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PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 277

May 26, 2006

But Before All These – As Ye See the Day Approaching – Part 2 (First Page Same as Part 1)

Luke 21:12 – But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.

This Scripture began to be fulfilled in the lives of the first New Testament Church members who heard it directly from the lips of Jesus as he spoke it to them, and continued to be fulfilled right up the time of the fall of Jerusalem, and in the days of the early churches into the third century. But the last phrase in the following verse has yet to be fulfilled.

Hebrews 10:25 – Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

The things in Luke 21:9 were, and still are, occurring!

Luke 21:9 – But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

There were many wars and commotions around and within the vast boundaries of the great Roman Empire, and one of them was the fall of Jerusalem to Titus in 70 A.D. But Jesus indicated the end of the age was a long way off by his comment “but the end is not by and by.”

The following verses began to be fulfilled in 1948 when Israel became a nation.

Luke 21:10,11 – Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: [11] And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

In Part 2, an exposition of Matthew 24:1-6, Mark 13:7, and Luke 21:9 was given. The exposition revealed that the disciples asked Jesus three specific questions involving events associated with the establishment of his kingdom on the earth. They were: (1) When will Herod’s temple be leveled?, (2) What things can we look for to let us know your kingdom is soon going to be established?, and (3) What things can we look for to let us know the present age of Gentile domination is drawing to a close? He began by first addressing the signs that would precede the leveling of the temple of Herod. He stated in Matthew 24:5,6, Mark 13:6,7, and Luke 21:8,9 that two things could be expected to draw their attention before the destruction of Herod’s temple: (1) Many would come claiming to be the promised Messiah, and (2) There would be many wars throughout the Roman empire, both internal, and around the vast expanse of its long borders. History confirms that is precisely what happened during the time frame before the destruction of the temple. Jesus was very clear in his instructions for them to NOT use these two things as the signs that would precede the other two questions they had asked, as he stated: “but the end (of the age) is not yet, but the end (of the age) shall not be yet, but the end (of the age) is not by and by.” So, having given them a partial answer to question one, which he will answer more completely later in the discourse, he launches into his answer to question two. How can I be sure he starts a new discourse in the next verse?

Luke 21:9,10 – But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. [10] THEN SAID HE unto them, Nation shall RISE AGAINST nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

The English words “THEN SAID HE” are “TOTE ELEGEN.” TOTE ELEGEN points to a new beginning in discourse, which has the effect of dissociating the repeated mention of the previous disturbances (From the Expositor’s Greek Testament, Volume 1, Edited by W. Robertson Nicoll, M.A., LL.D.) Simply stated, it amounted to Jesus saying, now that I have told you what would precede the temple destruction, I will answer your second question, the question “And what shall be the sign of thy coming,” or “What things can we look for to let us know you are soon to establish your kingdom?”

It is very tempting, and only natural, to assume that the “wars” predicted in Luke 21:9, and “Nation shall rise against Nation” in 21:10, are one and the same, but I assure you, that is not the case for three reasons. First, to begin the new discourse, he says “TOTE ELEGEN.” Secondly, he has just advised them not to use “wars and commotions” except for a sign the temple was about to be leveled. And, last of all, because of the two Koine Greek words translated as “RISE” and “AGAINST.”

The root word used for RISE is EGEIRO, and it means to come to life, to rise from sleep, or to come into existence. It is used in the phrases taken from the following Scriptures.

Matthew 14:2 – He is RISEN from the dead.

Matthew 16:21 – And be RAISED again the third day.

Matthew 27:52 – And many bodies of the saints which slept AROSE.

Matthew 27:63 – After three days I will RISE again.

Matthew 27:64 – He is RISEN from the dead.

Matthew 28:6 – He is not here: for he is RISEN, as he said.

Matthew 3:9 – God is able of these stones to RAISE up children unto Abraham.

The word used for AGAINST is EPI, and it simply means “UPON” or “ON.” One of the first things I learned in seminary was the use of the Greek prepositions. They were all placed in positions relative to a cube, and the position of EPI was “ON” or “UPON” the top pf the cube. If a thing is “UPON” another thing, it is certainly resting “AGAINST” it, but the inference that the two objects are fighting “AGAINST” one another is not valid. EPI in the New Testament in the accusative is translated as UPON or ON some 219 times, as opposed to 33 times for AGAINST. Jesus would not advise them to disregard wars as a sign of his coming in one breath, and then tell them to do the opposite in the next, and indeed he did not, because he used TOTE ELEGEN to mark the beginning of a new discourse. He is answering the second question in verse 10, and advises that shortly before his second coming many new nations would come to life, rising one upon another, and ever increasing in number. Before the Great World War I, the world consisted of vast colonial empires, and very few individual nations existed. Shortly before World War II, and much more rapidly after Japan’s surrender, new nations began to come to life like weeds across the earth, rising in number one upon another with the end of the colonial empires. When the United Nations began in 1945, some 51 nations became charter members. By 1989, as new nations were born one upon another, it had more than tripled to 160, and now the number of countries on the earth has reached 192. If places like Taiwan, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Western Sahara, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England were counted, there would be 203.

False Messiahs rose before Jesus, were here in the lifetime of Jesus, and have been numerous up to the present. There have been 24 that presented themselves to the nation of Israel since the crucifixion. I realize that in the last days they are to increase in number, but they have always been with us. Also, the worldwide wars and commotions reached an all time record high of 25 in 1987, but have steadily declined since the drop in communist influence in the developing countries. I tracked war declines until 1993, at which time worldwide wars had declined to 10, but the number of nations has been steadily increasing since the end of World War I. The “EPI” in the Olivet discourse applies to nation rising upon nation as they increase in number, not to an increase in the number of wars.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 277A

May 28, 2006

An Exposition of Psalm 91 in the Light of Psalm 110! Part 3

Psalm 91 is one I have titled “God Watches over His Own, Past, Present, and Future – Trust Him to Watch Over You!” If you take that as the theme of this Psalm, you can make numerous duel applications of verses that can be applied to Jesus, David, the nation of Israel, and many of the faithful in both Old and New Testament examples. There are several verses that fit Jesus, some Jesus and David, some Jesus, David, and the nation of Israel, and some include all faithful believers, but there is a common thread that weaves them all together – God will provide deliverance, so trust him to do what he said he would do in his own way and time.

The concept of David recognizing that the Messiah, who was to come was also the Lord, is clearly stated in Acts 2:29-36 by Peter, by David in Psalm 110, and by Christ in Matthew 22:41-46. The Seven Part Exposition of the 110th Psalm in our Prophecy Update Archives sheds a great deal of light on our Exposition of Psalm 91.

I have already exposited on verses 1 and 2 of Psalm 91 in Parts 1 and 2. I will begin by expositing on verse 3.

Psalm 91:1-3 – He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. [2] I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. [3] Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

Luke 21:34,35 – And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. [35] For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

Luke 21:25-28,35 – And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; [26] Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. [27] And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [28] And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. [35] For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

I Thessalonians 5:9 – For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Psalm 91:3 – Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

Revelation 16:1,2 – And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. [2] And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

While the vials of wrath are being poured out on the earth, the saved will be in heaven at the judgment seat of Christ. We will be in heaven when he is destroying those who have morally destroyed the earth.

Revelation 11:15,18 – And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. [18] And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Psalm 91:4 – He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Matthew 23:37-39 – O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! [38] Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. [39] For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Malachi 4:1-3 – For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. [2] But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. [3] And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.

John 17:17 – Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Matthew 24:21,22,35 – For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. [22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. [35] Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 277B

May 31, 2006

An Exposition of Psalm 91 in the Light of Psalm 110! Part 4

Psalm 91:5 – Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Verse 5 is directed toward what believers should not be afraid to encounter from the enemy during a surprise night or day attack, because the Lord is with them.

In the interior of Vietnam there were numerous Fifth Special Forces outposts, which were subject to surprise night attacks. They were most likely to occur when there was no moon or overcast cloud cover, so they were always interested to know when either would occur. God watches over his children even when they cannot see them until they are almost on top of them. In the daytime, even when the enemy is visible, one does not usually see a bullet or arrow until it strikes its target, but God can see the arrow or the bullet. Many of my comrades, who had never been close to God before Vietnam, did get close to him while serving there, and I can truthfully say, I got a lot closer. I believe I am alive today because of him.

Psalm 91:6 – Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

Verse 6 also speaks of attacks against human flesh, but not by enemies one can see even in broad daylight or a full moon.

The pestilence here refers to attacks from the spiritual realm, which can come upon humans in the night or day, such as the plague that came upon the Egyptians in the Exodus at night when the firstborn of many died. It also refers to any type of pestilence that preys upon man from the unseen virus and bacterial world around us, which causes the human body to waste away in the daylight of noon as well as the blackness of midnight. It is the Spirit of God who works in this realm to protect his children as it suits his will and purpose.

Psalm 91:7 – A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

By this time, if you have read Parts 1 through 4, you can see that the verses of Psalm 91 can, in part, at times be applied to occurrences in God’s protection of Jesus in his life, as well as his protection of David, the nation of Israel, and that of individual believers in all the ages.

Verse 7 makes it very plain that no matter what great adversaries come against a believer, whether they be by man’s devices, the many harmful biological elements of the environment, or great armies of unbelievers beyond number, or anything else, he will never allow them to separate you from him.

Romans 8:37-39 – Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. [38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 10:28-32 – And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. [30] I and my Father are one.

Psalm 91:8 – Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

The main emphasis of this Psalm is to encourage all that know Christ to keep their trust in him no matter what befalls them in the this life, knowing in his own way and time God will deliver them from their bodies of flesh, and they will see with their glorified eyes destruction of their unbelieving enemies, as well as pestilence, spiritual tormentors, and death itself.

II Thessalonians 1:6-10 – Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; [7] And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, [8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: [9] Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; [10] When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Jude 1:14,15 – And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, [15] To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

I Corinthians 2:9-12 – But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. [10] But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. [11] For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. [12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 278

June 2, 2006

But Before All These – As Ye See the Day Approaching – Part 3 (First Page Same as Part 1)

Hebrews 10:25 – Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

The things in Luke 21:9 were, and still are, occurring!

Luke 21:9 – But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

The following verses began to be fulfilled in 1948 when Israel became a nation.

In Part I, an exposition of Matthew 24:1-6, Mark 13:7, and Luke 21:9 was given. In Part 2, a thorough exposition of Luke 21:10 was given as it related to its disassociation from 21:9, because by the use of “tote elegen” for “then said he,” it indicated that a new subject was being introduced, so that the “wars” of verse 9 are not related to “nation shall rise against nation” in verse 10.

Luke 21:9,10 – But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. [10] Then said he (tote elegen) unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

In Part 2, a case was made to show the root word “egeiro,” translated as “rise” in verse 10, means to “come to life, to rise from sleep, or to come into existence.” And I showed numerous Scriptures where it was used in order to make that point. A case was also made to show that the word “against” is “epi,” and that its basic meaning is “on” or “upon.” So the claim was made that “Nation shall rise (egeiro) against (epi) does not in any way refer to war, but rather the ever increasing number of nations that have come to life in the last 53 years, rising one upon another from the 51 charter members of the United Nations in 1945 to 160 by 1989, and a standing membership of 191 in 2006. Nothing like this has ever happened in history. But I promised, at the close of part 2, to provide additional proof that “Nation shall rise against nation” does not refer to increasing wars, but rather to an increasing rise in the number of new nations every coming to life, and raising one upon another. And I will proceed to present additional proof at this time.

Immediately after Matthew and Mark list the signs that give the answer to the second question they asked him, which was, “And what shall be the sign of thy coming,” Jesus gives the general name for the four things he has listed in the expression, “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

Matthew 24:7,8 – For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. [8] All these are the beginning of SORROWS (ODIN).

The God-Breathed word for SORROWS is ODIN. You may look in any Greek Lexicon from any time period, and you will always find this listed centrally as the definition for ODIN – “The pains a woman suffers in the travail of childbirth, a woman’s birth pains.” The disciples knew quite well what ODIN meant. When the Olivet Discourse was written, they had no hospitals, no painkillers, and midwives delivered the babies. If a baby was lodged sideways in the womb, no one knew how to remove the baby through the stomach, and the mother and child died. The pain of normal childbirth is painful enough, but these men had listened to the shrill dying cries of women that traveled for great distances. They knew what ODIN meant. When true labor pains begin, the first pain hurts, but the next hurts a little more, the next more and closer to its precedent, and harder and closer, and harder and closer, and harder and closer, until finally the baby arrives. This is the manner the occurrence of the four things he listed as SORROWS would follow as signs his second coming was drawing near.

The four things he associated with the “sorrows” that are to be signs that his coming is drawing near are: (1) Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, (2) Earthquakes, (3) Pestilences, and (4) Famines.

Luke did not refer to them as the “beginning of sorrows” because he added “fearful sights and great signs,” which are not a part of the time of sorrows, but rather a part of Christ’s answer to the third question. They will mark the end of the world (the Gentile age), and are associated with the 2nd Advent of Christ at Armageddon. I will be showing why this is the case in future expositions of the Olivet Discourse.

The number of new nations coming to life, and rising one upon another, started to increase like a woman’s birth pains at the end of World War II. Earthquakes started to follow the birth pains pattern in 1967. The pestilences began to follow the pattern in 1980. Famines began to follow the pattern in the early eighties, and dramatically increased after 1993. I will deal with each one of these separately, Lord willing, in future parts of the Olivet Discourse, but Part 4 will deal with Luke 21:12 to 17, and I promise you will find it interesting.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 278A

June 4, 2006

An Exposition of Psalm 91 in the Light of Psalm 110! Part 5

Psalm 91:9 – Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

Matthew 22:41-46 – While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, [42] Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. [43] He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, [44] The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? [45] If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? [46] And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

They had no answer for his question, because the only answer had to be that the Messiah was not only to be the living flesh and blood descendant of David, which they indeed believed, but was to be the Son of the living God, who they referred to as the “most High.”

Psalm 110:1 – The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Peter boldly proclaimed to Israel in Acts 2:36 that David’s Lord, sitting at the most high Lord’s right hand, was both the flesh and blood Messiah, the man Christ Jesus, as well as the Lord God, in whom all he fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily.

Acts 2:29-36 – Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. [30] Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; [31] He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. [32] This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. [33] Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. [34] For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, [35] Until I make thy foes thy footstool. [36] Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Psalm 91:9 – Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

The refuge of David was his hope in the promised one, the anointed one, the Messiah, who he called the Lord, who he identified as being elevated to the position of being “the most High,” who inhabited Messiah in all his person.

Colossians 2:9 – For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Philippians 2:6-13 – Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. [9] Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: [10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; [11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Matthew 28:18 – And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Psalm 91:10 – There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

Until it was time for Christ to be crucified, no evil able to take his life was allowed to befall him from the hands of man, the devil, or his demons.

John 8:59 – Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

John 10:30,31,39 – I and my Father are one. [31] Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

John 10:39 – Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,

Until it was time for Christ to be crucified, no plague, no fatal illness, was allowed to slay him by earth’s many foul diseases.

The physical life of the man Christ Jesus was protected and preserved from death until his appointed time on the cross by the angels of God, at which time he would suffer death for all men.

Psalm 91:11,12 – For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. [12] They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Hebrews 2:9 – But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Jesus kept his appointment with physical death for all men, so that all men might have the opportunity to keep their appointment with death knowing he had already kept it for them, and in believing this would be allowed by God to escape a judgment casting them into hell.

Hebrews 9:25-28 – Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; [26] For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. [27] And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: [28] So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 278B

June 7, 2006

An Exposition of Psalm 91 in the Light of Psalm 110! Part 6

Having gone through 12 verses of Psalm 91 in Parts 1 through 5, it is apparent this is a Psalm affirming the promises of God that he will deliver his children in his own way and time. We have seen the promise God fulfilled in delivering his only begotten Son from harm until the appointed time of the man Christ Jesus’ death. We have been led back into David’s life and the many times that God delivered him from harm until the time his death was to occur. And we are well aware of many examples of other saints in the Old and New Testaments that God protected until it was time for their scheduled appointment with physical death, such as Simeon at Christ’s circumcision, and John on the Isle of Patmos. In all these cases, God delivered them from spiritual harm by demonic forces, men, the elements of nature, fiery furnaces, and now, in verse 13, we see the picture of God protecting his flesh and blood Son from death by acts of the animal and reptilian kingdoms. There are other examples such as Daniel in the Lion’s den, and Noah in the whale, and David from the animals that threatened his flocks.

Psalm 91:13 – Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Hebrews 9:27,28 – And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: [28] So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

God knows the appointed time of my physical death. So, until that time, I believe he will protect me in the same way he has protected his children down through the ages. I have long tried to have the attitude of Queen Esther – “And if I perish, I perish.”

God has always controlled the non-human reptilian and animal kingdoms, including their normal diets and their cravings for flesh or plants, and he will change their normal habits and diets during the Millennium. God gave Adam dominion over the animals and reptilians in the beginning, but he lost that dominion when he sinned in the Garden of Eden. The dominion of man over the animal and reptilian kingdoms will be restored after Christ returns at his Second Advent as the great Lion of Judah. Even small children will not be attacked during this period.

Isaiah 11:6-10 – The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. [7] And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. [8] And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. [9] They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. [10] And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

Isaiah 65:25 – The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.

The main emphasis in this part of the Psalm concerns God’s protection of the man Christ Jesus during his life in the flesh, and gives an insight to the love Jesus had as a sinless man for this heavenly Father, and the reaction of his Father to that love.

Psalm 91:14 – Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

John 17:1-10 – These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: [2] As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. [3] And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. [4] I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. [5] And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. [6] I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. [7] Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. [8] For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. [9] I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. [10] And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

John 10:28,30 – And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. [30] I and my Father are one.

Philippians 2:8-10 – And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. [9] Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: [10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 279

June 9, 2006

But Before All These – As Ye See the Day Approaching – Part 4 (First Page Same as Part 1)

Hebrews 10:25 – Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

The things in Luke 21:9 were, and still are, occurring!

Luke 21:9 – But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

The following verses began to be fulfilled in 1948 when Israel became a nation.

In Parts 1 through 3, an exposition was given that covered Mark 13:1-8, Matthew 24:1-8, and Luke 21:5-11. It was established that Luke 21:10,11 referred to the second question that the disciples had asked Jesus about coming events in Matthew 24:3, that being “and what shall be the sign of thy coming?”

Matthew 24:3 – And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

It was established in Parts 1 through 3 that this verse contains four signs that will be occurring before Christ returns for the saved. Now, please note carefully the first four words in the verse that follows Luke 21:11.

Luke 21:12 – BUT BEFORE ALL THESE, they shall lay their hands on YOU, and persecute YOU, delivering YOU up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.

Jesus returns to answering the disciple’s first question, “when shall these things be,” that is to say, when will the temple be leveled?” He had given them two things already that would be occurring in Luke 21:8,9 during their lifetimes before the temple was finally leveled. Then he changed the discourse in Luke 21:10 by using TOTE ELEGON (Then said he), and gave them the answer to their second question regarding his coming. But in verse 12 he goes back to answering their first question, and begins to tell them what is going to happen to them personally before the temple is leveled. He literally tells them, BUT BEFORE ALL THESE, that is to say, BEFORE THESE THINGS I JUST TOLD YOU THAT WOULD BE OCCURRING AS SIGNS TO LET YOU KNOW MY COMING IS NEAR, HERE IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU AS MY DISCIPLES. And what he states in Luke 21:12 to 17 is precisely what did happen to them to fulfill this prophecy, and thereby answer their first question. This is not the first time Jesus had warned them what would be happening to them after his departure. He had warned them before he ever sent them out alone on their first assignment in Matthew 10:17-22. Let’s compare this with Luke 21:12 to 17.

Matthew 10:17-22 – But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their SYNAGOGUES; [18] And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. [19] But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. [20] For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. [21] And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. [22] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake:

Luke 21:12-17 – But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the SYNAGOGUES, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. [13] And it shall turn to you for a testimony. [14] Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: [15] For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. [16] And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. [17] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.

Luke 21:12-17 was fulfilled during the lives of the disciples right up to the leveling of Herod’s temple in 70 A.D. The account of their persecution is vividly portrayed in the book of Acts. It is precisely what Jesus foretold would happen to them long before the increase of the number of nations, earthquakes, famines, and pestilences. To those who believe Luke 21:12-17 has yet to be fulfilled, please note that the subjects of these verses are delivered up to SYNAGOGUES, and I have yet to read a commentary indicating that today’s believers are going to be carried by Jews to be tried in their synagogues. Jews will be under more persecution than true believers in the tribulation period.

The answer to question number 1 has already been fulfilled, and I will continue to elaborate on it, and on question 2, in Part 5.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 279A

June 11, 2006

An Exposition of Psalm 91 in the Light of Psalm 110! Part 7

Having gone through 13 verses of Psalm 91 in Parts 1 through 6, it is apparent this is a Psalm affirming the promises of God that he will deliver his children in his own way and time. We have seen the promise God fulfilled in delivering his only begotten Son from harm until the appointed time of the man Christ Jesus’ death. We have been led back into David’s life and the many times that God delivered him from harm until the time his death was to occur. And we are well aware of many examples of other saints in the Old and New Testaments that God protected until it was time for their scheduled appointment with physical death, such as Simeon at Christ’s circumcision, and John on the Isle of Patmos. In all these cases, God delivered them from spiritual harm by demonic forces, men, the elements of nature, fiery furnaces, and now, in verse 13, we see the picture of God protecting his flesh and blood Son from death by acts of the animal and reptilian kingdoms. There are other examples such as Daniel in the Lion’s den, Jonah in the whale, and David from animals that threatened his flocks.

The man Christ Jesus made it quite plain that every time he went to his Father in prayer, his Father always answered him, and up until his appointed death on the cross he always delivered him from physical death.

Psalm 91:14 – Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

Psalm 91:1A – “Because he hath set his love upon me”

Only one flesh and blood man ever set his love up upon the Father so completely that he perfectly obeyed every jot and title of his commandments to man – The man born of a woman, the man Christ Jesus, whose Father was God himself. Jesus himself confirmed, in response to a lawyer’s question, what was required to allow a man to come into the Father’s presence.

Luke 10:25-28 – And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? [26] He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? [27] And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. [28] And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

Jesus was the only man who every lived that actually kept verse 27. He kept it not just for himself, but for all who would believe he kept it as a flesh and blood man for them, so they could be with God by grace through faith in his sacrifice as the total atonement for their sins. He is the only man who ever loved his neighbor more than himself. That is the reason God sent him, because God loved man, and that is the reason that Jesus died, because he loved man as God. He came to keep every jot and title of the law so that man could be reconciled to God through him, because he kept it for all man and women who would put their faith in him.

Matthew 5:17,18 – Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. [18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

And Jesus fulfilled it all when he completed his earthly life on the cross. After having lived a perfect, sinless life, he willfully, and with purpose, forever proved his love and the Father’s love for man, when he finished all that was necessary to allow God to be just and the justifier of all who would put their faith in his sacrifice for their sins, past, present, and future.

John 19:30 – When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Romans 5:19-21 – For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. [20] Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: [21] That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

II Corinthians 5:19-21 – To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Psalm 91:1B – Therefore will I deliver him:

God did not deliver the man Christ Jesus from his long awaited appointment with physical death, but he did deliver him from condemnation to hell for sin, because he had none of his own, only ours, thus enabling God to be just in delivering him by resurrecting him from the dead, by which Jesus became the justifier of all who put their faith in him.

Romans 3:26-28 – To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. [27] Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. [28] Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Psalm 91:C – I will set him on high,

Jesus is the only flesh and blood man who measured up to the righteousness of God, and God considered him, because he did so, to be equal with him as his Son.

Philip. 2:6-11 – Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. [9] Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: [10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; [11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Because the man Christ Jesus was the only begotten Son of God, and indwelt him fully. God is a Spirit. God knew every man from Adam to Jesus. Therefore, by his Father’s indwelling Spirit he knew everything about Abraham. Jesus knew his Father’s name by his Spirit.

Psalm 91:1D – Because he hath known my name.

John 8:53-58 – Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? [54] Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: [55] Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. [56] Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. [57] Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? [58] Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 279B

June 14, 2006

An Exposition of Psalm 91 in the Light of Psalm 110! Part 8

Having gone through 14 verses of Psalm 91 in Parts 1 through 7, it is apparent this is a Psalm affirming the promises of God that he will deliver his children in his own way and time. We have seen the promise God fulfilled in delivering his only begotten Son from harm until the appointed time of the man Christ Jesus’ death. We have been led back into David’s life and the many times that God delivered him from harm until the time his death was to occur. And we are well aware of many examples of other saints in the Old and New Testaments that God protected until it was time for their scheduled appointment with physical death, such as Simeon at Christ’s circumcision, and John on the Isle of Patmos. In all these cases, God delivered them from spiritual harm by demonic forces, men, the elements of nature, fiery furnaces, and now, in verse 13, we see the picture of God protecting his flesh and blood Son from death by acts of the animal and reptilian kingdoms. There are other examples such as Daniel in the Lion’s den, and Noah in the whale, and David from the animals that threatened his flocks.

The man Christ Jesus made it quite plain that every time he went to his Father in prayer, his Father always answered him, and up until his death on the cross he always delivered him from physical death.

Psalm 91:14 – Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

I have exposited on verses 1 through 14 in parts 1 to 7. I will continue the exposition of verse 15 in Part 8.

Psalm 91:15 – He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

91:15A – “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him”

God always answered Jesus when he called on him as a man, but he did not always grant his request. Some may consider this as not having answered his prayer, but it is an answer and, as a man Jesus accepted a “no” from his Father as the correct answer to his prayer. It shows the man Christ Jesus’ fantastic faith in God.

Mark 14:32-42 – And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. [33] And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; [34] And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. [35] And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. [36] And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. [37] And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? [38] Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. [39] And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. [40] And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. [41] And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. [42] Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.

I do not believe it was the horrible physical alone that caused the man Christ Jesus to make this request, I think it was the realization that for the first time since he came into existence as a man in Mary’s womb, he was going to be separated from his Father as a man for three days and three nights.

Luke’s account of this closing episode in the ministry of Jesus does include and additional fact that shows God’s answer to his Son’s prayer.

Luke 22:42-44 – Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. [43] And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. [44] And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

“as” means there were not real drops of blood, but it may well have been they pictured the very real drops of his blood that would trickle down the cross in his great agony. His shed blood was the blood of the everlasting covenant.

Hebrews 13:11-15 – For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. [12] Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. [13] Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. [14] For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. [15] By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Hebrews 9:12 – Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Hebrews 10:12-14 – But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. [14] For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

91:15B – I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him,

Throughout his earthly ministry God indwelt him as his heavenly Father, and delivered him from the wiles of the Devil, stoning by men, demons, and the elements of his creation. And perhaps the greatest deliverance was the resurrection of his Son from the dead by the same Spirit that indwelled him.

Acts 4:10-12 – Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. [11] This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. [12] Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

91:15C – “And honour him”

Romans 10:13 – For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 280

June 16, 2006

But Before All These – As Ye See the Day Approaching – Part 5 (First Page Same as Part 1)

Hebrews 10:25 – Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

The things in Luke 21:9 were, and still are, occurring!

Luke 21:9 – But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

The following verses began to be fulfilled in 1948 when Israel became a nation.

In parts 1 through 4, an exposition was given that covered Mark 13:1-8, Matthew 24:1-8, and Luke 21:5-17. Part 4 completed Luke 21:12-17 as an answer to the first of three questions the disciples asked Jesus, which are found in Matthew 24:3, the first question being, “when shall these things be?” They wanted to know what signs would be occurring from that time until the temple was leveled.

Part 4 ended with Luke 21:17, so Part 5 will continue to answer this first question, beginning with Luke 21:18, which we know cannot be referring to physical hair, because of Luke 21:16.

Luke 21:16 – And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

If some of them were to be put to death, then Luke 21:18 must refer to an application of the maintenance of their spiritual being.

Luke 21:18 – But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

After having advised the disciples of all the trials and tribulations they were going to experience before the temple was leveled in 21:12-17, he then assures them they will not be separated from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Even the smallest part of each one of them would forever be preserved, even down to their hair follicles.

Romans 8:36-39 – As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. [37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. [38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

He had advised them earlier not to be afraid of those who could kill their bodies, but to fear God who was the keeper of their souls. He also told them that they were much more valuable than the smallest of creatures offered in temple sacrifices, the sparrow. And since he kept track of even the smallest sacrifice offered they, being more valuable, would have their souls preserved through all tribulations by his power. And, even if they suffered physical death, not one spiritual hair of their being would ever be forgotten or forsaken.

Luke 12:4-8 – I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. [5] But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. [6] Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? [7] But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. [8] Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

All but Judas had repented of their sins, and confessed him as Messiah, so he assured them that not one of them, who would go through this time of great testing, would have his soul perish from his presence.

II Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

He then tells them, in essence and in context, in your endurance of all the trials I have just described, let your faith in me take possession, or take control, of your souls. Let your born again Spirit control your soul, in patient endurance, through all these trials.

Luke 21:19 – In your PATIENCE POSSESS ye your SOULS.

The word used for PATIENCE is HEPOMONE, which means the very act of ENDURANCE. POSSESS is KTAOMAI. SOULS is PSUCHE, which is frequently translated as LIFE. In their ENDURANCE, through all these trials, they were to spiritually POSSESS their souls. This is the process of spiritual growth in faith by a soul kept by God, as it grows by the trials it endures – more on this in Part 6.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 280A

June 18, 2006

An Exposition of Psalm 91 in the Light of Psalm 110! Part 9

Having gone through 14 verses of Psalm 91 in Parts 1 through 8, it is apparent this is a Psalm affirming the promises of God that he will deliver his children in his own way and time. We have seen the promise God fulfilled in delivering his only begotten Son from harm until the appointed time of the man Christ Jesus’ death. We have been led back into David’s life and the many times that God delivered him from harm until the time his death was to occur. And we are well aware of many examples of other saints in the Old and New Testaments that God protected until it was time for their scheduled appointment with physical death, such as Simeon at Christ’s circumcision, and John on the Isle of Patmos. In all these cases, God delivered them from spiritual harm by demonic forces, men, the elements of nature, fiery furnaces, and now, in verse 13, we see the picture of God protecting his flesh and blood Son from death by acts of the animal and reptilian kingdoms. There are other examples such as Daniel in the Lion’s den or Jonah in the whale or David from the animals that threatened his flocks.

I have exposited on verses 1 through 15 in parts 1 to 8. I will continue the exposition of verse 15 in Part 9.

Psalm 91:16A – With long life will I satisfy him,

Jesus Christ is the only man who ever measured up to a life, lived in the flesh, that pleased God to the point of completely satisfying him. God’s satisfaction with his Son’s performance was manifested by the satisfaction Jesus experienced by his resurrection to “long life.”

Psalm 21:4,5 – He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever. [5] His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.

John 5:22,23 – For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: [23] That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

Jesus pleased the Father to the extent it appeased God’s wrath of condemnation against man, such that God was just and the justifier of those who put their faith in what Jesus did for their sins forever. Jesus was resurrected from the dead to become the eternal intercessor for the sins of all believers. God’s seed, the man Christ Jesus, had his days prolonged forever and it has been the good pleasure of God to save all who come to him through faith in his living Son.

Isaiah 53:10 – Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

It pleased the Lord to bruise him, knowing he would bring many sons to glory through his suffering. We come to God as sons only through the blood of Jesus.

Hebrews 2:9,10 – But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. [10] For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

John 14:6 – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 11:25,26 – Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: [26] And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

John 6:62,63 – What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? [63] It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Psalm 91:16B – And shew him my salvation.

Isaiah 53:1,2 – Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? [2] For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

Luke 2:40 – And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. (Jesus, 8 days old)

Luke 2:52 –And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. (Jesus, 12 years old)

Psalm 91:16B – And shew him my salvation.

John 12:49 – For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. [50] And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 280B

June 22, 2006

AN EXPOSITION OF PSALM 102:11-22 – Part 1

PSALM 102:11 – My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

“My days are like a shadow that declineth:”

This refers, most likely, to the shadow created by a sun dial in ancient times, which began to cast a shadow in the morning that laid down to rest when the sun set that day. It is an allusion to the declining years of a person’s life after having made a bright shinning entrance into life at birth. It needs to be compared to our heavenly Father of lights, whose light shows no variation in its consistency and dependability, and casts no shadow on the sundial of life to tell the time, because it is eternal and has no measure of beginning or ending. His gift of salvation, to those who receive his Son as savior, bears the characteristics of his eternal life. This is the point James is making using the figure of a sundial in his epistle.

James 1:16,17 – Do not err, my beloved brethren. [17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

John 1:4 – In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

“And I am withered like grass.”

The same figure is presented of death approaching like a declining shadow on a sundial, but this time a picture of grass fading away from its beauty in the spring to a withered brown as the end of life approaches. When we look back at the pictures of the spring of our lives we see unwrinkled smooth vibrant skin, but in the fall of our lives we see wrinkled browning skin that is thin and easy to crack. If we know Christ as our savior we are able to rejoice in the deterioration of our flesh because we know we will one day receive a new body like his, one never to be affected by the passage of time. My soul was made new when it was born again 61 years ago, and my old physical body will be made new at the time of the first resurrection.

I Peter 1:24,25 – For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: [25] But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

The gospel is the preaching of the cross, not of the cross and baptism.

I Corinthians 1:17,18 – For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. [18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

The gospel gives the new birth, it is not baptism that gives it as a gift from above. It is belief in the gospel, the word of God.

I Peter 1:23 – Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

John 3:6,7 – That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Believing the words of Christ gives the new birth from above – not the entering of the flesh into water.

John 6:63 – It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

I Corinthians 15:50,51 – Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

I John 3:2 – Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

I have known many men and women who thrive on the study of prophecy because they want to have a really good idea of when Jesus is coming to give his saints new glorified bodies at the first resurrection. I hope you do not have that impression of me. I settled something a long time ago about the coming of the Lord. I could die before I finish typing what you are reading. Isn’t that a time that Jesus comes for a person, isn’t that a catching out of the soul to heaven. I try to live every day as though it were my last, and trust God to take care of tomorrow. Isn’t that the message implied by James in his epistle. For those of you who have personally known me, have you not noticed how many times I say, Lord willing? My Grandmother McElmurry taught me what James meant, which was one of the great blessings of my life.

James 4:13-15 – Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: [14] Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. [15] For that ye ought to say, If the Lord WILL, we shall live, and do this, or that.

James 1:18 – Of his own WILL begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

II Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning his pro-mise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not WILLING that any should perish, but that all should come to REPENTANCE.

Acts 20:21 – Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, REPENTANCE toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 9:25 – For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

John 10:28-30 – And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. [30] I and my Father are one.

John 5:24,40 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. [40] And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

PSALM 102:11 – My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

Matthew 24:35 – Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Romans 10:17 – So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:13 – For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 281

June 23, 2006

But Before All These – As Ye See the Day Approaching – Part 6 (First Page Same as Part 1)

Hebrews 10:25 – Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

The things in Luke 21:9 were, and still are, occurring!

Luke 21:9 – But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

The following verses began to be fulfilled in 1948 when Israel became a nation.

Part 5 ended with a promise to continue the exposition of the answer that Jesus gave his disciples, concerning the events that they would personally experience from the time they asked the question, until the actual leveling of the temple mount. It was a time period of some 40 years, and the book of Acts validates that all the things found in Luke 21:12-19, did indeed come to pass exactly as Jesus had predicted.

Luke 21:19 – In your PATIENCE POSSESS ye your SOULS.

The word used for PATIENCE is HEPOMONE, which means “the act of ENDURANCE.” It is through trials and tribulation that our faith grows, and a growing faith is one in which the SOUL learns more and more to following the direction of the Spirit of Christ, which dwells alongside it to make up the heart of a saved man or woman. The word HEPOMONE is translated as ENDURE in II Thessalonians 1:4.

II Thessalonians 1:3-5 – We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; [4] So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye ENDURE: [5] Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted WORTHY of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

This is the process of spiritual growth in faith by a SOUL kept by God, as it grows by the trials it ENDURES.

I Peter 1:5-7 – Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: [7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

By ENDURING through the trials and tests of the period up to the time of their physical deaths, or the leveling of the temple mount, they were to POSSESS, or gain control, of their saved souls by faith through the spirit in the promises Christ had made them. This would assure them of the reward of the crown of life at the appearing of Jesus Christ. The word HEPOMONE is also translated as ENDURETH in James 1:12.

James 1:12 – Blessed is the man that ENDURETH temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

The word KTAOMAI is used for POSSESS in Luke 21:19, and it is also used for POSSESS in I Thessalonians 4:4.

I Thessalonians 4:2-4 – For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. [3] For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: [4] That every one of you should know how to POSSESS his vessel in sanctification and honour;

Here, the word POSSESS is used to refer to the post-salvation spiritual growth by a SOUL eternally kept by God as it grows through the trials it ENDURES. It is to gain control of its vessel, its physical body, in the abstaining from immoral acts in it, through obeying the Spirit of Christ that dwells alongside it in the body. Likewise, in Luke 21:19, in the disciple’s ENDURANCE through all the trials of 21:12 to 18, they were to practice the same thing. They were to spiritually grow by the trials and tests they experienced, gaining more and more control of their flesh through their souls growing confidence in Christ, who indwelled them.

The word for SOULS is PSUCHE, and PSUCHE is quite often translated as LIFE. That is the case in the following verses, which refer not to the new birth experience of the SOUL, or LIFE, but to the post-salvation acts of it. My SOUL is saved, and is definitely going to heaven. But I have a LIFE to live in my present LIFE. If I do not live it for Christ, I do not lose my salvation, but I do lose all the rewards I could have received, had I lived it by ENDURING in the faith.

Luke 9:23,24 – And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. [24] For whosoever will save his LIFE shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his LIFE for my sake, the same shall save it.

If the disciples had saved their physical lives by denying him in failing to ENDURE through the trials before the leveling of the temple, they would have lost the rewards they had waiting for them. But if they ENDURED, they would be rewarded for having POSSESSED their SOULS during their time of testing.

Lord willing, I will continue beginning with Luke 17:20 in Part 7.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 281A

June 25, 2006

AN EXPOSITION OF PSALM 102:11-22 – Part 2

Psalm 102:11,12 – My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass. [12] But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.

As I indicated in Part 1, the figure of a shadow likely is used to picture the movement of the shadow passing across a primitive sun dial during the course of a day, much as a man’s shadow appears on the earth at birth and lies down to be seen no more at death. The first shadow casting by the sun on primitive sun dials began in Egypt before King David was born, and the sun dial is mentioned in the Bible as far back as the time of King Ahaz. Herodotus mentions the sun dial was being used in Babylonia before his time. And man’s life is marked by the same yearly picture manifested by the life of a field of grass from Spring to Fall, but over a cycle from birth to death, marked by the ageing in his flesh with the passage of time. So verse 11 points to the temporary nature of man’s time in his physical body of birth. But verse 12 then quickly contrasts man’s brief life cycle in the flesh with God’s eternal existence. And it should remind us that the life we receive from Christ is eternal in nature, and will never be taken from us after we have received it, because he lives eternally as our advocate.

“But thou, O Lord, shalt endure forever;”

Hebrews 7:23-25 – And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: [24] But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. [25] Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 13:5 – Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Romans 8:38,39 – For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

“And thy remembrance unto all generations.”

Man has been calling on the Lord for a very long time, believing that the third seed of Eve that she received from the Lord was the forerunner of the promised seed of Genesis 3:15, and he has remembrance of all the men who have called on the seed to save them from that time in every generation, right up to the last one.

Genesis 3:15 – And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Genesis 4:25,26 – And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. [26] And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.

Romans 3:23,26 – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the REMISSION OF SINS THAT ARE PAST, THROUGH THE FORBEARANCE OF GOD; [26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

The blood of Christ on the cross was shed for the full remission of the sins of all the Old Testament believers, through the forbearance of God. His blood is the full atonement for all sins, past, present, and future.

Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

John 8:56-59 – Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. [57] Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? [58] Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. [59] Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

We are saved by believing that only the living Son of God has the power to save and keep us as the King of heaven. We are not saved or kept by out good works, but by the power of the one who gave his blood as the total redemption price for our sins.

Colossians 2:9,10 – For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. [10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Matthew 28:18 – And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Romans 4:5-8 – But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [6] Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, [7] Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. [8] Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Psalm 102:11,12 – My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass. [12] But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.

Please allow me to show you a man who had no chance to perform good works for entrance into heaven, whose whole wasted life was behind him, and yet who was both saved and kept by his belief that Jesus is the Son of God who is the King of kings, and that he alone could grant him access to heaven by his remembrance of him.

Luke 23:36-43 – And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, [37] And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. [38] And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. [39] And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. [40] But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? [41] And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. [42] And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. [43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 281B

June 28, 2006

AN EXPOSITION OF PSALM 102:11-22 – Part 3

Psalm 102:13 – Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

Matthew 23:38,39 – Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. [39] For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

After leaving Israel spiritually desolate in verse 38, the Lord advised in verse 39 he would, when the set time arrived at some future date, arise and have mercy upon Jerusalem, and once again he would favor her and her temple, just as it was stated in 102:13 by the Psalmist. Jesus advised the high priest that this set time of future mercy would arrive at his Second Advent.

Matthew 26:63,64 – But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. [64] Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Matthew 24:30 – And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

At this future set time of mercy, which would follow the time of Jacob’s trouble, Messiah was scheduled to arise with healing in his wings.

Malachi 4:1-3 – For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. [2] But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. [3] And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this saith the Lord of hosts

This healing in his wings was refused by their fathers, and they would not accept it, but the final generation of Jews who survive Jacob’s trouble, will be sheltered by the same wings their fathers rejected. And Messiah will feed them his word like a loving shepherd of sheep.

Matthew 23:37 – O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Micah 5:4 – And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.

Luke 1:30-33 – And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. [31] And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. [32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: [33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Micah 5:7-9 – And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men. [8] And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. [9] Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.

Isaiah 60:10-12 – And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee. [11] Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought. [12] For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

Zechariah 14:16 – And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

Isaiah 2:2-4 – And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. [3] And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. [4] And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Joel 3:16-21 – The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. [17] So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. [18] And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim. [19] Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. [20] But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. [21] For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the Lord dwelleth in Zion.

Mark 13:34-37 – For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter TO WATCH. [35] Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

Ephesians 2:22 – In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

I Corinthians 3:9 – For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.