Modern Reformer
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  • My Blog
    • Helping in Turkana
    • Iceland overview
    • Day 1 in Iceland
    • Photos from the Amsterdam Trip
    • Trip of a Lifetime
    • Our Journey
    • This World Stinks
    • The Elements Shall Melt
    • False Prophets- - AMEN!
    • Death of the Church
    • Who was the last prophet sent by God?
    • Write the Vision
    • Fast Food Christians
    • Jesus Wept
    • The Demise of the Protestant
    • Considering Memorial Day
    • Judas
    • The Downfall of a Civilization
    • Divine Business
    • A Futuristic Short Story
  • Questions
    • Prophecy >
      • What is the point of the "Great Tribulation" if all of the Christians will be raptured?
      • How Do We Prepare for the Great Tribulation?
      • Many preachers say Jesus is coming soon, while there are no clear signs of it. Is it a scare tactic to make people do what they want?
      • Is it true that the Bible says that no one goes to heaven until Jesus comes back?
      • What does the Bible say about Jesus' Second Coming?
      • When does the 2nd Resurrection Take Place?
      • How will Jehovah God save Israel when he brings all nations against it ?
      • When the kingdom of God is established, in what manner ( physically or ?? ) will everybody who obeys Jehovah God will become like Adam ( they will no longer be males and females but all males ) ??
      • Spiritually, What are we on the verge of?
      • When did the 70 years desolation spoken by Jeremiah begin?
      • What is meant by Rome being called the Antichrist?
      • In the book of Daniel 11:21-24, is the despicable man that is mentioned here was Antiochus Epiphanes IV?
      • What is the difference between the Babylonia that were mentioned in the Old Testament and the Babylonia that was mentioned in the book of Revelation?
      • What are the comparison of the verses Ps 83:1-8,Ez 38:7-16, Zech 14:2-3,and Rev 20:8-9--are they the same in meaning?
      • Of that Day and that Hour
      • How Will Jesus' Second Coming Happen?
      • Will the End Times Battle Be Fought With Weapons
      • Biblically speaking what will the world be like after Armageddon?
      • End Times and Sodom and Gomorrah?
      • At which trumpet will Michael and his angels boot Satan and his angels from heaven to earth?
      • When does/did Jesus Christ's reign as King of God's Kingdom start?
      • Is the Beast in Revelation the Antichrist?
      • Jesus Would Return as He Left?
      • What do you think Jesus meant that if God had not shortened those days, no flesh would survive?
      • What are You Looking Forward To?
      • Is This the Beginning of the Apocalypse?
      • What does Jesus Mean When He Says This?
      • Evidence of the Signs of the Times?
      • What will the Kingdom Accomplish?
      • How Will the Scoffers Feel when Jesus Comes?
      • What is the Significance of the Word "Presence."
      • Why Does My Mom Say We are in the Last Day?
      • What Exactly do People Think the Apocalypse is?
    • Doctrine >
      • Can a person worthy of Heaven be OK with others going to Hell?
      • Can the theory of "being born a sinner" and the theory of "age of accountability" exist at the same time? How and why?
      • According to the Bible, why is everyone born a sinner?
      • Do those don't hear about Jesus go to hell?
      • How is Christ the Wisdom of God?
      • Why does the Soul of the Dead Sinner need to be Oppressed?
      • What did Jesus mean when He said: The Way, the Truth, the Life?
      • Is the Fire of Hell Literal? Why?
      • Did Jesus Redeem Everyone? Is Everyone Saved?
      • If a baby or infant died ....he'll become an angel?
      • What is Biblical Faith?
      • Do You Believe in Hell?
      • Water Baptism and Spirit Baptism, which is more important?
      • Question on Death, Sleep, Resurrection?
      • What is the soul?
      • The Rapture
      • Is John the Baptist going to heaven?
    • General Questions >
      • How can the Gospel transform individuals and the society today?
      • Why are dogs not allowed in heaven according to the Bible?
      • Question about Islam and Christianity
      • Is a Person Who Hasn't Heard About Christianity a Sinner...?
      • Are Saints in Heaven Free...?
      • Question on John the Baptist
      • Thief on the Cross Question
      • Does the Bible has a mention about the secret societies like...?
      • Is the Garden of Eden still on earth (hidden from mankind ) ?
      • Does the Bible prove all other religions false?
      • Why do Muslims hate Jews ?
      • What do you think of the Interpretation of Gen. 2:17?
      • Did God Hate Esau from the Womb?
      • What is your opinion of the theological terms kingdom of heaven and kingdom of God?
      • ​Please can you explain Colossians 2:14-17, where it's says "do not let anyone judge you"?
      • What do you mean by Regeneration..?
      • Is it literally mean that Turkey is the seat of Satan?
      • I'm a Christian but I don't like to go to church...I pray and read my bible in the house....what the bible teaches about fellowship?
      • Abraham the father of Isaac and Ismael...he was Jew or Hebrew..?
      • I'm a believer. I pray that I might win in lottery,sweepstakes, casino...I won....is this a sin?
      • Please Explain Romans 10:9,10
      • Can We as Christians be Guilty of Choosing Barabbas over Jesus?
      • What is the Purpose of Satan?
      • Why would God do this? And then punish Israel for it?
      • Is the Roman Catholic Church a true church established by Jesus Christ?
      • What is Heaven Like?
      • How long (on average) does it take one to join your religion?
      • Is a judge performing his duties in a courtroom violating Jesus' command, "Do not judge"?
      • How is it that even the demons "knew Him to be the Christ." How did they know?
      • Who is Jesus claiming to be in John 8:24 and what does it mean to "die in your sins"?
      • Does the Bride of Christ have to die first?
      • Can We as Christians be Guilty of Choosing Barabbas over Jesus?
      • What about Holidays?
      • What is a Biblical Family?
      • How do We Treat Family Members Who Say They are Christians but Don't Acts Like It?
      • What is the Second Death?
      • Question on the Parable of the Two Sons
      • Christ came that we would have life abundantly correct?
      • Who is the Son of Perdition?
      • What are your thoughts on Psalm 137:9?
      • What is the difference between the DOOR in Rev 3:8 and the DOOR in Rev 3:20 ?
      • Out of the Seven Churches in Revelation, which would you say is the closet to your church?
      • What is the main message in the book of Amos, what value does it hold for today’s modern society?
      • Gospel of Thomas question:
      • Question on Tithing
      • Are some people never going to be resurrected from the dead?
      • Does God Love Unconditionally?
      • What Percentage of the Bible Do You Have to Know?
      • Do you keep the Sabbath?
      • Why was Man Excluded Because No Wedding Garment?
      • It is the Day of Atonement...Will you offer a prayer & agree in prayer for their salvation?
      • Did Noah Keep Bees in the Ark?
      • As the Pope's 9-letter surname, Bergoglio, has the word GOG bang in the middle of it, I wonder if biblical?
      • Who is Peter talking about in 1 Peter 4:18?
      • What is the purpose of pigs?
      • Please explain how the meek inherit the earth?
      • Do You Know the Names of Jesus' Two Sheepfolds?
      • Is Jesus in His Human Body in Heaven?
  • Meditations of Joy
    • Overcoming Lack of Confidence to Connect and ‘Fit In’ Part 1
    • All Things in the Name of Jesus
    • The Treasured Life
    • Afflicted in Faithfulness
    • Making All Things New
    • Instinctive Trust
    • #721 Extracting the Precious from the Worthless
    • Some Keys to Dealing Faithfully with Criticism and Conflict Part 2
    • Some Keys to Dealing Faithfully with Criticism Part 1
    • Facing Change and the Unknown in Confidence
    • Glorify Thy Name in us, O LORD
    • Remembering Who We Are
    • Deliverance through Overwhelm
    • Finding Stability
    • Resurrection Power At Work
    • Diamonds in the Night (Revisited)
    • Final Faithfulness According to the Will of the Father Part 2
    • Final Faithfulness According to the Will of the Father
    • The Expanse of Jesus Prayer
    • The Reality of the Joy Set Before Him
    • The Determination To Do His Will
    • Choosing the Will of the Father
    • He Sustains the Weary with a Word
    • I am willing
    • Looking Forward: Making Isaiah 40.27-31 my own Part 2
    • Looking Forward: Making Isaiah 40:27-31 my own
    • Looking Back on Lessons in this Past Year Part 5
    • Looking Back on Lessons in this Past Year Part 4
    • Looking Back on Lessons in this Past Year Part 3
    • #698 Looking Back on Lessons in this Past Year Part 1 A Dear Brother wrote out the main things he was learning in the past year. As I read them I realized that that the Lord was teaching me along similar lines. First he shared: 1. “God’s
    • Looking Back on Lessons in this Past Year Part 1
    • Our True Source of Stability in Trying Times Part 2Blog
    • Humble Yourself Under the Mighty Hand of God
    • Our True Source of Stability in Trying Times
    • Thriving in the house of God
    • Living the Divine Dimensions of Their Love
    • Make Room for the Blessing! Part 2
    • Make Room for the Blessing! Part 1
    • Dealing with ‘What If’ Part 1
    • Abiding in Their Love
    • Serving by Night
    • Serving By Night
    • Tenacious Love Part 2
    • Tenacious Love Part 1
    • Reverence for God is an Access to Wisdom and Confidence
    • The Practice of Praise
    • Separate the Precious from the Worthless
    • Therefore I Will Remember You Part 2
    • Therefore I Will Remember You Part 1
    • #676 Only One Thing is Necessary
    • Antidotes for Personal Unrest Amid Unfolding Events of our Day Part 3
    • Antidotes for Personal Unrest Amid Unfolding Events of our Day Part 3
    • Antidotes for Personal Unrest Amid Unfolding Events of our Day Part 2
    • Antidotes for Personal Unrest Amid Unfolding Events of our Day Part 1
    • Pliability and Surrender Part 2 In the Care of the Shepherd
    • Pliability and Surrender Part 1 in the Hands of the Potter
    • The Choice to Rejoice
    • Dealing with Reaction to Criticism Part 3
    • Dealing with Reaction to Criticism Part 2
    • Dealing with Reaction to Criticism Part 1
    • Courage to Go Forward
    • Facing Challenge Equipped with His Armor Part 3
    • Facing Challenge Equipped with His Armor Part 1
    • The Holy Ground of Challenge
    • What We Remember, What We Forget
    • The Answer to Anxiety Part 3
    • The Answer to Anxiety Part 2
    • The Answer to Anxiety Part 1
    • Paul’s focus in Prison: Part 6b Resurrection power Beyond Our Comprehension
    • Paul’s Focus in Prison: In Awe of His Resurrection Power Part 6aBlog
    • Paul’s Focus in Prison: Part 5a Never give up praying for one another!
    • Paul's focus in Prison: Part 4 Guarded!
    • Paul’s focus in prison Part 3 Going forward with Passion
    • Paul’s focus in prison Part 2
    • Paul’s Focus in Prison Part 1
    • LIVING Hope and Joy
    • Arms Wide Open
    • Diamonds in the Night (Revisited from 2017)
    • “Yet Thou art Holy”
    • Resolutely Going Forward
    • Passover Love
    • Praying for a Word to Give the Weary
    • Content Whatever Lot I See Part 2
    • Content Whatever Lot I See Part 1Blog
    • A Night Journey to Peace Part 2
    • A Night Journey to Peace
    • Trusting His Choices
    • Peace Amid the Storm
    • Love is Patient
    • Proving His Name to His Glory
    • Watching in Hope
    • Glorifying His Name Begins with the Realm of Thought
    • "Father Glorify Thy Name"--Possible when we Let Him Love us
    • Father Glorify Thy Name Possible when we Let Him Love us
    • Father Glorify Thy Name Part 3 (A roadblock to be aware of)
    • Father Glorify Thy Name Part 2 (Practical application)
    • Father, Glorify Thy Name
    • Finding His Joy
    • The Blessing of Over-and-Over-Testings
    • Redefining Our Perception of Rejection
    • The Source of all Encouragement
    • Casting our Care and Leaving it There
    • Setting our Face Like Flint
    • Accepting God’s Will for our Beloved Brethren
    • Our Home in Every Challenge: Seeing Beyond the Illusion
    • Call to Consider: His Amazing Provision
    • Call to Consider: His Amazing Provision
    • Sure Proof of His Divine Provision
    • Some Lessons from David in Absalam's Rebellion and Unresolved Conflict
    • His Glory: Permission to Prune
    • His Glory: A Call to Re-focus
    • Trade in the Old Thinking for a New Song!
    • A Practical Look at the Armor of God
    • Resting in His Provision
    • His Perspective from the Heights, Borne on the Wings of the Eagle
    • What Would Jesus THINK?
    • The Joy of Wholeheartedness Part 2
    • The Joy of Wholeheartedness Part 1
    • The Joy of His Love Empowering us to Love Part 2
    • The Joy of Overcoming Irritation: Divine Love Empowering us to Love Part 1
    • The Joy of the LORD is your Strength: Sending Portions!
    • Finding Joy Part 2b: The Joy of the LORD is your Strength: Eat and Drink!
    • Finding Joy Part 2a: The Joy of the LORD is your Strength
    • Finding Joy: The Joy Set Before Us Part 1
    • The Refuge of His Wise and Loving Power
    • Facing the Challenge in the Beauty of Holiness
    • Facing the Challenge with Praise, Prayer and Perspective
    • Enthroning Him upon our Praise
    • Yet You Are Holy
    • Yet You are Holy
    • Another Look at “Arise, Let us go hence”
    • “My Peace” When We Feel Alone
    • “My Peace” Amid the Storm” Part 5
    • “My Peace” Amid the Storm” Part 4
    • My Peace” Amid the Storm” Part 3
    • “My Peace” Amid the Storm” Part 2
    • “My Peace” Amid the Storm” Part 1
    • A Prayer for the Power of His Penetrating Gaze of Love Part 2
    • A Prayer for the Power of His Penetrating Gaze
    • Trusting Enough to Get Out of the Boat
    • The Answer to Resistance: Trusting His Provision in the Process Part 2
    • The Answer to Resistance: Trusting that what He allows is GOOD.
    • He Knows What We Need, a Call to Praise Amid the Unknown!
    • My Heart is Fixed
    • My Heart is Fixed
    • The Creative Deliverance That Surrounds Us
    • How to Rejoice in the Midst of Whatever Happens Part 4
    • #547 How to Rejoice in the Midst of Whatever Happens Part 3
    • How to Rejoice in the Midst of Whatever Happens Part 2
    • How to Rejoice in the Midst of Whatever Happens Part 1
    • Our Prayerful Song in the Midst of Whatever Happens
    • #543 What Brings Us Peace No Matter What Happens
    • Freedom from the Trap of Old Thinking
    • Freedom from the Trap of Old Thinking Part 2
    • He Restores my Soul
    • “Look up and Let Go”
    • Nothing Shall Offend
    • Moment by Moment Deliverance from Fear
    • We Will Continue to Praise Him in the Midst of Every Circumstance
    • We Will Continue to Praise Him in the Midst of Every Circumstance Part 2
    • We Will Continue to Praise Him in the Midst Every Circumstance
    • Trust in His Perspective Frees us from Every ‘Prison’ Part 2
    • Trust in His Perspective Frees us from Every ‘Prison’
    • Run through the Open Door
    • Dwelling in ONE Master
    • Dwelling in His Shadow and Watching from the Wings
    • Dwelling in the Obedience of Christ
    • Overcoming Some Old Habits of Thought
    • Setting our Minds for Surrender Each Morning
    • Some of Peters Advice for Relationships in these Last Days
    • What Helps us to Accept Every Experience
    • His Leading through the Valley
    • Being His Valiant Warrior
    • Our Valiant Warrior
    • Living Deep-rooted Attachment in Christ
    • Keep on Sowing!
    • Surely the LORD is in the place
    • Red Sea Advice Part 4 The Red Sea Response
    • Red Sea Advice Part 3 The Red Sea Reaction
    • Red Sea Advice Part 2
    • Red Sea Advice Part 1
    • A Call to Peace
    • But Then on The Third Day
    • He Endured the Cross Part 3 Psalm 22 NIV
    • He Endured the Cross Psalm 22 Part 2
    • He Endured the Cross Part 1
    • The Cup that Crystallizes Part 3
    • The Cup that Crystallizes Part 2
    • The Cup that Crystallizes Part 1
    • The Yoke that Gives Us Rest
    • Proper Use of limitation, A Call For Balance
    • Another Lesson in Making Room for Their Surpassing Power Through the Proper Use of our Limitations
    • The Posture of Waiting and Trust that Allows Him To Demonstrate His Surpassing Power
    • To Demonstrate His Surpassing Power 2
    • To Demonstrate His Surpassing Power
    • WE will get through this!
    • Delight to do His will
    • I Know the Plans I Have for You
    • But for a Moment
    • Wake me up, Lord
    • We are a Team!
    • When we feel alone
    • The One Next Step
    • Trusting the Love that Stabilizes Us Through Every Storm
    • Triumph Over Appearance
    • The Joy of His Abundance
    • Express Gratitude
    • Numbering our Days
    • Expressions of His Love
    • The Breadth of His Provision
    • His Faithfulness Behind Every Challenge
    • He Stands at the Door of our Hearts
    • Your Tender Mercies Give Me Life
    • The Craftsmanship of His Workmanship in us
    • With You Wherever You Go
    • Listening to His Voice Amid the Physical Challenge of Shingles
    • A Refuge Better than People Pleasing
    • My Prayer in the Morning
    • They Will Not Prevail
    • When Things Don't Go My Way
    • How To Be a Refuge Like Him
    • A Very Present Help in Trouble
    • How to be a Refuge Like Him
    • Humble Yourselves Under the Mighty Hand of God
    • On Which Side Will We Dwell?
    • The Light That Shines on Our Challenges
    • Rewriting our Negative Memories and Thoughts Part 6
    • Plow My Thoughts
    • Rewriting our Negative Memories and Thoughts Part 5
    • Rewriting our Negative Memories and Thoughts Part 4
    • Rewriting our Negative Memories and Thoughts Part 3
    • Rewriting our Negative Memories and Thoughts Part 2
    • Rewriting our Negative Memories and Thoughts
    • Stand in Awe in the Midst of Depression
    • Patient Waiting in the Face of Challenge
    • Our Expectation and Refuge in the Face of Fear
    • His Way of Escape
    • Healing the Root of Fear pt 2
    • Healing the Root of Fear
    • Weeding Day
    • Another Aspect of Wash Day!
    • Wash Day!
    • The Cup of Blessing Which We Bless
    • Our Abba Father
    • Accepting the Gift and Passing it On
    • Accepting the Gift of His Training
    • Open Our Eyes to See
    • The Breath of Forgiveness Part 2
    • The Breath of Forgiveness
    • Living Each Moment for Him
    • Diamonds in the Night
    • His Word that Sustains us in Times of Weariness Part 7
    • His Word that Sustains us in Times of Weariness Part 6
    • His Word that Sustains us in Times of Weariness Part 3
    • His Word that Sustains us in Times of Weariness Part 3
    • His Word that Sustains us in Times of Weariness Part 2
    • His Word that Sustains us in Times of Weariness Part 1
    • Faithful in the Hour Part 1
    • Delight in His Delight
    • The Beauty of Brokenness Surrendered to Him
    • How to Never Give up Part 2
    • How to Never Give UP part 1
    • Whatever We Do Part 2
    • Whatever We Do
    • Resurrection Power At Work
    • Tested by the Word of God
    • Waiting on the LORD
    • My Dad Road Sign
    • The Amazing Privilege of Being Coached by the Most High God
    • Casting Both Circles of Care Upon Him
    • The Heart of Deliverance
    • Say Amen!
    • Amen
    • Trusting Where He Leads
    • Made Strong to Listen
    • This is Who I AM
    • The Mindset of Deliverance
    • Strongholds
    • Your Love Has Conquered My Resistance
    • Our Stability Amid These Times and Seasons of Change
    • Precious in the Sight part 2
    • Precious in the Sight of the Lord
    • His Battle
    • Looking to Him
    • Proving Him Holy
    • Rejoice in the Road
    • The Divine Ectetera
    • Waking up to Hope in God in the Present Moment
    • Hiding His Word in Our Heart
    • The Power of Acceptance
    • The Power of Listening From His Love
    • The Gift of Spiritual Eyesight (In Relationships)
    • The Gift of Spiritual Eyesight Part 2
    • The Gift of Spiritual Eyesight
    • The Past and Present Reality of Deliverance
    • Willing To Trust
    • Quieting the Noise So We Can Hear His Knock and Receive Feasting in Place of Empty Snacking
    • An Olive Tree in the House of God
    • Our Choice at Break of Day
    • From Accusation to Acclamation
    • The Pure Joy of What Is
    • Arise and Eat
    • Power Over the Pit
    • His Altar (The Dimensions of Love)
    • Living The Dimensions of Love
    • The Dimensions of Love
    • All My Springs are in You
    • Crucified with Christ--A Prayer
    • Psalm 22 on the Cross to the Ninth Hour
    • The Mind of Christ Revealed on the Cross Part 2
    • The Mind of Christ as Revealed on the Cross Part 1
    • Stop and Savor His View
    • The Final Hymn
    • The Keeping Power of the Father and the Son part 3
    • The Keeping Power of the Father and the Son part 2
    • Keeping the Power of the Father and the Son part 1
    • Father Glorify Thy Name
    • She Has Done What She Could
    • The Megaphone of God
    • Teach me to be an influence that honors You
    • Fill Me with Your Willingness and Skill
    • The Greatest Reality Amid any Overwelm
    • Seeing Something New
    • Trusting Him Anew
    • The Power of the Yoke of Jesus
    • How to be Humble
    • Building Faith to Prepare for Any Collision
    • Opening the Door of our Language to God
    • Safe in His Compassions
    • Who He Is in Every Experience
    • Continual Praise
    • Beside Still Waters
    • Faith and Hope in the Midst of Challenge
    • The Beauty of Flaw Wrapped in Perfection Revisited
    • Empowering Love
    • Discovering the Hidden Treasure
    • Thoroughly Known
    • Very Present Help
    • Not by Might
    • Under His Wings I Trust
    • Aiming at Eternity
    • What to Forget, What to Remember
    • Ready to Turn My Life Around for God
    • Triumph Over Circumstances--Don't Kill the Messenger
    • Waterlogged and Triumphant
    • Escape from Stress When We Don't Understand
    • Escape from Stress, Equipped with Hinds Feet
    • Surely the Lord is in the Place
    • Escape from Stress When We Fail part 2
    • Escaping from Stress When We Fail part 1
    • Escape From Stress When We don't Understand
    • From Stress to Peace Part 1
    • Step by Step Escape from Stress
    • Making Room to be Filled
    • Making Room to be Filled
    • The Power to Love When We Cannot
    • The Power to Love When We Cannot
    • Overcoming Illusion
    • The Blessing of Overwelm
    • Jesus is the Door
    • In Perfect Faithfulness
    • The Space to Choose
    • Discipline, Not Condemnation
    • Discipline, Not Condemnation
    • The Voice of our Risen Lord
    • Passover Perspectives: A Night of Watching
    • Passover Perspectives: The Protection of the Father in the Midst of the Cross
    • Passover Perspectives: The Deliverance that will Never Be Forgotten
    • Passover Perspectives: No Fear
    • Passover Perspective: The Far Reaching Power of His Sacrifice
    • Passover Perspectives: Living Unleavened
    • Passover Perspectives: Eating on the Run
    • Passover Perspectives: The Fires that Proved Him Faithful
    • Passover Perspectives: The Power of his Sacrifice
    • Passover Perspectives Exodus 12: The Keeping of the Lamb
    • Passover Perspectives: A collective celebration
    • Passover Perspectives: A New Beginning
    • A Prayer for God's Glory
    • Road Sign
    • The Beauty of Perfection
    • Every Hour
    • What will we put in the Relationship Box?
    • Discovering His Everlasting Love
    • His Timing and Strength in Every Phase of Life
    • Trusting Him in Every Valley
    • Trusting the One Who Pours the Cup
    • Smallest Beginning, Greatest Gift
    • Thoroughly Known, Thoroughly Pursued
    • Red Sea Rule #10
    • Red Sea Rule #9
    • Agreeing with God
    • Red Sear Rule #8
    • Red Sea Rule #7
    • Red Sea Rule #6
    • Red Sea Rule #5
    • Red Sea Rule 3 & 4
    • Red Sea Rules #2
    • Red Sea Rules--part 1
    • What Great Honor
    • What do you see?
    • The Power of a Living Faith
    • Awe for God in the Face of Fear
    • No Trial Will Ever Be Too Severe
    • The Work of the Gardener and the Architect
    • Wisdom Out of the Whirlwind
    • Hold On
    • Dwelling in Hope: The power of what we expect and believe
    • Conflict as a Call to Loving Action
    • Trusting His Infinite Wisdom
    • Emotion Management through The Power of Discretion
    • Do Not Delay; The Golden Moments Fly
    • Delight in the Lord
    • Loving New Part 2
    • Loving New
    • To Change the Paradigm
    • My Yoke is Easy, My Burden is Light
    • The Way of Escape
    • Equipped to Face Whatever Comes
    • Time to Trust part 3
    • Time to Trust part 2
    • A Time to Trust
    • Words of Wisdom
    • Wake Up New and See the Bigger Picture
    • Weeping and Finding
    • Resurrection Legacy
    • His Seamless Garment
    • Resurrection Legacy
    • Compelled by Love
    • Test of the Dream Part 3B
    • Test of the Dream --Part 3
    • Test of the Dream --Part 2
    • The Test of the Dream
    • The Love of God in Christ--part 2
    • The Love of God in Christ
    • Shedding Light on Discouragement
    • No More Re-Runs and No more Previews
    • No More Re-Runs
    • Triumph of Trust
    • With You Always, Day by Day
    • Triumph over Temptation
    • Step by Step
    • The Lord, My Confidence --part 2
    • The Lord, My Confidence--part 1
    • Seeking the Face of God and Christ
    • My Always Faithful God
    • The Answer to Overwhelm
    • Every Knee Shall Bow
    • Free to Experience the Intentions of God
    • Finding Bread at Midnight
    • Faithful Wounds
    • Battlefield Strategies
    • Take Time to Be Kind
    • Oh Magnify the Lord with Me by the Power of Thanksgiving
    • What do You Expect?
    • Unlikely Battlefield Strategies Part 2
    • The Miracle of Acceptance
    • Crisis Control
    • When Things Don't Go My Way
    • The Power of Pure Choice in Christ
    • Let the King of Glory In!
    • Whose Wall Do I Trust?
    • The Power of Thanksgiving
    • The Postures of Possiblities
    • If You Trust Me Let Go
    • Barefoot!
    • Holy Ground: Accepting the Mission
    • Holy ground: Facing the Fire
    • After the Battle
    • Accessable
    • Surrender in Awe and Wait in Joy
    • The Strength of our Spiritual Root System
    • Space to Trust
    • Full of Sap Part 3
    • Full of Sap Part 2
    • Full of Sap
    • The Mind of Mature Persistence part 3
    • The Mind of Mature Persistence part 2
    • Mind of Mature Persistance
    • Expect the Unexpected
    • Hearing Through the Ears of Jesus
    • Our Memorial Legacy: Keeping the Feast
    • Our Memorial Legacy
    • The Heart of the Father
    • The Cattle on a Thousand Hills
    • Patient with Process
    • He is Risen! Continue to Seek
    • Never Out-Numbered--Never Give Up!
    • Never Out-Numbered
    • Gathering Forces No Match For the Lord of the Harvest
    • The Power of Sanctified Choice – A Testimony
    • The Power of Sanctified Choice on the Cross
    • Jesus' Last Prayer part 8
    • Jesus' Last Prayer part 7
    • Jesus' Last Prayer part 6
    • Jesus' Last Prayer part 5
    • Jesus' Last Prayer part 4
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Ezekiel Chapter 40: 1-5 ​

Based on a Verse by Verse Bible Study led by Br. Frank Shallieu in 1975

Introduction:

The following is a verse by verse study on the book of Ezekiel. We will only be typing up the last 7 chapters—which are the Temple chapters and will have application in the Kingdom Age (Millennial Age). The descriptions given are of the yet future topography as you will see as the study progresses. Many think these verses are strictly spiritual, but we will find as we go through the study that they are both spiritual and literal. The actual audio of these studies will also be available. The typed version is not an exact duplicate of the audio, as some things were left out of the typing because of relevance and wording was changed to make it easier to read. The original study in 1975 was a live and interactive study. We hope that all will receive a blessing from these studies and as they are very difficult chapters and require fortitude to complete them.

 May the Lord overrule anything said amiss and may He add a blessing.


Eze 40:1  In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither. 

Verse one introduces the time setting of this prophecy as it was originally given to the prophet. When did he have this vision? At what time?

A: Fourteen years after the temple was destroyed.

Alright, in other words at the time he was taken or transported in vision to this and he saw eventually a temple there—at that time actually there was no temple. The temple had been destroyed.

Notice the time of the year. “in the beginning of the year”, this would be the spring or Passover season. The tenth day of the month was the day that the Passover lamb was selected to be slain. It was secured on the tenth day and slain on the fourteenth day and eaten on the fifteenth day in the evening.

Question: In Ezekiel’s statement here is he saying his captivity began 617BC? When he says the fourteenth year after the temple was smitten would be 592BC. He is also saying it was the twenty-fifth year of our captivity.

Answer: Jehoakim’s captivity was in the first year of Zedekiah. In the eleventh year of Zedekiah the city was smitten. So when you subtract eleven from twenty-five that leaves fourteen. Which is the fourteenth year after the city was smitten. So it would be still 606BC. Jehoakim was taken captive in the first year of Zedekiah who was the last king.

Again, when he had this vision there was no Solomon’s temple.

“And the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither.” In what way was the “hand of the LORD” upon him?

A: Carried him away in vision.

How was he carried away?

A: By the lock of his hair.

We can presume that, because this had happened before in Ezekiel 8:3. He was taken by the lock of his hair and transported there between heaven and earth.

“And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven…’

And therefore the hand of the LORD would be pretty dramatic in more ways than one. Not just merely the power of the Lord in a figurative sense but it was even dramatized in this initial experience he had and in an earlier verse, the first verse of the eighth chapter. Notice it says that the “hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.” Then this form of the hand came forth—this is describing how it came upon him. There was a visible experience he had that there was a form of a man’s hand which was God’s hand in this figurative sense. And grabs him by the lock of his hair and lifted him up. We would presume another thing that Ezekiel probably had a pretty full head of hair.

He is in captivity, north of Israel and he is carried by the hand of the Lord. He would get the experience of jet travel. He gets the sensation that he is leaving where he is, the destination is Israel on a particular mountain there. To get that sensation, he would have some sort of experience in getting there. Presumably this experience in the fortieth chapter is very similar to the eighth chapter.

We see in the second verse that this is a vision that he had. It was not a literal hand that took a hold of him, nevertheless that he had the sensation, so real was it that it reminds you of what Paul said when he was taken up to the third heaven.  He didn’t know whether he was literally taken up there and given an unusual vision or whether he just thought he was taken up there.  He says that he doesn’t know which it was. It was so real that it might just as well have been literal.

Eze 40:2  In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. 

Notice this is a very high mountain. What mountain is that?

A: Mount of Olives?

No, this mountain where he is taken he sees the framework of the city on the south. In other words this is the future temple site of Ezekiel. He is taken to the site where Ezekiel’s temple will be built. And he sees a framework of a city on the south. What is on the south? Ophal. The old old city of Jerusalem, David’s city was south of the Temple Mount. It’s never been built, even now. It has very very few dwellings on it.

What we now call the old city of Jerusalem is really the temple mount which was a portion of the old city in David’s day because while it was built in Solomon’s day, David purchased the field, which was the threshing floor, which was immediately north of the city for the future site of the temple. His son Solomon actually built the temple there later on.

When the temple was built there, this whole complex, where David had his palace and where the old city was and this new temple complex that Solomon built was the old city at the time of the Kings. But as time went on and there was a destruction made, the city was built up again as well as the temple after the captivity. It wasn’t built the same way anymore. They used the same temple site. Now the city was built slightly north of the temple and west.

Question: Is Ophel the area to the right of the Wailing Wall?

Yes, if you are standing in front of the Wailing Wall, and go to the right, down over the cliff, that is Ophel down there below, it is lower. So that when you look up, going up to Zion, you would be looking dramatically upward at that time.

Now when it says the city will be built upon its own heaps, it’s not the present Jerusalem. Two thirds or more of Jerusalem today is New Jerusalem which is all west of the old city. It’s Israeli. Built by the Jews. And the old city, even that is west of the temple. 

Where Herod’s citadel is and so forth, there was a big valley there call the Tyropoeon Valley. Which was more effective as a gulch or trench, very deep and it wasn’t until later on –on this side of the temple, on this side of the valley the city eventually developed and grew. There was wall built and that enclosed the whole and that was known as the old city of Jerusalem. Then what happened in the modern colonization of Israel the building took place outside that wall on the west side. So you have the King David hotel, the YMCA and all those buildings that are all in the new city. They are outside the wall on the west side. In the New Jerusalem, when it says the city would be built upon its own heaps the emphasis should not be laid upon what we now know as Jerusalem, that it is going to be built the same way. What we do know is that it is going to incorporate what once was ancient Jerusalem, which has never been built since, which is a very unusual thing. 



Footnote:  (5) Tyropoeon Valley
The rugged Tyropoeon Valley separates Mount Moriah from Mount Zion and was spanned by bridges, most notably Zion Bridge, connecting the royal palace on Mount Zion to the Temple. A fragment of an arch of this bridge, called “Robinson's Arch”, was discovered by historian Edward Robinson in 1838






So now in Israel you have three parts:

1)      The present modern city of Jerusalem

2)      Then what we call the old city of Jerusalem, which includes the temple and a lot of other dwellings within a wall.

3)      Then there is the old old Jerusalem.

The old old Jerusalem is not inhabited to all practical effects and this is the part that is going to be in the new arrangement. That old old city is due south of the temple. So that is going to be rebuilt up.

Now there are some interesting things here. How high is this mountain?

A: “Very high.”

Is the present mountain on which the city of Jerusalem is high? You wouldn’t call it very high would you?

A: You mean Mount Moriah?

Yes, Even though it is high, you couldn’t describe it as very high, because it isn’t.

Comment: The Mount of Olives over looks it.

Yes it is overlooking it, so it is higher.

The place Ezekiel is being taken is where the temple is. This is after the earthquake and after the land has been lifted up. Remember it tells in Zechariah that there shall be an earthquake round about the city about thirty miles and that whole area is going to be lifted up.

Zec 14:4  And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5  And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

All that we think is stable land, is floating. We are sitting on a floating continent. Both the water and the dry land are both moving, both fluid. The land is a lot more in contrast stable than the water with its waves and so forth that we think it is.  The Lord set a degree that the water has a fixed boundary, therefore the Land also by default has a fixed boundary. But the whole is on a floating molten base, which slips. That is what they call the continental land mass drift. Instead of continents like we have today, Australia, Africa, and America they have other divisions. Which are quite different in some respects where it shows the land underneath the water and those contents now are considered from a completely different aspect. They are separate units and they are the ones that are slipping. The slipping causes earthquakes a lot of times.

The Jordan Rift Valley goes right on the boarder of the city of Jerusalem When David Ben-Gurion was the first Primer of Israel—they forbid construction on the hill because they were afraid of the shifting of that rift which would lay it all waste. So they ceased building in that area at that time, but then later developed that area because of the prime conditions there and that is near the Mount of Olives which is a stones throw away.

So back to the very high mountain. Ezekiel is now in Israel, the temple of Solomon is destroyed. He is seeing a different setting. It is the same place, but now it is a very high mountain and the framework of a new city—not even the city that is there now in our day. He is seeing the city as it will be in that day—The Millennial Day—the Kingdom. Not only does the Lord give the measurements of Ezekiel’s temple, but also of the city. How the city will be built is all laid down in certain patterns. He is viewing it as it will be in the future, but the Lord in this particular aspect of the vision first focuses on the temple, but then will immediately focuses in on the city. So if we discard the temple as being literal, then we have to discard the literal city. 

The fortieth chapter is a beginning of a series of visions which start with the temple, which is the most important, the kernel of the new capital, then the city, then the adjoining land around the city where they will raise crops and who they will be for. And where the Priests, Levites and the Princes stay and then the rest of the nation of Israel. So again if you discard the literal temple, you have to discard the whole seven chapters of Ezekiel. And you also have to discard the literal fish in the Dead Sea and Mediterranean Sea (it says it would have fish as the Great Sea, exceeding many, and the Great Sea is the Mediterranean.)  this is all one big prophecy. People don’t think of it as one big prophecy and will enthuse over the literal aspect of the vision which is only really an extension of the vision he is having.

Ezek 47:10 (CEV)  From En-Gedi to Eneglaim, people will fish in the sea and dry their nets along the coast. There will be as many kinds of fish in the Dead Sea as there are in the Mediterranean Sea. 

There will be fish one day living in a large portion of the Dead Sea. An extremity of the sea will be left to salt and for the exploitation of the minerals.

You come to something like this, this is a tremendously important vision. We come to the door and we do like Peter, we blunder right in. And we miss ninety nine out of a hundred details. We say wow this is a wonderful vision and go right on. We need to stop right on the threshold here and see the whole setting. He is in Israel on a very high mountain.

Now we can see that some of these scriptures that we only spiritualize, which is true, but they are also literal. Like where it says Zion would be exalted above the surrounding hills, it would be lifted up, so this harmonizes with Zechariah 14:10. Another scriptures says it will be exalted (Isa. 2:2; Mic. 4:1) We only think of it as figuratively exalted, but the executive rulership of the Kingdom will reside there and therefore we think of this lifting up only in a figurative sense. Now we see the beauty of this in that the city is on the south and the temple is on the north. If he sees the city on the south the temple has to be in the north. Theoretically when the city is built, that is the proper layout. The temple represents the spiritual. 

The executive orders in the real sense of the word not only come forth from Jerusalem will come forth in even a more stringent way from the temple. The voice of the Lord will be heard in His holy temple. The voice of the Lord will be heard in His holy temple, so you would have a capital city, the capital of the capital city is the temple. The most important building in the holy city. That would represent God from the North as well as Jesus and the Church from whence the Law goes forth.

“… for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”  Isa_2:3, Mic 4:2  

The south emphasis the earthly aspect, a civil aspect, and that is the city.

We have been spending a lot of time on this one detail, but I think it is well worth it. We have been reading these verses for fifty years and we just skip over them like there is nothing there, but they are tremendously packed.

Just because we have a prejudice that no literal temple will be built and we don’t’ realize this prejudice is robbing us from mediating on God’s Word.

Eze 40:3  And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate. 

Eze 40:4  And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel. 

God Himself brought him there originally by the hand in this vision. He is getting the sensation of travel which is very real.

Now he noticed a man that looks like brass. Brass is a symbol of perfect humanity or justified humanity.

In the Tabernacle the altar was made of brass (or copper) and the Levites could not handle that, 

only the priests. The posts around the court also were made of brass. There were copper pins and receptacles for those posts—that didn’t represent the person in the world, who believe in Christ but have not made a consecration. The only ones who can properly and righteously hold for the righteousness of Christ are those who have made the stand themselves.

But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. Psa 50:16-17

So what we are trying to say is this man is a justified minister in the flesh as shown by the copper. It is these keys of understanding that help us keep on the right track in interpretation, which if we are diligent in using will unlock truths as they are due to be seen.

In his hand he has a line of flax. What is the line of flax for?

A: To make a straight line

At the bottom of that line there is a heavy plum bob. The line is what is being emphasized and not the lead weight on the end. It is used to establish a vertical position that you can then begin to establish a level. In connection with this vertical line he also has another instrument called a measuring reed. Which is like a ruler or yardstick.

So we see a man who is of copper appearance and has a measuring line of flax and the measuring reed. What is significant about line of flax?

A: Flax is used to make linen This is a fine twined linen

Q: What is linen a symbol of?

A: Righteousness.

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

The scriptures tell us that linen is the symbol of righteousness, but they are not so direct on the meaning of the copper. If someone didn’t tell us, we probably would not understand it.

Having this line of flax would indicate what? We are emphasizing the spiritual aspects in this lesson.

A: A standard of righteousness or justice.

Justice is the foundation of God’s throne and in connection with this picture as well. Also he is going to do things with these instruments later, although it emphasizes the reed. It doesn’t mention the line so much, but we do know it is used and will come to that later.

This is a standard which he is measuring, and will be measuring a building. In order to appreciate what he is doing it has to be viewed from that particular aspect.

Q: Where does this man stand?

A: At the south gate.

Q: What does it suggest that he is standing by the gate?

A: That they were judges

That is a good point. It was the custom of judges to sit in the gate. When the people had a legal case of a dispute that would arise. The people would go to the city, the temple, or their local cities and they would go to the magistrate. If it is a civil magistrate, a civil disposition then it would be the city gate. If it is an ecclesiastical interpretation then it would be the temple gate. Therefore the gate became a place of judgment. That is where you would go to have your case heard and a decision to be made.

He is standing at the gate and not sitting, what does this suggest?

He is standing in the gate like a guide and waiting for you to follow him around, and he starts to walk around. Ezekiel accompanied him.

He starts off on a high mountain on the south and the detail narrows in and now we are at a gate with a man standing in the gate. He is brought close to him and now something is going to happen and he can almost anticipate that the man is waiting for him. How very exciting.

Now all of a sudden the man opens his mouth and starts to talk and there comes forth important words. Before anything happens the man gives Ezekiel instructions right away.

“Behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee.” This is really saying pay strict attention and use all your senses to absorb all the instructions that are about to be given. If you put yourself in Ezekiel’s place, what a powerful experience this was. The man tells him that he himself was instructed by God and set for this very purpose to be a guide for this particular tour for Ezekiel. 

Ezekiel represents the Church. Not only was Ezekiel to pay strict attention, but he was to declare all that he saw to the nation of Israel. That doesn’t mean they are going to understand it or even that they are going to hear it, scriptures say their ears are dull and not receptive. Nevertheless he was charged with the responsibility when Ezekiel was through with this experience he is going to have and the lessons that are going to be explained, he is to go back to his people and tell them everything that he has seen.

The framework of the city on the south and the very high mountain… I don’t think I am over dramatizing this at all. We should put ourselves in Ezekiel’s place and what a shock it would be to use and what a joy and privilege to have this experience. You would get to remember those details, the problem is many of us a predisposed where our ears and eye are in other directions.

Comment: It would have been some benefit for those living back there.

Yes we will consider it from that standpoint. The Lord’s Word is not only for those that are living down here in our age. The Apostle Paul said that the prophet spoke and declared things that they could not understand but it for us upon whom the end of the ages to come were. That does not mean that when these visions were given they were not intended to have any instructional or inspirational value to the ones that were contemporaries of these prophecies. That isn’t the thought. What the Apostle Paul was saying was that the main point, the main emphasis of the vision is for the spiritual class.

Eze 40:5  And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed. 

He says that the building of the wall was six cubits high and deep or broad. Not long because the wall is circuitous, continuous. So it’s not one reed long. But penetrating the wall, where the gate its, which is where he is standing. So he is beginning at once his measurements starting right where he is. Then for the next hour and half lecture it is nothing but measurements. He is just measuring and measuring. It is not our intention now to explain those measurements until if God permits the model is finished. Then we would demonstrate each detail of these measurements, what they represent. 

This starting is important because he is right at the gate. He has this reed. He measures the wall of the building. Not like a yard, in the tabernacle you have an outer court—this is also an outer court that he is in. He is measuring the outer peripheral area of the outer court when he starts measuring. On this wall there are columns. This wall has a quite good dimension it is the foundation of a whole structure that is on top. This is like a base or pedestal on which the outer peripheral area of the temple structure is built. He is only measuring the pedestal at the bottom, which is one continuous wall with the exception of the perforation where the gate is. He is measuring the bottom one and he is saying it is one reed high and one broad.

Q: What does the measuring read he is using represent?

A: A standard.

The line of flax also represented a standard and that had to do with a line of righteousness, a mark of holiness, justification which is necessary to properly measure certain things. Now the reed is a fixed length. Later on he tells you how long that reed is. This standard is like what we call a yard stick. It’s not like a carpenters ruler that folds up and it’s not telescopic. This reed that he is carrying is a fixed length. This reed elsewhere is in scripture is repeated  do you know where?

A: In Revelation.

In Revelation we find it is called a golden reed, here it does not specify it being of gold. There is a little different lesson here. The reed in Revelation was to measure the city. Here the reed is used to measure the temple in the first few chapters.

The Temple of Ezekiel represents what?

A: The Temple Class.

It would represent The Christ primarily. Christ head and body—the Church. 

In the book of Revelation the city represents?

A: The Church

In the book of Revelation when it says there will be no temple there (when you read the book of Revelation he is describing the city), there are several reasons why there wouldn’t be one and we wouldn’t expect one. The book of Revelation is symbolic only. It is a book of symbols only.

If the city in Revelation represents the Church, why need to have a temple there if that represents the Church also? It would be an unnecessary duplication, so there is no need. The city is a government it is the Church class in glory. It says it is the Bride. 

Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Ezekiel is different, it is more complex in the sense that it is both literal and spiritual. We have another precedent for this, this is not a new thought. Where is the other precedent?

A: The Tabernacle.

The Tabernacle in the wilderness was literal and spiritual, both. So you can harmonize that it is possible for such a thing to happen and that is the story of Ezekiel. The difference being the Tabernacle emphasizes the literal and spiritual aspects of the Church primarily in the present life. They are Tabernacling or journeying to the Temple condition. The Temple isn’t the journey, it is the finished picture. So it is both literal and spiritual from a future standpoint. The Tabernacle is both literal and spiritual from a past and present standpoint.

So this reed represents a standard. It is a golden reed, and represents a Divine standard. What is the Divine standard?

A: The Bible

That is one thing

A: Christ in you the hope of Glory.

A little more detail. The full stature of a man in Christ Jesus is the technical objective. That the fullness of Christ might dwell in an individual to his capacity. Paul says how he labored that Christ might be formed in you (Gal. 4:19). That one might grow up into a full stature of a man in Christ Jesus ( Eph. 4:13). So this reed represents the stature of a man in Christ Jesus

So when he puts that reed down and starts measuring he is saying: it represents not only Christ as the standard, but what we want to be. We want to be Christ-like and to be of that standard. Anyone who is going to be of that temple class (1 Cor. 3:16)—the pillar in that temple which will no more come in or out (Rev. 3:12). He is a permanent structure. To be of the temple class of the future there are certain requirements. So he puts that reed down, and that requirement is God’s Word and the standard of Christ Jesus, and the application of those principles in the present life and if we diligently pursue them we will be found in this structure. We will be pictured as a part of that complex.

When you come to the Tabernacle gate the first thing you see is the altar. Which is Christ and the sacrifice necessary, before we make another step. Right smack in front of the gate. That is the first lesson. A sinner needs to recognize his own undone condition.  And that his only approach to God is in and through Christ.

The man in the gate is laying down this basic principle. That this standard is necessary. Then from that standpoint this building then can have some meaning.



To listen to the verse by verse Bible study click the link below:

http://tindeck.com/listen/ogxm

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