Jim – Page 166 – Bible Truth 4u

Enoch and Elijah

Where were they taken? We read of the account of Enos in Genesis:

Genesis 5:18-24 And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch: And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons …. And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

In Hebrews, the Apostle Paul, tells us more of what happened to Enoch:

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Where did God take him (bodily)? And then let’s look at Elijah. His life and ministry are recorded in 1 and 2 Kings. But look at 2 Kings 2:11.

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.

The last mention of Elijah is in Malachi speaking of his return to earth.

Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Where did God take him (bodily)? In the New Testament ELIJAH is translated as ELIAS.

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all refer to Elias (Elijah). And as we read some of the references a question comes to mind, Was John the Baptist ELIJAH (ELIAS)? Just look at the following verses. (Read them in context)
Matthew 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
Mark 9:11-13 And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
Matthew 17:3, 10-12 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

It would appear that the Lord Jesus was calling John the Baptist, ELIAS. But when John the Baptist was questioned, he answered:

John 1:21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

Could it be that the Lord Jesus was referring to John the Baptist as fulling the spirit of ELIAS (not a bodily return).

Mark 9:2-6 (Matthew 17:1-4, Luke 9:28-30) Records the TRANSFIGERATION of Moses and Elias on the mount with the Lord Jesus. Could this be what the Lord was talking about when he said Elias would come? But back to the original question: Where were the bodies (Enoch, Elijah) taken? Enoch was translated, Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven BOTH men were taken BODILY.
But they could not have gone into Heaven where God is, as Christ had to be the first to go into Heaven, where God is, IN A BODY raised from the dead. Ergo, they must have gone into PARADISE (Luke 23:43, 16:19-31). Then followed Christ when He went into Heaven Ephesians 4:8-10.
1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.
1 Corinthians 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

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What Happens to us When We Die?

In the Old Testament they believed in life after death:
Job 19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
Isaiah 26:19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
Daniel 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

The Book of Revelation: The Seven Trumpets: The Bottomless Pit

Before the Lord Jesus died on the cross, The Unbeliever died, body was buried, soul & spirit went to Sheol, Hades, Hell, Tartarus. — The believer died, body was buried, soul & spirit went to Paradise. Luke 16:19.
As the Lord Jesus hung on the cross, He made a promise to the thief (Luke 23:43) “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise“.
The Lord Jesus died and his body was put into a tomb, His soul and spirit went to paradise (with the thief).During the next 3 days and nights the Lord preached to them in Paradise (1 Peter 3:19 (By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;).) Then he came out of the tomb, appeared to Mary (John 20:11-17) and then ascended to heaven (vs 17). He also took Paradise and all of those in Paradise with him.
The location of Paradise was in the center of the earth:
Matthew 12:40 (For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.),
Ephesians 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?). He went there to set free those who dwelt there:

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Mysteries of God

Mysteries of God Deut 29:29 Luke 18:34 1 Cor 4:1

All the mysteries have been revealed to us. Matthew 13:35 (Psalm 78:2)

MYSTERY OF:
His Will Ephesians 1:9-11, 2 Peter 3:7-13,

   The Kingdom of Heaven            Matthew 13:11   (1-52)
   The Kingdom of GOD               Mark 4:11
   God as Christ                    1 Cor 2:7,8   Col 2:2   Rev 10:7
   Godliness                        1 Tim 3:16   John 1:1,14          
   Hid for Ages                     Colossians 1:26-27
   Indwelling Christ                Galatians 2:20
   Christ                           Colossians 4:3, Ephesians 3:2-6, 
   Faith                            1 Timothy 3:9     
   Gospel                           Eph 6:19(1 Cor 15:1-4) Rom 16:25
   Great Mystery The Bride  Ephesians 5:32, (Revelation 19:7-9,21:9-10)
   Blindness                        Romans  11:25
   Iniquity                         2 Thessalonians 2:7-9
   The Rapture     Change           1 Cor 15:51-52   1 Thes 4:13-17
   Stars, (7) Candlesticks, Churches     Revelation 1:20, 2-3
   Babylon                               Revelation 17:3-5   
   the Woman                             Revelation 17:7

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Doctrine of Mystery

Definition: The secret or specialized practices ritual peculiar to an occupation or a body of people.

Jesus used the word mystery in Matthew 13:11 He answered and said unto them, because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. Mark 4:10 And he said unto them, unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

Paul used the word mystery in respect of Church Age doctrine:
Ephesians 3:2-6 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Church age Mysteries were not revealed in the Old Testament:
Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, Colossians 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Blindness of Israel during the Church Age is a mystery
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
Mysteries revealed by Paul were ordained by God:
1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
The Pastor/Teacher is responsible for communication of the Mysteries to the Church and is called the stewardship:
1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
The rapture of the church is a Mystery Doctrine
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
The Mysteries are for the church age only:
Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Ephesians 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words)
Mystery Doctrine is understood by Grace:
Colossians 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
1 Timothy 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
The definition of Mystery (See above) is that a mystery is a Secret. See the “Mysteries of God” and the “Secrets of God”.

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Secrets of God

In the old testament, We see God had Secrets that he kept from his followers, to be revealed later. The Bible is a progressive book, and shows that God revealed to those who believed in Him just what they needed to be justified by faith. See “Mystery Doctrine of” the “Mysteries of God”. But let’s begin with the Secrets:

Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

When Manoah (Samson’s Father) asked the angel of the LORD (God in flesh) for his name, JUDGES 13:18, he was told: “And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?”.
Even Eliphaz the Temanite challenged Job, JOB 15:8 “Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself”?
God reveals his Secrets to Believers Psalm 25:14 “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.”
This is stated in Proverbs 3:32 “For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.”
And again in Isaiah 45:15 “I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.”
And in Isaiah 48:16 “Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.”
An example of God revealing Secrets is found in Daniel 2:30 “But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.”
And in Amos 3:7 “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”
Even Christ Jesus tried to reveal Secrets to His followers Matthew 13:35 “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.”

Image result for secrets of god scripture"

And to Paul was given the revelation of the mysteries and secrets which had been kept since the world began BUT now revealed to all believers.

Romans 16:25 “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,”

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Statements from the Cross

Prior to Being hung on the Cross, Christ had little to say:

Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Matthew 26:63 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.
Acts 8:32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

And as He hung on the cross He only spoke seven statements (mostly quoting or fulfilling scripture) before he gave up the ghost.

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment and cast lots.
Psalm 22:18 They part my garments among them and cast lots upon my vesture.
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. (see Luke 16:19-31)
John 19:26-27 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
Matthew 27:46 (Mark 15:34) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Psalm 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
Psalm 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
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.
John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Psalm 31:5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

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Cross of Christ

In the early Passages of Matthew, Mark and Luke when Jesus speaks of bearing a cross, He is not referring to HIS CROSS, just a heavy burden:

Matthew 10:38, Luke 14:27 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23 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.
Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Then after His arrest the references in Matthew Mark Luke and John are the actual Cross of Christ:

Matthew 27:32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
Matthew 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Matthew 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
Mark 15:21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
Mark 15:30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.
Mark 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
Luke 23:26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
John 19:17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
John 19:19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
John 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
John 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

At The Cross by Chris Tomlin

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The Great Commandment(s)

Matthew 22:36-40 (Mark 12:28-31) Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest …
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
Peter Warned Jewish Believers:
2 Peter 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2 Peter 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
John, in his epistles to believing Jews, spoke much of the commandment:
1 John 2:3-4 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and …
1 John 2:7-8 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and …
1 John 3:23-24 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
1 John 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
1 John 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
2 John 1:4-6 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
And even when John wrote the Revelation:
Revelation 12:17 And the dragon … went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Revelation 22:14 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.

The commandments were given NOT as a way of Salvation, But as a better way of life. Salvation is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and Romans 10:9-13

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The 10 Commandments

Image result for the ten commandments in the bible

EXODUS 20:1-17 lists the 10 Commandments

1. One God 2. No Idols 3. Bad language 4. Sabbath 5. Honor parents 6. Do Not Kill 7. Do Not Commit Adultery 8. Do Not Steal 9. Do Not Lie (false witness) 10. Do Not Covet

The Lord Jesus, in His earthly ministry to His people, warned about breaking the 10 commandments:
MATTHEW 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

During His ministry, He named them:
Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery,
Matthew 12:5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
MATTHEW 15:4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Matthew 19:17-18 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness
Mark 10:3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?
Mark 10:19 (Luke 18:20) Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
Mark 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Note that all the commandments are mentioned except IDOLS & KEEP THE SABBATH! So, what did the Lord say?

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Isaiah 9:6 Part 3

The everlasting Father,

Hebrews 1:8-9 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

The Prince of Peace

Salvation, sins forgiven: Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Source of Peace

⇒ Peace from God
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
⇒ Peace of God
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
⇒ Peace on Earth
Isaiah 11:6-13 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. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. 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. 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. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.

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