The Two Covenants of the Torah, by James Trimm

The Two Covenants of the Torah
by James Trimm

Many of us have missed an important truth. The New Covenant has been in the Torah all along! And this amazing truth is a major key in understanding the writings of Paul. There are in fact two covenants in the Torah and two Mosaic Covenants. The first Mosaic Covenant was made at Mt. Sinai at Horev.

The Second Mosaic Covenant was made at Mt. Nebo at Mo’av. This was a second covenant which YHWH made with the people of Israel through Moses which was made shortly before the death of Moses and the entry of Israel into the Land. This covenant was made near the end of the Torah:

These are the words of the covenant which YHWH commanded Moshe to make with the children of Yisra’el in the land of Mo’av, beside the covenant which He made with them in Horev. (Deut. 28:69 (29:1)) Note that this Covenant at Mo’av was made besides the Covenant made at Sinai.

Rashi makes an important comment about the significance of this word “besides”: besides the covenant [Namely,] the curses [which appear] in Lev. (26: 14-39), which were proclaimed at [Mount] Sinai. (Rashi on Deut. 28:69)

Rashi sees that these are two different covenants and that the word besides is intended to distinguish the Covenant at Sinai, characterized by “the curses” with this new Covenant made at Mo’av which is characterized not just by curses (Deut.29:16-29) but by blessings as well. This covenant was centered around repentance (30:2, 8) and its rewards included a promise of a regathering of Israel from among the nations (30:3-4), a circumcised heart (30:2, 6), Israel would be his people and He would be their Elohim (29:13); a promise of land (30:5) and life (30:6, 15, 19).

This Covenant also includes Torah observance: if you shall hearken to the voice of YHWH your Elohim, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Torah; if you turn unto YHWH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul. (Deut. 30:10)

Continued...
NOTE: Not to be confused with Dual Covenant Theology

The Peaceful Majority, by William Haynes/Yoel.Ben-Avraham

The Peaceful Majority- - - - by Yoel.Ben-Avraham

I used to know a man whose family was German aristocracy prior to World War Two. They owned a number of large industries and estates. I asked him how many German people were true Nazis, and the answer he gave has stuck with me and guided my attitude toward fanaticism ever since.

"Very few people were true Nazis "he said," but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and many more were too busy to care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come. My family lost everything I ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories.

"We are told again and again by "experts" and "talking heads" that Islam is the religion of peace, and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace.

Although this unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel better, and meant to somehow diminish the specter of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name of Islam.

The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history.It is the fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide. It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or honor kill. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque. It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals. The hard quantifiable fact is that the "peaceful majority" is the "silent majority" and it is cowed and extraneous.

Communist Russia comprised Russians who just wanted to live in peace, yet the Russian Communists were responsible for the murder of about 20 million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant. China's huge population was peaceful as well, but Chinese Communists managed to kill a staggering 70 million people.

The average Japanese individual prior to World War 2 was not a warmongering sadist. Yet, Japan murdered and slaughtered its way across South East Asia in an orgy of killing that included the systematic murder of 12 million Chinese civilians; most killed by sword, shovel, and bayonet. And, who can forget Rwanda , which collapsed into butchery. Could it not be said that the majority of Rwandans were "peace loving"? History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt, yet for all our powers of reason we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points:
- Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence.
- Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don't speak up, because like my friend from Germany , they will awake one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of their world will have begun.
- Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Rwandans, Serbs Afghans, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians, Algerians, and many others have died because the peaceful majority did not speak up until it was too late.

As for us who watch it all unfold; we must pay attention to the only group that counts; the fanatics who threaten our way of life.

Lastly, I wish to add: I sincerely think that anyone who rejects this as just another political rant, or doubts the seriousness of this issue or just deletes it without paying heed to it, or sending it on, is part of the problem. Lets quit laughing at and forwarding the jokes and cartoons which denigrate and ridicule our leaders in this war against terror. They are trying to protect the interests and well being of the world and it's citizens. Best we support them.

William Haynes
ENGAGE - For a Secure Israel (ESFI)

The Bread Basket... "His Presence" Among Men

"The Bread Basket"

The sweet, unleavened bread, holy and without sin,

made an offering unto the LORD for the life of the world.

This is the bread which cometh down from heaven,

That a man may eat thereof, and not die.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven:

If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever:

And the bread that I will give is my flesh,

Which I will give for the life of the world.

-Yeshua HaMashiach, John 6:50-51

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"It is said that bread is the staff of life, and represents man's physical sustenance. This is certainly so, and it is important that G-d's blessing for goodness and bounty be found in the bread which we partake of... for without His munificent blessing, all of man's efforts would neither satisfy nor satiate. Thus we endeavor to fulfill His will throughout every aspect of our endeavors, and in so doing, we earn His favor and blessing... for each area wherein man fulfills the Holy One's will becomes a channel receiving Heavenly blessing.

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This was especially so in the case of the Showbread, and one aspect of its function was indeed to elicit Divine guidance and providence. The sages teach that since these loaves were in essence the vehicle for fulfilling G-d's commandment, and they were used to accomplish His will, special blessing could be found in it, and indeed, the Divine blessing was seen and felt particularly in the context of the Showbread. The Talmud describes that a miracle took place every week: When the priests came to replace the breads with new loaves every Sabbath, they found that those of the previous week remained fresh and hot upon the table, like the moment they were baked. This miracle was seen as a clear confirmation that the Divine Presence indeed rested in this holy place."

(SOURCE: http://www.templeinstitute.org/table_showbread.htm,

an excerpt from the article: The Table of Showbread )

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Although Yeshua's birthday was not December 25, according to the Roman Catholic Church's solar calendar, His birth did take place at some point in time. I, and many others, think He was born during Sukkot since He is "Immanuel" and the literal fulfillment of the sign King Ahaz requested of God in Isaiah 7:10-14. Immanuel, the formless God tabernacling among His covenant people with a covering, a veil of flesh.

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Bless the LORD, oh my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy Name!

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A special thanks to Babs for sharing the idea of "The Bread Basket".

Preach It, Brother! A Shocking Message...

(click on picture to watch YouTube video -

wait a minute or two to view)
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Paul David Washer, a man after God's own heart!
2002 Youth Conference

American Christianity may steal your soul!

Via "For Zion's Sake"...

A Declaration of the Jewish People to the World... (click on picture)

Thank you, BK!

Genesis 17:7-8 and Deuteronomy 34:1-4

God is a covenant keeping God! Woe to them who compromise the Land!

...You Meant Evil Against Me, but God Meant It for Good...

Article: The Awesome Plot

Parshah: Vayigash Verses: Genesis 44:18-47:27

by Chabad.Org Parshah

Joseph, and his story, is perhaps my favorite in the Bible. I love his story because it demonstrates the working of God's will in our lives... to our good (Genesis 50:20, Jeremiah 29:11-12). His story teaches us to rest in the comfort of knowing what is sometimes meant for evil against us, God means for our good and the good of others. Joseph was unable to understand why he suffered, but in the end, God revealed to Joseph the crucial role his sufferings played in God's plan to exalt him as Pharaoh's right-hand man. In the end, all - Joseph and his brothers - understood God's goodness and His plan to preserve Israel through drought and famine.

So many times, circumstances set us back and are seemingly insurmountable. However, for those of us who fear and love God, He never fails to engineer a good outcome. The 'good' may not be apparent for many, many years, but in His loving-kindness, God finally reveals the 'good' to His glory and our comfort. And when we trust Him during the difficult times, remembering His Word and His character, it provides us a tremendous sense of joy and comfort. When we don't trust Him, we are in anguish. May we always remember that God is faithful, kind, loving, and merciful. In the worst case scenario, a righteous man may fall seven times, but he never fails to get up. Many times, however, God rescues us from circumstances before the seventh fall. Praise His Holy Name!

My mother and I recently went hiking and while sitting atop the mountain looking over the valley below, we could see a road that stretched from one end of the horizon to the other. I looked to my right, where the road lied closest to the mountain. As my eyes followed the road to the north, into the disappearing horizon, I could see the zigs and zags. But where the road lied closest in my field of vision, I couldn't see it in certain places because of the tree line or protruding rock. And how much less of the road would I have seen if I had been standing on that road?

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My mom and I had been discussing Joseph and his story earlier in the hike and relating to one another the awesome hand of God that led Joseph through the darkest moments, when Joseph had no idea that God's hand was so steadily upon him. So, now, as I observed the road below, I suddenly understood what God did for Joseph, his brothers, and the entire nation of Israel, He does for all his children. Like the road stretched out below me, my path is seen by God while I can only see the portion of the road within my field of vision. I thought, "LORD, if you can see the beginning to the end, why do I fret during difficult times in life when the road is uphill, rocky, steep, narrow, or dark? You, LORD, can see the path of my life to the horizon and beyond, and in seeing the difficult passages, places, zigs and zags, you also see the easy, smooth, broad, light places on the path that stretches out before me. Why do I worry? Why should I ever fail to trust you, again, when I know you set my feet firmly on rock and in high-places and have a good plan for me along the way and at the end? You will reveal your goodness to me and open my eyes to understand why the road was so difficult at times and I will leap for joy! Truly, LORD, I need to understand and embrace the knowledge that your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path... and that's all I need to know!"

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For the nation of Israel, God has a plan for good, and not for harm - Israel has hope and a good future! And since we know God is the same, that He never changes, we can be assured that as His character has been manifested to Israel, it is manifested to each of His [individual] children.

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22 And He said to His disciples, "For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.
23 "For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
24 "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!
25 "And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life's span?
26 "If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?
27 "Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
28 "But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!
29 "And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying.
30 "For all these things the nations (pagans) of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.
31 "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.
33 "Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys.
34 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

-Yeshua, Luke 12:22-34

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1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD. 4 How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, and has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

-David, Psalm 40:1-4

Behold, Thy Salvation Cometh...

Hamas Children Make a Proclamation Against All Zionist

December 3, 2007

by MEMRI TV

(click on picture to view)

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A picture is worth a thousand words, but a video is worth much more. Here, Hamas presents their children, who are already well steeped in hatered for all Zionist, Jew and Christian alike, for Israel and America. At the end, a pretty little girl says, "We will wipe out all the people of Zion. Not one of them will be left." I would like to call her a "beautiful" little girl, but for me, beauty exudes from within... her parents and her community have already stolen her beauty through her Islamic, Jihadist indoctrination... and their belief in a moon god may steal her life one day along with the precious lives of some Israeli people. O LORD, forbid this!!!!

There's not much time left before Messiah comes - we see the signs everywhere on a global scale. Many, many Scriptures come to mind as I watched this video: 2 Chronicles 20, Isaiah 62, Ezekiel 37, Joel... to name a few. But we know this: the battle is the LORD's. He, Himself, takes up Israel's cause. Let us humble ourselves before Adonai and pray in the advent of Messiah's coming... and wait... be still and wait for and trust in the LORD!
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In the eyes of all the world, I am proud to be named a Zionist and be counted among God's chosen people. I, for one, am standing in the gap and praying for Israel and God's chosen, covenant people, the Jews. I, for one, will advocate for Israel and the Jewish people unto my last breath! We need to continue to educate ourselves regarding these issues and the era in which we are living... this is it... Messiah is coming, He's right around the corner! Pray and wait, wait and pray!
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10 Go out through the gates!
Prepare the highway for my people to return!
Smooth out the road; pull out the boulders;
raise a flag for all the nations to see.
11 The Lord has sent this message to every land:
“Tell the people of Israel,[e]
‘Look, your Savior is coming.
See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.’”
12 They will be called “The Holy People”
and “The People Redeemed by the Lord.”
And Jerusalem will be known as “The Desirable Place”
and “The City No Longer Forsaken.”
(Isaiah 62:10-12)
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As you know, I recently heard Avi Lipkin speak and he repeated something that Golda Meir said when asked, "When do you think the violence will come to an end?" To which she replied, "When Palestinian mothers start loving their children more than they hate the Jews."
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Palestinians serve a false god named "allah", and like Molech, apparently allah requires that they sacrifice their children to him. Like Avi said, Islam suffers from a psychosis just like the Nazis did. They think they can defeat the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and wipe away His chosen people from the face of the earth... sorry, Charlie, it ain't gonna happen! Truly, Islam is possessed by Satan... Satan has always sought to destroy God's people via peoples outside the covenant with God. Our comfort lies in knowing our God is the One, True God, who keeps His promises!
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Praise God, He is so good! Aren't you exceedingly glad we serve a good and loving God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who loves LIFE? Yes! Bless His Holy Name forever and ever!

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel and Ransom Captive Israel

Lyrics:

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

***

Baruch HaShem! Oh, yes... ransom Your people, Israel! Bless Your people, Israel!

10 Moreover the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying, 11 “Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!” 13 Then he said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? 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.[b] (Isaiah 7:10-14)

6 “Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion.”
7 “I will declare the decree:
The LORD has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You. (Psalm 2:6-7)

19 Then You spoke in a vision to Your holy one,[b]
And said: “I have given help to one who is mighty;
I have exalted one chosen from the people.

20 I have found My servant David;
With My holy oil I have anointed him,

21 With whom My hand shall be established;
Also My arm shall strengthen him.

22 The enemy shall not outwit him,
Nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

23 I will beat down his foes before his face,
And plague those who hate him.

24 “But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him,
And in My name his horn shall be exalted.

25 Also I will set his hand over the sea,
And his right hand over the rivers.

26 He shall cry to Me, ‘You are my Father,
My God, and the rock of my salvation.’

27 Also I will make him My firstborn,
The highest of the kings of the earth.

28 My mercy I will keep for him forever,
And My covenant shall stand firm with him. (Psalm 89:19-28)

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33)

Amen v' Amen!

And my favorite song since childhood... The Little Drummer Boy, by Josh Groban

God bless you, Josh... you play your drum well for your King and Messiah!
Another beautiful song by Josh, O Holy Night...

My Jewish and Christian Zionist Friends...

Avi Lipkin

Recently, I had the privilege of hearing a conservative Jewish man, Avi Lipkin, speak on the realities of Islam, not once, but twice in one week. Avi is a family friend who is known by my brother and mother, but I heard Avi speak for the first time last year and was absolutely riveted by the depth of his knowledge about Islam. His message is powerful and his information current since his Jewish wife of 37 years, Rachel, is from Egypt and listens to the Arabic Islamic broadcasts all day long as required by her career as a journalist in Israel... so Avi is in the "know". (Avi, a native New Yorker, made Aliyah 40 years ago.)

If you have the opportunity to catch Avi Lipkin during his tour of the U.S. and Canada and invite him to your synagogue or church, I guarantee he is worth the effort!

God has blessed me in placing me in Houston, Texas, where there is a group of dedicated Christian Zionist, Hineni Ministries, whose hearts are turned toward God, Israel, and the Jewish people. This group typically meets once a month to hear and support Jewish guest speakers, Israeli and non-Israeli alike. I have had the privilege of sitting in meetings and listening to Ari Abramowitz, International Center for Biblical Zionism, and Avi Lipkin... just to name a couple of the excellent guests our group has hosted.

Warm Wishes for a Happy Chanukah!

by Wikipedia

(click on above)

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A History Lesson

(Thank you, BK!)

Happy, happy Chanukah!

Happy 18th Birthday, My Precious Michaela!

Sweet baby girl,

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I want so much for you to know

how much I love you.

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You are so beautiful inside and out!

You have grown into a lovely young woman,

and you are blessed by God in so many ways...

from your uncanny ability to make friends

who stick by you and you by them

through the thick and the thin,

to your musical abilities,

to your tenacious, never-say-quit,

fearless, overcoming attitude,

to your rock-steadiness and ability to

commit without wavering,

to being an awesomely obedient child

and honoring your father and your mother(s)

(as I've always told you, God is going to bless you

with long life on the earth for doing so),

to the trust you place in the LORD...

My sweet baby girl, you are an awesome

young lady and blessed, blessed, blessed!

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I know I am critical of you sometimes,

but it's only because I have experienced

so much more of life, and I can often

see that the path you are taking

today may not take you where

you want to be tomorrow.

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I know, too, that you are still young,

and you have to experience life for

yourself. But if I can, I just want to

spare you some of the pain I had to

go through on my own path in life.

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When the right words don't come with all I

want to say, I can still say this:

I love you tremendously! I would do

anything for you. And I promise I will

try to be more patient and understanding

without always interjecting my words of wisdom

as I let go and allow you to fly on your own.

I pray that you will be patient with me, too,

and understand my concern when I'm just not

able to hold my tongue.

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I ask only two things of you:

that you continue to love and

fear the LORD,

and that you continue to tell me

that you love me, too,

because that's all I need from you!

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I love you!

Love, Mom

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem!

22 Arise, O God, plead Your own cause;
Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily.
23 Do not forget the voice of Your enemies;
The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually. (Psalm 74:22-23)

Amen and amen! May the God of Israel reign!

Thousands Rally in Jerusalem against Annapolis (Haaretz.com)

Stan Goodenough reports day-by-day (Jerusalem Watchman)

Delta lists the Annapolis agenda (Tsofah)

Sheol, The Tribulation, and The Judgment

Below are the references to Sheol (Hell, Hades, Gehenna, the pit, the lake of fire) and also to the Tribulation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheol

5 For the waves of Death compassed me. The floods of Belial assailed me.
6 The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of Death confronted me. (2 Samuel 22)


5 The shades tremble beneath the waters and the inhabitants thereof.
6 The nether-world is naked before Him, and Destruction hath no covering. (Job 26)


11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that tarry late into the night, till wine inflame them!
12 And the harp and the psaltery, the tabret and the pipe, and wine, are in their feasts; but they regard not the work of HaShem, neither have they considered the operation of His hands.
13 Therefore My people are gone into captivity, for want of knowledge; and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude are parched with thirst.
14 Therefore the nether-world hath enlarged her desire, and opened her mouth without measure; and down goeth their glory, and their tumult, and their uproar, and he that rejoiceth among them.
15 And man is bowed down, and man is humbled, and the eyes of the lofty are humbled;
16 But HaShem of hosts is exalted through justice, and G-d the Holy One is sanctified through righteousness. (Isaiah 5)


5 HaShem hath broken the staff of the wicked, the sceptre of the rulers,
6 That smote the peoples in wrath with an incessant stroke, that ruled the nations in anger, with a persecution that none restrained.
7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet; they break forth into singing.
8 Yea, the cypresses rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon: 'Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.'
9 The nether-world from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming; the shades are stirred up for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; all the kings of the nations are raised up from their thrones.
10 All they do answer and say unto thee: 'Art thou also become weak as we? Art thou become like unto us?
11 Thy pomp is brought down to the nether-world, and the noise of thy psalteries; the maggot is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.'
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, that didst cast lots over the nations!
13 And thou saidst in thy heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, above the stars of G-d will I exalt my throne, and I will sit upon the mount of meeting, in the uttermost parts of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.'
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to the nether-world, to the uttermost parts of the pit. (Isaiah 14)


14 Wherefore hear the word of HaShem, ye scoffers, the ballad-mongers of this people which is in Jerusalem:
15 Because ye have said: 'We have made a covenant with death, and with the nether-world are we at agreement; when the scouring scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood have we hid ourselves';
16 Therefore thus saith the L-rd GOD: Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a costly corner-stone of sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste.
17 And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.
18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled and your agreement with the nether-world shall not stand; when the scouring scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it,
19 As often as it passeth through, it shall take you; for morning by morning shall it pass through, by day and by night; and it shall be sheer terror to understand the message.
20 For the bed is too short for a man to stretch himself; and the covering too narrow when he gathereth himself up.
21 For HaShem will rise up as in mount Perazim, He will be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon; that He may do His work, strange is His work, and bring to pass His act, strange is His act.
22 Now therefore be ye not scoffers, lest your bands be made strong; for an extermination wholly determined have I heard from the L-rd, the GOD of hosts, upon the whole land. (Isaiah 28)


2 Then Jonah prayed unto HaShem his G-d out of the fish's belly.
3 And he said: I called out of mine affliction unto HaShem, and He answered me; out of the belly of the nether-world cried I, and Thou heardest my voice.
4 For Thou didst cast me into the depth, in the heart of the seas, and the flood was round about me; all Thy waves and Thy billows passed over me.
5 And I said: 'I am cast out from before Thine eyes'; yet I will look again toward Thy holy temple.
6 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul; the deep was round about me; the weeds were wrapped about my head.
7 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars closed upon me for ever; yet hast Thou brought up my life from the pit, O HaShem my G-d.
8 When my soul fainted within me, I remembered HaShem; and my prayer came in unto Thee, into Thy holy temple.
9 They that regard lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
10 But I will sacrifice unto Thee with the voice of thanksgiving; that which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is of HaShem. (Jonah 2)


8 But HaShem is enthroned for ever; He hath established His throne for judgment.
9 And He will judge the world in righteousness, He will minister judgment to the peoples with equity. (Psalm 9)


28 Add iniquity unto their iniquity; and let them not come into Thy righteousness.
29 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.(B) (Psalm 69)


9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to HaShem; but He loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
10 There is grievous correction for him that forsaketh the way; and he that hateth reproof shall die.
11 The nether-world and Destruction are before HaShem; how much more then the hearts of the children of men! (Proverbs 15)


What did Yeshua say about Sheol?

19 There was a certain rich man who [habitually] clothed himself in purple and fine linen and reveled and feasted and made merry in splendor every day. 20 And at his gate there was [carelessly] dropped down and left a certain utterly destitute man named Lazarus, [reduced to begging alms and] covered with [ulcerated] sores.
21 He [eagerly] desired to be satisfied with what fell from the rich man's table; moreover, the dogs even came and licked his sores.
22 And it occurred that the man [reduced to] begging died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
23 And in Hades (the realm of the dead), being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried out and said, Father Abraham, have pity and mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, child, remember that you in your lifetime fully received [what is due you in] comforts and delights, and Lazarus in like manner the discomforts and distresses; but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish.
26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who want to pass from this [place] to you may not be able, and no one may pass from there to us.
27 And [the man] said, Then, father, I beseech you to send him to my father's house--
28 For I have five brothers--so that he may give [solemn] testimony and warn them, lest they too come into this place of torment.
29 But Abraham said, They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear and listen to them.
30 But he answered, No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent (change their minds for the better and heartily amend their ways, with abhorrence of their past sins).
31 He said to him, If they do not hear and listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded and convinced and believe [even] if someone should rise from the dead. (Luke 16:19-31)


29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 Saying, If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have aided them in shedding the blood of the prophets.
31 Thus you are testifying against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.
32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' sins to the brim [so [k]that nothing may be wanting to a full measure].
33 You serpents! You spawn of vipers! How can you escape the [l]penalty to be suffered in hell (Gehenna)?
34 Because of this, take notice: I am sending you prophets and wise men (interpreters and teachers) and scribes (men learned in the Mosaic Law and the Prophets); some of them you will kill, even crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue and persecute from town to town,
35 So that upon your heads may come all the blood of the righteous ([m]those who correspond to the divine standard of right) shed on earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar [of burnt offering].(E)
36 Truly I declare to you, all these [[n]evil, calamitous times] will come upon this generation. [II Chron. 36:15, 16.]
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, murdering the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a mother fowl gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused!
38 Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate (abandoned and left destitute of God's help). [I Kings 9:7; Jer. 22:5.]
39 For I declare to you, you will not see Me again until you say, Blessed (magnified in worship, adored, and exalted) is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!(F) (Matthew 23:29-39) 4 I tell you, My friends, do not dread and be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom you should fear: fear Him Who, after killing, has power to hurl into hell (Gehenna); yes, I say to you, fear Him! [Proverbs 15:11] (Luke 12:4-5)

Here are some excerpts from the book of Revelation regarding the Tribulation and the final disposition of the those whose names are not found in the Book of Life. But to better understand the Tribulation, you must read Daniel's prophecy about the end time and then entire book of Revelation. In Revelation 7, the twelve tribes of Israel are named and these are only Jews who have been circumcised in their flesh and in their hearts and who are marked in their foreheads in accordance with Ezekiel 9. But the "vast host" (a.k.a. "great multitude") in Revelation 7 are both righteous Jews and Gentiles.

Revelation 1
1 [THIS IS] the revelation of Jesus Christ [His unveiling of the divine mysteries]. God gave it to Him to disclose and make known to His bond servants certain things which must shortly and speedily come to pass [a]in their entirety. And He sent and communicated it through His angel (messenger) to His bond servant John, 2 Who has testified to and vouched for all that he saw [[b]in his visions], the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed (happy, [c]to be envied) is the man who reads aloud [in the assemblies] the word of this prophecy; and blessed (happy, [d]to be envied) are those who hear [it read] and who keep themselves true to the things which are written in it [heeding them and laying them to heart], for the time [for them to be fulfilled] is near.
4 John to the seven assemblies (congregations) that are in Asia: May grace (God's unmerited favor) be granted to you and spiritual peace ([e]the peace of Christ's kingdom) from Him Who is and Who was and Who is to come, and from the seven Spirits [[f]the sevenfold Holy Spirit] before His throne,(A)
5 And from Jesus Christ the faithful and trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead [first to be brought back to life] and the Prince (Ruler) of the kings of the earth. To Him Who [g]ever loves us and has [h]once [for all] loosed and freed us from our sins by His own blood,(B)
6 And formed us into a kingdom (a royal race), priests to His God and Father--to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion throughout the ages and forever and ever. Amen (so be it).(C)
7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth shall gaze upon Him and beat their breasts and mourn and lament over Him. Even so [must it be]. Amen (so be it).(D)
8 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord God, He Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty (the Ruler of all).(E)
9 I, John, your brother and companion (sharer and participator) with you in the tribulation and kingdom and patient endurance [which are] in Jesus Christ, was on the isle called Patmos, [banished] on account of [my witnessing to] the Word of God and the testimony (the proof, the evidence) for Jesus Christ.
10 I was in the Spirit [rapt in His power] on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a great voice like the calling of a [i]war trumpet,
11 Saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. Write promptly what you see (your vision) in a book and send it to the seven [congregations] which are in Asia--to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.
12 Then I turned to see [whose was] the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
13 And in the midst of the lampstands [One] like a Son of Man, clothed with a robe which reached to His feet and with a girdle of gold about His breast.(F)
14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, [as white] as snow, and His eyes [flashed] like a flame of fire.(G)
15 His feet glowed like burnished (bright) bronze as it is refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.(H)
16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and from His mouth there came forth a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full power at midday.(I)
17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead. But He laid His right hand on me and said, Do not be afraid! I am the First and the Last,(J)
18 And the Ever-living One [I am living in the eternity of the eternities]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore; and I possess the keys of death and Hades (the realm of the dead).
19 Write therefore the things you see, what they are [and signify] and what is to take place hereafter.
20 As to the hidden meaning (the mystery) of the seven stars which you saw on My right hand and the seven lampstands of gold: the seven stars are the seven angels (messengers) of the seven assemblies (congregations) and the seven lampstands are the seven [congregations].

Revelation 5
1 AND I saw lying on the [a]open hand of Him Who was seated on the throne a scroll (book) written within and on the back, closed and sealed with seven seals;(A) 2 And I saw a strong angel announcing in a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll? And [who is entitled and deserves and is morally fit] to break its seals?
3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth [in the realm of the dead, Hades] was able to open the scroll or to take a [single] look at its contents.
4 And I wept audibly and bitterly because no one was found fit to open the scroll or to inspect it.
5 Then one of the elders [[b]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] said to me, Stop weeping! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root (Source) of David, has won (has overcome and conquered)! He can open the scroll and break its seven seals!(B)
6 And there between the throne and the four living creatures (beings) and among the elders [[c]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God [[d]the sevenfold Holy Spirit] Who have been sent [on duty far and wide] into all the earth.(C)
7 He then went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him Who sat on the throne.
8 And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders [[e]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] prostrated themselves before the Lamb. Each was holding a harp (lute or guitar), and they had golden bowls full of incense (fragrant spices and gums for burning), which are the prayers of God's people (the saints).
9 And [now] they sing a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to break the seals that are on it, for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased men unto God from every tribe and language and people and nation.(D)
10 And You have made them a kingdom (royal race) and priests to our God, and they shall reign [as kings] over the earth!(E)
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels on every side of the throne and of the living creatures and the elders [[f]of the heavenly Sanhedrin], and they numbered ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands,(F)
12 Saying in a loud voice, Deserving is the Lamb, Who was sacrificed, to receive all the power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and majesty (glory, splendor) and blessing!
13 And I heard every created thing in heaven and on earth and under the earth [in Hades, the place of departed spirits] and on the sea and all that is in it, crying out together, To Him Who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb be ascribed the blessing and the honor and the majesty (glory, splendor) and the power (might and dominion) forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities)!(G)
14 Then the four living creatures (beings) said, Amen (so be it)! And the elders [[g]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] prostrated themselves and worshiped Him Who lives forever and ever.

Revelation 7
1 AFTER THIS I saw four angels stationed at the four corners of the earth, [a]firmly holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind should blow on the earth or sea or upon any tree.(A) 2 Then I saw a second angel coming up from the east (the rising of the sun) and carrying the seal of the living God. And with a loud voice he called out to the four angels who had been given authority and power to injure earth and sea,
3 Saying, Harm neither the earth nor the sea nor the trees, until we have sealed the bond servants of our God upon their foreheads.(B)
4 And [then] I heard how many were sealed (marked) out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: there were 144,000.
5 Twelve thousand were sealed (marked) out of the tribe of Judah, 12,000 of the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 of the tribe of Gad,
6 Twelve thousand of the tribe of Asher, 12,000 of the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 of the tribe of Manasseh,
7 Twelve thousand of the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 of the tribe of Levi, 12,000 of the tribe of Issachar,
8 Twelve thousand of the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 of the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 of the tribe of Benjamin.
9 After this I looked and a vast host appeared which no one could count, [gathered out] of every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. These stood before the throne and before the Lamb; they were attired in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.
10 In loud voice they cried, saying, [Our] salvation is due to our God, Who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb [to Them we owe our deliverance]!
11 And all the angels were standing round the throne and round the elders [[b]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] and the four living creatures, and they fell prostrate before the throne and worshiped God.
12 Amen! (So be it!) they cried. Blessing and glory and majesty and splendor and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and might [be ascribed] to our God to the ages and ages (forever and ever, throughout the eternities of the eternities)! Amen! (So be it!)
13 Then, addressing me, one of the elders [[c]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] said, Who are these [people] clothed in the long white robes? And from where have they come?
14 I replied, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they who have come out of the great tribulation (persecution), and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.(C)
15 For this reason they are [now] before the [very] throne of God and serve Him day and night in His sanctuary (temple); and He Who is sitting upon the throne will protect and spread His tabernacle over and shelter them with His presence.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun smite them, nor any [d]scorching heat.(D)
17 For the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to the springs of the waters of life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.(E)

Revelation 19
1 AFTER THIS I heard what sounded like a mighty shout of a great crowd in heaven, exclaiming, Hallelujah (praise the Lord)! Salvation and glory (splendor and majesty) and power (dominion and authority) [belong] to our God! 2 Because His judgments (His condemnation and punishment, His sentences of doom) are true and sound and just and upright. He has judged (convicted, pronounced sentence, and doomed) the great and notorious harlot (idolatress) who corrupted and demoralized and poisoned the earth with her lewdness and adultery (idolatry). And He has avenged (visited on her the penalty for) the blood of His servants at her hand.(A)
3 And again they shouted, Hallelujah (praise the Lord)! The smoke of her [burning] shall continue to ascend forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities).(B)
4 Then the twenty-four elders [of [a]the heavenly Sanhedrin] and the four living creatures fell prostrate and worshiped [paying divine honors to] God, Who sits on the throne, saying, Amen! Hallelujah (praise the Lord)!
5 Then from the throne there came a voice, saying, Praise our God, all you servants of His, you who reverence Him, both small and great!(C)
6 After that I heard what sounded like the shout of a vast throng, like the boom of many pounding waves, and like the roar of terrific and mighty peals of thunder, exclaiming, Hallelujah (praise the Lord)! For now the Lord our God the Omnipotent (the All-Ruler) reigns!
7 Let us rejoice and shout for joy [exulting and triumphant]! Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb [at last] has come, and His bride has prepared herself.(D)
8 She has been permitted to dress in fine (radiant) linen, dazzling and white--for the fine linen is (signifies, represents) the righteousness (the upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God) of the saints (God's holy people).
9 Then [the angel] said to me, Write this down: Blessed (happy, [b]to be envied) are those who are summoned (invited, called) to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me [further], These are the true words (the genuine and exact declarations) of God.
10 Then I fell prostrate at his feet to worship (to pay divine honors) to him, but he [restrained me] and said, Refrain! [You must not do that!] I am [only] another servant with you and your brethren who have [accepted and hold] the testimony borne by Jesus. Worship God! For the substance (essence) of the truth revealed by Jesus is the spirit of all prophecy [the vital breath, the inspiration of all inspired preaching and interpretation of the divine will and purpose, including both mine and yours].
11 After that I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse [appeared]! The One Who was riding it is called Faithful (Trustworthy, Loyal, Incorruptible, Steady) and True, and He passes judgment and wages war in righteousness (holiness, justice, and uprightness).(E)
12 His eyes [blaze] like a flame of fire, and on His head are many kingly crowns (diadems); and He has a title (name) inscribed which He alone knows or can understand.(F)
13 He is dressed in a robe dyed by [c]dipping in blood, and the title by which He is called is The Word of God.
14 And the troops of heaven, clothed in fine linen, dazzling and clean, followed Him on white horses.
15 From His mouth goes forth a sharp sword with which He can smite (afflict, strike) the nations; and He will shepherd and control them with a staff (scepter, rod) of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath and indignation of God the All-Ruler (the Almighty, the Omnipotent).(G)
16 And on His garment (robe) and on His thigh He has a name (title) inscribed, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.(H)
17 Then I saw a single angel stationed in the sun's [d]light, and with a mighty voice he shouted to all the birds that fly across the sky, Come, gather yourselves together for the great supper of God,(I)
18 That you may feast on the flesh of rulers, the flesh of generals and captains, the flesh of powerful and mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all humanity, both free and slave, both small and great!
19 Then I saw the beast and the rulers and leaders of the earth with their troops mustered to go into battle and make war against Him Who is mounted on the horse and against His troops.
20 And the beast was seized and overpowered, and with him the false prophet who in his presence had worked wonders and performed miracles by which he led astray those who had accepted or permitted to be placed upon them the stamp (mark) of the beast and those who paid homage and gave divine honors to his statue. Both of them were hurled alive into the fiery lake that burns and blazes with brimstone.
21 And the rest were killed with the sword that issues from the mouth of Him Who is mounted on the horse, and all the birds fed ravenously and glutted themselves with their flesh.

Revelation 20
11 Then I saw a great white throne and the One Who was seated upon it, from Whose presence and from the sight of Whose face earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 I [also] saw the dead, great and small; they stood before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is [the Book] of Life. And the dead were judged (sentenced) by what they had done [[b]their whole way of feeling and acting, their aims and endeavors] in accordance with what was recorded in the books.
13 And the sea delivered up the dead who were in it, death and Hades ([c]the state of death or disembodied existence) surrendered the dead in them, and all were tried and their cases determined by what they had done [according to their motives, aims, and works].
14 Then death and Hades ([d]the state of death or disembodied existence) were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone's [name] was not found recorded in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire. BK,You know I am not your judge, nor am I anyone else's judge. There is only one Judge regarding the final disposition of each man and woman according to His righteousness and justice. Remember, G-d's throne is founded upon righteousness and justice! I do believe all those who have not obeyed G-d will go to an eternal place called Hell (Sheol, Hades, Gehenna)! Yes, G-d Himself will send the disobidient to Sheol for eternal destruction, and that doesn't mean "lights out forever", it means conscience suffering. Dear BK, because I believe Yeshua is the Messiah who is and who was and who is to come, I do believe all that He said concerning His first and second Messianic missions on earth, and I believe all that He said about eternal life - I believe what He had to say about one's eternal life that is either spent worshipping G-d or is spent in Hell (Sheol, Hades, Gehenna) along with Satan and the angels that fell with him (the book of Revelation speaks very vividly about Satan's judgment and the judgment of those whose names are not found in the Book of Life).

That's Right... Salvation is of the Jews

I Love Weather... I Love Maps...

Today's featured article on Wikipedia, Surface Weather Analysis...

Big Brother at Work in the Pentagon...

Wow... truly, Big Brother is at work! (Read "1984" by George Orwell if you don't know who "Big Brother" is.)

Can you believe that my blog merited a visit by the U.S. Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, yesterday? But in quickly reading over the last post, I guess I can understand why - there are lots of "key words" that provoke suspicion. However, in actually reading the post carefully, and in looking beyond suspicious key words, it quickly becomes apparent that I am anything but a threat to the world. Have any of you had a hit from the Pentagon? I know many of you write and speak out against our enemy, the Islamic jihadist.

I DO NOT appreciate that we have lost our privacy - the U.S. government searches our blogs and websites and taps our phones - but I suppose in the effort to fight Islamic terrorism, it's okay with me to hit my blog to ensure Deborah isn't a threat to world peace or U.S. security.

Unfortunately, their efforts are priming the world scene for end times and the coming Tribulation. We will become so accustomed to the intrusive behavior by our governments and financial institutions in the name of "peace" that we will provide them a free pass to do so (like I just did). Those of us who await the arrival of [Messiah] would be caught off-guard and deceived if we were not called to be sober and alert - to know and understand the signs of the end! But the world is one step closer to ushering in the false messiah, the man whom everyone will adore and accept as the "peace maker," the "deliverer"... the "Messiah."

For me, the coming Tribulation means being gloriously rescued by Messiah and being caught up to join Him in the wedding of the Lamb. But for the vast majority of the world, the last three and a half years of the Tribulation means destruction and death - the wrath of God upon those who refused to fear and obey Him.

1 Now concerning(A) the coming of our Lord Jesus [the Messiah] and our(B) being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,[a] 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or(C) alarmed, either(D) by a spirit or a(E) spoken word, or(F) a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3(G) Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come,(H) unless the rebellion comes first, and(I) the man of lawlessness[b] is revealed,(J) the son of destruction,[c] 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God,(K) proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For(L) the mystery of lawlessness(M) is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then(N) the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus(O) will kill with(P) the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by(Q) the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan(R) with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for(S) those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore(T) God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe(U) what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned(V) who did not believe the truth but(W) had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12)


Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple...

1(A) Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you,(B) there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."

Signs of the Close of the Age...

3 As he sat on(C) the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him(D) privately, saying, "Tell us,(E) when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your(F) coming and of(G) the close of the age?" 4 And Jesus answered them, (H) "See that no one leads you astray. 5 For(I) many will come in my name, saying, 'I am(J) the [Messiah],' and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you(K) are not alarmed, for this(L) must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For(M) nation will rise against nation, and(N) kingdom against kingdom, and there will be(O) famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of(P) the birth pains.

9 "Then(Q) they will deliver you up(R) to tribulation and(S) put you to death, and(T) you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away[a] and(U) betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many(V) false prophets will arise(W) and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased,(X) the love of many will grow cold. 13(Y) But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom(Z) will be proclaimed throughout the whole world(AA) as a testimony(AB) to all nations, and(AC) then the end will come.

The Abomination of Desolation...

15 "So when you see the abomination of desolation(AD) spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in(AE) the holy place ((AF) let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17(AG) Let the one who is on(AH) the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And(AI) alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be(AJ) great tribulation,(AK) such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for(AL) the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23(AM) Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it. 24 For(AN) false christs and(AO) false prophets will arise and(AP) perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See,(AQ) I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, 'Look,(AR) he is in the wilderness,' do not go out. If they say, 'Look, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. 27(AS) For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be(AT) the coming of the Son of Man. 28(AU) Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

The Coming of the Son of Man...

29 "Immediately after(AV) the tribulation of those days(AW) the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and(AX) the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then(AY) will appear in heaven(AZ) the sign of the Son of Man, and then(BA) all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and(BB) they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven(BC) with power and great glory. 31 And(BD) he will send out his angels with a loud(BE) trumpet call, and they will(BF) gather(BG) his elect from(BH) the four winds,(BI) from one end of heaven to the other.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree...

32 "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near,(BJ) at the very gates. 34(BK) Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35(BL) Heaven and earth will pass away, but(BM) my words will not pass away.

No One Knows That Day and Hour...

36 "But concerning that day and hour(BN) no one knows, not even the angels of heaven,(BO) nor the Son,[b](BP) but the Father only. 37(BQ) For as were the days of Noah,(BR) so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38(BS) For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking,(BT) marrying and giving in marriage, until(BU) the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away,(BV) so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41(BW) Two women will be grinding(BX) at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore,(BY) stay awake, for you do not know on what day(BZ) your Lord is coming. 43(CA) But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night(CB) the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be(CC) ready, for(CD) the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
45 "Who then is(CE) the faithful and(CF) wise servant,[c] whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46(CG) Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you,(CH) he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master(CI) is delayed,' 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants[d] and eats and drinks with(CJ) drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come(CK) on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place(CL) there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:1-51)