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Thursday, March 31, 2016

Church Divisions

Bible Questions Answered:
“Our church has a division between its membership. Traditionalists versus Contemporary believers, and the division is sharp and separating and nothing is making it go away, if the church leans towards the more traditional, then thee opposing group makes a ruckus and the same if it moves towards the more contemporary with the traditional members being upset and put out...”
Arnold/ Fayetteville, North Carolina U.S.A.

Bible Answer:

Bible Texts:

The Word Of God has a thing or two to say concerning church divisions:

Divisions Within The Church, Condemned:

I Corinthians 1:10-17 NLT
10 I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our
Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.
11 For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters.
12 Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.”
13 Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!
14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15 for now no one can say they were baptized in my name.
16 (Oh yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas, but I don’t remember baptizing anyone else.)
17 For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News—and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power.

Carnal spirit:

I Corinthians 3:3 NLT
For you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?

I Corinthians 11:18 NLT
18 First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it.
22"...Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly will not praise you for this!

Unbecoming a church of The Lord Jesus Christ:

I Corinthians 12:12-27 NLT
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.
13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.
15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?

18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.
19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part!
20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.
21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.
23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen,
24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity.
25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.
26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

Division Is In Opposition To The Will Of The Lord Jesus:

John 17:21-23 KJV
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in Me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent Me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved Me.
Our Lord's Will, Unity:
John 10:16 KJV
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd.

I Corinthians 12:13 NLT
Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

Avoid those who cause divisions:

Romans 16:17 KJV
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Division and its result:

Matthew 12:25 KJV
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

The Answer Is The Word Of God:

Proverbs 29:18 NLT
When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.

Isaiah 8:20 KJV
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no Light in them.

John 12:48 KJV
He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My Words, hath one that judgeth him: The Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

I Thessalonians 2:13 NLT
Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received His message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very Word Of God—which, of course, it is. And this Word continues to work in you who believe.

God's Word, is Sacred:

Deuteronomy 4:2 KJV
Ye shall not add unto The Word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of The Lord your God which I command you.

Deuteronomy 12:32 KJV
What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

Proverbs 30:6 KJV
Add thou not unto His Words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Ecclesiastes 3:14 NLT
And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear Him.

Matthew 5:17,18 KJV
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
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.

Luke 21:33 KJV
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My Words shall not pass away.

Galatians 1:8,9 KJV
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Revelation 22:19 KJV
And if any man shall take away from The Words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

God's People Are Called To “Search The Scriptures.”

John 5:39 KJV
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.

Acts 17:10,11 KJV
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received The Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

II Timothy 2:15 KJV
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing The Word Of Truth.

I John 5:3 KJV
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.

Psalm 119:165 KJV
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Matthew 5:9 KJV
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Bible Lesson: Parables Of The Old Testament: The Boiling Pot.

Bible Lesson: Parables Of The Old Testament: The Boiling Pot.

Spoken By: Ezekiel.

Location: Babylon.

Bible Text:

Ezekiel 24:1-5 NLT
1 On January 15, during the ninth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, this message came to me from The Lord:
2 “Son of man, write down today’s date, because on this very day the king of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar) is beginning his attack against Jerusalem.
3 Then give these rebels (The rebellious house – KJV) an illustration with this message from
The Sovereign Lord:
Put a pot on the fire, and pour in some water.
4 Fill it with choice pieces of meat— the rump and the shoulder and all the most tender cuts.
5 Use only the best sheep from the flock, and heap fuel on the fire beneath the pot.
Bring the pot to a boil, and cook the bones along with the meat.

The Players:

Ezekiel: 
The (married) Prophet of The Lord.

The King of Babylon: 
King Nebuchadnezzar.

The Coals: Chaldean Persecution And Death:
Vs 9 The fuel beneath her.
Vs 10 heap on the wood! Let the fire roar
Vs 11 the coals. Heat it red hot!
Vs 12 the fire.

Jerusalem: 
Vs. 3 The rebellious house
Vs. 6 The bloody city; city of murderers; unclean cooking pot
Vs 9 City of murderers
Vs 12 The city of lies
Vs 13 The city of impurity, lewdness, corruption, and idolatry
(KJV & NLT)

The Story:

Ezekiel 24:6-27 NLT
6 “Now this is what The Sovereign Lord says: What sorrow awaits Jerusalem, the city of murderers!She is a cooking pot whose corruption can’t be cleaned out. Take the meat out in random order, for no piece is better than another.
7 For the blood of her murders is splashed on the rocks. It isn’t even spilled on the ground, where the dust could cover it!
8 So I will splash her blood on a rock for all to see, an expression of My anger and vengeance against her.
9 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: What sorrow awaits Jerusalem, the city of murderers! I Myself will pile up the fuel beneath her.
10 Yes, heap on the wood! Let the fire roar to make the pot boil. Cook the meat with many spices,
and afterward burn the bones.
11 Now set the empty pot on the coals. Heat it red hot! Burn away the filth and corruption (froth, scum).
12 But it’s hopeless; the corruption can’t be cleaned out. So throw it into the fire.
13 Your impurity is your lewdness and the corruption of your idolatry. I tried to cleanse you, but you refused. So now you will remain in your filth until my fury against you has been satisfied.
14 “I, the Lord, have spoken! The time has come, and I won’t hold back. I will not change my mind, and I will have no pity on you. You will be judged on the basis of all your wicked actions, says the Sovereign Lord.”

(The Death of Ezekiel’s Wife)
15 Then this message came to me from The Lord:
16 “Son of man, with one blow I will take away your dearest treasure. Yet you must not show any sorrow at her death. Do not weep; let there be no tears.
17 Groan silently, but let there be no wailing at her grave. Do not uncover your head or take off your sandals. Do not perform the usual rituals of mourning or accept any food brought to you by consoling friends.”

18 So I proclaimed this to the people the next morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did everything I had been told to do.
19 Then the people asked, “What does all this mean? What are you trying to tell us?”

20 So I said to them, “A message came to me from The Lord,
21 and I was told to give this message to the people of Israel. This is what The Sovereign Lord says:
I will defile My Temple, the source of your security and pride, the place your heart delights in.
Your sons and daughters whom you left behind in Judah will be slaughtered by the sword.
22 Then you will do as Ezekiel has done. You will not mourn in public or console yourselves by eating the food brought by friends.
23 Your heads will remain covered, and your sandals will not be taken off. You will not mourn or weep, but you will waste away because of your sins. You will groan among yourselves for all the evil you have done.
24 Ezekiel is an example for you; you will do just as he has done. And when that time comes, you will know that I am The Sovereign Lord.”

25 Then The Lord said to me, “Son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold—their joy and glory, their heart’s desire, their dearest treasure—I will also take away their sons and daughters.
26 And on that day a survivor from Jerusalem will come to you in Babylon and tell you what has happened.
27 And when he arrives, your voice will suddenly return so you can talk to him, and you will be a symbol for these people. Then they will know that I am The Lord.”

The ancients had a saying "The mills of the gods grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine,"
and how true it is.

Galatians 6:7 KJV
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Hebrews 10:30 KJV
For we know Him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith The Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people.

God's people, were unfaithful to the one who had lead them out of 400 years of slavery to freedom.

Judges 2:13,14 KJV
13 And they forsook The Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
14 And the anger of The Lord was hot against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and He sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

From the very beginning God's people, were a rebellious lot.
Ezekiel warned, this time there would be no deliverance.
Babylon's king would kill and carry away into captivity, Jerusalem's people.

So many, even in our day, think that God does not see or know what they do, but of course they are dead wrong!

Psalm 11:4,5 NLT
4 But The Lord is in His holy Temple; The Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth.
5 The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked..."

Proverbs 5:21 KJV
For the ways of man are before the eyes of The Lord, and He pondereth all his goings.

Proverbs 15:3 KJV
The eyes of The Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

Proverbs 16:2 NLT
People may be pure in their own eyes, but The Lord examines their motives.

Jeremiah 17:10 KJV
I The Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Jeremiah 23:24 KJV
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith The Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith The Lord.

Jeremiah 32:18,19 KJV
18 Thou shewest loving kindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great,The Mighty God, The Lord Of Hosts, is His name,
19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

Israel had great pride in the temple at Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 24:21 NLT
This is what The Sovereign Lord says: I will defile My Temple, the source of your security and pride,

The Chaldeans would destroy the temple.

The Jews, had great pride in their temple at Jerusalem, and yet they did not live in faithfulness to the God of the temple!

Doesn't this sound familiar, and it is the same in all generations.

Matthew 7:21-23 KJV Jesus Christ
21 Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.

Faithful temple workers, prophesying, performing exorcisms, and wonderful religious works, called by Jesus Christ “workers of iniquity?” Yes!

Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
The Gift Of God (Jesus Christ):
9 Not of works (secular or religious), lest any man should boast.

So why, oh why were they called “workers of iniquity?”

They were called so because of their pious airs, were leading countless people into lost eternity.
Why were they lost, they were lost because though they were steeped in religiosity, they refused any obedient personal relationship with the God of the temple!

II Timothy 3:1-5 KJV
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Our Living God, Admonishes Us Today:

I Chronicles 28:9 KJV
"...know thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for The Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off for ever.

Hebrews 12:1,2 KJV
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus The Author And Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of The Throne Of God.

Jeremiah 29:13,14 KJV
13 And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.
14 And I will be found of you, saith The Lord..."


Saturday, March 26, 2016

Jangling

Bible Questions Answered:
“What is jangling?...”
Rodney/ San Francisco, California U.S.A.

Bible Answer:

Bible Texts:

Jangling: Vain, meaningless, empty, worthless speech.

I Timothy 1:5,6 KJV
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

Jangling:

Psalm 5:9 KJV
For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulcher; they flatter with their tongue.

Psalm 10:7 KJV
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

Psalm 36:3 KJV
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

Psalm 55:21 KJV
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

Psalm 101:5 KJV
Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I cut off..."

Proverbs 12:18 KJV
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

Proverbs 24:2 KJV
For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

Proverbs 16:28 KJV
A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

Proverbs 25:23 KJV
The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

Matthew 12:34-37 KJV
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Romans 3:13,14 KJV
13 Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

II Corinthians 12:20 NLT
20 For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.
21 Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity..."

Titus 1:10 NLT
For there are many rebellious people who engage in useless talk and deceive others..."

Warnings Against Jangling:

Psalm 34:13 KJV
Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

Proverbs 13:3 KJV
He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

Proverbs 21:23 KJV
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

Proverbs 26:20 KJV
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

Ephesians 2:3 KJV
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Ephesians 4:31 KJV
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Titus 1:10 KJV
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers..."

Titus 3:1,2 KJV
1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

James 1:26 KJV
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

James 3:1-18 KJV
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against The Truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

James 4:11 KJV
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

I Peter 2:1 KJV
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

I Peter 3:10 KJV
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

Dear Christian, someone is listening to our conversation, that someone is The Lord.

Psalm 50:23 KJV
Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

Philippians 1:27 KJV
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ...”

Philippians 3:20 KJV
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ:

I Timothy 4:12 KJV
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Hebrews 13:5 KJV
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:

I Peter 1:15 KJV
But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

I Peter 3:16 KJV
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

II Peter 3:11 KJV
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and Godliness,

Matthew 12:36 KJV (Jesus)
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Growth - Spiritual

Bible Questions Answered:
“...I am a Christian, but I do not understand...”
Karen/ Samara (Kuybyshev), Russia

Bible Answer:

Bible Texts:

Proverbs 4:18 KJV
But the path of the just is as the shining Light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Colossians 1:9 KJV
"...that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

II Peter 1:5,6 KJV
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

II Peter 3:18 KJV
"... grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

The answer of course is, the more we spiritually grow , the more we understand. That is not to say, we will surely one day, come to the place where we will understand all things, in this world we will not.

Psalm 111:10 KJV
The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth for ever.

Homily:
The seed is taken and planted into the ground. A tender root shoots forth, then a stem, then a branch, leaves and last of all the flower or fruit.

The order here may not be reversed in any way, and if it is the fruit of knowledge we seek, then we must be content to spiritually grow in grace till that fruit is within our grasp.

Proverbs 9:10 KJV
The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Ephesians 1:18 KJV
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Dear friends as Christians, we are called to “grow,” in The Lord.

I Peter 2:1-3 KJV
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of The Word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that The Lord is gracious.

Hebrews 5:11-14 KJV
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Milk Of The Word:

God's love
Salvation
Good Works
Heaven

Meat Of The Word:

Inspiration of the scriptures
One Sovereign God – The Trinity
Jesus Christ and His divinity
Fall of man
Salvation
Church Ordinances
Sanctification
The Church
Ministry
Rapture of believers and the Second Coming.
Millennium
Great White Throne Judgment
New heaven and new earth

These are doctrines or the meat of The Word.

Jesus our example:

Luke 2:40,52 KJV
40 And The Child grew, and waxed strong in Spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Psalm 42:1,2 NLT
1 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for God, The living God. When can I go and stand before Him?

Psalm 63:1 KJV
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

The more we long for The Word Of The Lord, and make it apart of our lives...

Psalm 119:130 KJV
The entrance of thy Words giveth Light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Isaiah 44:3 KJV
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour My Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

I Corinthians 2:9-16 KJV
9 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.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which
The Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of The Spirit Of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of The Lord, that he may instruct Him? but we have the mind of Christ.

Hebrews 6:1 KJV
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

II Corinthians 3:18 KJV
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of The Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by The Spirit Of The Lord.

Psalm 84:11 KJV
For The Lord God is a Sun and Shield: The Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Ephesians 4:13-15 KJV
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of
The Son Of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking The Truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is
The Head, even Christ:

Monday, March 21, 2016

Bible Lesson: Parables Of The Old Testament: The Wasted Vine

Bible Lesson: Parables Of The Old Testament: The Wasted Vine

Spoken By: Ezekiel

Location: Babylon

Bible Text:

Ezekiel 19:10-14 KJV
10 Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.
11 And she had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches.
12 But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them.
13 And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.
14 And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.

The Players:

The Mother like a Vine (Metaphor): Both Israel and Jerusalem.

The East Wind and Fire: Babylon.

The Scepter: God's royal people, who were once safe and strong in their obedience to The Lord.

Furious East Wind and fire: Babylon.

When Israel obeyed the voice of The Lord, she was like a luxuriously strong and healthy Vine, growing in the land of milk and honey, Canaan (Vs.10 &11).

Psalm 80:7,8 KJV
7 Turn us again, O God Of Hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
8 Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.

But something happened, “and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches.” Vs 11.

She became exalted among all other nations.
Judah's King Zedekiah, formed alliances with Egypt and others, breaking any commitment to Babylon, meaning complete destruction by the Chaldeans.

II Kings 24:20 KJV
For through the anger of The Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until He had cast them out from His presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

What was the result of her sinful rebelion and pride?

Ezekiel 17:18-21 KJV
18 Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.
19 Therefore thus saith The Lord God; As I live, surely Mine oath that he hath despised, and My covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.
20 And I will spread My net upon him, and he shall be taken in My snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against Me.
21 And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I The Lord have spoken it.

Ezekiel 19:12-14 KJV
12 But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them.
13 And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground (Babylon).
14 And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule.

II KIngs 24:14-16 KJV
14 And he (Nebuchadnezzar) carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.
15 And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.
16 And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.

Judah was in captivity, and all her royal leaders, there would be no more noble kings to lead her.

Psalm 110:1,2 AMP
1 The Lord (Father) says to my Lord (The Messiah, His Son),
Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet [subjugating them into complete submission].”
2 The Lord will send the scepter of Your strength from Zion, saying,
Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”

This elegy shows the sorrow of the prophet Ezekiel.
Pride and self-will has not only been the downfall of men, but of nations, as history shows.

Pride:

Psalm 59:12 KJV
For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.

Psalm 138:6 NLT
Though The Lord is great, He cares for the humble, but He keeps His distance from the proud.

Proverbs 8:13 KJV
The fear of The Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Proverbs 11:2 KJV
When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

Proverbs 16:18,19 KJV
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Proverbs 22:4 KJV
By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life.

Proverbs 29:23 KJV
A man's pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Isaiah 2:11,12 KJV
11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and
The Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
12 For the day of The Lord Of Hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and

Isaiah 57:15 KJV
For thus saith The High And Lofty One That Inhabiteth Eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Micah 6:8 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth The Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Zechariah 9:9 NLT
Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you.
He is righteous and victorious, yet He is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.

Malachi 4:1 KJV
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.

Matthew 11:29,30 KJV
29 Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

Matthew 16:24 KJV
Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Matthew 18:4 KJV
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 1:51,52 NLT
51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
52 He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.

Luke 14:10 KJV
But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

Luke 18:9-14 KJV
9 And He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luke 22:24-27 NLT
24 Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them.
25 Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’
26 But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.
27 Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.

John 13:5,15 KJV
5 After that He poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Romans 12:3,16 KJV
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Philippians 2:8 KJV
And being found in fashion as A Man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

James 4:6,10 KJV
6 But He giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of The Lord, and He shall lift you up.

I Peter 2:21 KJV
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps:

I Peter 5:5 KJV
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

I John 2:16 KJV
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Lucifer's Pride:

Isaiah 14:12-14 KJV
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Ezekiel 28:12-19 KJV
12 "...Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more."...

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Life After Death And Old Testament Saints

Bible Questions Answered:
“Did Old Testament saints believe in life after death?”
Russel/ Northern Ireland United Kingdom

Bible Answer:

Yes!

Bible Texts:

Genesis 15:15 KJV (Abraham)
And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

These words, do not just refer to death, but to a blessed reward in the next life.

Now there is a silly accusation saying that the phrase "thou shalt go to thy fathers," concerning Abraham, that he was to be burried with his ancesters.

Rediculous, for he was burried at the cave of Machpelah.

Genesis 25:9,10 KJV
9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him (Abraham) in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;
10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

When Abraham's body was laid to rest, thee only other body in the cave of Machpelah was that of Abraham's wife, Sarah. (There were no other ancesters there.)

Genesis 25:8, 17 KJV (Same phrase but worded a little differently.) (Abraham and Ishmael)
8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and
was gathered to his people.
17 And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.

Genesis 49:29,33 KJV (Jacob)
29 And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
33 And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

Deuteronomy 32:50 KJV (Moses)
And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:

II Kings 22:20 KJV (King Josiah)
Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.

Old Testament Scriptures Signifying Belief In Life After Death:

Genesis 5:23,24 KJV
23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 NLT (Moses warnings not to contact the dead, proves their belief in a hereafter of departed spirits.)
9 “When you enter the land The Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there.
10 For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft,
11 or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead.
12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to The Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that The Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you.
13 But you must be blameless before The Lord your God.
14 The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but The Lord your God forbids you to do such things.”

II Samuel 12:23 KJV (The death of King Davids son. See David's 23rd Psalm.)
But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

II Kings 2:9-12 KJV
9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

Job 19:23-27 KJV
23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
25 For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Psalm 23:1-6 KJV
1 The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of The Lord for ever.

Daniel 12:1,2 NLT
1 “At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued.
2 Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace.

Hebrews 11:5,10,13-16 NLT (The Apostle Paul) speaks of O.T. Saints.) (Be sure to read the whole chapter.)
5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.
10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.
13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.
14 Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own.
15 If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back.
16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
35 "...They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.

Through our Lord's teachings we learn about a place called heaven:

John 14:1-6 KJV
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and The Way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto Him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know The Way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life: no man cometh unto
The Father, but by Me.

Revelation 21:1-27 KJV
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha And Omega, The Beginning And The End. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that over cometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of
The Lamb.
15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs (1,400 miles). The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits (216 feet thick),
according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for The Lord God Almighty and The Lamb are the temple of it.
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and The Lamb is The Light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in The Light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in The Lamb's book of life.

Revelation 22:1-21 KJV
1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of
The Throne Of God And Of The Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but The Throne Of God And Of The Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him:
4 And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for The Lord God giveth them Light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and The Lord God Of The Holy Prophets sent His Angel to shew unto His servants the things which must shortly be done.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha And Omega, The Beginning And The End, The First And The Last.
14 Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent Mine Angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am
The Root And The Offspring Of David, and The Bright And Morning Star.
17 And The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.