“And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and lo, three men stood by him. And when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground and said, "My lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant.” (Genesis 18:1-3 KJ21)
Patriarch Abraham is visited by the Lord. Quite a miracle, if you think of the fact that no man can see God and live:
“And He said, "Thou canst not see My face, for there shall no man see Me and live."” (Exodus 33:20 KJ21)
Some think that Abraham gets a visit from "the angel of the Lord" but I can't agree. This angel is specifically mentioned, like during the meeting with Hagar (after she fled from Sarah:
“And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur. And he said, "Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? And whither wilt thou go?" And she said, "I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai." And the angel of the LORD said unto her, "Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands." And the angel of the LORD said unto her, "I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude."” (Genesis 16:7-10 KJ21)
Saturday 9 February 2013
Wednesday 6 February 2013
16 Israel and the Messiah - 2/3
One day, about two thousand years ago, when Israel was occupied by the Romans, a man called Philip met a Man who said: "Follow Me." Philip couldn't resist Him.
Later on He found his friend Nathanael “...and said unto him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."” (John 1:45 KJ21)
He didn't say that he, together with Simon and Andrew, had met the Messiah. No, he described the Man as the One Moses and the prophets had written about.
Moses described Him as "Seed of the woman":
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her Seed; It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel."” (Genesis 3:15 KJ21)
He also described Him as the Seed of Abraham:
“And in thy Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed My voice."” (Genesis 22:18 KJ21)
Later on He found his friend Nathanael “...and said unto him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."” (John 1:45 KJ21)
He didn't say that he, together with Simon and Andrew, had met the Messiah. No, he described the Man as the One Moses and the prophets had written about.
Moses described Him as "Seed of the woman":
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her Seed; It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel."” (Genesis 3:15 KJ21)
He also described Him as the Seed of Abraham:
“And in thy Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed My voice."” (Genesis 22:18 KJ21)
Tuesday 22 January 2013
15 Israel and the Messiah - 1/3
“And Jacob was left alone, and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when the man saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint as he wrestled with him. And the man said, "Let me go, for the day breaketh." And he said, "I will not let thee go, unless thou bless me." And he said unto him, "What is thy name?" And he said, "Jacob." And he said, "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." And Jacob asked him, and said, "Tell me, I pray thee, thy name." And he said, "Why is it that thou dost ask after my name?" And he blessed him there.” (Genesis 32:24-29 KJ21)
That night was the beginning for the people of Israel.
Jacob, whose name has the meaning of "supplanter" (=one who wrongfully or illegally seizes and holds the place of another) or "holder of the heel" (because he held the heel of his brother Esau), didn't grow up as a cheater:
“And the boys grew. And Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.” (Genesis 25:27 KJ21)
Other translations speak of "quiet, peaceful". Not particularly the words to describe an evil man.
That night was the beginning for the people of Israel.
Jacob, whose name has the meaning of "supplanter" (=one who wrongfully or illegally seizes and holds the place of another) or "holder of the heel" (because he held the heel of his brother Esau), didn't grow up as a cheater:
“And the boys grew. And Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.” (Genesis 25:27 KJ21)
Other translations speak of "quiet, peaceful". Not particularly the words to describe an evil man.
Wednesday 28 November 2012
14 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock..."
At the end of the first century, some 60-65 years after the Ascension of Jesus Christ, the apostle John, of whom is written that Jesus loved him,was banished to the Isle of Patmos, close to the Turkish coast.
During his stay there, one day John was "in the spirit" and heard “...behind me a great voice as of a trumpet, saying, "I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What thou seest, write in a book and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia: unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea."” (Revelation 1:10-11 KJ21)
Wouldn't that upset you?
John turned around to see the person who spoke to him and saw seven golden candles:
“and in the midst of the seven candlesticks One like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the breast with a golden girdle. His head and His hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were as a flame of fire; and His feet like unto fine brass, as though they burned in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters. And He had in His right hand seven stars, and out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword, and His countenance shone as the sun shineth in his strength.” (Revelation 1:13-16 KJ21)
How would you react?
During his stay there, one day John was "in the spirit" and heard “...behind me a great voice as of a trumpet, saying, "I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What thou seest, write in a book and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia: unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea."” (Revelation 1:10-11 KJ21)
Wouldn't that upset you?
John turned around to see the person who spoke to him and saw seven golden candles:
“and in the midst of the seven candlesticks One like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the breast with a golden girdle. His head and His hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were as a flame of fire; and His feet like unto fine brass, as though they burned in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters. And He had in His right hand seven stars, and out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword, and His countenance shone as the sun shineth in his strength.” (Revelation 1:13-16 KJ21)
How would you react?
Monday 22 October 2012
13 What about the soul ?
There are scientists who deny men and animals for having a soul. They tell us we're just a collection of bones, muscles, organs and brains. I don't believe them, I think that without a soul we would be quite similar to a computer: capable of great things, but within limits. Mankind however is capable of reaction, variaton, creation.
What does the Word of God tell us about the soul?
Already in the first book, Genesis, the soul is mentioned:
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7 KJ21)
So man became a living soul. Not some sort of robot or something like that, no - a living soul!
What does the Word of God tell us about the soul?
Already in the first book, Genesis, the soul is mentioned:
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7 KJ21)
So man became a living soul. Not some sort of robot or something like that, no - a living soul!
Monday 8 October 2012
12 The truth will set you free
I love the truth.
When I was a little boy, some fifty years ago, together with my sister I nicked a little piece of candy (value $ 0,05) from a store. At first it tasted wonderful but then came the guilt. That evening I couldn't sleep before I confessed my "crime".
No, I prefer to be honest.
I remember one day, about thirty years ago, there was a discussion at the office. One of the female arguers said: "Well, ask Fred. He never lies!"
Isn't it great to be known in such a way? (Rest assured: I have my flaws and acknowledge most of them...)
Yes, I want to be able to look anyone straight in the eyes.
Unfortunately many others (or most others?) think different. Little white lies, big fat lies.....if lies would torment the ones who uttered them, I think the whining could be heard in the ISS spacestation.....
On the other hand, if lieing would hurt, perhaps people would stop?
Months ago, when the "election battle" between Obama and Romney began, I heard a newsreporter on television say: "the battle has just begun and we already have our first loser: the truth!"
That remark kept singing in my head.
When I was a little boy, some fifty years ago, together with my sister I nicked a little piece of candy (value $ 0,05) from a store. At first it tasted wonderful but then came the guilt. That evening I couldn't sleep before I confessed my "crime".
No, I prefer to be honest.
I remember one day, about thirty years ago, there was a discussion at the office. One of the female arguers said: "Well, ask Fred. He never lies!"
Isn't it great to be known in such a way? (Rest assured: I have my flaws and acknowledge most of them...)
Yes, I want to be able to look anyone straight in the eyes.
Unfortunately many others (or most others?) think different. Little white lies, big fat lies.....if lies would torment the ones who uttered them, I think the whining could be heard in the ISS spacestation.....
On the other hand, if lieing would hurt, perhaps people would stop?
Months ago, when the "election battle" between Obama and Romney began, I heard a newsreporter on television say: "the battle has just begun and we already have our first loser: the truth!"
That remark kept singing in my head.
Thursday 5 January 2012
11 To be like Jesus
"To be like Jesus! This hope possesses me,
in every thought and deed, this is my aim, my creed;
to be like Jesus! This hope possesses me,
His Spirit helping me, like Him I'll be."
What a wish: To be like Jesus ! But what does that mean? In other words: what would Jesus do?
According to Wikipedia: "The phrase "What would Jesus do?" (often abbreviated to WWJD) became popular in the United States in the 1990s and as a personal motto for adherents of Evangelical Christianity who used the phrase as a reminder of their belief in a moral imperative to act in a manner that would demonstrate the love of Jesus through the actions of the adherents."
Well, what did Jesus do during His time on earth?
in every thought and deed, this is my aim, my creed;
to be like Jesus! This hope possesses me,
His Spirit helping me, like Him I'll be."
What a wish: To be like Jesus ! But what does that mean? In other words: what would Jesus do?
According to Wikipedia: "The phrase "What would Jesus do?" (often abbreviated to WWJD) became popular in the United States in the 1990s and as a personal motto for adherents of Evangelical Christianity who used the phrase as a reminder of their belief in a moral imperative to act in a manner that would demonstrate the love of Jesus through the actions of the adherents."
Well, what did Jesus do during His time on earth?
Saturday 26 November 2011
10 The meaning of life: is it senseless or not ?
What is the meaning of life?
Well, according to many scientists and common people who don't believe that there is an Almighty God, life has NO meaning at all ! If a person is lucky, he/she might live some 80 to 90 years, dies and then dissapears in eternity. If he/she was well known, his/her name might be remembered for centuries, but the person himself will have no profit from it: DEAD = DEAD !
What is the origin of that thought?
What does the Bible have to say about it:
“For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” (Romans 8:20-22 ASV)
Due to the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden, Satan has subjected all creation to vanity (other translations speak of "futility"). Therefore all non-believers are under the influence of this master of meaningless vanity.
Well, according to many scientists and common people who don't believe that there is an Almighty God, life has NO meaning at all ! If a person is lucky, he/she might live some 80 to 90 years, dies and then dissapears in eternity. If he/she was well known, his/her name might be remembered for centuries, but the person himself will have no profit from it: DEAD = DEAD !
What is the origin of that thought?
What does the Bible have to say about it:
“For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” (Romans 8:20-22 ASV)
Due to the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden, Satan has subjected all creation to vanity (other translations speak of "futility"). Therefore all non-believers are under the influence of this master of meaningless vanity.
Tuesday 22 November 2011
9 The millenial Kingdom and eternity
Article number 8 ended with the capture of the beast and the false prophet. Ofcourse Satan will be captured too and then will be locked up for a period of thousand years:
“And I saw an angel come down from Heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. And he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years should be fulfilled; and after that he must be loosed a little season.” (Revelation 20:1-3 KJ21)
Satan will be out of the way during the socalled "Millenial Kingdom". He cannot deceive the nations for a long period.
“And I saw an angel come down from Heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. And he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years should be fulfilled; and after that he must be loosed a little season.” (Revelation 20:1-3 KJ21)
Satan will be out of the way during the socalled "Millenial Kingdom". He cannot deceive the nations for a long period.
Saturday 28 May 2011
8 The coming of the Messiah, don't let anyone deceive you!
A man called Harold Camping predicted May 21st to be Judgment Day and October 21st to be The End Of The World as we know it.
What does the Bible tell us about such a prophet:
“when a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously; thou shalt not be afraid of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:22 KJ21)
Our Saviour Jesus Christ made it clear to us that, though many can guess:
“But of that day and that hour knoweth no man — no, not the angels who are in Heaven, neither the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13:32 KJ21)
When will our Redeemer return?
What does the Bible tell us about such a prophet:
“when a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously; thou shalt not be afraid of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:22 KJ21)
Our Saviour Jesus Christ made it clear to us that, though many can guess:
“But of that day and that hour knoweth no man — no, not the angels who are in Heaven, neither the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13:32 KJ21)
When will our Redeemer return?
Monday 21 March 2011
7 Death Penalty
The death penalty: Christians do have different opinions about it. What does the Bible say?
In the Old Testament we find several verses on the capital punishment of f.i. thieves, murderers, adulterers and the likes.
An example:
“For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death. He hath cursed his father or his mother: his blood shall be upon him. And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both of them shall surely be put to death: their blood shall be upon them. And if a man lie with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death. They have wrought confusion: their blood shall be upon them. If a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death: their blood shall be upon them. And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness. They shall be burned with fire, both he and they, that there be no wickedness among you. And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death; and ye shall slay the beast. And if a woman approach unto any beast and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman and the beast. They shall surely be put to death: their blood shall be upon them.” (Leviticus 20:9-16 KJ21)
It wasn't unusual among the Jews that men and/or women were executed.
In the Old Testament we find several verses on the capital punishment of f.i. thieves, murderers, adulterers and the likes.
An example:
“For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death. He hath cursed his father or his mother: his blood shall be upon him. And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both of them shall surely be put to death: their blood shall be upon them. And if a man lie with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death. They have wrought confusion: their blood shall be upon them. If a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death: their blood shall be upon them. And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness. They shall be burned with fire, both he and they, that there be no wickedness among you. And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death; and ye shall slay the beast. And if a woman approach unto any beast and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman and the beast. They shall surely be put to death: their blood shall be upon them.” (Leviticus 20:9-16 KJ21)
It wasn't unusual among the Jews that men and/or women were executed.
Friday 11 March 2011
6 Headcovering of women - 1 Corinthians 11:1-16
As a Christian, baptized in 1987, I've noticed there are topics in Scripture which I've left untouched, not exactly knowing how to handle them.
One of these topics is "the headcovering of women" as can be read in 1 Corinthians 11.
When I started my (Dutch) blog in August 2008 I knew I had to write an article on this topic. Now, more than two years later, it was brought to my attention once more. Whatever the consequences may be: here are my findings on 1 Corinthians 11.
Let's take a look at the beginning of the first letter for the Corinthians:
“Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:1-3 King James 21st Century)
This letter was not written for the Corinthians exclusively, but for all Christians, wherever they may be, no matter what culture or moment in time. The inspiring Holy Spirit knew (and knows) that these words were at least to be read until the return of our Saviour.
One of these topics is "the headcovering of women" as can be read in 1 Corinthians 11.
When I started my (Dutch) blog in August 2008 I knew I had to write an article on this topic. Now, more than two years later, it was brought to my attention once more. Whatever the consequences may be: here are my findings on 1 Corinthians 11.
Let's take a look at the beginning of the first letter for the Corinthians:
“Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:1-3 King James 21st Century)
This letter was not written for the Corinthians exclusively, but for all Christians, wherever they may be, no matter what culture or moment in time. The inspiring Holy Spirit knew (and knows) that these words were at least to be read until the return of our Saviour.
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