 6:32pm · Like
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Shepherd Udobor Jehovah's
witnesses have not dogmatically claimed that they are the only ones chosen to
be saved whether as a group or as individuals. on the contrary, they believe
that many now living may yet take a stand for truth and righteousness before
God’s time of judgment, and they will gain salvation. Moreover, Jesus said that
we should not be judging one another. Humans look at the outward appearance;
God looks at the heart. He sees accurately and judges mercifully. God has
committed judgment into Jesus’ hands, not ours.—Matthew 7:1-5; John 5:22, 27.
March 30 at 11:35am · Like
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Shepherd Udobor What
about the many individuals who spread falsehood about God and our Lord Jesus
Christ, yet claiming that they are gathered in the name of Jesus? you will
agree with me that that there are many professed Christians today, who are
false as Jesus said they would be in these last days. Would simply professing
that they are Christians make them acceptable to God?
March 30 at 11:47am · Like
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Shepherd Udobor On
the issue of 1914, of course Biblical chronology and secular chronology may
correspond on certain issues, but not in all cases. If you search the Bible
carefully, you will agree with me that certain prophetic dates cannot be
calculated or understood literally. For example, the ones that relates to the
appearance of the Messiah as prophesied at Daniel 9:24-27. There are rules that
must be applied when calculating certain Biblical dates. The Bible shows that
in calculating prophetic time, a day is counted as a year. (Ezek. 4:6; Num.
14:34). When calculating prophetic dates literally without these rules, you are
bound to miss the point. 1914 is not a false date created by Satan to deceive. For
more details pls read my next post...
March 30 at 12:40pm · Like
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James Edwards
Pamni Thanks for the posts as i said earlier i have thoroughly
studied the Watchtower of Nov and Dec 2011 relating to the destruction of
Jerusalem based on which calculation 1914 was arrived. I have also studied
other secular and biblical materials on the issue before coming to the
conclusion that the date is false. Remember Russell’s prophesy on 1914 was Armageddon
however it did not happened and much later the prophesy was re interpreted as
the date of invisible return of christ. Whereas Wachtower has abandoned all
other prophesied dates that turn out to be false, why are they sticking to this
false and incorrect date? We need to know why? The more so that the
organisation dropped the idea of date setting since the failure of 1975
prediction!
March 30 at 2:14pm · Unlike · 1
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James Edwards
Pamni As for false christians it is God that knows and
admonish us leave everything to him until the harvest time. So we are not to
judge but instead to check ourselves to see if we are still in right standing
with him
March 30 at 2:19pm · Like
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Jointheir
WithThe Son Fine discussion going on in here, that is.
March 30 at 4:02pm · Like
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Jointheir
WithThe Son It's very clear from the foregoing, that the
Russel sect is in error. They do not represent the one body of Christ on Earth
today. Every man-made institution is bound to fail and pass away. Only
individuals truly saved in Christ Jesus will stand before Him and His mighty
angels, when He appears in glory. Let all men be liars, and God be true
forever! AMEN!
March 30 at 5:11pm · Like
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Shepherd Udobor On
the issue of date predictions, my next posts may clarify some misconceptions
that you or any other persons may have about Jehovah's Witnesses.
April 1 at 10:40pm · Like
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Shepherd Udobor @ Jointheir WithThe Son, you need to get the
facts before making conclusions!
April 1 at 10:43pm · Like
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James Edwards
Pamni Sheperd sorry i could not respond as promised cause
of my health condition but jointheir has done a great. I only need to provide
additional information on 1914. But send your new post to my inbox so i can
study it.
April 1 at 10:44pm · Like
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Shepherd Udobor very
sorry about your health sir! I will do as you say.
April 2 at 10:40am · Like · 1
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Shepherd Udobor but
please try to take good care of your health sir and I wish you good health.
April 2 at 10:41am · Like · 1
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Shepherd Udobor Jehovah
is “the Ancient of Days” and the God of Eternity. (Da 7:9; Ps 90:2; 93:2) That
he is an accurate Timekeeper is evident not only from the superb precision
manifest in the movements of the stellar bodies but also from the divine record
of his acts. In fulfillment of his promises or prophecies, he caused events to
occur at the exact time foretold, whether the intervening time was of only a
day (Ex 9:5, 6), a year (Ge 17:21; 18:14; 21:1, 2; 2Ki 4:16, 17), decades (Nu
14:34; 2Ch 36:20-23; Da 9:2), centuries (Ge 12:4, 7; 15:13-16; Ex 12:40, 41; Ga
3:17), or millenniums (Lu 21:24; We are assured that his purposes for the
future are certain of execution at the predetermined time, right down to the
day and hour designated.—Hab 2:3; Mt 24:36.
April 3 at 9:52am · Like · 1
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Shepherd Udobor Reliable
Bible chronology is based on certain pivotal dates. A pivotal date is a
calendar date in history that has a sound basis for acceptance and that
corresponds to a specific event recorded in the Bible. It can then be used as
the starting point from which a series of Bible events can be located on the
calendar with certainty. Once this pivotal point is fixed, calculations forward
or backward from this date are made from accurate records in the Bible itself,
such as the stated life spans of people or the duration of the reigns of kings.
Thus, starting from a pegged point, we can use the reliable internal chronology
of the Bible itself in dating many Bible events.
Pivotal Date for the Hebrew Scriptures. A prominent event recorded both in the Bible and in secular history is the overthrow of the city of Babylon by the Medes and Persians under Cyrus. The Bible records this event at Daniel 5:30. Various historical sources (including Diodorus, Africanus, Eusebius, Ptolemy, and the Babylonian tablets) support 539 B.C.E. as the year for the overthrow of Babylon by Cyrus. The Nabonidus Chronicle gives the month and day of the city’s fall (the year is missing). Secular chronologers have thus set the date for the fall of Babylon as October 11, 539 B.C.E., according to the Julian calendar, or October 5 by the Gregorian calendar.
Pivotal Date for the Hebrew Scriptures. A prominent event recorded both in the Bible and in secular history is the overthrow of the city of Babylon by the Medes and Persians under Cyrus. The Bible records this event at Daniel 5:30. Various historical sources (including Diodorus, Africanus, Eusebius, Ptolemy, and the Babylonian tablets) support 539 B.C.E. as the year for the overthrow of Babylon by Cyrus. The Nabonidus Chronicle gives the month and day of the city’s fall (the year is missing). Secular chronologers have thus set the date for the fall of Babylon as October 11, 539 B.C.E., according to the Julian calendar, or October 5 by the Gregorian calendar.
April 3 at 9:56am · Like · 1
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Shepherd Udobor Bible
Chronology and Secular History. Concern is often expressed over the need to try
to “harmonize” or “reconcile” the Biblical account with the chronology found in
ancient secular records. Since truth is that which conforms to fact or reality,
such coordinating would indeed be vital—if the ancient secular records could be
demonstrated to be unequivocally exact and consistently reliable, hence a
standard of accuracy by which to judge. Since the Biblical chronology has so
often been represented by critics as inferior to that of the pagan nations, it
is worth while to examine some of the ancient records of nations and peoples
whose activities and life touch on and connect with the people and events
recorded in the Bible.
The Bible is a historical book, preeminently so among ancient writings. What is known from secular sources of these ancient nations has been laboriously pieced together from bits of information obtained from monuments and tablets or from the later writings of the so-called classical historiographers of the Greek and Roman period. While archaeologists have recovered tens of thousands of clay tablets bearing Assyro-Babylonian cuneiform inscriptions, as well as large numbers of papyrus scrolls from Egypt, the vast majority of these are religious texts or business documents consisting of contracts, bills of sale, deeds, and similar matter. The considerably smaller number of historical writings of the pagan nations, preserved either in the form of tablets, cylinders, steles, or monumental inscriptions, consist chiefly of material glorifying their emperors and recounting their military campaigns in grandiose terms.
The Bible, by contrast, gives an unusually coherent and detailed history stretching through some 4,000 years, for not only does it record events with remarkable continuity from man’s beginning down to the time of Nehemiah’s governorship in the fifth century B.C.E. but also it may be considered as providing a basic coverage of the period between Nehemiah and the time of Jesus and his apostles by means of Daniel’s prophecy (history written in advance) at Daniel chapter 11. The Bible presents a graphic and true-to-life account of the nation of Israel from its birth onward, portraying with candor its strength and its weaknesses, its successes and its failures, its right worship and its false worship, its blessings and its adverse judgments and calamities. While this honesty alone does not ensure accurate chronology, it does give sound basis for confidence in the integrity of the Biblical writers and their sincere concern for recording truth.
The Bible is a historical book, preeminently so among ancient writings. What is known from secular sources of these ancient nations has been laboriously pieced together from bits of information obtained from monuments and tablets or from the later writings of the so-called classical historiographers of the Greek and Roman period. While archaeologists have recovered tens of thousands of clay tablets bearing Assyro-Babylonian cuneiform inscriptions, as well as large numbers of papyrus scrolls from Egypt, the vast majority of these are religious texts or business documents consisting of contracts, bills of sale, deeds, and similar matter. The considerably smaller number of historical writings of the pagan nations, preserved either in the form of tablets, cylinders, steles, or monumental inscriptions, consist chiefly of material glorifying their emperors and recounting their military campaigns in grandiose terms.
The Bible, by contrast, gives an unusually coherent and detailed history stretching through some 4,000 years, for not only does it record events with remarkable continuity from man’s beginning down to the time of Nehemiah’s governorship in the fifth century B.C.E. but also it may be considered as providing a basic coverage of the period between Nehemiah and the time of Jesus and his apostles by means of Daniel’s prophecy (history written in advance) at Daniel chapter 11. The Bible presents a graphic and true-to-life account of the nation of Israel from its birth onward, portraying with candor its strength and its weaknesses, its successes and its failures, its right worship and its false worship, its blessings and its adverse judgments and calamities. While this honesty alone does not ensure accurate chronology, it does give sound basis for confidence in the integrity of the Biblical writers and their sincere concern for recording truth.
April 3 at 10:14am · Like
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Benjamin Eseosa
Igbinoba broder u dey try.
April 4 at 7:18am · Like
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Shepherd Udobor thanks
April 4 at 11:02am · Like
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Why do Jehovah’s
Witnesses say that this Word entered its Last Days and that God’s Kingdom was
established in 1914?
Two lines of evidence point to that year: (1) Bible chronology and (2) the events since 1914 in fulfillment of prophecy. Here we will consider the chronology. For fulfillment of prophecy, see the main heading “Last Days.”
Read Daniel 4:1-17. Verses 20-37 show that this prophecy had a fulfillment upon Nebuchadnezzar. But it also has a larger fulfillment. How do we know that? Verses 3 and 17 show that the dream that God gave to King Nebuchadnezzar deals with the Kingdom of God and God’s promise to give it “to the one whom he wants to . . . even the lowliest one of mankind.” The entire Bible shows that Jehovah’s purpose is for his own Son, Jesus Christ, to rule as His representative over mankind. (Ps. 2:1-8; Dan. 7:13, 14; 1 Cor. 15:23-25; Rev. 11:15; 12:10) The Bible’s description of Jesus shows that he was indeed “the lowliest one of mankind.” (Phil. 2:7, 8; Matt. 11:28-30) The prophetic dream, then, points to the time when Jehovah would give rulership over mankind to his own Son.
What was to happen in the meantime? Rulership over mankind, as represented by the tree and its rootstock, would have “the heart of a beast.” (Dan. 4:16) The history of mankind would be dominated by governments that displayed the characteristics of wild beasts. In modern times, the bear is commonly used to represent Russia; the eagle, the United States; the lion, Britain; the dragon, China. The Bible also uses wild beasts as symbols of world governments and of the entire global system of human rulership under the influence of Satan. (Dan. 7:2-8, 17, 23; 8:20-22; Rev. 13:1, 2) As Jesus showed in his prophecy pointing to the conclusion of the system of things, Jerusalem would be “trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times of the nations” were fulfilled. (Luke 21:24) “Jerusalem” represented the Kingdom of God because its kings were said to sit on “the throne of the kingship of Jehovah.” (1 Chron. 28:4, 5; Matt. 5:34, 35) So, the Gentile governments, represented by wild beasts, would ‘trample’ on the right of God’s Kingdom to direct human affairs and would themselves hold sway under Satan’s control.—Compare Luke 4:5, 6.
For how long would such governments be permitted to exercise this control before Jehovah gave the Kingdom to Jesus Christ? Daniel 4:16 says “seven times” (“seven years,” AT and Mo, also JB footnote on verse 13). The Bible shows that in calculating prophetic time, a day is counted as a year. (Ezek. 4:6; Num. 14:34) How many “days,” then, are involved? Revelation 11:2, 3 clearly states that 42 months (3 1/2 years) in that prophecy are counted as 1,260 days. Seven years would be twice that, or 2,520 days. Applying the “day for a year” rule would result in 2,520 years.
Two lines of evidence point to that year: (1) Bible chronology and (2) the events since 1914 in fulfillment of prophecy. Here we will consider the chronology. For fulfillment of prophecy, see the main heading “Last Days.”
Read Daniel 4:1-17. Verses 20-37 show that this prophecy had a fulfillment upon Nebuchadnezzar. But it also has a larger fulfillment. How do we know that? Verses 3 and 17 show that the dream that God gave to King Nebuchadnezzar deals with the Kingdom of God and God’s promise to give it “to the one whom he wants to . . . even the lowliest one of mankind.” The entire Bible shows that Jehovah’s purpose is for his own Son, Jesus Christ, to rule as His representative over mankind. (Ps. 2:1-8; Dan. 7:13, 14; 1 Cor. 15:23-25; Rev. 11:15; 12:10) The Bible’s description of Jesus shows that he was indeed “the lowliest one of mankind.” (Phil. 2:7, 8; Matt. 11:28-30) The prophetic dream, then, points to the time when Jehovah would give rulership over mankind to his own Son.
What was to happen in the meantime? Rulership over mankind, as represented by the tree and its rootstock, would have “the heart of a beast.” (Dan. 4:16) The history of mankind would be dominated by governments that displayed the characteristics of wild beasts. In modern times, the bear is commonly used to represent Russia; the eagle, the United States; the lion, Britain; the dragon, China. The Bible also uses wild beasts as symbols of world governments and of the entire global system of human rulership under the influence of Satan. (Dan. 7:2-8, 17, 23; 8:20-22; Rev. 13:1, 2) As Jesus showed in his prophecy pointing to the conclusion of the system of things, Jerusalem would be “trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times of the nations” were fulfilled. (Luke 21:24) “Jerusalem” represented the Kingdom of God because its kings were said to sit on “the throne of the kingship of Jehovah.” (1 Chron. 28:4, 5; Matt. 5:34, 35) So, the Gentile governments, represented by wild beasts, would ‘trample’ on the right of God’s Kingdom to direct human affairs and would themselves hold sway under Satan’s control.—Compare Luke 4:5, 6.
For how long would such governments be permitted to exercise this control before Jehovah gave the Kingdom to Jesus Christ? Daniel 4:16 says “seven times” (“seven years,” AT and Mo, also JB footnote on verse 13). The Bible shows that in calculating prophetic time, a day is counted as a year. (Ezek. 4:6; Num. 14:34) How many “days,” then, are involved? Revelation 11:2, 3 clearly states that 42 months (3 1/2 years) in that prophecy are counted as 1,260 days. Seven years would be twice that, or 2,520 days. Applying the “day for a year” rule would result in 2,520 years.
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You, Shepherd Udobor and 2 others like
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Shepherd Udobor for
more information on when the Seven Times Begin, please, feel free to contact
Jehovah's Witnesses in your area.
March 30 at 1:43pm · Like · 1
1
Chat-Hannah
Austria Layos Thanks for these research bro.I had read the
entire conversation from the Titanic post and I understand it will clear some
questions regarding the matter.I had to check my references too.To Jehovah all
the praises and glory.
March 30 at 1:45pm · Like
Ema Okon Ndon Una
do well o!!!!
March 30 at 2:05pm · Like
Shepherd Udobor thanks
March 30 at 2:12pm · Like · 1
1
Shepherd Udobor Last
Days
Definition: The Bible uses the expression “last days” to refer to the concluding time period leading up to a divinely appointed execution that marks the end of a system of things. The Jewish system with its worship built around the temple in Jerusalem experienced its last days from 33 to 70 C.E. What occurred then was pictorial of what would be experienced in a greatly intensified way and on a global scale at a time when all nations would be facing the execution of judgment decreed by God. The present wicked system of things, which extends worldwide, entered its last days in 1914, and some of the generation alive then will also be on hand to witness its complete end in the “great tribulation.”
Definition: The Bible uses the expression “last days” to refer to the concluding time period leading up to a divinely appointed execution that marks the end of a system of things. The Jewish system with its worship built around the temple in Jerusalem experienced its last days from 33 to 70 C.E. What occurred then was pictorial of what would be experienced in a greatly intensified way and on a global scale at a time when all nations would be facing the execution of judgment decreed by God. The present wicked system of things, which extends worldwide, entered its last days in 1914, and some of the generation alive then will also be on hand to witness its complete end in the “great tribulation.”
March 30 at 2:13pm · Like · 1
1
James Edwards
Pamni Thanks for this post. I will post my full comments
tomorrow
March 30 at 2:23pm · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son I find it strange in the face of numerous
scriptural evidence to the contrary, that anyone would assert that God’s
Kingdom was established in 1914.
March 31 at 9:26am · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son The prophets with one accord pointed to the
first advent of Christ, as the time when the kingdom of God would be
established. All the prophecies which related to its establishment reached
their fulfillment at that time. We will begin with Daniel's prophecy. In the
second chapter we read that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, dreamed a dream.
This dream was afterwards made known to him by Daniel the prophet. In the dream
he saw a great image. "This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and
his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his
feet part of iron and part of clay."-Verses 31-33. He also saw a stone cut
out without hands, which smote this image upon his feet, and broke them to
pieces, and the stone became a great mountain which filled the whole earth.
Verses 34, 35.
March 31 at 9:28am · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son This great image represented four great
universal monarchies that reigned one after another in ancient times In
Daniel's interpretation of the dream, he told King Nebuchadnezzar, "Thou
art this head of gold."-Verses 37, 38 By this we are to understand that
the Babylonian empire is what the head of gold represented. Gold being the most
precious metal of the four, proves that the Babylonian empire was the richest
and greatest of earthly kingdoms History proves this to be true. This kingdom
arose 2300 years before Christ. In the time of Nebuchadnezzar it was in the
height of its power and glory. But Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar: "After
thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee."-Ver. 39. This second
kingdom was the Medo-Persian, which during the reign of Belshazzar took the
Babylonian kingdom. This occurred 538 B. C This kingdom was what the
"breast and arms of silver" represented. The "belly and thighs
of brass" was interpreted by Daniel to be a "third kingdom.... which
shall bear rule over all the earth."-Ver. 39. This was the Grecian empire,
which conquered the Medes and Persians 286 B. C., and fell 146 B. C. The
"legs of iron," and "feet part of iron, and part of clay,"
Daniel interprets to be the "fourth kingdom," in its strong and
divided condition. This was the Roman empire, which fell A. D. 476.
March 31 at 9:28am · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son Here then we have four universal
kingdoms-Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Grecian, and Roman. (Verses 37-43.)
"And in the days of these kings [kingdoms] shall the God of heaven set up
a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed and the kingdom shall not be left to
other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and
it shall stand forever."-Ver. 44. This is clear. Daniel said that some
time during the reign of these four kings, or kingdoms, the God of heaven would
set up his kingdom. When Rome, the fourth of these kingdoms, had reached the
summit of its glory and power; when its domain was so large that it was
denominated "all the world," (Luke 2:1); and Augustus Caesar was an
absolute sovereign ruling over | three hundred millions of people, Jesus Christ
appeared , here among men and established the kingdom of God. Little did the
Roman emperor think as he sat proudly on his throne, that a little babe, Iying
in a manger in the town of Bethlehem of Judea, would establish a kingdom,
before which the powers of the Caesars would dwindle into insignificance. But
it was so. "Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom
of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at
hand."-Mark 1:14, 15.
March 31 at 9:31am · Like
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WithThe Son Dear Shepherd Udobor,
if you will accept the testimony of the Holy Scriptures, you must admit that
Daniel locates the establishing of God's kingdom during the reign of those four
universal kingdoms; and that it had its fulfillment in the coming of Christ,
during the reign of Rome. When Jesus came the time was "fulfilled,"
the kingdom of God was "at hand." "Thou sawest till that a stone
was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet.... Then was the
iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together,
and became like the chaff of the summer thrashing-floors; . . . and the stone
that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth."-Dan.
2 :34, 35. This stone is the kingdom of God. It never came with human hands. It
is a divine institution; was established by Christ himself. Matt. 16:18. It
began with the preaching of John the Baptist (Matt. 3:2; Luke 16:16), and was
fully set up on the day of Pentecost. Mark 9:1; Acts 2:1-4 Rom. 14:17. The
heathen kingdoms of darkness were broken to pieces" and
"consumed" before its march. Earthly kingdoms have arisen and fallen,
but this one stands unshaken upon the rock of eternal truth. It has come down
through martyrdom, waded through blood, and has stood the storms of ages. When
time will have run its course; when all earthly kingdoms will have crumbled
into dust; when the earth will be wrapped in a mighty sheet of flame; yea, when
the sun and moon will no longer shine, this kingdom will continue to shine in
the glory of the Father. Although it has been largely hid away under the human
rubbish of men for centuries past, it is again mounting up, and shining forth
in power and unity. Yea, that stone has become a "great mountain,"
which today is filling the whole earth. Glory to God! Jesus Christ is
"Prince of the kings of the earth." In the kingdoms of the earth
today, kings and rulers bow before him and give him homage.
March 31 at 9:40am · Like
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WithThe Son In Dan. 7:2-7 we read that Daniel saw in a
night vision four great beasts. The first was like a lion; the second like a
bear; the third like a leopard; and the fourth was dreadful and terrible,
diverse from all the rest, having great iron teeth. Verses 2-7. This vision
troubled Daniel; so he asked an angel its meaning. The answer was: "These
great beasts, which are four, are four kings [kingdoms], which shall arise out
of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess
the kingdom forever, even forever and ever."-Verses 17, 18. Here are the
same four universal kingdoms that are brought to view in the second chapter;
namely, Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Grecian, and Roman. Now mark you; immediately
after speaking of these four kingdoms, he says, "But the saints of the
Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom." By this we are
to understand that some time during the reign of these four kingdoms, the
kingdom would be given to the saints of the Most High. As we before observed,
this was fulfilled during the reign of Rome, by the coming of Christ, and the
establishing of his kingdom in the hearts of men.
March 31 at 9:42am · Like
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WithThe Son We will now turn to the prophet Micah. In Micah
4:1-7 we read: "But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the
mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the
mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto
it. 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. And he shall judge among many people, and
rebuke strong nations afar off; | and they shall beat their swords into
plowshares, and their I spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up
sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.... For all people
will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the
Lord our God forever and ever. In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her
that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have
afflicted; . . . and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from
henceforth, even forever." Here is another clear prophecy of the
establishment of God's kingdom, and one often referred to by the Millennium-
advocates. Shepherd,
observe that all contained in this prophecy was to come to pass "in the
last days." Ver. 1. Now if we can locate the last days, then we will have
the exact time of its fulfillment. Turn to Heb. 1:1, 2-"God, who at sundry
times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the
prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son."
"These" then are the days of the fulfillments of that prophecy. Here,
again, the word of truth cuts off the false 1914 theory.
March 31 at 9:46am · Like
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WithThe Son We will now briefly review the prophecy, and
prove its fulfillment in this gospel age. The "mountain of the Lord"
clearly applies to Mount Zion. See Ver. 7. The Hebrew brethren had "come
unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem"
(Heb. 12:22, 23), which Paul denominates "the general assembly, and church
of the first-born." Jesus called his church in this dispensation "a
city that is set on a hill."-Matt. 5 :14. The "house of the God of
Jacob" is "the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the
truth."-1 Tim. 3:15. The flowing of many nations into it has been
fulfilled from the day of Pentecost. Under the law the true God was known only
to Israel. The Jews were his chosen people, But now salvation is for "all
people." Luke 2:8-10. The gospel privileges are extended to "every
creature" among "all nations" in "all the world."
Matt. 28 :19, 20; Mark 16:15, 16. And "in the place where it was said unto
them, Ye are not my people" they are now "called the children of the
living God."-Rom. 9 :24-26. People out of all nations of the earth are
today saved in the family or kingdom of God. The "law" that is to
govern in these last days is not that which came forth from Sinai, but that
which came "out of Zion," ( Ga 4:25,26) "The word of the Lord
from Jerusalem." This is a clear prophecy of the fact that
"repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem."-Luke 24:47. This began on the day of
Pentecost. It is further stated that "he shall judge among many
people." "Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this
world."-John 9 :39. "For the time is come that judgment must begin at
the house of God."-1 Peter 4:17. The beating of "swords into
plowshares," and "spears into pruning-hooks," a time when they
should "learn war no more," is a clear prophecy of the glorious
unity, peace, and love which exist in God's church. The angel announced to the
shepherds in the plain that a Savior was born into the world, who would bring
"peace on earth and good will toward man." Through the sanctifying
grace of God and obedience to the truth, the saved of all nations are brought
into "one fold" (John 10:16); belong to but "one" organized
"body," or church, the "church of God" (Rom. 12:4, 5; Eph.
4:4; Col. 1:24; Acts 20:28); are all "of one heart and of one soul"
(Acts 4:31-33); "one mind" (2 Cor. 13:11); "all speak the same
thing" (1 Cor. 1:10); all have "one faith" (Eph: 4:5); "one
spirit" (1 Cor. 6:17); all strive together (Phil. 1:27); rejoice together
(1 Cor. 12:26); "assemble together" (Heb. 10:25); and "see eye
to eye" (Isa. 52:8). God over all, in all, and through them all knits
their hearts together in love. Eph. 4:6; Col. 2:2. Surely the prophet did not
overdraw his picture of this. And the Lord shall reign over them in Mount Zion
from henceforth, even forever and ever.
March 31 at 9:52am · Like
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WithThe Son Dear Udobor,
this is a present truth, and one that it is your privilege to enjoy. "But
thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah,
yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in
Israel." "And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in
the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now
shall he be great unto the ends of the earth."-Micah 5:2, 4. Here, the
birth of Christ, and the glory of his kingdom is foretold. Surely none but such
as are blinded by the "god of this world" can fail to see that this
prophecy has had its fulfillment in this gospel age. Please turn and read Matt.
2:4- 6 and John 7:42.
March 31 at 9:53am · Like
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WithThe Son A sublime description of the peaceful kingdom
of Christ is found in the eleventh chapter of Isaiah. "And there shall
come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and 8 branch shall grow out of his
roots."-Ver. 1. This clearly refers to the first advent of Christ.
"And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and
understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of
the fear of the Lord." "With righteousness shall he judge the
poor."-Verses 2-4. Was this not true in the personal ministry of Christ?
Did not the people say, "Never man spake like this man"?-John 7:46. "In
whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."-Col. 2:3.
"And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the
girdle of his reins."- Ver. 5. Now, continuing the same description of
Christ's peaceful kingdom, the prophet says: "The wolf also shall dwell
with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid and the calf and the
young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them."
"The sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child
shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den."-Verses 6, 8. Here, a
Russellite thinks he has a strong point in his favor. He says: "this is
when the kingdom comes here on earth for a thousand years, etc., during which
time all the wild animals will be tame. Also, this fire that shall sweep over
the earth will burn up the wicked, root and branch, and the righteous will
tramp on their ashes," etc. Oh, what blindness! How Satan has perverted
the minds of men!
March 31 at 9:59am · Like
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WithThe Son Mark you, dear Shepherd,
nothing is said in the eleventh chapter of Isaiah about Christ's second coming.
Each time personal mention is made of Christ, clear reference is made to his
first advent. See verses 1 and 10. If you insist, let me ask you a question.
While the fire is sweeping over the earth, purifying the same, burning up the
wicked (as you say), what will become of the animals? Will they be translated
and held in mid heaven until the fires have swept over the earth, and then let
down again? or will they be consumed in the fire, and afterward resurrected?
Such doctrines are too ridiculous to receive attention. Yet some men are so
thoughtless as to believe in them. Here is the secret.
March 31 at 10:01am · Like
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WithThe Son "The natural man understandeth not the
things of the Spirit." The redeemed understand these things. The various
animals are used in the word of God to show different characters of men. For
example-Jesus said to his disciples, "Be ye harmless as doves ;" and
to Peter he said, "Feed my lambs." Concerning Herod he said, "Go
ye, and tell that fox."-Luke 13:22. False teachers are compared to
"ravenous wolves," "grievous wolves."-Matt. 7 :15; Acts
20:29. Paul said, "Beware of dogs."-Phil. 3:2. Speaking of the characters
of the damned, it is said, "With out are dogs," etc.-Rev. 22:15.
Hypocritical professors are called "serpents," and "generation
of vipers." In Matt. 25 God's people are called "sheep," and the
unsaved, "goats." So in Ezek. 34 God's people are compared to
"sheep," "fat cattle," etc. This is the sense in which we
are to understand Isa. 11:6-8. It teaches how the grace of God in this glorious
dispensation would destroy the serpent-like, devouring, natures of men, and
make the most lion-hearted sinners, the most ferocious characters, docile and
harmless, even so meek that a "little child" can teach and "lead
them." Hallelujah! It also teaches the glorious love and unity which
exists among the redeemed in God's kingdom. No wrangling, backbiting, deceit, or
devouring one another: but peace which nothing offends; "helpers of each
other's joy;" "workers together." And the prophet adds:
"They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain"-church of
God. Ver. 9. All in this fold are "harmless as doves." In the
thirty-fifth chapter of Isaiah, the prophet speaking of the "highway of
holiness" upon which the "redeemed" in this gospel dispensation
were to walk, says, "No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall
go up thereon, it shall not be found there."- Verses 8 9. You see that
domestic animals were used to represent the beastly natures of men, which are
destroyed in holiness; and also, that no ferocious character is on the way to
heaven. The devil himself would be ashamed to affirm that literal wild animals
could walk on a spiritual way, the road to heaven, which is the highway of
holiness
March 31 at 10:02am · Like
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WithThe Son But we are not yet through with the eleventh
chapter of Isaiah. "And in that day [the age when all this would be
fulfilled] there shall be a root of Jesse [Christ], which shall stand for an
ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be
glorious."-Ver. 10. This is so plain that it needs no comment. It clearly
applies to the first coming of Christ and the present blessings of his kingdom.
In full salvation we experience a more glorious reign of peace and blessedness
in this life, than all the vain dreams of Millennial glory. The prophet
continues: "For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as
the waters cover the sea."-Ver. 9. This began with the gospel
dispensation. It was fulfilled in the general diffusion of light and truth
among all nations in the apostolic days, and still more fully in this glorious
evening time. Daniel speaks of it thus: "Many shall run to and fro, and
knowledge shall be increased."-Dan. 12:4. These texts do not teach, as
many suppose, that there will be a time when all the world will be righteous,
but the "knowledge of God shall be increased," until the earth shall
be full of it. By the aid of modern inventions, such as the power of steam, the
printing-press, etc., thousands upon thousands of tons of pure gospel
literature are being sent to all nations of the earth; while a holy ministry is
"running to and fro," "having the everlasting gospel to preach
unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and
tongue, and people." Thus the earth is rapidly being filled with the
knowledge of God. The result was foretold in Dan. 12:10-"Many shall be purified,
and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the
wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." "Many must
be tested, and thoroughly whitened, and tried with fire, and
sanctified."-Septuagint. Let the reader observe that at the very time the
knowledge of God was to fill the earth, and many be thoroughly whitened, and
sanctified, as a result of the same, the wicked were to "do wickedly: and
none of the wicked shall under. stand." The same is taught in Habakkuk 2:12-15,
18-20. This fact is utterly fatal to the Millennial theory and the 1914 dating.
March 31 at 10:06am · Like
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WithThe Son The following text is often quoted by
Millennium teachers: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will
raise unto David a righteous branch, and a king shall reign and prosper, and
shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be
saved."-Jer. 23 :5, 6. Nothing is here said about Christ's second advent.
Clear reference is made to the birth of Christ, who was "the root and offspring
of David ;" also, to his present reign in this dispensation of grace, and
the execution of his righteous judgments against the works of darkness.
"In his days Judah shall be saved." And, "Behold, now is the day
of salvation." Isaiah clearly locates the establishing of the kingdom at
Christ's first advent, in chapter 9, verses 6, 7-"For unto us a child is
born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The
everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and
peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to
order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth
even forever."
We will now take up some of the principal texts used by those who believe in a future kingdom where superior means of grace will be offered to mankind, and prove their fulfillment in this gospel age. Thus, one by one, the props of the Millennial heresy fall, under the hammer of eternal truth.
PROPHECY
"The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it, Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne."-Ps. 132:11.
FULFILLMENT.
"Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; . . . This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, . . . he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear."-Acts 2 :29-33.
"Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures, concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness."-Rom. 1:2-4.
The angel said unto Mary, "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."-Luke 1:31-33.
"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor."-Heb. 2 :9.
"Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom."-Heb. 1:8. Read also 2 Tim. 2:8 and Acts 13:22, 23.
We will now take up some of the principal texts used by those who believe in a future kingdom where superior means of grace will be offered to mankind, and prove their fulfillment in this gospel age. Thus, one by one, the props of the Millennial heresy fall, under the hammer of eternal truth.
PROPHECY
"The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it, Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne."-Ps. 132:11.
FULFILLMENT.
"Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; . . . This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, . . . he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear."-Acts 2 :29-33.
"Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures, concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness."-Rom. 1:2-4.
The angel said unto Mary, "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."-Luke 1:31-33.
"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor."-Heb. 2 :9.
"Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom."-Heb. 1:8. Read also 2 Tim. 2:8 and Acts 13:22, 23.
March 31 at 10:14am · Like
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WithThe Son PROPHECY
"The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power."-Ps. 110:1-3.
"Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. . . . Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." -Ps. 2 :6-9.
"In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth."--Ps. 72:7, 8.
"All the ends of the world shall remember, and turn unto the Lord; and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord's; and he is governor among the nations.... All they that go down to the dust shall bow before him.... A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born."-Ps. 22:27-31.
FULFILLMENT
"The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."-Acts 2 :34-36.
"Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God: angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him."-1 Peter 3:22.
"God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second Psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee."-Acts 13:33.
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? . . .When he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he said, And let all the angels of God worship him.... Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom." -Heb. 1:1-8.
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.... And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."-John 17:1, 2, 5.
"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." -Col. 2:10.
"All things are delivered to me of my Father."- Luke 10:22. "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." -Matt. 28:18.
"To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."-Jude 25.
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."-Phil. 2:9-11.
"For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.... Every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."-Rom. 14:10, 11.
"Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church."-Eph. 1:20-22.
"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his foot stool."-Heb. 10 :12, 13.
"For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies [sinners] under his feet [by their resurrection to damnation]. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For He hath put all things under his feet." "Then cometh the end I when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father ;" "that God may be all in all."-1 Cor. 15 :23-28 1
"But," says one, "He shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel. Where has that a present fulfillment! Answer-"And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him, to powder."-Matt. 21:44.
"The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power."-Ps. 110:1-3.
"Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. . . . Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." -Ps. 2 :6-9.
"In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth."--Ps. 72:7, 8.
"All the ends of the world shall remember, and turn unto the Lord; and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord's; and he is governor among the nations.... All they that go down to the dust shall bow before him.... A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born."-Ps. 22:27-31.
FULFILLMENT
"The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."-Acts 2 :34-36.
"Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God: angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him."-1 Peter 3:22.
"God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second Psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee."-Acts 13:33.
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? . . .When he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he said, And let all the angels of God worship him.... Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom." -Heb. 1:1-8.
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.... And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."-John 17:1, 2, 5.
"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." -Col. 2:10.
"All things are delivered to me of my Father."- Luke 10:22. "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." -Matt. 28:18.
"To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."-Jude 25.
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."-Phil. 2:9-11.
"For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.... Every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."-Rom. 14:10, 11.
"Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church."-Eph. 1:20-22.
"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his foot stool."-Heb. 10 :12, 13.
"For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies [sinners] under his feet [by their resurrection to damnation]. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For He hath put all things under his feet." "Then cometh the end I when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father ;" "that God may be all in all."-1 Cor. 15 :23-28 1
"But," says one, "He shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel. Where has that a present fulfillment! Answer-"And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him, to powder."-Matt. 21:44.
March 31 at 10:24am · Like
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WithThe Son PROPHECY
"All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord."-Ps. 22:27.
"Arise. shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, . . because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. Isa. 60 :1-5.
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: . . . lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.... And he shall speak peace unto the heathen; and his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river, even to the ends of the earth."-Zech. 9:9, 10.
"All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord."-Ps. 22:27.
"Arise. shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, . . because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. Isa. 60 :1-5.
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: . . . lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.... And he shall speak peace unto the heathen; and his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river, even to the ends of the earth."-Zech. 9:9, 10.
March 31 at 10:28am · Like
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WithThe Son FULFILLMENT.
"Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, tc guide our feet into the way of peace."-Luke 1:78, 79.
Good old Simeon took the infant Jesus in his arms and said, '`Lord, . . . mine eyes have seen thy salvation; . .. a light to lighten the Gentiles."-Luke 2 :25-32.
Paul and Barnabas said to the Jews: "Lo, we turn to re Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou wouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And hen the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified e word of the Lord."-Acts 13 :46-4S.
"On the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost."-Acts 10:45.
"Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."-Acts 11 :18.
"Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear "-Acts 28:28.
Read the following texts: Matt. 12:18-21; Acts 26: 18; Rom. 15:9-12.
"And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were me to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, d a colt with her. Loose them, and bring them unto me.
All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought the 8, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they put him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna the son of David: blessed is he that cometh in the name the Lord; Hosanna in the highest."-Matt. 21:1-9.
"The whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice, and praise God with a loud voice, . . . saying, Blessed the King that cometh In the name of the Lord: peace heaven, and glory in the highest."-Luke 19:37, 38.
"Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, tc guide our feet into the way of peace."-Luke 1:78, 79.
Good old Simeon took the infant Jesus in his arms and said, '`Lord, . . . mine eyes have seen thy salvation; . .. a light to lighten the Gentiles."-Luke 2 :25-32.
Paul and Barnabas said to the Jews: "Lo, we turn to re Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou wouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And hen the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified e word of the Lord."-Acts 13 :46-4S.
"On the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost."-Acts 10:45.
"Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."-Acts 11 :18.
"Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear "-Acts 28:28.
Read the following texts: Matt. 12:18-21; Acts 26: 18; Rom. 15:9-12.
"And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were me to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, d a colt with her. Loose them, and bring them unto me.
All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought the 8, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they put him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna the son of David: blessed is he that cometh in the name the Lord; Hosanna in the highest."-Matt. 21:1-9.
"The whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice, and praise God with a loud voice, . . . saying, Blessed the King that cometh In the name of the Lord: peace heaven, and glory in the highest."-Luke 19:37, 38.
March 31 at 10:28am · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son As we before observed, under the law the true
God was known only to Israel-the Jews. They were favored above every nation on
the earth. But in this dispensation repentance and remision of sins should be
preached in name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." "And
hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the
earth." The domain of Chris reaches to the uttermost parts of the earth.
It has spread from hamlet to city, from vale to hill, from the continents to
the islands of the sea, yea, from pole to pole, and from the rivers to the ends
of the earth. Out of all nations of earth, people have been and are being saved
and brought into the kingdom of God. So, instead of the scriptures teaching a
more glorious dispensation yet future, the, teach the glorious privileges and
blessings of this gospel age. We will now turn to some plain New Testament
scriptures on this point. Having already noticed a number of these, they will
need but little comment.
"And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."-Luke 1:30-33. Read Acts 2 :30-36 "Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."-Mark 1:14, 15. "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."-Matt. 4:17. When Christ sent forth his disciples, he commissioned them, saying, "As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand."-Matt. 10:7 "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it."-Luke 16:16. "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."-Matt. 11:12. "The kingdom of God is come upon you."-Luke 11:20. When Christ entered Jerusalem, the people cried, "Hosanna! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest."-Mark 11:9, 10. "And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God." -Mark 12:34.
In the name of Jesus we ask, how can men in the face of such plain scripture, teach that the establishing of God's kingdom is yet future? When Christ appeared in his first advent the time was "fulfilled," the kingdom of God was "at hand." It even began under the labors of John the Baptist, and during Christ's personal ministry the material for the same was taken out. It is said that men "pressed into it." How could this be, if its establishment is in some future age? Speaking of his disciples, Christ said: "But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God." -Luke 9:27.
"And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God come with power."-Mark 9:1. "Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom."-Matt. 16:28. We would be willing to stake this whole argument on these last three texts. During Christ's personal ministry he taught his disciples to pray, "Thy kingdom come," with the promise: "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." And mark the fact, he said, "I tell you of a truth, ye shall not taste of death, till ye see the kingdom of God come with power." -If Millennialism be true, the disciples are yet living somewhere upon the earth. But the fact that they are all dead proves beyond question that the kingdom of God has already come.
But when were these promises fulfilled ? Answer- "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."- Acts 2:1-4. Read verses 29-36. "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."-Rom. 14:17. "For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power."-1 Cor. 4:20. "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you."-Acts 1:8. Amen. This is too clear to need comment; we will notice a few more texts before closing this chapter.
Paul testified to the Colossian brethren that God "hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son."- Col. 1:13. "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory."-1 Thess. 2:12, "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."-Heb. 12:28. John testifies that he was "in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ." -Rev. 1:9. Peter denominates the church in this dispensation "a royal priesthood"; i. e., a priesthood of kings. 1 Pet. 2:9. They which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness are said to "reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."-Rom. 5:17. Amen and amen.
"And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."-Luke 1:30-33. Read Acts 2 :30-36 "Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."-Mark 1:14, 15. "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."-Matt. 4:17. When Christ sent forth his disciples, he commissioned them, saying, "As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand."-Matt. 10:7 "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it."-Luke 16:16. "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."-Matt. 11:12. "The kingdom of God is come upon you."-Luke 11:20. When Christ entered Jerusalem, the people cried, "Hosanna! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest."-Mark 11:9, 10. "And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God." -Mark 12:34.
In the name of Jesus we ask, how can men in the face of such plain scripture, teach that the establishing of God's kingdom is yet future? When Christ appeared in his first advent the time was "fulfilled," the kingdom of God was "at hand." It even began under the labors of John the Baptist, and during Christ's personal ministry the material for the same was taken out. It is said that men "pressed into it." How could this be, if its establishment is in some future age? Speaking of his disciples, Christ said: "But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God." -Luke 9:27.
"And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God come with power."-Mark 9:1. "Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom."-Matt. 16:28. We would be willing to stake this whole argument on these last three texts. During Christ's personal ministry he taught his disciples to pray, "Thy kingdom come," with the promise: "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." And mark the fact, he said, "I tell you of a truth, ye shall not taste of death, till ye see the kingdom of God come with power." -If Millennialism be true, the disciples are yet living somewhere upon the earth. But the fact that they are all dead proves beyond question that the kingdom of God has already come.
But when were these promises fulfilled ? Answer- "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."- Acts 2:1-4. Read verses 29-36. "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."-Rom. 14:17. "For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power."-1 Cor. 4:20. "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you."-Acts 1:8. Amen. This is too clear to need comment; we will notice a few more texts before closing this chapter.
Paul testified to the Colossian brethren that God "hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son."- Col. 1:13. "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory."-1 Thess. 2:12, "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."-Heb. 12:28. John testifies that he was "in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ." -Rev. 1:9. Peter denominates the church in this dispensation "a royal priesthood"; i. e., a priesthood of kings. 1 Pet. 2:9. They which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness are said to "reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."-Rom. 5:17. Amen and amen.
March 31 at 10:29am · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son Seeming Conflicting Scriptures
There are a few texts of scripture, when taken apart from the rest of the Bible, that would seem to teach that the establishing of God's kingdom is yet future. Yet when taken in their true connection they perfectly harmonize with the many plain scriptures already cited which clearly teach the kingdom already set up and possessed by the saints of God. For the benefit of the reader we will quote them in full.
Speaking of the signs which would precede Christ's second advent, it is said: "When ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand." -Luke 21:31. "The Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom."- 2 Tim. 4-1. Jesus Christ conquered death and hell and rose triumphant from the tomb. He ascended into heaven clothed with all power in heaven and in earth. He took his seat at the right hand of God, "crowned with glory and honor." (Heb. 1:1-8; 2:9.) He now reigns "King of kings and Lord of lords." Not only King over earth, but over all heaven; "angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him." (1 Pet. 3:22; Col. 2:10; Phil. 2: 9-11; Eph. 1:20-22.)
The foregoing scriptures teach that in the "last day" Christ will come in all the glory of the kingdom, which he now possesses, and over which he now reigns. "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."-Matt. 25 :34. "So an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."-2 Pet. 1:11. "Harken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?"-Jas. 2:5. While we here possess all the elements of Christ's spiritual kingdom, yet a future reward awaits the faithful. Christ has prepared a place for us. Our citizenship is in heaven. We have "an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven."-1 Pet. 1:4. This future home and reward is called "his heavenly kingdom" (2 Tim. 4:18), which we shall enter when time will be no more. Amen. We will close this long discourse with the following beautiful words selected.
"There is not a nation on earth, or an island of the sea, that to a greater or a less degree has not heard the gospel. That angelic paean which sounded in the ears of the Judean shepherds: 'Peace on earth and good will toward men,' has rung out from the peaks of the Himalayas, the Alps, the Andes, the Sierra Nevadas. It has cut its way through the impenetrable jungles of Africa to the great lakes at its core. It has broken through the granite walls of China and intrenched itself in the heart of Pekin. It has pierced the heavy veil of Corean shame and kissed with its warming beams every island of the sea and ever nation of the earth.... The printing press, the telegraph and telephone, the marine engine, the locomotive, all these late discoveries are inspired by God and put in motion to bring about the glorious end. War, famine, and pestilence are his plowshares which open furrows for gospel seed. The natural sun, humanly speaking, rises in the east and sets in the west. Jesus is called the Sun of righteousness. He came in Palestine, the extreme east, where he was rejected. Steadily the rays of the Sun of righteousness pierced the western blackness, chasing the darkness of nature's night from the hearts and homes of men, and leaving its eastern rejecters, who 'loved darkness, rather than light,' to the gloom they loved. Onward the; spiritual sun presses until today in this western land we enjoy his last sinking rays, while those in eastern nations are largely in gross darkness. This western nation is largely the missionary force of the world, and embraces all the light, knowledge, and improvement of the age. The globe has been girdled, the sun of hope for this world is fast sinking behind the everlasting hills. Surely, the evening shadows lengthen across the plains of time, the sun of hope is setting in the great eternal sea. Christ will soon leave the mediatorial throne for the judgment seat." Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus.
There are a few texts of scripture, when taken apart from the rest of the Bible, that would seem to teach that the establishing of God's kingdom is yet future. Yet when taken in their true connection they perfectly harmonize with the many plain scriptures already cited which clearly teach the kingdom already set up and possessed by the saints of God. For the benefit of the reader we will quote them in full.
Speaking of the signs which would precede Christ's second advent, it is said: "When ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand." -Luke 21:31. "The Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom."- 2 Tim. 4-1. Jesus Christ conquered death and hell and rose triumphant from the tomb. He ascended into heaven clothed with all power in heaven and in earth. He took his seat at the right hand of God, "crowned with glory and honor." (Heb. 1:1-8; 2:9.) He now reigns "King of kings and Lord of lords." Not only King over earth, but over all heaven; "angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him." (1 Pet. 3:22; Col. 2:10; Phil. 2: 9-11; Eph. 1:20-22.)
The foregoing scriptures teach that in the "last day" Christ will come in all the glory of the kingdom, which he now possesses, and over which he now reigns. "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."-Matt. 25 :34. "So an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."-2 Pet. 1:11. "Harken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?"-Jas. 2:5. While we here possess all the elements of Christ's spiritual kingdom, yet a future reward awaits the faithful. Christ has prepared a place for us. Our citizenship is in heaven. We have "an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven."-1 Pet. 1:4. This future home and reward is called "his heavenly kingdom" (2 Tim. 4:18), which we shall enter when time will be no more. Amen. We will close this long discourse with the following beautiful words selected.
"There is not a nation on earth, or an island of the sea, that to a greater or a less degree has not heard the gospel. That angelic paean which sounded in the ears of the Judean shepherds: 'Peace on earth and good will toward men,' has rung out from the peaks of the Himalayas, the Alps, the Andes, the Sierra Nevadas. It has cut its way through the impenetrable jungles of Africa to the great lakes at its core. It has broken through the granite walls of China and intrenched itself in the heart of Pekin. It has pierced the heavy veil of Corean shame and kissed with its warming beams every island of the sea and ever nation of the earth.... The printing press, the telegraph and telephone, the marine engine, the locomotive, all these late discoveries are inspired by God and put in motion to bring about the glorious end. War, famine, and pestilence are his plowshares which open furrows for gospel seed. The natural sun, humanly speaking, rises in the east and sets in the west. Jesus is called the Sun of righteousness. He came in Palestine, the extreme east, where he was rejected. Steadily the rays of the Sun of righteousness pierced the western blackness, chasing the darkness of nature's night from the hearts and homes of men, and leaving its eastern rejecters, who 'loved darkness, rather than light,' to the gloom they loved. Onward the; spiritual sun presses until today in this western land we enjoy his last sinking rays, while those in eastern nations are largely in gross darkness. This western nation is largely the missionary force of the world, and embraces all the light, knowledge, and improvement of the age. The globe has been girdled, the sun of hope for this world is fast sinking behind the everlasting hills. Surely, the evening shadows lengthen across the plains of time, the sun of hope is setting in the great eternal sea. Christ will soon leave the mediatorial throne for the judgment seat." Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus.
March 31 at 10:34am · Like
Shepherd Udobor @Jointheir WithThe Son thanks for all
the posts. But I think you missed the point. you will need reconsider these
following points from the Bible in my next posts tomorrow!
April 1 at 10:34pm · Like
Shepherd Udobor The
BIBLE never contradicts itself. and as you rightly said."LET GOD BE FOUND
TRUE, THOUGH EVERYMAN BE LAIR!"
April 2 at 11:27am · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son My brother, you've said I missed the point. I
gladly wait to be shown my mistake that I may have a chance to make amends
where necessary.
April 2 at 8:24pm · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son Of a truth, the Bible never contradict itself.
Men do err when they resort to private interpretations of these hallowed words
of prophecy. Whereas, the inspired writings are not interpreted arbitrarily.
They are encoded only for the servants of YHWH Sabaoth, who humbly lean at
Jesus' feet to hear directly from Him. The words are sealed among the true
disciples, so that the unregenerated cannot understand them (Isaiah 6:9,10;
8:16 Daniel 12:9,10 and Mark 4:11,12) . That's why the unlearned men, with
blinded hearts, read differently into it. They shall not understand, though
they hear and see. It's the Holy Spirit that guides to all truth. The natural
man, unstable as our flesh, cannot receive the things of the spirit. That's why
we err, and are designated, as men, LIARS. BUT, LET GOD BE TRUE FOREVER.
April 3 at 4:38am · Like
Shepherd Udobor Network
prevented me from replying you yesterday
April 3 at 9:32am · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son Okay. I'll be patient, sir.
April 3 at 4:12pm · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son Oh, sweet patience! I wish we'll have a
thousand years to wait for a simple response. Don't mind me, dear.
April 6 at 7:44pm · Like
Shepherd Udobor My
dear Jointheir, from all ur comments, u have asserted that God's kingdom was
established when Jesus was still on earth as a human. but the Biblical evidence
says otherwise.
Tuesday at 11:24am · Like
Shepherd Udobor please
consider the following. The Kingdom of God is the expression of Jehovah’s
universal sovereignty toward his creatures, or the means used by him to express
that sovereignty. This term is used particularly to designate the manifestation
of God’s sovereignty through the royal government headed by his Son, Jesus
Christ. “Kingdom” may refer to the rulership of the one anointed as King or to
the earthly realm ruled by that heavenly government.
Tuesday at 11:28am · Like
Shepherd Udobor When
was God’s Kingdom to begin to rule?
Was it in the first century?
Col. 1:1, 2, 13: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through God’s will, and Timothy our brother to the holy ones [those who were heirs of the heavenly Kingdom] . . . He [God] delivered us from the authority of the darkness and transferred us [the holy ones, members of the Christian congregation] into the kingdom of the Son of his love.” (So Christ had, indeed, begun to rule over the Christian congregation in the first century, before this was written, but the establishment of the Kingdom to rule over all the earth was yet future.)
1 Cor. 4:8: “You men already have your fill, do you? You are rich already, are you? You have begun ruling as kings without us, have you? And I wish indeed that you had begun ruling as kings, that we also might rule with you as kings.” (It is obvious that the apostle Paul is reproving them for having the wrong viewpoint.)
Rev. 12:10, 12: “Now have come to pass the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God! On this account be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time.” (The establishment of God’s Kingdom is here associated with the hurling of Satan out of heaven. This had not occurred at the time of the rebellion in Eden, as is shown in Job chapters 1, 2. Revelation was recorded in 96 C.E., and Revelation 1:1 shows that it deals with events then future
Was it in the first century?
Col. 1:1, 2, 13: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through God’s will, and Timothy our brother to the holy ones [those who were heirs of the heavenly Kingdom] . . . He [God] delivered us from the authority of the darkness and transferred us [the holy ones, members of the Christian congregation] into the kingdom of the Son of his love.” (So Christ had, indeed, begun to rule over the Christian congregation in the first century, before this was written, but the establishment of the Kingdom to rule over all the earth was yet future.)
1 Cor. 4:8: “You men already have your fill, do you? You are rich already, are you? You have begun ruling as kings without us, have you? And I wish indeed that you had begun ruling as kings, that we also might rule with you as kings.” (It is obvious that the apostle Paul is reproving them for having the wrong viewpoint.)
Rev. 12:10, 12: “Now have come to pass the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God! On this account be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time.” (The establishment of God’s Kingdom is here associated with the hurling of Satan out of heaven. This had not occurred at the time of the rebellion in Eden, as is shown in Job chapters 1, 2. Revelation was recorded in 96 C.E., and Revelation 1:1 shows that it deals with events then future
Tuesday at 11:32am · Like
Shepherd Udobor The
Dream Tree of king Nebuchadnezzar: what have u to say about Daniel's
explanation. Remember that the dream's fulfillment has much to with God's
Universal sovereignty and the establishment of God's Kingdom at the hand of the
lowliest one of mankind - Jesus Christ
Tuesday at 11:40am · Like
Shepherd Udobor The
dream points to the exact time God's Kingdom would be established, and then
begin to rule. The following Biblical references expains it.
Tuesday at 12:42pm · Like
Shepherd Udobor first,
consider the Dream as recorded in Daniel 4:1-17-- 4“Neb‧u‧chad‧nez′zar
the king, to all the peoples, national groups and languages that are dwelling
in all the earth: May YOUR peace grow great. 2 The signs and wonders that the
Most High God has performed with me, it has seemed good to me to declare. 3 How
grand his signs are, and how mighty his wonders are! His kingdom is a kingdom
to time indefinite, and his rulership is for generation after generation.
4 “I, Neb‧u‧chad‧nez′zar, happened to be at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace. 5 There was a dream that I beheld, and it began to make me afraid. And there were mental images upon my bed and visions of my head that began to frighten me. 6 And from me an order was being put through to bring in before me all the wise men of Babylon, that they might make known to me the very interpretation of the dream.
7 “At that time the magic-practicing priests, the conjurers, the Chal‧de′ans and the astrologers were entering; and I was saying before them what the dream was, but its interpretation they were not making known to me. 8 And at last there came in before me Daniel, whose name is Bel‧te‧shaz′zar according to the name of my god and in whom there is the spirit of the holy gods; and before him I said what the dream was:
9 “‘O Bel‧te‧shaz′zar the chief of the magic-practicing priests, because I myself well know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that there is no secret at all that is troubling you, tell [me] the visions of my dream that I have beheld and its interpretation.
10 “‘Now the visions of my head upon my bed I happened to be beholding, and, look! a tree in the midst of the earth, the height of which was immense. 11 The tree grew up and became strong, and its very height finally reached the heavens, and it was visible to the extremity of the whole earth. 12 Its foliage was fair, and its fruit was abundant, and there was food for all on it. Under it the beast of the field would seek shade, and on its boughs the birds of the heavens would dwell, and from it all flesh would feed itself.
13 “‘I continued beholding in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, look! a watcher, even a holy one, coming down from the heavens themselves. 14 He was calling out loudly, and this is what he was saying: “CHOP the tree down, and cut off its boughs. SHAKE off its foliage, and scatter its fruitage. Let the beast flee from under it, and the birds from its boughs. 15 However, LEAVE its rootstock itself in the earth, even with a banding of iron and of copper, among the grass of the field; and with the dew of the heavens let it be wet, and with the beast let its portion be among the vegetation of the earth. 16 Let its heart be changed from that of mankind, and let the heart of a beast be given to it, and let seven times pass over it. 17 By the decree of watchers the thing is, and [by] the saying of holy ones the request is, to the intent that people living may know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that to the one whom he wants to, he gives it and he sets up over it even the lowliest one of mankind.”
4 “I, Neb‧u‧chad‧nez′zar, happened to be at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace. 5 There was a dream that I beheld, and it began to make me afraid. And there were mental images upon my bed and visions of my head that began to frighten me. 6 And from me an order was being put through to bring in before me all the wise men of Babylon, that they might make known to me the very interpretation of the dream.
7 “At that time the magic-practicing priests, the conjurers, the Chal‧de′ans and the astrologers were entering; and I was saying before them what the dream was, but its interpretation they were not making known to me. 8 And at last there came in before me Daniel, whose name is Bel‧te‧shaz′zar according to the name of my god and in whom there is the spirit of the holy gods; and before him I said what the dream was:
9 “‘O Bel‧te‧shaz′zar the chief of the magic-practicing priests, because I myself well know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that there is no secret at all that is troubling you, tell [me] the visions of my dream that I have beheld and its interpretation.
10 “‘Now the visions of my head upon my bed I happened to be beholding, and, look! a tree in the midst of the earth, the height of which was immense. 11 The tree grew up and became strong, and its very height finally reached the heavens, and it was visible to the extremity of the whole earth. 12 Its foliage was fair, and its fruit was abundant, and there was food for all on it. Under it the beast of the field would seek shade, and on its boughs the birds of the heavens would dwell, and from it all flesh would feed itself.
13 “‘I continued beholding in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, look! a watcher, even a holy one, coming down from the heavens themselves. 14 He was calling out loudly, and this is what he was saying: “CHOP the tree down, and cut off its boughs. SHAKE off its foliage, and scatter its fruitage. Let the beast flee from under it, and the birds from its boughs. 15 However, LEAVE its rootstock itself in the earth, even with a banding of iron and of copper, among the grass of the field; and with the dew of the heavens let it be wet, and with the beast let its portion be among the vegetation of the earth. 16 Let its heart be changed from that of mankind, and let the heart of a beast be given to it, and let seven times pass over it. 17 By the decree of watchers the thing is, and [by] the saying of holy ones the request is, to the intent that people living may know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that to the one whom he wants to, he gives it and he sets up over it even the lowliest one of mankind.”
Tuesday at 3:48pm · Like
Shepherd Udobor Do
you notice that seven times were to pass over the Tree Stump. Now what is the
seven Times?
Tuesday at 3:51pm · Like
Shepherd Udobor Da
4 Verses 20-37 show that this prophecy had a fulfillment upon Nebuchadnezzar.
But it also has a larger fulfillment. How do we know that? Verses 3 and 17 show
that the dream that God gave to King Nebuchadnezzar deals with the Kingdom of
God and God’s promise to give it “to the one whom he wants to . . . even the
lowliest one of mankind.” The entire Bible shows that Jehovah’s purpose is for
his own Son, Jesus Christ, to rule as His representative over mankind. (Ps.
2:1-8; Dan. 7:13, 14; 1 Cor. 15:23-25; Rev. 11:15; 12:10) The Bible’s
description of Jesus shows that he was indeed “the lowliest one of mankind.”
(Phil. 2:7, 8; Matt. 11:28-30) The prophetic dream, then, points to the time
when Jehovah would give rulership over mankind to his own Son.
Daniel 4:20-37 says “‘The tree that you beheld, that grew great and became strong and the height of which finally reached the heavens and which was visible to all the earth, 21 and the foliage of which was fair, and the fruit of which was abundant, and on which there was food for all; under which the beasts of the field would dwell, and on the boughs of which the birds of the heavens would reside, 22 it is you, O king, because you have grown great and become strong, and your grandeur has grown great and reached to the heavens, and your rulership to the extremity of the earth.
23 “‘And because the king beheld a watcher, even a holy one, coming down from the heavens, who was also saying: “CHOP the tree down, and RUIN it. However, LEAVE its rootstock itself in the earth, but with a banding of iron and of copper, among the grass of the field, and with the dew of the heavens let it become wet, and with the beasts of the field let its portion be until seven times themselves pass over it,” 24 this is the interpretation, O king, and the decree of the Most High is that which must befall my lord the king. 25 And you they will be driving away from men, and with the beasts of the field your dwelling will come to be, and the vegetation is what they will give even to you to eat just like bulls; and with the dew of the heavens you yourself will be getting wet, and seven times themselves will pass over you, until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind, and that to the one whom he wants to he gives it.
26 “‘And because they said to leave the rootstock of the tree, your kingdom will be sure to you after you know that the heavens are ruling. 27 Therefore, O king, may my counsel seem good to you, and remove your own sins by righteousness, and your iniquity by showing mercy to the poor ones. Maybe there will occur a lengthening of your prosperity.’”
28 All this befell Neb‧u‧chad‧nez′zar the king.
29 At the end of twelve lunar months he happened to be walking upon the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king was answering and saying: “Is not this Babylon the Great, that I myself have built for the royal house with the strength of my might and for the dignity of my majesty?”
31 While the word was yet in the king’s mouth, there was a voice that fell from the heavens: “To you it is being said, O Neb‧u‧chad‧nez′zar the king, ‘The kingdom itself has gone away from you, 32 and from mankind they are driving even you away, and with the beasts of the field your dwelling will be. Vegetation they will give even to you to eat just like bulls, and seven times themselves will pass over you, until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind, and that to the one whom he wants to he gives it.’”
33 At that moment the word itself was fulfilled upon Neb‧u‧chad‧nez′zar, and from mankind he was being driven away, and vegetation he began to eat just like bulls, and with the dew of the heavens his own body got to be wet, until his very hair grew long just like eagles’ [feathers] and his nails like birds’ [claws].
34 “And at the end of the days I, Neb‧u‧chad‧nez′zar, lifted up to the heavens my eyes, and my own understanding began to return to me; and I blessed the Most High himself, and the One living to time indefinite I praised and glorified, because his rulership is a rulership to time indefinite and his kingdom is for generation after generation. 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are being considered as merely nothing, and he is doing according to his own will among the army of the heavens and the inhabitants of the earth. And there exists no one that can check his hand or that can say to him, ‘What have you been doing?’
36 “At the same time my understanding itself began to return to me, and for the dignity of my kingdom my majesty and my brightness themselves began to return to me; and for me even my high royal officers and my grandees began eagerly searching, and I was reestablished upon my own kingdom, and greatness extraordinary was added to me.
37 “Now I, Neb‧u‧chad‧nez′zar, am praising and exalting and glorifying the King of the heavens, because all his works are truth and his ways are justice, and because those who are walking in pride he is able to humiliate.”
Daniel 4:20-37 says “‘The tree that you beheld, that grew great and became strong and the height of which finally reached the heavens and which was visible to all the earth, 21 and the foliage of which was fair, and the fruit of which was abundant, and on which there was food for all; under which the beasts of the field would dwell, and on the boughs of which the birds of the heavens would reside, 22 it is you, O king, because you have grown great and become strong, and your grandeur has grown great and reached to the heavens, and your rulership to the extremity of the earth.
23 “‘And because the king beheld a watcher, even a holy one, coming down from the heavens, who was also saying: “CHOP the tree down, and RUIN it. However, LEAVE its rootstock itself in the earth, but with a banding of iron and of copper, among the grass of the field, and with the dew of the heavens let it become wet, and with the beasts of the field let its portion be until seven times themselves pass over it,” 24 this is the interpretation, O king, and the decree of the Most High is that which must befall my lord the king. 25 And you they will be driving away from men, and with the beasts of the field your dwelling will come to be, and the vegetation is what they will give even to you to eat just like bulls; and with the dew of the heavens you yourself will be getting wet, and seven times themselves will pass over you, until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind, and that to the one whom he wants to he gives it.
26 “‘And because they said to leave the rootstock of the tree, your kingdom will be sure to you after you know that the heavens are ruling. 27 Therefore, O king, may my counsel seem good to you, and remove your own sins by righteousness, and your iniquity by showing mercy to the poor ones. Maybe there will occur a lengthening of your prosperity.’”
28 All this befell Neb‧u‧chad‧nez′zar the king.
29 At the end of twelve lunar months he happened to be walking upon the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king was answering and saying: “Is not this Babylon the Great, that I myself have built for the royal house with the strength of my might and for the dignity of my majesty?”
31 While the word was yet in the king’s mouth, there was a voice that fell from the heavens: “To you it is being said, O Neb‧u‧chad‧nez′zar the king, ‘The kingdom itself has gone away from you, 32 and from mankind they are driving even you away, and with the beasts of the field your dwelling will be. Vegetation they will give even to you to eat just like bulls, and seven times themselves will pass over you, until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind, and that to the one whom he wants to he gives it.’”
33 At that moment the word itself was fulfilled upon Neb‧u‧chad‧nez′zar, and from mankind he was being driven away, and vegetation he began to eat just like bulls, and with the dew of the heavens his own body got to be wet, until his very hair grew long just like eagles’ [feathers] and his nails like birds’ [claws].
34 “And at the end of the days I, Neb‧u‧chad‧nez′zar, lifted up to the heavens my eyes, and my own understanding began to return to me; and I blessed the Most High himself, and the One living to time indefinite I praised and glorified, because his rulership is a rulership to time indefinite and his kingdom is for generation after generation. 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are being considered as merely nothing, and he is doing according to his own will among the army of the heavens and the inhabitants of the earth. And there exists no one that can check his hand or that can say to him, ‘What have you been doing?’
36 “At the same time my understanding itself began to return to me, and for the dignity of my kingdom my majesty and my brightness themselves began to return to me; and for me even my high royal officers and my grandees began eagerly searching, and I was reestablished upon my own kingdom, and greatness extraordinary was added to me.
37 “Now I, Neb‧u‧chad‧nez′zar, am praising and exalting and glorifying the King of the heavens, because all his works are truth and his ways are justice, and because those who are walking in pride he is able to humiliate.”
Tuesday at 3:55pm · Like
Shepherd Udobor As
Jesus showed in his prophecy pointing to the conclusion of the system of
things, Jerusalem would be “trampled on by the nations, until the appointed
times of the nations” were fulfilled. (Luke 21:24) “Jerusalem” represented the
Kingdom of God because its kings were said to sit on “the throne of the
kingship of Jehovah.” (1 Chron. 28:4, 5; Matt. 5:34, 35) So, the Gentile
governments, represented by wild beasts, would ‘trample’ on the right of God’s
Kingdom to direct human affairs and would themselves hold sway under Satan’s
control.—Compare Luke 4:5, 6.
Tuesday at 3:59pm · Like
Shepherd Udobor For
how long would such governments be permitted to exercise this control before
Jehovah gave the Kingdom to Jesus Christ? Daniel 4:16 says “seven times”
(“seven years,” AT and Mo, also JB footnote on verse 13). The Bible shows that
in calculating prophetic time, a day is counted as a year. (Ezek. 4:6; Num.
14:34) How many “days,” then, are involved? Revelation 11:2, 3 clearly states
that 42 months (3 1/2 years) in that prophecy are counted as 1,260 days. Seven
years would be twice that, or 2,520 days. Applying the “day for a year” rule
would result in 2,520 years
Tuesday at 3:59pm · Like
Shepherd Udobor When
did the counting of the “seven times” begin? After Zedekiah, the last king in
the typical Kingdom of God, was removed from the throne in Jerusalem by the
Babylonians. (Ezek. 21:25-27) Finally, by early October of 607 B.C.E. the last
vestige of Jewish sovereignty was gone. By that time the Jewish governor,
Gedaliah, who had been left in charge by the Babylonians, had been
assassinated, and the remaining Jews had fled to Egypt. (Jeremiah, chapters
40-43) Reliable Bible chronology indicates that this took place 70 years before
537 B.C.E., the year in which the Jews returned from captivity; that is, it
took place by early October of 607 B.C.E.
Tuesday at 4:01pm · Like
Shepherd Udobor Jehovah’s
“good word” is bound up with the foretold 70-year period, for God said:
“This is what Jehovah has said, ‘In accord with the fulfilling of seventy years at Babylon I shall turn my attention to you people, and I will establish toward you my good word in bringing you back to this place.’” (Jeremiah 29:10)
Daniel relied on that word, trusting that the 70 years were not a ‘round number’ but an exact figure that could be counted on. (Daniel 9:1, 2) And that proved to be so.
“This is what Jehovah has said, ‘In accord with the fulfilling of seventy years at Babylon I shall turn my attention to you people, and I will establish toward you my good word in bringing you back to this place.’” (Jeremiah 29:10)
Daniel relied on that word, trusting that the 70 years were not a ‘round number’ but an exact figure that could be counted on. (Daniel 9:1, 2) And that proved to be so.
Tuesday at 4:05pm · Like
Shepherd Udobor When
did the counting of the “seven times” begin? After Zedekiah, the last king in
the typical Kingdom of God, was removed from the throne in Jerusalem by the
Babylonians. (Ezek. 21:25-27) Finally, by early October of 607 B.C.E. the last
vestige of Jewish sovereignty was gone. By that time the Jewish governor,
Gedaliah, who had been left in charge by the Babylonians, had been
assassinated, and the remaining Jews had fled to Egypt. (Jeremiah, chapters
40-43) Reliable Bible chronology indicates that this took place 70 years before
537 B.C.E., the year in which the Jews returned from captivity; that is, it
took place by early October of 607 B.C.E.
Tuesday at 4:11pm · Like
Shepherd Udobor The
inspired Bible writer Ezra reported that the 70 years ran until “the first year
of Cyrus the king of Persia,” who issued a decree allowing the Jews to return
to their homeland. (Ezra 1:1-4; 2 Chronicles 36:21-23) Historians accept that
Cyrus conquered Babylon in October 539 B.C.E. and that Cyrus’ first regnal year
began in the spring of 538 B.C.E. If Cyrus’ decree came late in his first
regnal year, the Jews could easily be back in their homeland by the seventh
month (Tishri) as Ezra 3:1 says; this would be October 537 B.C.E.
Tuesday at 4:14pm · Like
Shepherd Udobor We
are willing to be guided primarily by God’s Word rather than by a chronology
that is based principally on secular evidence or that disagrees with the
Scriptures. It seems evident that the easiest and most direct understanding of
the various Biblical statements is that the 70 years began with the complete
desolation of Judah after Jerusalem was destroyed. (Jeremiah 25:8-11; 2
Chronicles 36:20-23; Daniel 9:2) Hence, counting back 70 years from when the
Jews returned to their homeland in 537 B.C.E., we arrive at 607
Tuesday at 4:15pm · Like
Shepherd Udobor B.C.E
B.C.E. for the date when Nebuchadnezzar, in his 18th regnal year, destroyed Jerusalem,
removed Zedekiah from the throne and brought to an end the Judean line of kings
on a throne in earthly Jerusalem.—Ezekiel 21:19-27.
Tuesday at 4:18pm · Like
Shepherd Udobor How,
then, is the time calculated down to 1914? Counting 2,520 years from early
October of 607 B.C.E. brings us to early October of 1914 C.E., as shown on the
chart.
CALCULATING THE “SEVEN TIMES”
“Seven times” = 7 X 360 = 2,520 years
A Biblical “time,” or year = 12 X 30 days = 360. (Rev. 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14)
In the fulfillment of the “seven times” each day equals one year. (Ezek. 4:6; Num. 14:34)
Early October, 607 B.C.E., to December 31, 607 B.C.E.= 1/4 year
January 1, 606 B.C.E., to December 31, 1 B.C.E. = 606 years
January 1, 1 C.E., to December 31, 1913 = 1,913 years
January 1, 1914, to early October, 1914 = 3/4 year
Total: 2,520 years
What happened at that time? Jehovah entrusted rulership over mankind to his own Son, Jesus Christ, glorified in the heavens.—Dan. 7:13, 14.
CALCULATING THE “SEVEN TIMES”
“Seven times” = 7 X 360 = 2,520 years
A Biblical “time,” or year = 12 X 30 days = 360. (Rev. 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14)
In the fulfillment of the “seven times” each day equals one year. (Ezek. 4:6; Num. 14:34)
Early October, 607 B.C.E., to December 31, 607 B.C.E.= 1/4 year
January 1, 606 B.C.E., to December 31, 1 B.C.E. = 606 years
January 1, 1 C.E., to December 31, 1913 = 1,913 years
January 1, 1914, to early October, 1914 = 3/4 year
Total: 2,520 years
What happened at that time? Jehovah entrusted rulership over mankind to his own Son, Jesus Christ, glorified in the heavens.—Dan. 7:13, 14.
Tuesday at 4:20pm · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son I love consistency. I do hope you'd be
consistent in the application of your rule. Since you've adopted the
'1-day-for-1-year' rule, you'll have to stick to it, good or bad. That makes
your future millenial reign 360,000 years instead of 1000 years. What do you
think, sir?
Tuesday at 9:05pm · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son I don't intend to go into word for word
refutation of some points you've brought above yet. I only want you to offer
explanations yourself that may either buttress your points or show their
frailty. According to your comment, the prophet Daniel has already given the
interpretation of the vision of the seven times and the tree in Dan 4:24, and
the fulfilment was also shown in verse 33. What gives you the notion that there
is yet a private interpretation or a future fulfilment thereof?
Tuesday at 9:32pm · Like
Shepherd Udobor As
I earlier suggested meet with Jehovah's Witnesses in ur area for more in
formation and answers to ur questions, if it is answers u seriously seek to ur
questions!
Wednesday at 1:04pm · Like
Shepherd Udobor This
is simply bcos I may not have the time to always type answers to ur questions
and I've been experiencing network problems recently!
Wednesday at 1:16pm · Like
Ema Okon Ndon I
go report una give R/CE. Which kine debate be this for office hours? Make una
chill for bible matter. After work una fit go break una heads for Jemila
junction....
Wednesday at 2:06pm · Like
Ema Okon Ndon Shephered,
you don de run. That your excuse no go wash o!!! Network ke
Wednesday at 2:07pm · Like
Shepherd Udobor Oga
Ema, I know many will think am running away. but thats not it. typing on phone
takes more time and money. wen the network gets stronger I must surely reply at
the right time!
Wednesday at 3:57pm · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son Oga, Ema, mine's not during office hours. I
browse at home.
Wednesday at 5:30pm · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son I don't rely on that weak network signal any
more. I have to spend money now. It's worth the sacrifice. At least, one soul
may benefit from this discussion, (it could be me, lol). By the grace of God, I
have more questions to share. It's not about who wins a debate; I'm not in a
contest here; it's for the truth to be known by all who care. I don't have any
reputation to lose. I'm still learning. I don't claim to have all the answers.
I only desire sincerity from all who claim to stand for the truth. I've met
many witnesses in my area, but the discussions are usually unfruitful. The
answers are rehearsed, cagey and disconnected with the issues. I feel it's
proper for Shepherd to defend what he's brought to the public. Since he's
placed this advert on JW here, it's proper he answers questions that arise from
it. Referring me to his colleagues in my area is rather diversionary, to say
the least. I think he knows better than that. He has an awful opportunity to
convince all of us who have 'misconceptions' about his group, and he shoves it
with a common Witness slogan. I think it's not working.
Wednesday at 6:00pm · Like
Shepherd Udobor My
dear Jointheir, if you read my earlier posting on this issue concerning the
larger fufilment of this prophecy of Daniel chapter 4, you get the answers to
the questions you have raised.
Yesterday at 1:34am · Like
Shepherd Udobor I
think I have made myself clear enough on this is issue from my first comment to
the 6th, please read through those comments. Then my point will not be so
elusive to you sir!
Yesterday at 1:42am · Like
Shepherd Udobor No.
The 1 day for a year rule doesn't folow that way! Please wait for my reply!
Yesterday at 1:57am · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son (smile) I don't think I enjoy this waiting
game very much, sir. I don't see why you find it difficult to answer back in
few words, sir. You've referred me back to your earlier comments, which, I'm
afraid, doesn't give good answers to my questions above. However, I'm willing
to stake my point on my next question. I hope I don't annoy you, my friend and
colleague. We've come through thick and thin all these years. We're not foes.
Yesterday at 3:04am · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son According to the analyses in your comments, God
wants Christ to rule as His representative over all mankind; and the prophetic
dream in question points to the time that this would take place. You've
beautifully shown that before this happens, the history of mankind would be
dominated by 'bestial governments', ie 'a global system of human rulership
under Satan's influence'. If this assertion fails, so does the entire framework
of this 1914 theory. But, on the other hand, if it is true, then the bestial
governments of this world have ended since 1914 (ie, 2520 prophetic days after
the gentile occupation of Jerusalem). That means the Lord has given His Christ
the Kingdom power and governmental authority over all mankind. Wonderful! We no
longer have 'a global system of human rulership under Satan's influence'. This
is very rich! I'm so thankful for October 1914.
Yesterday at 3:22am · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son In one of your comments, you quoted from 1 Cor.
4:8 to oppose the Scriptures I gave you earlier to prove that the Kingdom of
God was established in AD 33, and not AD 1914. Sadly, you ignored the truth in
the inspired verses I've presented so far, and stick to a wrested
interpretation of disjointed passages. Any sincere inquirer would see from the
fourth chapter that Brother Paul was not referring to a future reign on earth,
but that he was rebuking his Corinthian converts for being conceited, thinking
they were so full of secular wisdom. The apostle here intends a strong irony;
and one which, when taken in conjunction with what he had said before, must
have stung them to the heart. It is not an unusual thing for many people to
forget, if not despise, the men by whom they were brought to the knowledge of
the truth; and take up with others to whom, in the things of God, they owe nothing.
It's as if he'd said, "ye have reigned as kings, flourishing in the
enjoyment of these things, in all tranquillity and honour; without any want of
us: and I would to God ye did reign, in deed, and not in conceit only, that we
also, poor, persecuted, and despised apostles, might reign with you." He
was not in any way literal. Reigning in this sense, means feeling full--rich;
in their own estimation. "Reigned as kings without us"; they imagined
themselves possessed of great spiritual riches, knowledge, and power; able
without the help of the apostles to succeed and prosper in their own way. Ye
did reign; that ye were indeed as spiritually rich, great, powerful, and
prosperous as you imagine. "That we also might reign with you"; then
the apostle and his associates might rejoice with them in their fulness of
spiritual blessings, instead of being distressed at their divisions. They were
acting as if they needed no more to "hunger and thirst after
righteousness," and as if already they had apprehended that for which also
they were apprehended of Christ Jesus.Whereas, Christians have to strive and
suffer to to enter in at the strait gate: for many will seek to enter in, and
shall not be able. In other words, they were so puffed up with their favorite
teachers, and their own fancied spiritual attainments in knowledge through
them, that they felt like those "filled full" at a feast, or as a
"rich" man priding himself in his riches: so they felt they could
then do "without us," (ie, Brother Paul and his associates) their
first spiritual fathers (1Co 4:15). They forgot that before the "heavenly
kingdom" and the "fulness of joy," must come the cross, and
suffering, to every true believer (2Ti 2:5,11,12). They were like the
self-complacent Laodiceans (Re 3:17; compare Ho 12:8). Temporal fulness and
riches doubtless tended in some cases at Corinth, to generate this spiritual
self-sufficiency; the contrast to the apostle's literal "hunger and
thirst" (1Co 4:11) proves this.
Yesterday at 4:28am · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son My beloved Shepard Shepherd Udobor,
I don't know about you, as for me, I prefer to reign over my bestial desires
than to rule over my fellow. "And he that ruleth his spirit is greater
than he that taketh a city." Prov. 16: 32.
Yesterday at 4:36am · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son I don't know why you think that rulership must
always be over others in stead of being over one's self. Christ has come to
destroy the power of sin so that man can have that power to rule his spirit.
Salvation is the greatest thing that mortals ever found.
Yesterday at 4:40am · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son To buttress my point I wish to quote from my
late brother in the Lord Jesus Christ, D. S. Warner. 'Salvation is more to be
desired than all the glory and pleasure that the highest honors of earth can
yield. Yea, it places the soul upon a plane so elevated as to receive the
admiration and adoration of Heaven. "If any man serve me, saith the Lord,
him will my Father honor." John 12:26. It places a man far above the highest
object of earthly ambition. It gives him a kingdom greater than Alexander or
Napoleon ever swayed scepter over. "It is your Father's good pleasure to
give you the kingdom.” Even the “kingdom of heaven." "They which
receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life
by one Jesus Christ." Rom. 5: 17. And this glorious reign is not located
in some future age; but John, writing to the seven churches in Asia, in the
first century of Christian grace, declared that Jesus Christ, who is the faithful
Witness, the Prince of the kings of the earth, him that loved us, and washed us
from our sins in his own blood, hath also "made us kings and priests unto
God and his Father. " Rev. 1: 5, 6. As again seen in this beautiful book
of symbols, at the very opening of the plan of redemption the blood washed
celebrated the praises of God with a "new song, saying; Thou art worthy to
take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou west slain, and hast
redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people,
and nation; and hast made us unto our God KINGS and priests, and we shall reign
on the earth." Rev. 5: 9, 10. And Peter calls God's church "a royal
priesthood," i. e., a priesthood of kings.
All who live in sin are slaves to their own lusts, and are not able to govern themselves. But salvation makes us kings in rule over our own selves; over our passions, appetites, and desires. "And he that ruleth his spirit is greater than he that taketh a city." Prov. 16: 32. Salvation also places us in kingly triumph over all the elements of this world; over sin, fashion, and popular sentiments; and over the devil himself, who claims to be the ruler of earth. A master of the situation of life, with a peace that nothing disturbs; and a joyful faith in God which sees all things working together for our good, and contributing to our happiness.
Salvation is greater riches than all the gold, silver, and valuable treasures of this earth summed up together A treasure that never faileth; a wealth so great that to the happy possessor everything of earth is, in comparison, reduced to dust and dirt. O "the unsearchable riches of Christ!" Eph. 3:8. "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." 2 Cor. 8: 9! How rich? “He that overcometh shall inherit all things." Rev. 21: 7. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things.” Rom. 8: 32. Yea, hath given " For all things are yours. Whether Paul or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours." 1. Cor. 3: 22.
So teaches the word of God, and so bear witness all who have tasted its wonderful claims. Reader, look back over that long line of holy martyrs, who, in the possession of this great treasure, gloried in tribulations, and shouted for joy amid the flames; disdaining life, with all it could offer, when tendered to them as a compensation for their hope in Christ; and there behold the eternal and incalculable value of salvation. If, then, such unbounded wealth, such innumerable blessings, and such infinite bliss and happiness are all treasured up in SALVATION, who can afford to be indifferent to the gracious treasure?'
All who live in sin are slaves to their own lusts, and are not able to govern themselves. But salvation makes us kings in rule over our own selves; over our passions, appetites, and desires. "And he that ruleth his spirit is greater than he that taketh a city." Prov. 16: 32. Salvation also places us in kingly triumph over all the elements of this world; over sin, fashion, and popular sentiments; and over the devil himself, who claims to be the ruler of earth. A master of the situation of life, with a peace that nothing disturbs; and a joyful faith in God which sees all things working together for our good, and contributing to our happiness.
Salvation is greater riches than all the gold, silver, and valuable treasures of this earth summed up together A treasure that never faileth; a wealth so great that to the happy possessor everything of earth is, in comparison, reduced to dust and dirt. O "the unsearchable riches of Christ!" Eph. 3:8. "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." 2 Cor. 8: 9! How rich? “He that overcometh shall inherit all things." Rev. 21: 7. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things.” Rom. 8: 32. Yea, hath given " For all things are yours. Whether Paul or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours." 1. Cor. 3: 22.
So teaches the word of God, and so bear witness all who have tasted its wonderful claims. Reader, look back over that long line of holy martyrs, who, in the possession of this great treasure, gloried in tribulations, and shouted for joy amid the flames; disdaining life, with all it could offer, when tendered to them as a compensation for their hope in Christ; and there behold the eternal and incalculable value of salvation. If, then, such unbounded wealth, such innumerable blessings, and such infinite bliss and happiness are all treasured up in SALVATION, who can afford to be indifferent to the gracious treasure?'
Yesterday at 4:49am · Like
Shepherd Udobor Yet,
again you missed the point! Did you never read this in the Psalms (Psalms 110:
1,2 and its fufilment in Acts 2:34,35 and Hebrews 10:12,13) that Jesus did not
begin ruling as king immediately when he returned to heaven. He had to wait
untill his enemy was placed as a stool for his feet. Our Lord Jesus Christ
began to rule in heaven in 1914, but take note that he rules in the midst of
his enemies, while the subjects of his enemies are still ruling.but this time
God's kingdom being established in Heaven. (read Daniel 2:44) "In the days
of those Kings". while human rulership still holds sway. During all those
years since 607 B.C. the kingdom of Jehovah God had not been operating by means
of an anointed descendant of King David according to the kingdom covenant. It
had been like a cutdown tree, with no creatures under it or in its branches.
The kingdom covenant was like that tree stump left in the earth. It was
double-banded by Jehovah’s restraining power until “seven times” should have
passed over it.
17 hours ago · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son For a better understanding of the passages
you've quoted, see 1Cor.15:25. 'He must reign, till he hath put all enemies
under his feet.' In sitting, he is yet reigning. Amen. It doesn't say he'd
start reigning after the subjection of all his enemies; rather, he reigns over
all things till his last enemy, death, is conquered. This reign is not
political, as you suppose, it's spiritual. At the last, when he shall have put
down all rule and all authority and power, he'll deliver up the kingdom to God
the Father; see verse 24 of 1Cor.15. He doesn't set up a kingdom at the end,
but rather, he delivers it up to the Father.
15 hours ago · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son You cannot take a prophecy which Daniel
interpreted for, and was fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar, and apply it to the
nation of Israel. That would amount to 'wresting of Scriptures'. Don't twist
verses to fit your beliefs, rather bend your beliefs to fit in to the
Scriptures. This Word will judge us all on the last day. So leave it as it is.
Don't change it. No! Don't add to it or diminish it. Let it speak for itself.
11 hours ago · Like
Jointheir
WithThe Son I hope it's now clear that the right hand of
the Father is the throne on which the Lord Jesus has been sitting and reigning
since AD 33. 1914 is a false date. I here rest my case.
about an hour ago · Like
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