Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Even so. Amen.
Daniel 10:13-14 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”
Ezekiel 38: Persia or modern day Iran.
BREAKING: The US has released the full text of its 14-point "Memorandum of Understanding" with Iran.
Key terms include:
1. The US, Iran, and their allies agree to immediately and permanently end military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon
2. The US and Iran agree…
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) June 17, 2026
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu held a press conference. His comments below have been translated to English. You know it is serious when he is speaking in Hebrew.
ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו, הערב במסיבת עיתונאים: "אזרחי ישראל היקרים, במשך עשרות שנים אני נאבק במאמצים של איראן להתחמש בנשק גרעיני. אני יכול להגדיר את זה כמשימת חיי. עמדתי בה עד היום, ואני אעמוד בה גם בעתיד. עם הסכם, בלי הסכם – לאיראן לא יהיה נשק גרעיני. לא היום, ולא מחר. כל עוד… pic.twitter.com/g8m8w4b5yX
Ezekiel 38: Meshech, Tubal, Beth Togarmah, Gomer or modern day Turkey.
Turkish President Recep Erdogan has weighed in…
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he was “pleased” with the US-Iran agreement to end the war, describing it as an important step towards regional peace and stability.
Erdoğan also vowed that “Turkey will do its part in the process”, while urging all sides to avoid… pic.twitter.com/IWO8Pu8oGE
Jeremiah 31:35-36 Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name: Only if this fixed order departed from My presence, declares the LORD, would Israel’s descendants ever cease to be a nation before Me.”
A friendly reminder to President Trump, you are playing with an Eternal Power.
WATCH: Trump: "Without the United States there would be no Israel, without me, there would be no Israel … I've had a great relationship with Bibi, but now Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon …
1 Thessalonians 5:3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
TRUMP: ‘Many presidents have tried to make Peace with Iran, and all have FAILED before me’
Obadiah 1:20a The exiles of this host of the people of Israel shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath…
Hezbollah: The Iranian regime is interpreting the clause in the agreement about a ceasefire “on all fronts” as a requirement for Israel to cease operations against Hezbollah and withdraw from Lebanon. This interpretation is part of a broader Iranian effort to preserve Hezbollah… https://t.co/qusT6n8rJTpic.twitter.com/BUkFtDIbDY
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) June 17, 2026
Colossians 1:16: “For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… all things have been created through Him and for Him”.
John 1:3: “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made”.
Hebrews 1:2: States that God “appointed [His] Son heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe”.
Steven Spielberg Believes That Disclosure Day Will Greatly Shake The Faith Of Christians All Over The Globe https://t.co/y255HA45xn
Welcome to Part 8 and the final installment of Phil’s series.
𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐓, 𝐆𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐋, 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄, 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇, 𝐁𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐌
The Christian life is to believe “in” the Gospel which is “Immanuel” – God with us.
Romans 10:9-10 …if you 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬 with your mouth the Lord Jesus and 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Jesus accomplished perfect obedience to God in the Law and performed miracles. He remained obedient unto death and exited the Old Covenant. He was the only person able to say, “It is finished”. Because of His righteous act, death has no legal claim on Him. Ever.
This is why God resurrected Him. It is proof that the Old Covenant of Sin and Death is finished.
When we believe “in” Him, He who is the New Covenant Representative we are betrothed, engaged. By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we are being prepared for the Wedding.
We know we have the Holy Spirit when we exhibit the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Just as Jesus is the 2nd Adam, He remained faithful and finished the covenant. We the Church are the 2nd Eve. Even though we’ve sinned we are protected by His perfect, permanent, irrevocable, eternal grace of Him doing everything right.
Even though the Church has sinned, our sins don’t fall to us. Because of His obedience we are protected by the New and Everlasting Covenant between Jesus and God that can’t be broken because by His grace “it is finished”.
John 1:29 “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
That’s the Good News.
As someone betrothed, engaged to be married, our duty is to remain faithful until the wedding.
What many people call “getting saved” is actually accepting a marriage proposal from God. We state a willingness to be in covenant with God (the one between the Father and Jesus). At the point we accept that proposal we are engaged, betrothed. The “promissory ring” of the engagement is the gift of the Holy Spirit who teaches us about Jesus. But we aren’t married until the Wedding. The wedding is not in this body, and it’s not on this earth. It’s in Heaven in Revelation 19.
In this body on this earth we’re still in the broken covenant we were born into from Adam. We have to exit that old covenant. That means dying. “Till death do we part.”
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,…
Death and the afterlife is something we will all face. So it’s a good idea to prepare for it by rehearsing your mindset before it happens.
What then is baptism? Is it just a rinse in water to remove some dirt from your body? No, it’s much more than that.
𝐁𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐥 to prepare you for your death, which is the exit from the covenant that Adam broke, and then to resurrection, being “born again” into eternal life in Christ Jesus. It consists of a few simple elements:
* Your declaration of faith
* Your simulated death and burial
* Your simulated resurrection
Depending on your circumstances, declaring your faith moments before you die might not be possible. It may occur suddenly or while you’re unconscious. So it’s a good idea to “bank” your statement of faith. Make it known to yourself so you’re confident. And make it known to others so they can have peace when you’re gone.
The Apostle Peter explains that baptism is so you may be at peace, having a good conscience toward God before you die.
1 Peter 3:21 “…baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,”
Jesus Himself referred to His death as a “baptism”.
Luke 12:50 “But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!
Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
Jesus wasn’t talking about us wearing a piece of jewelry, He was talking about following Him to our baptism through death and resurrection into eternal life. Not the rehearsal, the real thing. This is why the rehearsal is so important. Because when death comes it will be the ultimate test.
The question of whether or not “the thief on the cross” next to Jesus had to be baptized is simply answered by recognizing that he wasn’t rehearsing.
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:3-5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
It’s not just dying and resurrecting that we rehearse with baptism, from that point on it is a rehearsal of our “walk in the newness of life” for eternity. So that when we cross over into eternity we will be familiar with it because we have rehearsed the walk. Our previous sinful lifestyle simply isn’t appropriate there. We should start getting rid of it now.
Our physical death is the exit from this covenant of sin and death that we are born into from Adam. Our bodies have already been corrupted by sin. We have to shed this mortal existence to be free of it. We wouldn’t want eternal life in a body that continually sins and decays!
1 Corinthians 15:53-54 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
Through our true baptism of death and resurrection we are “born again” into eternal life.
John 14:1-4 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
Romans 10:9-10 “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Let God into your life. It’s not only about you answering an invitation but you offering one in exchange. When you sense God knocking on the door of your heart, open the door and let Him in. It goes both ways, you let God into your house, God lets you into His.
What else must you do?
Listen to Him. God’s Holy Spirit will begin to produce the fruits of Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control. When you see these things manifesting in your life you will know that these things are done in God through you.
Read the Bible. Get to know God.
The New Covenant is this: God’s Law will not be written just in stone, but God will write His Law on your heart.
Jeremiah 31:33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
You’ll know God’s Law is written on your heart when “Thou Shall Not” becomes “I Don’t Want To”. That is the evidence of repentance. That’s how you’ll know you’ve repented.
“Repent and believe the Gospel.”
~
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐲 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 of things hoped for, the 𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 of things not seen.
The name of the 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 is “And it came to pass…”
The 𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 is a person’s behavior until it comes to pass.
Hebrews 11 is sometimes called “the hall of faith”. It mentions Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham & Sarah, Issac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and the prophets. Even though they all had a close encounter with God they were still required to have faith! They were justified by acting in faith, doing what God told them to do. We can know God interacted with them because we see the 𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 of what happened when they acted in faith.
The same is true of our own actions. When we behave in a Godly way, not only we ourselves but others too have evidence of our faith.
Faith is the currency of the Kingdom. Faith is like a coin where Belief and Action are flip sides of that coin.
“Your Faith has made you well” and “Faith without works (action) is dead.”
Adam disbelieved God and acted on his disbelief. We are to believe God and act on that belief.
~
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐃𝐨 𝐈 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡?
In conversations with atheists, they continually demand, “prove to me God exists”. They reject the notion of faith.
If “the just shall live by faith” then without faith one cannot be justified. The very thing atheists demand – absolute undeniable proof, would disqualify them for justification.
Recently I was watching videos of NDE’s (Near Death Experiences). In all the tellings of these experiences there is one common element; after death all doubt is removed. Whether it’s a Heavenly or Hellish experience after death, they have absolute undeniable certainty of the truth of God. They know the Truth. However when they “come back” to this life they still have to demonstrate faith when explaining their experience to others.
In the presence of absolute undeniable certainty, Faith is simply impossible. They are exact opposites. In the afterlife Faith does not exist any longer. When there is no faith possible neither is there any possibility of justification by faith. Justification comes only by faith.
When a person dies and experiences absolute undeniable certainty their fate is permanently sealed. If they did not have justification by faith in this life, they cannot achieve it after death. This is why Hell is permanent. There is no faith in Hell, only absolute certainty.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Jesus explained that faith is required in this life before we die. “…that whosoever shall believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
The Bible, ALL of it, is the Word of God. ALL of it is for our benefit. God’s Word finishes us as humans and makes us whole. God is the source of knowledge and revelation.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.
2 Peter 1:20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation.
God exists in three eternal, individual personalities: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. Each is equally God. They are one essence, perfect harmony.
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.
2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
~
Jesus Christ is the central figure and person in human history.
Jesus is God in human form. His Hebrew name, Yeshua, means “He saves.”
Titus 2:13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…
John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
Jesus is eternal.
1 Peter 1:20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.
John 17:24 Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Jesus, born of a virgin
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (God with us).
Fulfilled in Matthew 1:22-23
Jesus is the “Good News”, the Gospel message.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…
Jesus is currently alive and at the right hand of God the Father.
Psalm 110:1 A Psalm of David. The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
1 Peter 3:22 Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to Him.
Hebrews 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
~
The church is not a physical building. The church is a body of believers in Jesus Christ.
Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. -Jesus
Romans 12:4-6a For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:
Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
~
All of humanity who has physically died, all of the bodies will ultimately be resurrected. The question is the destination.
Daniel 12:2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
1 Corinthians 15:13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
Revelation 20:15 And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
~
Pre Tribulation Rapture: At a designated point in time before the beginning of the seven year Tribulation or the Day of the Lord, the entire body of the church of Jesus Christ will be caught up into the clouds to meet Him in the air.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-5
1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 27:5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.
The church will physically return to earth to rule and reign with Jesus Christ during the Millennial Kingdom.
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
2 Timothy 2:12If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us…
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
~
Believers can respectfully proclaim God’s truth and love people who disagree with or live outside of God’s laws and precepts.
Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
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Human life is sacred from conception to its natural end. God is the Creator of life from before time.
Psalm 139:13-16 For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all my days were written in Your book and ordained for me before one of them came to be.
Job 31:15 Did not He who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same One form us in the womb?
~
God sovereignly and purposefully creates each person biologically male or biologically female.
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Matthew 19:4 Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’
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Marriage is between a biological man and a biological woman.
Mark 10:6-9 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. -Jesus
Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
~
Humanity has inherited a sin nature from the fall of Adam. We are all in need of forgiveness and redemption from our individual sins.
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned…
1 John 4:9-10 This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
~
Salvation is by Faith alone apart from works. One cannot work, earn, or buy their way into eternity with God. He will not accept the fallen individual’s effort or payment.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.
Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the Law.
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Satan is a real personality and angelic being.
Jesus personally encountered Satan in Matthew 4:1-11.
1 John 3:8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.
Zechariah 3:1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.
~
Hell is a real physical place. No one in the Bible teaches more about Hell than Jesus.
Revelation 20:14-15 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Matthew 25:41 Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
So, what if Jesus was not raised from the dead? What’s the big deal about the resurrection? Who cares? Scripture states twice in the below verses, we are wasting our time with Christianity and the Bible if the resurrection is not true. Without the resurrection, we physically die and our bodies are eternally buried. Death wins. We are dirt and worm food. Our bodies become the byproduct of worm digestion…
Job 21:26 Together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them.
Without Jesus’ resurrection, our faith is described as “vain” and “worthless”.
1 Corinthians 15:14b …your faith is also in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.
The Greek word for “vain” is κενοσ/kenos. It means: empty, devoid of truth; contains nothing; empty handed; without a gift; fruitless; no purpose.
The Greek word for “worthless” is ματαιοσ/mataios. It means: devoid of force, truth, success, result; useless, of no purpose. -Definitions per Strong’s Concordance
This is our faith without the resurrection of Christ. Without Jesus’ resurrection, there is no hope for our bodies. We are dead and buried, a corrupt and purposeless mess, an empty shell.
If we are not resurrected in the future, then Christ’s resurrection in the past did not occur. We have historical proof of Jesus overcoming death with hundreds of witnesses. We know what happened to Jesus. This observation is stated at least twice by Paul. That’s the security and truth of our future resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised…
1 Corinthians 15:16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;
With the resurrection of Christ, Psalm 16:10 was prophetically fulfilled.
Psalm 16:10For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
With His death, Jesus did not stay in Sheol or Hades or the grave (see Ephesians 8-10). There was no decomposition of His body.
Acts 2:31 Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay.
Doctrinal Emphasis: Faith, Believing and Doing God’s Word
Scripture: Hebrews Chapters 11-13
Key Theme: The focus of these three chapters is how one responds to God’s word once they believe it.
What is faith? Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).
Scripture clearly defines the concept of faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6a). Faith is how we obtain our salvation. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the Law (Romans 3:28). We can not work or earn our way to Heaven.
A historical review of persons with faith and their actions is discussed in Hebrews chapter 11. Faith begins with creation. God spoke creation into existence (Hebrews 11:3, Genesis 1). There are many examples of men and women with faith (Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and Rahab to name a few). Short term results are noted because of the faith of these men and women. All these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised (Hebrews 11:13, 39). The promise is an eternal, heavenly city.
Specifically, take Noah and his faith. We should be thankful for Noah’s belief in God’s warning and Noah’s subsequent actions. If Noah had not acted on what God told him, we would not be here. The result of Noah’s action has allowed us the opportunity of life. Could Noah have believed and not built an ark? Yes. Can people believe that Jesus died for sins of the world and not respond? Yes. In Noah’s case as well as others, faith, if it has no works, is dead (James 2:17).
Jesus is our object of faith (Hebrews 12:2).
He died for us, sinners (Romans 5:8).
The text of Hebrews Chapters 11-13 does offer description, location, and characteristics of Christ. He is the author and perfecter of faith. He endured the cross. He is at the right hand of the throne of God the Father (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus endured the hostility of sinners for us (Hebrews 12:3). Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. He does not change (Hebrews 13:8).
The text offers practical advice and application to our response to faith in Jesus. Reasons for conduct are given immediately after a command. We are called to endure discipline (Hebrews 12:7). It is for our own good. Discipline allows us to share God’s holiness (Hebrews 12:10) and it ultimately yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11).
Strengthen weak hands and feeble knees. We are to make the paths of our feet straight. This leads to healing (Hebrews 12:12-13).
Pursue peace with all men, otherwise no one will see the Lord. Avoid bitterness, it can cause trouble and leads to defilement, or contamination. Do not be an immoral or a godless person like Esau. He initially sold his birthright for a single meal. Later he wanted his inheritance. He was rejected. It was too late and Isaac was not going to be changing his mind. Even crying did not help (Hebrews 12:14-17, see also Genesis 27:36-39).
Let the love of the brothers continue. Show hospitality to others because some have entertained angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:1-2).
Remember fellow believers who are in prison because they are part of the body, the church (Hebrews 13:3).
Honor marriage by God’s Law. God will judge people who are unfaithful in their marriage (Hebrews 13:4).
We are to be free from the love of money and we are to be content with what we have. The Lord will never desert you, nor will He ever forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).
Remember those who spoke and led you to the word of God. Consider what they did and imitate their faith (Hebrews 13:7).
Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings. It is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace (Hebrews 13:9).
We are to continually offer up sacrifices of praise and give thanks to His name. Do good and share with others, this is pleasing to God (Hebrews 13:15-16).
Obey and submit to leaders because they keep watch over your souls (Hebrews 13:17).
Tisha B`Av or the 9th of Av, not a good day on the Jewish calendar. Av is a Hebrew month. It is the 11th month of the civil calendar or the 5th month of the religious calendar. It usually occurs during July or August in the Gregorian calendar. This year, the 9th of Av is observed on sundown of Saturday, August 6th and ends at sundown on Sunday, August 7, 5782/2022. The month of Av is not named in the Bible.
The 9th of Av is a day of mourning in Israel. Tragedy came about because of the account of Numbers 13-14. This event occurred immediately after God had delivered Israel out of bondage in Egypt.
A Cliffs Notes like version is the Lord told Moses to send a group of spies to go scout the Promised Land. The spies came back and proclaimed the Jews could not take the land because of the inhabitants of the land were too big and too strong. The people rebelled against Moses. The people stated they would rather go back to Egypt. The nation (except Caleb and Joshua) did not believe God to give them the Promised Land.
Numbers 13:20 …and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there are trees in it or not. Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.
We know it occurred during the grape harvest per the text (Numbers 13:20). This event is said to have occurred on the 9th of Av. God pronounced judgment on the nation at that time. And this date is said to be a reminder of nation Israel’s lack of faith in God.
Historically, the date has resulted in heartache for the Jewish people.
Here is a list of Jewish history on the 9th of Av/Tisha B `Av.
586 BC, the first Temple was destroyed.
70 AD, the second Temple was destroyed.
135 AD, Betar fell. It was the last fortress to hold out against the Romans during the Bar Kochba revolt.
136 AD, one year after the fall of Betar, the Temple area was plowed.
1290 AD, Jews were expelled from England.
1492 AD, King Ferdinand of Spain issued the expulsion decree, setting Tisha B’Av as the final date by which not a single Jew would be allowed to walk on Spanish soil.
1914 AD, World War I began the downward slide to the Holocaust.
We are less than two months from the onset of the Fall Feasts. It appears to be the close of a Sabbatical or Shemitah year. If history is any indicator, fasten your seat belts. Look at the world around us. There is significant geo political unrest. Global economies are headed towards recession. We are likely in for a wild ride.
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Over the past few years, the Temple Institute has chosen to look to the future and the promise of the building of the third Temple on Tisha B`Av or 9th of Av. They have chosen to post videos regarding the reconstruction of the third Temple.
Keep in mind, what Christians call the Old Testament is the source of information that is being referenced during the video.
The following is from Temple Institute out of Jerusalem, Israel.
We recently took to the streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and asked the question: “What would building the Holy Temple mean to you?” We asked Israelis and tourists alike: men, women, older people and younger, religious and not religious, and were amazed at their answers. Everyone took time to think, to take a deep breath, and to answer us honestly, some with great hope and anticipation, some with skepticism and trepidation, but all with sincerity and heart. And now we are asking you: “What would building the Holy Temple mean to you?” “If you woke up tomorrow and the Holy Temple was built, how would it change your life?” “Will it bring peace to the world?”
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Faith in God is everything! Maybe because we lose faith in others, it makes us question our faith in God. We must have faith that He’s hearing our prayers. We must have faith that He will guide us. We must have faith in His timing. All God truly wants is complete faith from us. That faith will change your life.
2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Matthew 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.
If you keep looking back, you’ll keep yourself from moving forward to the great things God has planned for you. In order to get to where you’re supposed to be, you have to leave where you’ve been. Do not stay stuck in what is holding you back. Most often, that’s something on the inside. The windshield is bigger than the rear view mirror for a reason. Step out in faith…
Isaiah 43:18 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
Isaiah 65:17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.”
