Lamentations 1:12-18

This is a day that the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad!!

Are the rioters of January 6th the beast that allowed the spirit of the antichrist, the little horn, to rise and fall? The little horns’ reign was shortened…by the Lord God almighty.

Lamentations 1:12-18

12 “Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?

Behold and see

If there is any sorrow like my sorrow,

Which has been brought on me,

Which the Lord has inflicted

In the day of His fierce anger.

13 “From above He has sent fire into my bones,

And it overpowered them;

He has spread a net for my feet

And turned me back;

He has made me desolate

And faint all the day.

14 “The yoke of my transgressions was bound;

They were woven together by His hands,

And thrust upon my neck.

He made my strength fail;

The Lord delivered me into the hands of those whom I am not able to withstand.

15 “The Lord has trampled underfoot all my mighty men in my midst;

He has called an assembly against me

To crush my young men;

The Lord trampled as in a winepress

The virgin daughter of Judah.

16 “For these things I weep;

My eye, my eye overflows with water;

Because the comforter, who should restore my life,

Is far from me.

My children are desolate

Because the enemy prevailed.”

17 Zion spreads out her hands,

But no one comforts her;

The Lord has commanded concerning Jacob

That those around him become his adversaries;

Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them.

18 “The Lord is righteous,

For I rebelled against His commandment.

Hear now, all peoples,

And behold my sorrow;

My virgins and my young men

Have gone into captivity.

Passersby are asked rhetorically to look, listen, and compare Jerusalem’s grief to any other grief experienced by mortals. God’s fierce anger is put in the context of the day of the Lord.

Jerusalem’s suffering is portrayed, using several metaphors: (1) fire from heaven, (2) a hunter’s net spread to trap animals, (3) an animal yoke fastened about the head of a person, and (4) the crushing of grapes in a winepress. The purpose of Jerusalem’s suffering was to bring about a turning or repentance.

The idea here is sinful patterns of life becoming compulsive, burdening people like a yoke on a beast of burden. God imposed a yoke until all of Zion’s strength failed. With no power of their own left, weary people are more likely to listen to God. Jerusalem (Judah) was supposed to be the chaste bride of God. Instead she had become a polluted harlot because her people worshiped other gods than the God with whom they covenanted. The people of Jerusalem wept because the very fate Jeremiah had prophesied had come to pass. The real Comforter of Judah is God. But because of Judah’s sin, God would not come to their assistance.

The Israelites were supposed to be God’s holy people. However, they had become worse than their pagan neighbors. Ultimately it was the Lord who permitted Jerusalem’s collapse. Yet God remained just and right in what He did. NKJ Bible.

The yoke  was a symbol of judgment. The yoke represents subjection to a stronger power or authority. Judah is like the grapes smashed underfoot in a winepress. The first-person lament of personified Zion is interrupted with a comment from the narrator, describing the scene. Zion is looking for help and comfort. Jerusalem confesses that she was justly punished on account of her rebellion. Faithlife Bible.

Daniel 7:26-28

Christ followers are safe and protected in God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

The little horn will be stripped of his power. 

Christ will stand.

Daniel 7:26-28

26 ‘But the court shall be seated,

And they shall take away his dominion,

To consume and destroy it forever.

27 Then the kingdom and dominion,

And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,

Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’

28 “This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart.”

Daniel does not elaborate on the details of this kingdom. His focus is not on the kingdom itself; it is on the fact that the Gentile kingdoms and the persecution associated with them will come to an end. The first apocalyptic vision concludes. Faithlife Bible.

The dominion of the little horn will come to a violent end when he submits to the court of God. The kingdom of God, governed by His saints, will exercise rule over all the earth. NKJ Bible.

2 Samuel 7:16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”

Daniel 7:14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.

Daniel 7:22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.

Daniel 7:8-14

Pompous words reverberate in America today. We know that arrogance and pride the Father hates! Is this indicative of the spirit of the anti-Christ?

How precious is the knowledge that Jesus Christ conquers all in His return!

Daniel 7:8-14

8 I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.

9 “I watched till thrones were put in place,

And the Ancient of Days was seated;

His garment was white as snow,

And the hair of His head was like pure wool.

His throne was a fiery flame,

Its wheels a burning fire;

10 A fiery stream issued

And came forth from before Him.

A thousand thousands ministered to Him;

Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.

The court was seated,

And the books were opened.

11 “I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

13 “I was watching in the night visions,

And behold, One like the Son of Man,

Coming with the clouds of heaven!

He came to the Ancient of Days,

And they brought Him near before Him.

14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,

That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion,

Which shall not pass away,

And His kingdom the one

Which shall not be destroyed.

The descriptor “little” is derogatory. The close recounting of the deeds of Antiochus IV throughout the remaining visions suggests that the little horn likely refers to him. However, if Rome is the fourth beast, this horn may alternatively represent the antichrist. 

The description of the beasts and the little horn prompts the arrival of the Ancient of Days. He passes judgment and makes way for “one like a son of man”. Many of the descriptive elements for the Ancient of Days are echoed in the pseudepigraphical  book First Enoch.

God sitting as judge  over creation is a common biblical motif. They did not merit the same sort of destruction that the conduct of the fourth beast demanded.

Following the judgment by the Ancient of Days, a human messianic figure appears. He is presented before the Ancient One and given a dominion that will never pass away. The Aramaic phrase used here is an idiom that can be translated as “one like a human being.” Jesus adopts this phrase as a title (“Son of Man”).  “One like a son of man” is probably best understood as a messianic reference—which makes the most sense. Messianic expectations of the time anticipated one who would drive out foreign enemies, legitimize the temple religion, and usher in a period of utopia for the people of Israel. The references to kingdom and dominion in this verse are what the Jews were anticipating. They sought an end to the world’s kingdoms by the establishment of God’s kingdom, which also meant an end to their suffering. This kingdom concept is carried into the Gospels. Faithlife Bible.

The horns here represent rulers. Even though the little one begins small, it would become the greatest of all.

Ancient of Days is a reference to God the Father as certified by the submission of “the One like the Son of Man” to Him and His role in judgment. Fiery flame symbolizes judgment. Its wheels refers to the chariot in which God rides to battle to exercise His sovereignty and to appear as Judge. A thousand thousands … Ten thousand times ten thousand, the reference here is to innumerable servants. The books record the names and deeds of those who will be judged.

The idea that the fate of the wicked is fiery destruction is apparent in the OT, but reaches its fullest expression in the NT teaching about hell.

Son of Man is Semitic for “human being.” Daniel saw One like the “Son of Man,” indicating that He is not a man in the strict sense, but rather the perfect representation of humanity. Jewish and Christian expositors have identified this individual as the Messiah. Jesus Himself used this name to emphasize His humanity as the incarnate Son of God. Jesus coming in judgment.

The Son of Man will reign over all things as the regent of Almighty God. In contrast to the vanishing nature of the previous empires, His dominion is … everlasting. NKJ Bible.

Deuteronomy 33:2  And he said:“The LORD came from Sinai, and dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, and He came with ten thousands of saints; From His right hand came a fiery law for them.

1 Kings 22:19 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left.

Psalm 2:6 “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.”

Revelation 1:14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;

Ezekiel 9:(1.)11

American democracy and freedom is at a turning point. 

We must stand for the smooth transfer of power or we will collapse in to a third world country. We need to protect our country not fall into the idol of a personality.

Nationalism is not Christian.

Ezekiel 9:1-11

9 Then He called out in my hearing with a loud voice, saying, “Let those who have charge over the city draw near, each with a deadly weapon in his hand.” 2 And suddenly six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his battle-ax in his hand. One man among them was clothed with linen and had a writer’s inkhorn at his side. They went in and stood beside the bronze altar.

3 Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; 4 and the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”

5 To the others He said in my hearing, “Go after him through the city and kill;  do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. 6 Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple. 7 Then He said to them, “Defile the temple, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” And they went out and killed in the city.

8 So it was, that while they were killing them, I was left alone; and I fell on my face and cried out, and said, “Ah, Lord God! Will You destroy all the remnant of Israel in pouring out Your fury on Jerusalem?”

9 Then He said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity; for they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see!’ 10 And as for Me also, My eye will neither spare, nor will I have pity, but I will recompense their deeds on their own head.”

11 Just then, the man clothed with linen, who had the inkhorn at his side, reported back and said, “I have done as You commanded me.”

He is the God of Israel, who has been speaking since Ezekiel saw the glory of God. 

Those who have charge over is the sense given to a Hebrew word that is frequently used of a vengeful visitation. One man among them was probably one in addition to the six, making six men equipped as executioners and one representing the presence and purity of the holy God, who is worthy to mark out some for judgment and to omit others. The bronze altar was the sacrificial altar.

It is not clear whether the term cherub here indicates (1) the cherubim on the ark of the covenant in the Most Holy Place or (2) the cherubim of the throne with wheels in. Either way, this pictures the departure of God’s glory from the temple, then from Jerusalem, and then from Judah. The threshold refers to the entryway.

Mark translates the Hebrew name for the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, which in Ezekiel’s time looked like an X. Those so marked are people who sigh and cry over the abominations of idolatry so far mentioned. Those who demonstrated a righteous attitude through true repentance and remorse were marked out from the hardened rebels. These would be the remnant, the ones who continued to follow God’s commands.

The universality of this judgment is shocking to us; but this is in line with divine judgments from the time of the Flood in Genesis to the final judgment described in Revelation. The corrupt spiritual leaders had been practicing idolatry and immorality in the temple itself. Judgment would begin with them because they had led the nation astray. 

The prophet was horrified by what he saw. The remnant, a group chosen and saved from destruction by a sovereign God, is a recurring theme in the Bible. Three reasons are given as to why the nation deserved this terrible outpouring of God’s wrath—serious and undeniable (1) iniquity, or guilt of sinful offenses; (2) bloodshed, or violence; and (3) perversity, or more precisely injustice. The people and especially rich rulers willfully chose to believe that God did not see or care what injustices went on.

9:11 The report of judgment was brought by one man appearing as a righteous accountant. NKJ Bible.

The mark was probably the Hebrew letter taw, which in the ancient script was shaped like an X or a plus sign (+). Taw was the last letter in the Hebrew alphabet, and Jewish groups in the Second Temple period and Late Antiquity continued to use it as a mark of righteousness until its similarity with the Christian cross made it unpopular in rabbinic Judaism.These agents of Yahweh carry out His threat. Only those marked as part of the righteous remnant were to be spared.

The first group of idolaters Ezekiel saw are the first to die. The temple, which already has been defiled  by idolatry, will now be further defiled by dead bodies. Ezekiel’s outburst reflects his concern that a remnant be preserved and his fear that the scribe may not find any righteous people to mark. God can no longer delay punishment for Israel. His justice requires judgment.

Yahweh repeats the elders’ statement that He had abandoned them and did not see what they were doing. Ironically, He did see and came to punish them for their behavior.

The scribe returns when his mission is complete. There is no indication how many were marked for salvation.

Ezekiel 5:11 ‘Therefore, as I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘surely, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will also diminish you; My eye will not spare, nor will I have any pity.

Ezekiel 8:12 Then He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land.’ ”

Revelation 9:4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

Jonah

God loves all of His creation. 

Every thing was created by God. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son as a living sacrifice for all of our sins. He is the consummate gentlemen. He will not force anyone to accept His love given in Christ Jesus. All creation is offered the gift of salvation. we only need to accept Him as our Father, our Savior, our ultimate helper and Teacher. We need to ask forgiveness for our sins. He wants no one to perish. but it is our decision to allow Him to change us precept by precept into the image of His Son.

Jonah

The Book of Jonah challenges God’s people not to exalt themselves over others. The Lord, the great King, is free to bless, to be gracious, and to be patient with all the nations of the earth. More than that, He may show compassion even on the wicked. Indeed, His mercy extends even to animals.

Jonah’s view of God was too restrictive. He believed that God was the Creator of everything, but that He was compassionate only toward the elect of Israel. Jonah believed that since God had chosen Israel from among the wicked nations, He had to show mercy to Israel, even if the people were rebellious. Jonah had failed to appreciate that the Lord may be equally forbearing with other nations as He was with Israel.

The Book of Jonah affirms God’s freedom, sovereignty, and power. God is sovereign because He is the Creator of everything. His power extends over all creation (the storm, the fish, the vine, the worm). God is free and He can never be bound by human misconceptions.

The self-righteous make the grave mistake of rejoicing only in their own deliverance and in God’s answers to prayer. They miss out by narrowing God’s grace and mercy to themselves. Like Jonah, they cannot share in God’s delight in saving the sailors and the city of Nineveh, including infants and even animals. They confess that God is Creator and King of the whole cosmos, but restrict His involvement to judgment, justice, and retribution. In this manner they do not see His acts of compassion, righteousness, and forbearance. The Lord’s final proclamation to Jonah sums up the prophetic message of the book: God is free to bestow His mercy on anyone and anywhere He wills. His concern and mercy extend to all creation.

Jonah’s story contains a strong warning to all godly people. The elect may miss the blessing of seeing God’s grace extended outside their own sphere because of their imposition of limits on God. While Jonah was praying anxiously for his personal deliverance, the sailors had already been experiencing the love of God for three days. Likewise, the people of Nineveh who repented of their sin rejoiced that the impending judgment had not come. Jonah, however, was miserable. As we laugh at him, we may need to wince at ourselves. Jonah’s silly sin is finally no laughing matter. We are condemned along with him if we share in his provincial folly.

 Jonah

Jonah was from Gath Hepher (meaning “winepress of the pit”), a town in lower Galilee near Nazareth (2 Kgs 14:25). The town has been identified with the modern village of el-Meshhed, where the tomb of Jonah is still shown. Gath Hepher was within the tribal territory given to Zebulun (see Josh 19:10, 13), so it is likely Jonah belonged to that tribe. Jonah ministered during the reign of Jeroboam II of Israel (793–753 bc; 2 Kgs 14:23–25). Faithlife Bible.

The name Jonah means “dove.”

Nineveh, located on the Tigris River (see Gen. 10:11, 12), was the capital of ancient Assyria (see 2 Kin. 19:36) for about a century (Zeph. 2:13–15; see also the Book of Nahum). Nineveh was over five hundred miles from Gath Hepher, Jonah’s home near Nazareth in Israel. Their wickedness refers to Nineveh’s pride, greed, brutality, and adultery (see 3:8; Nah. 2:11, 12; 3:1–4). has come up before Me: This figurative language pictures evil swelling up to confront the Lord (see Gen. 18:21; compare Lam. 1:22). NKJ Bible.

 

Luke 9:23-27

For what does it profit the Kingdom of God if we follow the ways of the fallen world? Following the ways of Christ will not make you popular but it will gain lives for Gods’ Kingdom. He wants no one to perish!

Love God. Love His creation. 

Spread the Good News…Jesus, saves.

Luke 9:23–27

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.

27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”

These Scriptures refer to setting aside one’s interests for the sake of God’s kingdom. 

Jesus’ disciples must be willing to follow Him every day, no matter what the cost. By seeking to avoid the potential hardships associated with following Jesus, a person ends up losing his or her life. Although the timeframe is not specified here, Jesus likely is referring to final judgment. Jesus also seems to be referring to people losing out on relationship with God in general—the true meaning of life.

Those who embrace Jesus’ call to discipleship—including the difficulties it brings—will be saved. Faithllife Bible.

Although Jesus offered salvation as a free gift, He also warned that following Him would entail suffering and hardship.

It makes no sense to attempt to save our lives on earth only to lose everything when our lives quickly and inevitably pass away. The wise course is to invest our earthly resources—our time, talents, and wealth—in what is eternal. Even if we lose our lives for Jesus’ sake, that investment will produce returns for all eternity. Recognition of Jesus will be rewarded in the coming judgment. Failure to recognize Him will lead to significant loss. 

Some will not taste death is probably also a prediction of the descent of the Spirit at Pentecost. NKJ Bible.

Matthew 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

John 6:44-58

There is God’s way, the way of Christ, and there is the worlds way. 

Choose whom you will serve.

As for me and my household we choose Jesus Christ…King of kings and Lord of lords.

John 6:44-58

44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

52 The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”

53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

Jesus quotes Isaiah 54:13 in support of His assertion that true disciples will recognize Him in the teachings of Scripture. 

Belief in Jesus leads to eternal life. He repeats the metaphor that He is the “bread of life” and heightens the contrast between the manna that provided only physical nourishment and the bread from heaven that provides eternal life. His teaching is interrupted again by the misunderstanding of the audience and their willful rejection of a spiritual concept they cannot understand. 

Jesus’ physical death is the price for the world’s spiritual life. 

Jesus makes the point that faith in Him—to the point of partaking of His role in the world (including His suffering)—is the way to God. Faithlife Bible.

God draws people by teaching them. Everyone, then, who hears and learns from the Father will come to Christ. Hearing and learning fall short of seeing the Father. John declares, “No one has seen God at any time”. Here Jesus adds that only the Son has seen the Father. Though a person has not seen the Father, he or she can believe in Christ and have everlasting life.

Christ is the bread of life. Those who believe in Him have life. The manna in the wilderness did not ultimately sustain life. Those who ate it eventually died because it could not provide everlasting life. Jesus had made it abundantly clear in this context that eternal life is gained by believing. These verses teach that the benefits of Jesus’ death must be appropriated, by faith, by each individual. NKJ Bible.

Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

Matthew 26:27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.

Matthew 26:28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Mark 14:22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

Luke 22:19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

John 14:1-4

Just Believe!

John 14:1-4

14 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

believe (Gk. pisteuō) (1:7, 12; 2:23, 24; 3:15, 16, 36; 4:39, 41, 42; 6:47; 11:25; 14:1; 20:31) Strong’s #4100: The Greek word for believe literally means “to place one’s trust in another”; it occurs over 90 times in the Gospel of John alone. To believe in Jesus is to believe in His person and to trust in Him completely for salvation (3:15, 16). Many of Jesus’ contemporaries believed in Jesus’ miraculous powers, but they would not believe in Jesus Himself (6:23–26). Others wanted to believe in a political Messiah, but would not believe in the One who suffered for their sins (Mark 15:32). But we must be careful to believe and trust in the Jesus presented in the Scriptures, in the Son of God who sacrificed His life for our sins (Gal. 1:3, 4; Phil. 2:5–8).

Jesus reiterates to His disciples that faith in Him alone will bring salvation. He uses another metaphorical “I am” statement—this time that He is the way, the truth, and the life.

Jesus is referring to the heavenly abode, where God the Father sits enthroned. Jesus had already declared God’s symbolic earthly dwelling, the temple, to be insignificant in comparison to God’s work through His new temple, Jesus. This and Jesus’ condemnation of the conduct of the earthly keepers of His “Father’s house” establish Jesus as a better, heavenly alternative. 

The Jerusalem temple was an earthly representation of God’s heavenly dwelling. When talking with David about the possible construction of the temple, God even calls it a “house for my name”. David later calls it a “house for the sanctuary”. Jesus’ imagery here would have been familiar to His disciples. Heaven is depicted as God’s throne and the earth as God’s footstool. This is symbolically represented in the temple as the cherubim wings being God’s throne (heaven) and the ark of the covenant being His footstool. There is room for many people in God’s kingdom and His heavenly abode, where those who accept Jesus dwell eternally. Jesus is the fulfillment of God dwelling among His people. Jesus is describing an event that will occur after His ascension to God’s heavenly abode. Consequently, this refers to His return to earth, not His resurrection. Faithlife Bible.

After announcing Judas’s betrayal, His own imminent departure, and Peter’s denial, Jesus told His disciples not to be troubled, but to trust Him.

Everybody has a longing for a permanent, secure place. Such places have already been set aside for all of God’s children. Peter may have failed Jesus, but Christ will not fail to return for Peter and for everyone else who has believed in Him. NKJ Bible.

Psalm 33:13 The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men.

Psalm 33:14 From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth;

Isaiah 63:15 Look down from heaven, and see from Your habitation, holy and glorious. Where are Your zeal and Your strength, the yearning of Your heart and Your mercies toward me?Are they restrained?

Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

John 12:26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

 Just B.E.L.I.E.V.E. in the power of God to save that which you cannot.

The connection of these verses with the last words of Jn 20:29 is beautiful: that is, And indeed, as the Lord pronounced them blessed who not having seen Him have yet believed, so for that one end have the whole contents of this Gospel been recorded, that all who read it may believe on Him, and believing, have life in that blessed name.

John 20:26-30

26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

In awestruck wonder, Thomas not only believed that Christ was risen from the dead, but he also saw that the Resurrection proved His deity. Those who have not seen includes all who have believed in Christ since His ascension to the Father. NKJ Bible.

People—like John’s audience, and believers today—who have not seen the resurrected Jesus with their own eyes but believe in  Him will be saved. Faithlife Bible.

Psalm 22:16 For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.They pierced My hands and My feet;

Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitantof Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

Zechariah 13:6 And one will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your arms?’ Then he will answer, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.’

Mark 16:14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

Luke 1:45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

John 3:14-21

Our faith in Jesus Christ, Redeemer of man, saves us. For God so loved the world that Jesus came in human form to show us the way home.

The Mind, Heart and Body of God evidenced in the Word of God made flesh.

John 3:14-21

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 

20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

This verse presents a concise summary of the gospel message, tying the events of Jesus’ death to God’s love for the world He created. The statement is remarkable in its depiction of divine care for the entire world—not just His chosen people, Israel. As one sent by God, Jesus fully represented Him on earth. Rejection of Jesus results in condemnation. 

The new testament ultimately roots all salvation in faith in Christ. There is no other way to achieve right standing with God. Faithlife Bible.

Every time the words lifted up occur in the Gospel of John there is a reference to Jesus’ death. When Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, those who looked at it lived. So it is with the Son of Man.

This is the first time eternal life is mentioned in John’s Gospel. When a person trusts Christ, he or she is born again and receives eternal and spiritual life, God’s kind of life.

God’s love is not restricted to any one nation or to any spiritual elite. World here may also include all of creation. At His first coming, Jesus came so that the world through Him might be saved. When Jesus comes again, He will come in judgment upon those who refused His offer of salvation.To believe is to receive life and avoid judgment. A person who does not believe not only misses life, but is condemned already. People offer many excuses for not accepting Christ. Some cite the presence of hypocrites in the church. Others claim inability to believe some of the truths about Christ or the gospel. These are merely attempts to conceal a heart in rebellion against God. The ultimate reason people do not come to Christ is that they do not want to. The one who does the truth is obviously already a believer because his or her deeds are done in God. Therefore, “coming to the light” is more than exercising faith. A person who comes to the light not only believes, but also openly identifies with the light so that his or her works can be seen as things done in union with God. NKJ Bible.

born again (Gk. gennaō anōthen) (3:3, 7) Strong’s #1080; 509: The Greek word anōthen translated here as again could also be rendered “from above.” The birth that Jesus spoke of was either a new birth or a heavenly birth—or both. It seems that Jesus was speaking of a heavenly birth because He later used the analogy of the wind, coming from some unknown, heavenly source, to depict the spiritual birth. But Nicodemus clearly understood Jesus to be speaking of a second birth—being born again. Jesus explains this new or heavenly birth in 3:6–8, contrasting being born of the flesh with being born of the Spirit.

Numbers 21:9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

Job 24:13 “There are those who rebel against the light; they do not know its ways nor abide in its paths.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born,Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Matthew 1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

John 6:47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.

Daniel 12:7-13

And an end to the powers that rule this world will come…and there will be peace. Not the peace that man thinks he controls but true peace found only in the Holy Trinity through Jesus Christ.

Now our vision is distorted as if looking through a glass prism. In the end we will understand the spiritual significance of things otherwise misunderstood.

In this place and time it is enough for us to rest in the His peace . He loves us so!

Daniel 12:7-13

7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.

8 Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?”

9 And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. 11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

13 “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.

Daniel would receive no further revelation on the matter, thus leaving his question unanswered. He—and those for whom the vision was recorded—had all of the information needed to persevere in righteousness through persecution. The book concludes with Daniel’s own resurrection in view. When all that was predicted takes place, Daniel will arise to his everlasting life. Since the end of days is in view throughout the persecution, it is a fitting theme with which to close the book. Faithlife Bible.

A time, times, and half a time, which adds up to three and one-half years, may refer to the period immediately preceding the Second Coming of Christ. Others have suggested that this expression does not refer to a specific number of years but instead a period of time that the Lord would shorten because of His mercy. Daniel did not understand his own revelation.

Many will be purified, made white, and refined. Suffering will refine the righteous, but the wicked will continue in their evil.

Various interpretations have been suggested for this number of days. One significant interpretation is that these days refer to the middle of a seven-year period of tribulation prior to the coming of Christ. At that time, the Antichrist will abolish the abominable and idolatrous sacrifices that he had established. Daniel would die and be resurrected.

Revelation 10:6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer,