Obedience In Thought And Word!

 

Obedience In Thought And Word!

2 Corinthians 10:3-6

 

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but Mighty in GOD for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of GOD, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of CHRIST, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."

 

"If you have been bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of CHRIST, it will be one of the greatest assets to Faith when the time of trial comes, because your Faith and The SPIRIT of GOD will work together."

Oswald Chambers

A Word For America From JESUS - Amos 4

 

A Word For America From JESUS Christ!

Amos 4 Interpreted 

Hear this Word you bureaucrats from Washington, who are on Capital Hill, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to Congress: “Biring, so we may drink.”

My LORD JESUS has sworn by His Holiness: “Behold, days are coming upon you when I Will drag you away by hook and the last of you by crook.

You will go out through breaches – each woman straight ahead, and you will be cast to the trash pile.” It is a declaration of JESUS Christ!

“Come to The New York and transgress, in D.C. multiply transgression. Every morning bring your sacrifices and your tithes every three days.

Offer up immorality as a thank offering, call out about freewill offerings – boast about it! For so you love to do America.” It is the declaration of my LORD JESUS Christ.

“So also, I Myself have given you lack of food in all your cities and lack of nourishment in all your places – Yet You Have Not Returned To Me,” declares JESUS Christ.

“Also I Myself have withheld from you the rain – when three months remain to the harvest, I caused it to rain on one city, while on another city I sent no rain; one piece of ground would get rain, while the portion not rained on would wither.

So two or three cities go staggering to one city to drink water but would not be satisfied – Yet You Have Not Returned To Me,” declares JESUS Christ.

“I struck you with blight and mildew. Your many gardens and vineyards, your fig trees and olive trees the locust has devoured – Yet You Have Not Returned To Me,” declares JESUS Christ.

I sent you a plague in the manner of Egypt. I slew your young men by war, with your armor in captivity. I made the stench of your policies rise up even to your own nostrils – Yet You Have Not Returned To Me,” declares JESUS Christ.

I overthrew some of you as GOD overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You became like a firebrand snatched from a blaze - Yet You Have Not Returned To Me,” declares JESUS Christ.

“Therefore here is what I Will do to you, America. Because I Will do this to you, prepare to meet your GOD, America!”

For behold! He Who forms mountains, Who creates the wind, Who declares His thoughts to mankind, Who makes dawn out of darkness, Who walks above the heights of the earth – His Name is JESUS LORD of Hosts!

 

The New Covid Vaccine is Out

 {This is long but there are hidden truths in it.}

The new COVID vaccine is out. Why you might not want to rush to get it originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

The new COVID vaccine is out. Why you might not want to rush to get it

ARTHUR ALLEN | KFF HEALTH NEWS, ELIZA FAWCETT | HEALTHBEAT and REBECCA GRAPEVINE | HEALTHBEAT

Mon, August 26, 2024 at 10:25 AM CDT·7 min read

This is a KFF Health News story.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved an updated COVID-19 shot for everyone 6 months old and up, which renews a now-annual quandary for Americans: Get the shot now, with the latest COVID outbreak sweeping the country, or hold it in reserve for the winter wave?

The new vaccine should provide some protection to everyone. But many healthy people who have already been vaccinated or have immunity because they've been exposed to COVID enough times may want to wait a few months.

COVID has become commonplace. For some, it's a minor illness with few symptoms. Others are laid up with fever, cough, and fatigue for days or weeks. A much smaller group -- mostly older or chronically ill people -- suffer hospitalization or death.

It's important for those in high-risk groups to get vaccinated, but vaccine protection wanes after a few months. Those who run to get the new vaccine may be more likely to fall ill this winter when the next wave hits, said William Schaffner, an infectious disease professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and a spokesperson for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

On the other hand, by late fall the major variants may have changed, rendering the vaccine less effective, said Peter Marks, the FDA's top vaccine official, at a briefing Aug. 23. He urged everyone eligible to get immunized, noting that the risk of long covid is greater in the un- and undervaccinated.

Of course, if last year's COVID vaccine rollout is any guide, few Americans will heed his advice, even though this summer's surge has been unusually intense, with levels of the COVID virus in wastewater suggesting infections are as widespread as they were in the winter.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now looks to wastewater as fewer people are reporting test results to health authorities. The wastewater data shows the epidemic is worst in Western and Southern states. In New York, for example, levels are considered "high" compared with "very high" in Georgia.

Hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID have trended up, too. But unlike infections, these rates are nowhere near those seen in winter surges, or in summers past. More than 2,000 people died of COVID in July -- a high number but a small fraction of the at least 25,700 COVID deaths in July 2020.

Partial immunity built up through vaccines and prior infections deserves credit for this relief. A new study suggests that current variants may be less virulent -- in the study, one of the recent variants did not kill mice exposed to it, unlike most earlier COVID variants.

Public health officials note that even with more cases this summer, people seem to be managing their sickness at home. "We did see a little rise in the number of cases, but it didn't have a significant impact in terms of hospitalizations and emergency room visits," said Manisha Juthani, public health commissioner of Connecticut, at a news briefing Aug. 21.

Unlike influenza or traditional cold viruses, CIVUD seems to thrive outside the cold months, when germy schoolkids, dry air, and indoor activities are thought to enable the spread of air- and saliva-borne viruses. No one is exactly sure why.

"COVID is still very transmissible, very new, and people congregate inside in air-conditioned rooms during the summer," said John Moore, a virologist and professor at Cornell University's Weill Cornell Medicine College.

Or "maybe COVID is more tolerant of humidity or other environmental conditions in the summer," said Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University.

Because viruses evolve as they infect people, the CDC has recommended updated COVID vaccines each year. Last fall's booster was designed to target the omicron variant circulating in 2023. This year, mRNA vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer and the protein-based vaccine from Novavax -- which has yet to be approved by the FDA -- target a more recent omicron variant, JN.1.

The FDA determined that the mRNA vaccines strongly protected people from severe disease and death -- and would do so even though earlier variants of JN.1 are now being overtaken by others.

Public interest in COVID vaccines has waned, with only one in five adults getting vaccinated since last September, compared with about 80% who got the first dose. New Yorkers have been slightly above the national vaccination rate, while in Georgia only about 17% got the latest shot.

Vaccine uptake is lower in states where the majority voted for Donald Trump in 2020 and among those who have less money and education, less health care access, or less time off from work. These groups are also more likely to be hospitalized or die of the disease, according to a 2023 study in The Lancet.

While the newly formulated vaccines are better targeted at the circulating COVID variants, uninsured and underinsured Americans may have to rush if they hope to get one for free. A CDC program that provided boosters to 1.5 million people over the last year ran out of money and is ending Aug. 31.

The agency drummed up $62 million in unspent funds to pay state and local health departments to provide the new shots to those not covered by insurance. But "that may not go very far" if the vaccine costs the agency around $86 a dose, as it did last year, said Kelly Moore, CEO of Immunize.org, which advocates for vaccination.

People who pay out-of-pocket at pharmacies face higher prices: CVS plans to sell the updated vaccine for $201.99, said Amy Thibault, a spokesperson for the company.

"Price can be a barrier, access can be a barrier" to vaccination, said David Scales, an assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Without an access program that provides vaccines to uninsured adults, "we'll see disparities in health outcomes and disproportionate outbreaks in the working poor, who can ill afford to take off work," Kelly Moore said.

New York state has about $1 million to fill the gaps when the CDC's program ends, said Danielle De Souza, a spokesperson for the New York State Department of Health. That will buy around 12,500 doses for uninsured and underinsured adults, she said. There are roughly one million uninsured people in the state.

CDC and FDA experts last year decided to promote annual fall vaccination against COVID and influenza along with a one-time respiratory syncytial virus shot for some groups.

It would be impractical for the vaccine-makers to change the COVID vaccine's recipe twice every year, and offering the three vaccines during one or two health care visits appears to be the best way to increase uptake of all of them, said Schaffner, who consults for the CDC's policy-setting Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

At its next meeting, in October, the committee is likely to urge vulnerable people to get a second dose of the same COVID vaccine in the spring, for protection against the next summer wave, he said.

If you're in a vulnerable population and waiting to get vaccinated until closer to the holiday season, Schaffner said, it makes sense to wear a mask and avoid big crowds, and to get a test if you think you have COVID. If positive, people in these groups should seek medical attention since the antiviral pill Paxlovid might ameliorate their symptoms and keep them out of the hospital.

As for conscientious others who feel they may be sick and don't want to spread the COVID virus, the best advice is to get a single test and, if positive, try to isolate for a few days and then wear a mask for several days while avoiding crowded rooms. Repeat testing after a positive result is pointless, since viral particles in the nose may remain for days without signifying a risk of infecting others, Schaffner said.

The Health and Human Services Department is making four free COVID tests available to anyone who requests them starting in late September through covidtest.gov, said Dawn O'Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response, at the Aug. 23 briefing.

The government is focusing its fall vaccine advocacy campaign, which it's calling "Risk less, live more," on older people and nursing home residents, said HHS spokesperson Jeff Nesbit.

Not everyone may really need a fall COVID booster, but "it's not wrong to give people options," John Moore said. "The 20-year-old athlete is less at risk than the 70-year-old overweight dude. It's as simple as that."

KFF Health News correspondent Amy Maxmen contributed to this report.

 

Hebrews Chapter 6

 

Chapter 6

 

:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of CHRIST, let us go on to perfection (maturity), not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works (1 Corinthians 3:10-15, Philippians 3:4-9, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7) and of Faith toward GOD (Hebrews 11:1-6),

:2 of the doctrine of baptisms (Mark 1:4-10,16:15-16, John 4:1-2, Acts 19:1-6), of laying on of hands (Luke 5:12-14, Mark 16:18, Acts 8:14-17, James 5:13-15), of resurrection of the dead (Matthew 28:1-7, Luke 20:37-38, John 11:1-45, Colossians 1:15, 18, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, Revelation 20:11-15), and of eternal judgment (Matthew 25:40-41, 45-46, Mark 9:43-48, Revelation 20:11-15, 21:7-8).

:3 And this we will do if GOD permits (2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16-17, James 4:13-14).

:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and having tasted the Heavenly Gift (John 4:10, Romans 6:23, Galatians 2:8-10), and have become partakers of the Holy SPIRIT (John 16:5-15, Acts 2:1-4, Galatians 3:1-5, Hebrews 10:24-31), and have tasted The Good Word of GOD (John 1:1-3, Matthew 4:3-4, Deuteronomy 8:2-3) and The powers of the Age to come (Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 10:28-30, Luke 20:34-36, Ephesians 1:16-23, 1 Corinthians 10:1-12, Revelation 20:1-22:6 is the Age to come), if they fall away (have fallen away), to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves The Son of GOD and put Him to an open shame (Hebrews 10:26-31, Jude :12-23).

:7-8 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it (Psalm 65:9-10), and bears herbs that are useful for those by whom it is cultivated (Genesis 1:10-12), receives Blessing from GOD; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near being cursed (Genesis 3:17-19), whose end is to be burned (2 Peter 3:7-11).

 

:9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you (John 10:10), yes, things that accompany salvation (John 14:1-4), though we speak in this manner.

 

:10 For GOD is not unjust to forget your Work (1 Corinthians 3:9-15) and labor of Love (1 Thessalonians 1:2-4, 1 John 4:7-11) which you have shown toward His Name, in that you Ministered to The Saints, and do Minister (Matthew 25:31-46).

 

:11-12 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of Hope until the end (Colossians 2:1-3), that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promises (Hebrews 10:35-39).

 

:13-14 For when GOD made a Promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely Blessing I will Bless you, and multiplying I Will Multiply you (Genesis 22:15-17).”

 

:15 And so after he had patiently endured, he (Abraham) obtained the Promise (Genesis 17:16-19, 21:1-7).

 

;16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them the end of all dispute (Exodus 22:10-11).

 

:17-18 Thus GOD, determining to show more abundantly to The Heirs of Promise (Romans 8:16-17) The Immutability of His Counsel (unchangeableness of His Purpose), confirmed (guaranteed) it by an Oath, that by two immutable (unchangeable) things, in which it is impossible for GOD to lie (Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:1-3), we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge (Psalm 91:1-2) to lay hold of the Hope set before us (Colossians 1:3-6).

 

:19-20 This Hope (Psalm 71:4-6, Romans 5:1-5) we have as an Anchor of the soul, both Sure (2 Peter 1:5-11) and Steadfast (1 Corinthians 15:57-58), and which enters the Presence behind the veil (Mark 15:37-38), where the forerunner has entered for us, even JESUS (Hebrews 4:14-16), having become High Priest according to The Order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:5-11).

 

https://youtu.be/hmEqNBYYHO0

Matthew 7:13-14

 

Matthew 7:13-14

 

“Enter ye at the strait Gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is the Gate, and narrow is The Way, which leadeth unto Life, and few there be that find it.” KJV

 

“Enter through the narrow Gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow is The Gate and difficult is The Way that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” TLV

 

Many quote “The straight and the narrow road.” When talking about the meaning of this scripture and Salvation; we understand the difference between the two ways and gates. But there is an incorrect understanding about the difficult Way and the narrow Gate. It is not a road, like the “Long and winding road” or JESUS would have called it a road, JESUS is not the road of or to Salvation. JESUS is Salvation and we are called to follow His Way, The Way of Faith and Obedience

 

There are so many Scriptures that relate to this teaching of JESUS, “I Am The Way, and The Truth, and The Life! No one comes to The Father except through Me!” (John 14:6) JESUS told the people. “Many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 20:16, 22:14) JESUS defined the conclusion of two parables with this statement. He also told us that we are to take up our cross daily and follow Him.” (Matthew 10:38-39, 16:24-27; Mark 8:34-38; Luke 9:23-26, 14:25-27; and so did the disciples Philippians 2:12-18, 3:12-16; 2 Timothy 3:10-14; 1 Peter 2:20-25; and many more.)

 

The fact is that most of us are not looking for The Way (JESUS or GOD); some of us come to GOD through the desperate situation in which we finally understand we cannot help our self and we call out to GOD, Who in his Mercy delivers us and if we recognize it we can become saved through JESUS. Some of us are just going through life when we meet JESUS through what seems like some ordinary circumstance and we begin a process of discovery that brings us to the realization of JESUS as The Son of GOD, The Savior of the world. Some of us are trying to disprove GOD, JESUS and the Bible and are so overwhelmed by the evidence that we can no longer deny Him and must surrender or live a miserable life of resistance. Some of us grow up in religion and at some point we understand that JESUS is really The GOD of Salvation and we must surrender our religious works for obedience to GOD’s Will.

 

So since the True Way is difficult and The Gate is narrow and there are few who find it, do not lead people in a prayer of “repentance” and then send them on their way because most of them do not know any better and will wind up on the religious road to hell rather than the difficult road to Heaven (Study the parables of the sowing and reaping, Matthew 13:1-52; Mark 4:1-34; Luke 8:4-15).

 

“JESUS said to them, ‘My food is to do The Will of him Who sent Me, and to finish His Work. Do you not say, “There are still four months and then comes the harvest”? Pay attention: I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already ripe for harvest! He who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit for Eternal Life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: “One sows and another reaps.” I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored, others have labored and you have entered into their labors.’” John 4:27-38

 

At JESUS’ ascension to The Father’s right hand, He told all Believers: “JESUS came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the Name of The Father and of The Son, and of The Holy SPIRIT (JESUS), teaching them to observe (obey) all things that I have commanded you, and understand this, I Am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach The Gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. These signs will follow those who believe: in My Name they will cast our demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’” “Then He said to them, ‘These are the Words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled that were written in The Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’ He opened their understanding that they might comprehend The Scriptures. Then He said to them, ‘Thus it is written and thus it was necessary for The Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. Listen, I send the Promise of My Father upon you, but tarry in Jerusalem until you are endued with Power from on High.’” “Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jewish leaders, JESUS came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the LORD. So JESUS said to them again, “Peace to you! As The Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ When He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive The Holy SPIRIT; if you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’” “Being assembled together with them JESUS commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem,  but to wait for the promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy SPIRIT not many days from now.’ There, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘LORD, will you at this time restore the kingdom of Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which The Father has put in his own Authority. But you shall receive Power when The Holy SPIRIT has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and to the end of the earth.’” (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:44-49; John 20:19-23; Acts 1:4-8)

 

It seems clear, we are not only supposed to tell people about JESUS (proclaim The Gospel) but when they realize they need to be saved we must, pray with them to ask forgiveness for their sins, baptize them in JESUS’ (The Father, The Son and The Holy SPIRIT) Name; and disciple them in the Way of Faith and Obedience to GOD, teaching them the Bible. It is through discipleship and suffering that we maintain our relationship with GOD on the difficult Way to the narrow Gate!

 

https://youtu.be/cxPfCzM_QFo

How To Overcome the devil!

 

How To Overcome the devil!

 

“It came to pass in those day that JESUS came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Immediately upon coming up from the water, He saw the Heavens parting and The SPIRIT descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from Heaven, ‘You are My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.’ Immediately The SPIRIT drove Him into the wilderness. He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by satan, and was with wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.” Mark 1:9-13 (Study Matthew 3:13-4:11; Luke 4:1-13).

 

“Seeing that we have a Great High Priest Who has passed through The Heavens, JESUS The Son of GOD, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest Who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

 

So what were JESUS’ temptations? He was tempted for forty days and nights by satan, there were wild beasts and angels ministering to Him. There are only three temptations listed in Matthew and Luke; power (turn a rock into bread); pride where satan even used Scripture to tempt JESUS to test GOD’s Faithfulness; and disobedience which was to worship satan to get the desired results of ruling the nations. JESUS quoted the Scriptures to rebuke satan each time! We do not know how else He was tempted but think of how you are tempted and He was tempted in some form of that temptation.

 

The devil is both the tempter and the accuser of us. “For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.” “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, ‘Now Salvation and strength and The Kingdom of our GOD, and The Power of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our GOD day and night, has been cast down.’” 1 Thessalonians 3:4-5; Revelation12:9-10

 

So how do we resist the devil to overcome temptation?

 

“Blessed in the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive The Crown of Life which The LORD has promised to those who Love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by GOD’ for GOD cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death (LSD). Do not be deceived my beloved brethren, every Good Gift and every Perfect Gift is from above, and comes down from The father of Lights, with Whom there is no variable or shadow of turning. Of His Own Will He brought us forth by The Word of Truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.” James 1:12-18 Do not blame GOD and do not give in!

 

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man; but GOD is faithful, Who Will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore my beloved flee from idolatry! I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say.” 1 Corinthias 10:12-15 “…will also make the was of escape…” He has given us the way – resist the devil – do not give in to sin!

 

“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘GOD resists the proud, but gives Grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble yourselves under the Mighty hand of GOD, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He Cares for you. Be self-controlled, be watchful; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the Faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may The GOD of all Grace, Who Called us to His Eternal Glory by Christ JESUS, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you. To Him be the Glory and The Dominion forever and ever. Amen!” 1 Peter 5:5-11 “…GOD resists the proud…” “…the devil walks about like a roaring lion…” “…Resist him, steadfast in the Faith…”

 

“But He gives more Grace. Therefore he says: ‘GOD resists the proud. But gives Grace to the humble.’ Therefore submit to GOD. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to GOD and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners and purify your hearts you double minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of The LORD, and He will lift you up.” James 4:6-10 “…Therefore submit to GOD. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to GOD and He will draw near to you...”

 

That is all we have to do to overcome temptation and sin which are from the devil! “Seek first The Kingdom of GOD and His Righteousness…Do not worry about tomorrow…” Matthew 6:33-34

 

https://youtu.be/3USADBPmz-4

Big!

 

Big!

 

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in GOD, believe also in Me. In My Father’s House there are many Mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a Place for you. And if I go and prepare a Place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I Am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3

 

House – John 14:2 “In MY Father’s House…” = oikia; [from oikos; of uncertain affinity; a dwelling (more or less extension, literally or figuratively); by implication a family (more or less related, literally or figuratively):-home, house (-hold), temple.] probably residence (abstract), but usually (concerning) an abode (literally or figuratively): by implication a family (especially domestics):-home, house (-hold).

 

Mansions – John 14:2 “…are many Mansions.” = mŏnē; [from mĕnō; a primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy):-abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own.]  a staying, i.e. residence (the act or the place):-abode, mansion.

 

There are and always have been questions about the meaning of Mansions; but first let’s look at My Father’s House: MY Father is easy – JEHOVAH GOD the Father of JESUS The Christ of Nazareth and all who are adopted by His Father by surrendering their life to JESUS. House is the dwelling place of GOD, we call it Heaven (though Heaven is not a definition of oikia or oikos.), but we do not really know what it is and we won’t until we get there. A mansion is also a dwelling place, a home, a residence, but for us within GOD’s House (Heaven).

 

We do know that GOD’s Dwelling Place (Heaven) it is big, there is nothing small about our GOD! In Revelation 21 and 22 the new heaven and the new earth and the New Jerusalem are described. “For I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there is no sea. Then I, John, saw The Holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from GOD, prepared as a bride adorned for Her Husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men, and He Will Dwell with them, and they shall be His People. GOD Himself will be with them and be their GOD.” Revelation 21:1-3

 

The New Jerusalem: Revelation 21:9-24 describe The New Jerusalem; (these are just the highlights); twelve foundations of precious stones, twelve gates each gate is one pearl, the streets are of pure gold, the wall was jasper. “The City was laid out in a square; its length is as great as it breath. And he measured The City with his reed: twelve thousand furlongs (literally stadia, about 1,380 miles in all); its length, breath, and height are equal. Then he measured the wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits (about 216 feet), according to the measure of a man, that is of an angel.” Revelation 21:16-17

 

So how big is that? Most Bibles give its basic measurements as 12,000 furlongs or 1380 miles cubed for the City, with its walls being 216 feet thick, its volume is 2,628,072,000 cubic miles.

 

How does that compare to the earth, the volume of the earth is 260,000,000,000 cubic miles according to NSSDCA. So The New Jerusalem is about one percent the size of the earth.

 

The New Jerusalem stands 1,380 miles tall, the tallest mountain, Mt. Everest is 29,032 feet or 5.5 miles tall.

The tallest manmade structure is the Burj Khalifa building which is 2,717 feet or just over one half mile tall.

Earth’s atmosphere is about 60 miles thick according to NASA.

Our breathable atmosphere is 7.5 miles according to NASA.

Commercial aircraft can only fly as high as 45,000 feet (8.5 miles) according to former pilot and professor Dan Bubb.

 

So The New Jerusalem is plenty big enough for all the Saints!

 

https://youtu.be/c-QD-n_A-eI