Prophecy - 44

The next part of the verse we are studying is…


Dan 11:30 '...therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant
so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. '


The holy covenant of God's was based on what? We need to read Hebrews chapters 8,9, and 10. Yes, all of the chapters, it says so incredibly much!


Heb 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
Heb 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
Heb 8:3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
Heb 8:4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
Heb 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Heb 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Heb 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.



Heb 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
Heb 9:2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
Heb 9:3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
Heb 9:4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
Heb 9:5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
Heb 9:6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
Heb 9:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
Heb 9:8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
Heb 9:9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
Heb 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
Heb 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Heb 9:16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
Heb 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
Heb 9:18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
Heb 9:19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
Heb 9:20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
Heb 9:21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Heb 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Heb 9:25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.



Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
Heb 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
Heb 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Heb 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
Heb 10:6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
Heb 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Heb 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Heb 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Heb 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Heb 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Heb 10:30 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.
Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Heb 10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
Heb 10:33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
Heb 10:34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
Heb 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.


A lot to read but oh how wonderful it is!!!!!!!


The old covenant was one of many continuous sacrifices, the new covenant with the blood of the Lamb, became the SINGLE sacrifice of our Savior.


Now we've studied this before, the fact that the old covenant was enacted under the Ten Commandment as well as the NEW covenant. Both covenants- old and new have their foundation in the Ten Commandments of God. This is undisputable. Our God, our Savior gave the Ten Commandments as a foundation for all time. These Ten Commandments would NEVER be done away with! Never! They were and are perfect! The sacrifice for sin changed from being imperfect sacrifices to a perfect sacrifice, but sin didn't end when that Perfect Sacrifice was made. Sin remains the breaking of the commandments, and people continued and still continue to break those commandments.


1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.


Transgressing the law is breaking God's commandments. Sin is breaking God's commandments.


So we need to look at the covenant, old and new, based upon the Ten Commandments of God. So when we read this--


Dan 11:30 '...therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant
so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. '


We need to understand the Roman power in control at this time and the connection the Roman power had with the Holy Covenant- God's people who were given God's commandments, God's people who were given God's Son.


Let's notice two of the commandments-


Exo 20:2 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have none other gods before me.


Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor the likeness of any form that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Exo 20:5 thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me;
Exo 20:6 and shewing mercy unto thousands, of them that love me and keep my commandments.


As the first and second commandments we are directed to a practice that was paramount throughout the world- Idolatry, worshipping of other gods before God.


If we look at the Bible we'll find that idolatry was a HUGE sin against God and one that many, many of God's chosen people had a problem with. All around God's chosen people were a multitude of other people- far greater in number than God's chosen- and they ALL worshipped false gods of one sort or another, they were all idol worshippers choosing to build temples to their false gods and create days of celebration for their false gods. It wasn't uncommon for people to worship several false gods at one time- one false god whose attributes were of one particular thing and another false god who had different attributes- all of them FALSE, all of them of the Devil- the father of lies!


There were numerous false gods.


Jer 2:28 But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.
Jer 2:29 Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.


For according to the NUMBER of thy CITIES are thy GODS!


One false god who seemed to be worshipped universally was- the sun god.


'A solar deity (also sun god/dess) is a deity who represents the sun, or an aspect of it, usually by its perceived power and strength. Solar deities and sun worship can be found throughout most of recorded history in various forms. Hence, many beliefs have formed around this worship, such as the "missing sun" found in many cultures.'

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Throughout MOST of recorded history!
In VARIOUS forms!
In MANY cultures!


Now we need to ask ourselves, was sun worship common in the Roman Empire?


'Apollo--

As sun-god and god of light, Apollo was also known by the epithets Aegletes (...Aigletes, from a..., "light of the sun"),[13] Helius (... Helios, literally "sun"),[14] Phanaeus (... Phanaios, literally "giving or bringing light"), and Lyceus (... Lukeios, from Proto-Greek , "light"). The meaning of the epithet "Lyceus" later became associated Apollo's mother Leto, who was the patron goddes of Lycia ... and who was identified with the wolf (...) [15] earning him the epithets Lycegenes (...Lukegenes, literally "born of a wolf" or "born of Lycia") and Lycoctonus (... Lukoktonos, from ..., "wolf", and ..."to kill"). As god of the sun, the Romans referred to Apollo as Sol (... sol; literally "sun" in Latin).'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo


Apollo was one of the sun gods worshipped by Romans and known as SOL- Sun.


'Apollo was worshiped in both ancient Greek and Roman religion, and in the modern Greco–Roman Neopaganism.'


'Apollo was worshipped throughout the Roman Empire. In the traditionally Celtic lands he was most often seen as a healing and sun god. He was often equated with Celtic gods of similar character'


'Roman Apollo

The Roman worship of Apollo was adopted from the Greeks. As a quintessentially Greek god, Apollo had no direct Roman equivalent, although later Roman poets often referred to him as Phoebus.[75] There was a tradition that the Delphic oracle was consulted as early as the period of the kings of Rome during the reign of Tarquinius Superbus.[76] On the occasion of a pestilence in the 430s BCE, Apollo's first temple at Rome was established in the Flaminian fields, replacing an older cult site there known as the "Apollinare".[77] During the Second Punic War in 212 BCE, the Ludi Apollinares ("Apollonian Games") were instituted in his honor, on the instructions of a prophecy attributed to one Marcius.[78] In the time of Augustus, who considered himself under the special protection of Apollo and was even said to be his son, his worship developed and he became one of the chief gods of Rome.[79] After the battle of Actium, which was fought near a sanctuary of Apollo, Augustus enlarged Apollo's temple, dedicated a portion of the spoils to him, and instituted quinquennial games in his honour.[80] He also erected a new temple to the god on the Palatine hill.[81] Sacrifices and prayers on the Palatine to Apollo and Diana formed the culmination of the Secular Games, held in 17 BCE to celebrate the dawn of a new era.[82]'


'The lifesize so-called "Adonis" found in 1780 on the site of a villa suburbana near the Via Labicana in the Roman suburb of Centocelle is identified as an Apollo by modern scholars.In the late 2nd century CE floor mosaic from El Djem, Roman Thysdrus, he is identifiable as Apollo Helios by his effulgent halo, though now even a god's divine nakedness is concealed by his cloak, a mark of increasing conventions of modesty in the later Empire.'


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo


'Sol Invictus ("Invincible Sun") was the official sun god of the later Roman empire. In 274 Aurelian made it an official cult alongside the traditional Roman cults. Scholars disagree whether the new deity was a refoundation of the ancient Latin cult of Sol,[1] a revival of the cult of Elagabalus[2] or completely new.[3] The god was favoured by emperors after Aurelian and appeared on their coins until Constantine.[4] The last inscription referring to Sol Invictus dates to 387 AD.[5] and there were enough devotees in the 5th century that Augustine found it necessary to preach against them.[6] A festival on 25 December is sometimes thought to be responsible for the date of Christmas.[7]'


'Emperors portrayed Sol Invictus on their official coinage, with a wide range of legends, only a few of which incorporated the epithet invictus, such as the legend SOLI INVICTO COMITI, claiming the Unconquered Sun as a companion to the Emperor, used with particular frequency by Constantine.[28] Statuettes of Sol Invictus, carried by the standard-bearers, appear in three places in reliefs on the Arch of Constantine. Constantine's official coinage continues to bear images of Sol until 325/6. A solidus of Constantine as well as a gold medallion from his reign depict the Emperor's bust in profile twinned ("jugate") with Sol Invictus, with the legend INVICTUS CONSTANTINUS[29]

Constantine decreed (March 7, 321) dies Solis—day of the sun, "Sunday"—as the Roman day of rest [CJ3.12.2]:
On the venerable day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country however persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits because it often happens that another day is not suitable for grain-sowing or vine planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost.[30]
Constantine's triumphal arch was carefully positioned to align with the colossal statue of Sol by the Colosseum, so that Sol formed the dominant backdrop when seen from the direction of the main approach towards the arch.[31]'


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_Invictus


The Roman Empire for hundreds of years worshipped many pagan Gods, without any doubt this is true, the sun god was chief among them, as the sun as a god is chief among MANY cultures. Along with the sun god - the male, there was inevitably a female god at his side. It's easy enough to find knowledge of this just search the internet.

*

God's loathing of pagan practices is clear through His word.


Lev 18:21 And thou shalt not give any of thy seed to make them pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
Lev 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
Lev 18:23 And thou shalt not lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast, to lie down thereto: it is confusion.
Lev 18:24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out from before you:
Lev 18:25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land vomiteth out her inhabitants.
Lev 18:26 Ye therefore shall keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not do any of these abominations; neither the homeborn, nor the stranger that sojourneth among you:
Lev 18:27 (for all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;)
Lev 18:28 that the land vomit not you out also, when ye defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.
Lev 18:29 For whosoever shall do any of these abominations, even the souls that do them shall be cut off from among their people.
Lev 18:30 Therefore shall ye keep my charge, that ye do not any of these abominable customs, which were done before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God.


God hates sun worship!


Eze 8:14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD’S house which was toward the north; and behold, there sat the women weeping for Tammuz.
Eze 8:15 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? thou shalt again see yet greater abominations than these.
Eze 8:16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD’S house, and behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
Eze 8:17 Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have turned again to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.
Eze 8:18 Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.


Deu 17:2 If there be found in the midst of thee, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that doeth that which is evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant,
Deu 17:3 and hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, or the sun, or the moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;
Deu 17:4 and it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, then shalt thou inquire diligently, and, behold, if it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel;
Deu 17:5 then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have done this evil thing, unto thy gates, even the man or the woman; and thou shalt stone them with stones, that they die.


As we've already noted- Constantine was a sun worshipper - 'Unconquered Sun as a companion to the Emperor, used with particular frequency by Constantine.'


Let's look at a wikipedia bit on Constantine--


'Religious policy
Further information: Constantine I and Christianity and Constantine I and Judaism


Constantine the Great, mosaic in Hagia Sophia, c. 1000


Constantine is perhaps best known for being the first Christian Roman emperor; his reign was certainly a turning point for the Church. In February 313, Constantine met with Licinius in Milan where they developed the Edict of Milan. The edict stated that Christians should be allowed to follow the faith of their choosing.[200] This removed penalties for professing Christianity (under which many had been martyred in previous persecutions of Christians) and returned confiscated Church property. The edict did not only protect Christians from religious persecution, but all religions, allowing anyone to worship whichever deity they chose. A similar edict had been issued in 311 by Galerius, then senior emperor of the Tetrarchy; Galerius' edict granted Christians the right to practice their religion but did not restore any property to them.[201] The Edict of Milan included several clauses which stated that all confiscated churches would be returned as well as other provisions for previously persecuted Christians.


Scholars debate whether Constantine adopted his mother St. Helena's Christianity in his youth, or whether he adopted it gradually over the course of his life.[202] Constantine would retain the title of pontifex maximus until his death, a title emperors bore as heads of the pagan priesthood, as would his Christian successors on to Gratian (r. 375–83). According to Christian writers, Constantine was over 40 when he finally declared himself a Christian, writing to Christians to make clear that he believed he owed his successes to the protection of the Christian High God alone.[203] Throughout his rule, Constantine supported the Church financially, built basilicas, granted privileges to clergy (e.g. exemption from certain taxes), promoted Christians to high office, and returned property confiscated during the Diocletianic persecution.[204] His most famous building projects include the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and Old Saint Peter's Basilica.
Constantine did not patronize Christianity alone, however. After gaining victory in the Battle of the Milvian Bridge (312), a triumphal arch—the Arch of Constantine—was built (315) to celebrate it; the arch is decorated with images of Victoria and sacrifices to gods like Apollo, Diana, or Hercules, but contains no Christian symbolism.


In 321, Constantine instructed that Christians and non-Christians should be united in observing the venerable day of the sun, referencing the esoteric eastern sun-worship which Aurelian had helped introduce, and his coinage still carried the symbols of the sun cult until 324. Even after the pagan gods had disappeared from the coinage, Christian symbols appeared only as Constantine's personal attributes: the chi rho between his hands or on his labarum, but never on the coin itself.[205] Even when Constantine dedicated the new capital of Constantinople, which became the seat of Byzantine Christianity for a millennium, he did so wearing the Apollonian sun-rayed Diadem.


Constantine burning Arian books
The reign of Constantine established a precedent for the position of the emperor as having some influence within the religious discussions going on within the Catholic Church of that time, e.g., the dispute over Arianism. Constantine himself disliked the risks to societal stability that religious disputes and controversies brought with them, preferring where possible to establish an orthodoxy.[206] The emperor saw it as his duty to ensure that God was properly worshiped in his empire, and that what proper worship consisted would be determined by the Church.[207] In 316, Constantine acted as a judge in a North African dispute concerning the validity of Donatism. After deciding against the Donatists, Constantine led an army of Christians against the Donatist Christians. After 300 years of pacifism, this was the first intra-Christian persecution. More significantly, in 325 he summoned the Council of Nicaea, effectively the first Ecumenical Council (unless the Council of Jerusalem is so classified). Nicaea was dealt mostly with Arianism. Constantine also enforced the prohibition of the First Council of Nicaea against celebrating the Lord's Supper on the day before the Jewish Passover (14 Nisan) (see Quartodecimanism and Easter controversy).[208]
Constantine made new laws regarding the Jews. They were forbidden to own Christian slaves or to circumcise their slaves.'

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We're going to stop here tonight this is a lot to digest!


More tomorrow as we tie this history into the prophecy and see God's wondrous hand at work!


By His amazing LOVE!


Through His FORGIVENESS!


Amen.

Prophecy - 43

History-Prophecy.


As we continue on we need to look at the continuing history of Christianity. Missionaries eventually would go to all the world, but closer to the declining Roman Empire -as wars were renewed and the gradual disintegration of that empire was underway- we have an invading force that were once known for their barbarianism. This group of people were the Goths.


'Ulfilas, or Gothic Wulfila (also Ulphilas. Orphila)[1] (ca. 310 – 383;[2]), bishop, missionary, and Bible translator, was a Goth or half-Goth and half-Greek from Cappadocia who had spent time inside the Roman Empire at the peak of the Arian controversy.


Ulfilas was ordained a bishop by Eusebius of Nicomedia and returned to his people to work as a missionary. In 348, to escape religious persecution by a Gothic chief, probably Athanaric[3] he obtained permission from Constantius II to migrate with his flock of converts to Moesia and settle near Nicopolis ad Istrum, in what is now northern Bulgaria. There, Ulfilas translated the Bible from Greek into the Gothic language. For this he devised the Gothic alphabet.[4] Fragments of his translation have survived, notably the Codex Argenteus held since 1648 in the University Library of Uppsala in Sweden. A parchment page of this Bible was found in 1971 in the Speyer Cathedral.[5]


His parents were of non-Gothic Anatolian origin but had been enslaved by Goths on horseback. Ulfilas converted many among the Goths, preaching an Arian Christianity, which, when they reached the western Mediterranean, set them apart from their Orthodox neighbors and subjects.


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Read this…about the Goths invasion of the Roman Empire--


'In the first place, it was a great thing for Europe that when the
Goths poured over Italy and even captured Rome they came as a
Christian people, reverencing and sparing the churches, and
abstaining from those barbarities that accompanied the invasion of
Britain by the heathen Saxons. But, in the second place, many of
these simple Gothic Christians learned to their surprise that they
were heretics, and that only when their efforts toward fraternizing
with their fellow Christians in the orthodox Church were angrily
resented.11'

http://www.sabbathtruth.com/portals/20/documents/Truth_Triumphant.pdf


Let's look a little bit at the council of Nicea too -

'The First Council of Nicaea was a council of Christian bishops convened in Nicaea in Bithynia (present-day Iznik in Turkey) by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in A.D. 325. The Council was the first effort to attain consensus in the church through an assembly representing all of Christendom.[2]
Its main accomplishments were settlement of the Christological issue of the relationship of Jesus to God the Father; the construction of the first part of the Nicene Creed; settling the calculation of the date of Easter; and promulgation of early canon law.[3][4]'


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This is why the invading Christian Goths later on were considered Heretics, they were of differing Christian beliefs than the ruling class in Roman.


The differing confrontations to come, the many, many battles that would end up dividing the Roman Empire eventually into ten main kingdoms for a time before three would be 'plucked up'…


(Dan 7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. )


...would be political and religious rather than strictly political- a BIG change from past battles.


This next verse--


Dan 11:30 'For the ships of Chittim shall come against him…'


Could only refer to this man and his amazing naval forces.


'The Vandals had suffered greatly from attacks from the more numerous Visigoths, and not long after taking power, Genseric decided to leave Hispania to this rival Germanic tribe. In fact, he seems to have started building a Vandal fleet even before he became king.


Taking advantage of a dispute between Boniface, Roman governor of North Africa, and the Roman government, Genseric ferried all 80,000 of his people across to Africa in 429. Once there, he won many battles over the weak and divided Roman defenders and quickly overran the territory now comprising modern Morocco and northern Algeria. His Vandal army laid siege to the city of Hippo Regius (where Augustine had recently been bishop — he died during the siege), taking it after 14 months of bitter fighting. The next year, Roman Emperor Valentinian III recognized Genseric as king of the lands he and his men had conquered.


In 439, after casting a covetous eye on the great city of Carthage for a decade, he took the city, apparently without any fighting. The Romans were caught unaware, and Genseric captured a large part of the western Roman navy docked in the port of Carthage. The Catholic bishop of the city, Quodvultdeus, was exiled to Naples, since Genseric demanded that all his close advisors follow the Arian form of Christianity. Nevertheless, Genseric gave freedom of religion to the Catholics, while insisting that the regime's elite follow Arianism. The common folk had low taxes under his reign, as most of the tax pressure was on the rich Roman families and the Catholic clergy.


Added to his own burgeoning fleet, the Kingdom of the Vandals now threatened the Empire for mastery of the western Mediterranean Sea. Carthage, meanwhile, became the new Vandal capital and an enemy of Rome for the first time since the Punic Wars.


With the help of their fleet, the Vandals soon subdued Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica and the Balearic Islands. Genseric strengthened the Vandal defenses and fleet and regulated the positions of Arians and Catholics. In 442, the Romans acknowledged the Carthaginian conquests, and recognized the Vandal kingdom as an independent country rather than subsidiary to Roman rule. The area in Algeria that had remained for the larger part independent of the Vandals turned from a Roman province into an ally.


For the next 30 years, Genseric and his soldiers sailed up and down the Mediterranean, living as pirates and raiders. One legend has it that Genseric was unable to vault upon a horse because of a fall he had taken as a young man; so he assuaged his desire for military glory on the sea.


In 468, Genseric's kingdom was the target of the last concerted effort by the two halves of the Roman Empire. They wished to subdue the Vandals and end their pirate raids. Genseric, against long odds, defeated the eastern Roman fleet commanded by Basiliscus off Cap Bon. It has been reported that the total invasion force on the fleet of 1,100 ships, counted 100,000 soldiers. Genseric sent a fleet of 500 Vandal ships against the Romans, losing 340 ships in the first engagement, but succeeded in destroying 600 Roman ships in the second. The Romans abandoned the campaign and Genseric remained master of the western Mediterranean until his death, ruling from the Strait of Gibraltar all the way to Tripolitania.


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AMAZING! The victory of this man of the sea! This verse of prophecy- Dan 11:30 'For the ships of Chittim shall come against him…' is truly fulfilled in this!


The Roman Empire was fighting for its survival and failing.


We'll continue with the 30th verse tomorrow… little by little, all by the GRACE OF GOD!!!!!!!


In His amazing LOVE!


Amen.

Prophecy - 42

Let's pick up where we left off yesterday. We need to touch on a few more points before continuing on past Dan. 11:29.


Dan 11:29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.


The whole landscape of the fighting, the disputes, the confrontations, the battles that were being arranged, fought, lost and won had a new element once Christianity filtered into everything. There was a decisive rift between various groups of Christians as time went on, each claiming to have the *real* truth of the matter in things of God.


In the Eastern part of the Roman Empire- Constantinople, Alexandria, and Antioch- There were questions over who was in charge of things.

'Patriarch of Antioch is a traditional title held by the Bishop of Antioch. As the traditional "overseer" episkopos, from which the word 'bishop' is derived) of the first gentile Christian community, the position has been of prime importance in the church from its earliest period…

According to church tradition, this ancient Patriarchate was founded by the Apostle Saint Peter. The patriarchal succession was disputed at the time of the Meletian schism in 362 and again after the Council of Chalcedon in 451, when there were rival Melkite and non-Chalcedonian claimants to the see.'

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In the Western part of the Roman Empire- Rome- there was NO question who was in charge. The Bishop of Rome.

'The Pope ... is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church (which is composed of the Latin Rite and the Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the see of Rome). The current office-holder is Pope Benedict XVI, who was elected in a papal conclave on 19 April 2005.[nb 1]

The office of the pope is known as the Papacy. His ecclesiastical jurisdiction is often called the "Holy See" (Sancta Sedes in Latin), or the "Apostolic See" based upon the Church tradition that the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul were martyred in Rome.

The pope is also head of state of Vatican City State,[3] a sovereign city-state entirely enclaved within the city of Rome.


Early popes helped to spread Christianity and resolve doctrinal disputes.[4] After the conversion of the rulers of the Roman Empire (the conversion of the populace was already advanced even before the Edict of Milan, 313), the Roman emperors became the popes' secular allies until the 8th century when Pope Stephen II was forced to appeal to the Franks for help,[5] beginning a period of close interaction with the rulers of the west. For centuries, the Donation of Constantine, later proved to be a forgery, provided support for the papacy's claim of political supremacy over the entire former Western Roman Empire. In medieval times, popes played powerful roles in Western Europe, often struggling with monarchs for control over the wide-ranging affairs of Church and state,[4] crowning emperors (Charlemagne was the first emperor crowned by a pope), and regulating disputes among secular rulers.[6]


Gradually forced to give up temporal power, popes now focus almost exclusively on religious matters.[4] Over the centuries, papal claims of spiritual authority have been ever more clearly expressed, culminating in 1870 with the proclamation of the dogma of papal infallibility for rare occasions when the pope speaks ex cathedra (literally "from the chair (of St. Peter)") to issue a formal definition of faith or morals.[4] The first (after the proclamation) and so far the last such occasion was in 1950, with the definition of the dogma of the Assumption of Mary.'

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Now another point that needs to be noted- that date 330AD- that appointed time, that date for us to notice.


After 330AD No emperor had his empire based out of Rome! Who had official residence there instead? As the secular left going to Constantinople, who was left to take over Rome? The Bishop of Rome, and aside from what would be a few hiccups here and there over the course of the ages, the Bishop of Rome has never permanently left Rome. Where is the Papacy today? Rome. Again the pride that the Roman Catholic Church has in it's 2000 year history is well known. That our God saw fit to give us prophecy to point out all this is just so amazing!


Remember this point?

• May 11 – Emperor Constantine the Great dedicates Constantinople, or Nova Roma (modern Istanbul), and moves the capital of the Roman Empire there from Rome. He has spent 4 years building the city on the site of ancient Byzantium; having chosen the site for its strategic location (a seaport with easy access to Anatolia and the Danube).

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The capital of the Roman Empire MOVED after 300 plus years! 330 years from the First established ruler of the Roman Empire. This is just so wondrous, being able to see the hand of God working through prophecy, working through history, just overwhelmingly wonderful.


Here's a quotation worth noting--


'Thus the presence of Constantine in Rome redounded to the importance and dignity of the bishopric of
Rome, but it was not until Constantine had moved his capital to Constantinople, that the way was
opened for the full play of that arrogant spirit that has ever been the chief characteristic of that
dignitary. "The absence of a secular competitor allowed the papal authority to grow up and to develop
its secret strength" Milman);2 and under the blandishments of necessitous imperial favor he did as he
pleased, and more rapidly than ever his power grew.'

http://www.whitehorsemedia.com/docs/THE_TWO_REPUBLICS.pdf


We've already noted in the wiki quote earlier in this study that the Papal Roman power grew in the Western Roman Empire. This isn't coincidence, but rather the truth predicted by God for what must come to pass in our world. Such fascinating studying!


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This is a shorter study than usual, but we need to really take our time and let the Lord guide us as we undertake such amazing truth.


More tomorrow by the grace of our Lord and Savior! Through His LOVE always!!!


Amen.

Prophecy - 41

Dan 11:29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.


Remember how that Little Horn came up *diverse* from the others? It was a different sort of kingdom wasn't it? A religious/political power, not solely a political power. Now here we have the King of the North coming towards the King of the South- but it wasn't going to be as it had been before, and not just as it was the last time. So we have to ask ourselves why wasn't it as it was before? History reveals that IF that appointed time spoken of is the *Dan. 11:24 '...even for a time.' * then the momentous events occurring in 330AD were what? We took a quick glance at them yesterday.


• May 11 – Emperor Constantine the Great dedicates Constantinople, or Nova Roma (modern Istanbul), and moves the capital of the Roman Empire there from Rome. He has spent 4 years building the city on the site of ancient Byzantium; having chosen the site for its strategic location (a seaport with easy access to Anatolia and the Danube).
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Constantine the Great. Constantine was the emperor who did what? He was...

'Well known for being the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity'
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Again, RELIGION! A religious power is coming into play, not strictly political!


This religious power combined with politics was divided- N/W verses S/E .


The First Council of Nicea was convened by Constantine I upon the recommendations of a synod led by Hosius of Córdoba in the Eastertide of 325. This synod had been charged with investigation of the trouble brought about by the Arian controversy in the Greek-speaking east.[10] To most bishops, the teachings of Arius were heretical and dangerous to the salvation of souls. In the summer of 325, the bishops of all provinces were summoned to Nicea (now known as Iznik, in modern-day Turkey), a place easily accessible to the majority of delegates, particularly those of Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Greece, and Thrace.

This was the first general council in the history of the Church since the Apostolic Council of Jerusalem, the Apostolic council having established the conditions upon which Gentiles could join the Church.[11] In the Council of Nicea, "the Church had taken her first great step to define doctrine more precisely in response to a challenge from a heretical theology."[12]

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Christians holding different beliefs.


'Athanasius of Alexandria [b. ca. (296-298) – d. 2 May 373] - He was the 20th bishop of Alexandria.[1] His long episcopate lasted 45 years (c. 8 June 328 - 2 May 373), of which over 17 years were spent in five exiles ordered by four different Roman emperors. He is considered to be a renowned Christian theologian, a Church Father, the chief defender of Orthodoxy against Arianism, and a noted Egyptian leader of the fourth century.

He is remembered for his role in the conflict with Arius and Arianism. In 325, at the age of 27, Athanasius had a leading role against the Arians in the First Council of Nicaea. At the time, he was a deacon and personal secretary of the 19th Bishop of Alexandria, Alexander. Nicaea was convoked by the Emperor Constantine in May–August 325 to address the Arian heresy that Christ is of a distinct substance from the Father.'

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'Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius (ca. AD 250–336), a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity ('God the Father', 'God the Son' and 'God the Holy Spirit') and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father.

Deemed a heretic by the First Council of Nicaea of 325, Arius was later exonerated in 335 at the First Synod of Tyre,[1] and then, after his death, pronounced a heretic again at the First Council of Constantinople of 381.[2]

The Roman Emperors Constantius II (337–361) and Valens (364–378) were Arians or Semi-Arians. The Arian concept of Christ is that the Son of God did not always exist, but was created by—and is therefore distinct from and inferior to—God the Father. This belief is grounded in the Gospel of John passage “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I." (verse 14:28)[3]

Arianism is defined as those teachings attributed to Arius which are in opposition to mainstream Trinitarian Christological doctrine, as determined by the first two Ecumenical Councils and currently maintained by the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Churches and most Reformation Protestant Churches. "Arianism" is also often used to refer to other nontrinitarian theological systems of the 4th century, which regarded Jesus Christ—the Son of God, the Logos—as either a created being (as in Arianism proper and Anomoeanism), or as neither uncreated nor created in the sense other beings are created (as in Semi-Arianism).'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arianism


We need to remember how the first church was viewed- seriously, let's take a look at things. How did Jesus intend His church to be?

There would be elders-


Act 11:29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
Act 11:30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.


Act 14:20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
Act 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Act 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.


Act 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.


What is an elder--

pres-boo'-ter-os
Comparative of πρέσβυς presbus (elderly); older; as noun, a senior; specifically an Israelite Sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or Christian “presbyter”: - elder (-est), old.

G4245
πρεσβύτερος
presbuteros
Thayer Definition:
1) elder, of age
1a) the elder of two people
1b) advanced in life, an elder, a senior
1b1) forefathers
2) a term of rank or office
2a) among the Jews
2a1) members of the great council or Sanhedrin (because in early times the rulers of the people, judges, etc., were selected from elderly men)
2a2) of those who in separate cities managed public affairs and administered justice
2b) among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches) The NT uses the term bishop, elders, and presbyters interchangeably
2c) the twenty four members of the heavenly Sanhedrin or court seated on thrones around the throne of God


'Among Christians- those who preside over the assemblies-churches. Also- the term elder means the same as the word bishop.'


Were these men- these elders/bishops- put in charge over the people of God expecting to be worshipped themselves? NO! NEVER!


Jesus was their EXAMPLE! Jesus did NOT want people to ever worship other people, not ever. God was to be first always! Guidance was the most He wanted for people. The elders would guide the younger members- and this is in their new life as Christians. A fifty year old man newly born to Christ could be served well by a thirty year old man who has been a Christian for several years. Age does not lay claim to knowledge in all things by any means.


Today we live in a world that has many leaders, and in our churches there are men who are leaders and those leaders more often than not believe they are above all others. Jesus taught the disciples this--


Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.


To minister, to give our lives, to be a servant and NOT just ceremonially, but in reality! Never were people to take honor for themselves, never were people to put themselves above others.


Mat 23:2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
Mat 23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
Mat 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Mat 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
Mat 23:6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
Mat 23:7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
Mat 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Mat 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Mat 23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
Mat 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.


This is what our SAVIOR wanted for us, for HIS church, HIS people! This however is NOT how things evolved for the mainstream churches not at all. The mainstream churches not long after our Savior died began taking steps away from Christ not towards Him!


1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.


As politics and religion began to mingle so thoroughly men of God wanted to become men with great power, men with great influence. This is NOT how God wanted it to be, not in the least!


These political wars being influenced so greatly by religious matters was NOT what God desired for His people, and yet those who believed they were greatest with God were in fact in league with the devil, knowingly or unknowingly.


More on this tomorrow by the grace of God! We need so much to understand all this, and we can by His love.


In Him!!!


Amen.

Prophecy - 40

Dan 11:24 'He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches…'


Augustus was able to do what his fathers hadn't, nor his father's father… he brought peace. With peace however came the end of the constant battling and yet he had to keep up his armies. The armies enjoyed special privileges because of this. Pax Romana was introduced…


'Pax Romana (Latin for "Roman peace") was the long period of relative peace and minimal expansion by military force experienced by the Roman Empire in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Since it was established by Caesar Augustus it is sometimes called Pax Augusta. Its span was about 207 years (27 BC to 180 AD).[1]'

'The concept of Pax Romana was first described by Edward Gibbon in The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, in Chapter Two. Gibbon proposed a period of moderation under Augustus and his successors and argued that generals bent on expansion (e.g. Germanicus, Agricola and Corbulo) were checked and recalled by the Emperors during their victories favouring consolidation ahead of further expansion. Gibbon lists the Roman conquest of Britain under Claudius and the conquests of Trajan as exceptions to this policy of moderation and places the end of the period at the death of Marcus Aurelius in 180 AD, despite the conclusion of peace by the latter's son Commodus later in the same year. During the Pax Romana, the area of Roman rule expanded to about five million square kilometres (two million square miles).'

*

'Augustus faced a problem making peace an acceptable mode of life for the Romans, who had been at war with one power or another continuously for 200 years.[2] Romans regarded peace not as an absence of war, but the rare situation that existed when all opponents had been beaten down and lost the ability to resist.[3] Augustus' challenge was to persuade Romans that the prosperity they could achieve in the absence of warfare was better for the Empire than the potential wealth and honor acquired when fighting a risky war. Augustus succeeded by means of skillful propaganda. Subsequent emperors followed his lead, sometimes producing lavish ceremonies to close the Gates of Janus, issuing coins with Pax on the reverse, and patronizing literature extolling the benefits of the Pax Romana.[2]'

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Keeping other *strongholds* from becoming strong enough to devise against him was a task that had to be undertaken and was done so successfully.


Daniel 11:24 '...yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time. '


'The provinces of the empire (as they have been described in the
preceding chapter) were destitute of any public force, or constitutional
freedom. In Etruria, in Greece, [28] and in Gaul, [29] it was the first
care of the senate to dissolve those dangerous confederacies, which
taught mankind that, as the Roman arms prevailed by division, they might
be resisted by union. Those princes, whom the ostentation of gratitude
or generosity permitted for a while to hold a precarious sceptre, were
dismissed from their thrones, as soon as they had per formed their
appointed task of fashioning to the yoke the vanquished nations.
The free states and cities which had embraced the cause of Rome
were rewarded with a nominal alliance, and insensibly sunk into real
servitude. The public authority was every where exercised by the
ministers of the senate and of the emperors, and that authority was
absolute, and without control. [291] But the same salutary maxims of
government, which had secured the peace and obedience of Italy were
extended to the most distant conquests. A nation of Romans was gradually
formed in the provinces, by the double expedient of introducing
colonies, and of admitting the most faithful and deserving of the
provincials to the freedom of Rome.'


Pasted from- Title: The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 1 Author: Edward Gibbon Commentator: H. H. Milman
Posting Date: June 7, 2008 [EBook #731] Release Date: November, 1996 Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DECLINE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE ***

History reveals that the Roman Empire was to remain a relative peace for so long because it kept all those who might have had a chance to work up an army against them- in check- under the Roman thumb.


*

How long would this new and much different sort of life last? Dan. 11:24 '...even for a time.' As we learned a while back in studying prophecy 'a time' stands for something. A year. A Biblical year is 360 days. A prophetic year equal 360 years. So if this time of Rome rule and relative peace under the Romans was to last 360 years what year would that bring us to if we take the date when the decisive battle of Actium was won and Augustus became the First Citizen of Rome- 31BC then that brings us to 330 AD (accounting for the '0' transition year as we also noted previously - think number timeline negative to positive numbers)


Did anything momentous happen in 330AD?


• May 11 – Emperor Constantine the Great dedicates Constantinople, or Nova Roma (modern Istanbul), and moves the capital of the Roman Empire there from Rome. He has spent 4 years building the city on the site of ancient Byzantium; having chosen the site for its strategic location (a seaport with easy access to Anatolia and the Danube).
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*

But first before we get ahead of ourselves too far we have to continue into the time BEFORE that appointed time. Things were to happen, many things that need to be pointed out so there would be NO doubt as to the Roman power in control here. Is it any wonder we are being shown this several times? Seriously, Rome- the legs of iron. Rome the power in control at the time of our Savior's birth, life, and death! Rome- the power that would eventually be divided but NEVER disappear fully- not until our Savior returns. We cannot forget this very, very important point here. The legs of iron, the little horn power, which so prominently figure into prophecy. Those feet of iron mingled with clay would stand until crushed under the entering of the stone made without hands- our Savior's return and the end of the world as we know it. There would have been a MUCH different prophetic picture if we weren't to focus so heavily upon the Roman kingdom brought into play after Greece, which came into existence as a power after the Medes and Persians, which came to their height of power after Babylon. These are HISTORIC FACTS! The existence of this power would have influence until our Savior returns the same power that was in control when our Savior walked the earth. The pagan Rome power became papal Rome power and that power has never ended entirely though it's gone through various transitions, in fact the Papacy today is exceedingly proud of its 2000 year history, exceedingly proud!


So yes, it makes a lot of sense for Rome to be a major, major focus, an undeniable focus that warranted detail after detail in this vision given, so there would be no doubt as to the power of this force, no doubt whatsoever. There is no doubt in my mind how these puzzle pieces of prophecy are fitting together. Very, very seldom is a puzzle ever put together in one continuous motion, but rather there is a piecing together, a weaving, an interlocking as the pieces are given. History had to unfold, details of that history had to be recorded for all time. When the little book was opened and man was ready to find comprehension as the last cries for man to find their Savior were to begin to go forth with power, this was when the puzzle was truly begun and the pieces began to be put into their proper places.


Because the prophecy extends down to the very end we have not lived to that end, but we are found in there as those who are living in the time before Christ's return. We have a special admonition to watch and pray or we'll be taken unaware. By the grace of God we will NOT be taken unaware, but found in Him fully known by Him!


So continuing on...


Dan 11:25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.
Dan 11:26 Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.
Dan 11:27 And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.
Dan 11:28 Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.


Is there a force that pits the King of the North with the King of the South in a great battle? Yes. We've gone over some of this before but now we have added details to look at.


Dan 11:26 Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.
Dan 11:27 And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.


The next bit from Wikipedia is lengthy but PLEASE take the time to read it.

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The final war of the Roman Republic, also known as Antony's civil war or the war between Antony and Octavian, was the last of the Roman civil wars of the republic, fought between Cleopatra (assisted by Mark Antony) and Octavian. After the Roman Senate declared war on the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, Antony, her lover and ally, betrayed the Roman government and joined the war on Cleopatra’s side. After the decisive victory for Octavian at the Battle of Actium, Cleopatra and Antony withdrew to Alexandria, where Octavian besieged the city until both Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide.

Following the end of the war, Octavian brought peace to the Roman state that had been plagued by a century of civil wars. Octavian became the most powerful man in the Roman world and the Senate bestowed upon him the name of Augustus in 27 BC. Octavian, now Augustus, would be the first Roman Emperor and would transform the oligarchic/democratic Republic into the autocratic Roman Empire.

The last Republican Civil War would mark the beginning of the Pax Romana, which remains the longest period of peace and stability that Europe has seen in recorded history.

Political and military buildup

The Caesarians Octavian (Caesar's principal, though not sole, heir), Mark Antony, and Marcus Lepidus under the Second Triumvirate had stepped in to fill the power vacuum caused by Julius Caesar's assassination. After the Triumvirate had defeated Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus at the Battle of Philippi (42 BC) and Lepidus was expelled from the Triumvirate (36 BC), Octavian and Antony were left as the two most powerful men in the Roman world. Octavian took control of the west, including Hispania, Gaul, Italia, and Africa. Antony received control of the east, including Graecia, Asia, Syria and Aegyptus.

For a time, Rome saw peace. Octavian put down revolts in the west while Antony reorganized the east; however, the peace was short lived. Antony had been having an affair with the queen of Egypt, Cleopatra. Rome, especially Octavian, took note of Antony’s actions. Since 40 BC, Antony had been married to Octavia Minor, the sister of Octavian. Octavian seized the opportunity and had his minister Gaius Maecenas produce a propaganda campaign against Antony.

All of Rome felt astonished when they heard word of Antony’s Donations of Alexandria. In these donations, Antony ceded much of Rome’s territory in the east to Cleopatra. Cleopatra and Caesarion were crowned co-rulers of Egypt and Cyprus; Alexander Helios was crowned ruler of Armenia, Media, and Parthia; Cleopatra Selene II was crowned ruler of Cyrenaica and Libya; and Ptolemy Philadelphus was crowned ruler of Phoenicia, Syria, and Cilicia. Cleopatra took the title of Queen of Kings and Caesarion took the title of King of Kings.

In response, Octavian increased the personal attacks against Antony, but the Senate and people of Rome were not convinced. Octavian’s chance came when Antony married Cleopatra in 32 BC before he divorced Octavia. That action combined with information that Antony was planning to establish a second Senate in Alexandria created the perfect environment for Octavian to strip Antony of his power.

Octavian summoned the Senate and accused Antony of anti-Roman sentiments. Octavian had illegally seized Antony’s will from the Temple of Vesta. In it, Antony recognized Caesarion as Caesar's legal heir, left his possessions to his children by Cleopatra, and finally indicated his desire to be buried with Cleopatra in Alexandria instead of in Rome. The Senators were not moved by Caesarion or Antony’s children but Antony’s desire to be buried outside of Rome invoked the Senate’s rage. Octavian, the natural politician he was, blamed Cleopatra and not Antony. The Senate declared war on Cleopatra, and Octavian knew that Antony would come to her aid.

When Cleopatra received word that Rome had declared war, Antony threw his support to Egypt. Immediately, the Senate stripped Antony of all his official power and labeled him as an outlaw and a traitor. Octavian summoned all of his legions, numbered at almost 200,000 Roman legionaries. Cleopatra and Antony did the same, assembling roughly the same number in mixed heavy Roman and light Egyptian infantry.

The War
Naval theater

The Battle of Actium was the decisive battle of the naval theater.

By mid-summer of 31 BC, Antony maneuvered his army into Greece and Octavian soon followed. Octavian brought with him his chief military advisor and closest friend Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa to command his naval forces. Although the ground forces were comparable, Octavian's fleet was superior. Antony's fleet was made up of large vessels, but with inexperienced crews and commanders. Octavian's fleet of smaller, more maneuverable vessels was filled with experienced sailors.

Octavian moved his soldiers cross the Adriatic Sea to confront Antony near Actium. Meanwhile, Agrippa disrupted Antony's supply lines with the navy. Gaius Sosius commanded a squadron in Mark Anthony's fleet with which he managed to defeat the squadron of Lucius Arruntius and put it to flight, but when the latter was reinforced by Marcus Agrippa, Sosius's ally Tarcondimotus - the king of Cilicia - was killed and Sosius himself was forced to flee.

Octavian decided not to attack and risk unnecessary losses. Instead, Octavian wanted to battle Antony by sea where his experienced sailors could dominate. In response, Antony and Octavian engaged in Fabian strategy until the time was right. As the summer ended and autumn began to set in, both Octavian and Antony settled for a battle of attrition. The strategy of delay paid dividends to Octavian's cause, as morale sank and prominent Romans deserted Antony's cause.

The first conflict of the war occurred when Octavian's general Agrippa captured the Greek city and naval port of Methone. The city had previously been loyal to Antony. Although Antony was an experienced soldier, he did not understand naval combat, which led to his downfall. Antony moved his fleet to Actium where Octavian’s navy and army had taken camp. In what would become known as the Battle of Actium, Antony, on September 2, 31 BC, moved his large quinqueremes through the strait and into the open sea. There, Octavian’s light and maneuverable Liburnian ships drew in battle formation against Antony’s warships. Cleopatra stayed behind Antony’s line on her royal barge.

A devastating blow to Antony’s forces came when one of Antony’s former generals delivered to Octavian Antony’s battle plan. Antony had hoped to use his biggest ships to drive back Agrippa's wing on the north end of his line, but Octavian's entire fleet stayed carefully out of range. Shortly after mid-day, Antony was forced to extend his line out from the protection of the shore, and then finally engage the enemy. Octavian's fleet, armed with better trained and fresher crews, made quick work of Antony’s larger and less experienced navy. Octavian’s soldiers had spent years fighting in Roman naval combat, where one objective was to ram the enemy ship and at the same time kill the above deck crew with a shower of arrows and catapult-launched stones large enough to decapitate a man.

As the armies stood on either side of the naval battle, they watched as Antony was being outmatched by Agrippa. Seeing that the battle was going against Antony, Cleopatra's fleet retreated to open sea without firing a shot, leaving Antony to fight for himself. As a gap opened in Agrippa's blockade, she funneled through, and was soon closely followed by Antony's command ships. The commanders of Antony's land forces, which were supposed to follow him to Asia, promptly surrendered their legions without a fight. Antony retreated to a smaller vessel with his flag and managed to escape to Alexandria. By the end of the day, Antony’s entire fleet would lie at the bottom of the sea and the Roman world had witnessed the largest naval battle in almost 200 years.

Land campaign

With Octavian now in control of nearly 60 legions (approximately 360,000 men), he was left as the indisputable master of the Roman world. Although Octavian wanted to immediately pursue Antony and Cleopatra, many of his veterans wanted to retire and return to private life. Octavian allowed many of his longest serving veterans (as many as 10 legions by some accounts) to retire. Many of those legionaries could trace their service to Julius Caesar some 20 years earlier.

After the winter ended, Octavian resumed the hunt. In the spring of 30 BC, Octavian rejected the idea of transporting his army across the sea and attacking Alexandria directly, and instead traveled by land through Asia. Antony had received much of his backing from Rome’s client kingdoms in the east. By marching his army by land, he ensured Antony could not regroup and cement his authority over the provinces.

The Death of Cleopatra by Reginald Arthur.

Meanwhile, Antony attempted to secure an army in Cyrenaica from Lucius Pinarius. Unfortunately for Antony, Pinarius had switched his loyalty to Octavian. When Octavian received word of this development, he ordered Pinarius to move his four legions east towards Alexandria while Octavian would move west. Trapped in Egypt with the remnant of his former army, Antony and Cleopatra bided their time awaiting Octavian's arrival.

When Octavian and Pinarius arrived at Alexandria, they placed the entire city under siege. Before Octavian had arrived, Antony took the roughly 10,000 soldiers he had left and attacked Pinarius, unaware that he was outnumbered 2 to 1. Pinarius destroyed what was left of Antony’s army with Antony escaping back to Alexandria before Octavian arrived. As Octavian approached with his legions, what remained of Antony's cavalry and fleet surrendered to Octavian. Most of Antony’s infantry surrendered without any engagement at this stage of the conflict, they were Italian veterans and Antony's cause was lost.

Antony was forced to watch as his army and hopes of dominance in Rome were handed to Octavian. In honorable Roman tradition, Antony, on August 1, 30 BC, fell on his sword. According to the ancients accounts however, he was not entirely successful and with an open wound in his belly, was taken to join Cleopatra, who had fled to her mausoleum. Here Antony succumbed to his wound and supposedly died in his lover's arms, leaving her alone to face Octavian.

Cleopatra did not immediately follow Antony in suicide. Instead, in a last ditch effort, Cleopatra opened negotiations with Octavian. Cleopatra begged Octavian to spare Caesarion’s life in exchange for willing imprisonment. Octavian refused. Within a week, Octavian informed Cleopatra that she was to play a role in Octavian's Triumph back in Rome. This role was "carefully explained to her", while Caesarion was "butchered without compunction". Octavian supposedly said "two Caesars are one too many" as he ordered Caesarion's death.[3] According to Strabo who was alive at the time of the event, Cleopatra died from a self-induced bite from a venomous snake, or from applying a poisonous ointment to herself.[4] With Cleopatra's death, the final war of the Republic was over.

Due to this war, Octavian would become Augustus and the first Roman Emperor.
Aftermath

Within a month, Octavian was named Pharaoh, and Egypt became his personal possession. With Octavian in control of all of Rome's provinces and over 50 legions, he was now the undisputed master of the Roman world. Through executing Antony's supporters, Octavian finally brought a century of civil war to a close. Within a few years, Octavian was named Augustus by the Senate and given unprecedented powers. Octavian, now Augustus, merged the western and eastern halves of the Republic into the Roman Empire with Augustus ruling it as the first Roman Emperor.

In the ensuing months and years, Augustus passed the series of laws that while outwardly preserving the appearance of the Republic made his position within it of paramount power and authority. He laid the foundations for what is now called the Roman Empire. From then on, the Roman state would be ruled by a Princeps (first citizen), in modern terms, Rome would from now on be ruled by Emperors. The Senate ostensibly still had power and authority over certain Senatorial provinces, however, the critical border provinces, like Syria, Egypt, Gaul, requiring the greatest numbers of legions would be directly ruled by Augustus and the Emperors who succeeded him.

With the end of the last Republican civil war, the Republic was replaced by the Empire. Augustus's reign would usher in a golden era of Roman culture and produce a stability that Rome had not seen in over a century. With Rome in control of the entire Mediterranean world, a peace that would reign in the Roman world for centuries after Augustus’s death: the Pax Romana (Roman Peace). The Empire that Augustus established would last in Western Europe until the fall of Rome in the 5th century AD. The Eastern part of the Roman Empire would also survive as the Byzantine Empire until the fall of Constantinople in 1453 AD.

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Remember this…


Dan 11:26 Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.
Dan 11:27 And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.


The GREAT deceptions that took place! If it weren't for the lies spoken, if it weren't for the those sitting at his table bent on destroying him- Antony wouldn't have lost the battle so decisively. Betrayal. Those who are dependent upon you turning upon you causing your destruction. Read the following about one of Mark Antony's trusted generals!

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Lucius Pinarius Scarpus (flourished 1st century BC) was a Roman that lived in the late Roman Republic and the early Roman Empire.

According to Suetonius,[1] Pinarius was a great nephew of dictator Gaius Julius Caesar through one his sisters (sororum nepotes). His cousins were consul Quintus Pedius, Octavia Minor (the fourth wife of Triumvir Mark Antony) and Octavian (future first Roman Emperor Augustus).[2]

His father was a member of the gens Pinaria, an ancient, distinguished family of patrician status. The family can be traced to the foundations of Rome. Various members of the gens served as priests and were among the first to serve as consuls in the republic.

Little is known on Scarpus' early life. He is first mentioned in the ancient sources when Caesar was assassinated in Rome in March 44 BC. In the will of Caesar, Scarpus received one eighth of the property of the dictator, the same amount as Pedius. The main heir of Caesar was Octavian, who received three quarters of the property of his great uncle. But Scarpus and Pedius also assigned their inheritance to Octavian.[3]

Scarpus became an ally to Mark Antony and commanded for him in the war against the murderers of Caesar, Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus.[4] In the years leading up to the Final War of the Roman Republic, in Actium Greece 31 BC, Antony appointed Scarpus to the military command of Cyrenaica. Scarpus had with him four legions to command. During his time in Cyrenaica Scarpus had control of the currency mint in Cyrene, as he became a moneyer. Scarpus had issued various coins bearing Antony’s name and Scarpus’ name was inscripted as an issuer of these coins.

After Antony and his lover, the Ptolemaic Greek Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt, were defeated by Octavian at Actium (September 2, 31 BC), they sailed back to North Africa. Antony sent messengers to Scarpus for help. But Scarpus refused to see Antony’s messengers and put them to death. Instead he changed sides.[5] He gave his legions to Gaius Cornelius Gallus, Octavian’s lieutenant, to command.[6] While Octavian marched from the East through Asia, Syria and Judea against Egypt, Cornelius Gallus advanced with Scarpus’ legions from the west against Alexandria.

When Antony and Cleopatra died, Octavian became the new Roman master and then emperor. Augustus had appointed his cousin as the Roman governor of Cyrenaica. Scarpus as he did for Antony, became a moneyer and had issued various coins bearing Augustus’ name. On these coins, Scarpus had his name inscripted as an issuer of the coins. Beyond this, nothing is known on Scarpus.

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When Octavian arrived he had fresh crews and small light ships that were easier to maneuver compared to the huge ships that Mark Antony had, as the battle progressed, Antony’s general (Delius) decided that he was going to switch side when he saw which way the battle was going, so on he went to Octavian taking Mark Antony’s battle plans with him.

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Before the naval battle Mark Antony's general known as Delius defected to Octavian and brought with him Mark Antony’s battle plans. Antony had hoped to use his biggest ships to drive back Agrippa's wing on the north end of his line, but Octavian's entire fleet stayed carefully out of range. Shortly after mid-day, Antony was forced to extend his line out from the protection of the shore, and then finally engage the enemy.

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The details here are unmistakable. Could Octavian have won the battle so incredibly without all the defecting and betrayal towards Antony? I honestly can't answer that, but all that betrayal surely hastened the end of the rebellion and herald in the Roman Empire- and it was predicted!


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Dan 11:28 Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.


Was Agrippa a friend of the Jewish people, God's chosen? No, not especially in fact he had the distinction of being the head of the pagan religions because he welcomed more and more cults and deities allowing them to merge with established Roman deities.


'After the civil wars and social upheavals that led to the collapse of the Roman Republic, Caesar's heir Augustus carried out a program of religious revivalism designed to frame his ascent to sole power as a restoration of peace, tradition, and rectitude in accordance with divine will. The Augustan institution of Imperial cult put pious respect for tradition on display, and aimed to foster religious unity and mutual toleration among Rome's newly acquired provinces. The preservation of the "religion of Numa" remained the foundation of Rome's security and continued success.

But as Rome had extended its dominance throughout the Mediterranean world, its religious mode was to absorb the deities and cults of other peoples rather than to eradicate and replace them.[2] Both fascinated by and deeply suspicious of religious novelty, Romans looked for ways to understand and reinterpret the divinities of others by means of their own, and acknowledged religion in the provinces or foreign territories as an expression of local identity and traditions. Some religious practices were embraced officially, others merely tolerated. A few were condemned as alien hysteria, magic or superstition, and thus unwanted at Rome. Attempts, sometimes brutal, were made periodically to suppress religionists who seemed to threaten traditional morality and unity. In the eyes of conservative Romans, the Dionysian mysteries encouraged illicit behaviour and subversion; Christianity was superstition, or atheism, or both; druidism employed human sacrifice. The monotheistic rigor of Judaism led sometimes to compromise and the granting of special exemptions, and sometimes to intractable conflict. By the height of the Roman Empire, however, numerous foreign cults were practiced at Rome and throughout even the most remote provinces, among them the mystery cult of the syncretized Egyptian goddess Isis and deities of solar monism such as Mithras and Sol Invictus, found as far north as Roman Britain.'

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More than enough for today, a lot to digest!

Such a blessed Sabbath day! Praise and glory to God! Thank you Lord for all You've done! All through Your love, Your grace, Your mercy!!!!


Amen.

The Lord is not slack...

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.


Longsuffering.


Do you know what it means to be longsuffering?


–adjective
1.
enduring injury, trouble, or provocation long and patiently

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To endure - long and patiently. As children we believe we are longsuffering when we have to endure the hardship of going to school. You remember that don't you? The hour after hour of sitting in a classroom, watching the clock tick down the long hours until that bell of freedom would ring and we'd be allowed to leave the school and go home. Then of course we had to suffer through homework and sometimes we'd definitely classify that as being longsuffering. We suffered long, enduring seemingly unjust punishments for what seemed to us to be miniscule disobediences on our part. Remember being grounded? Boy, did we suffer. As we grew up and joined the work force there came a whole new meaning to longsuffering, yes? Long, hard days spent toiling away - again spent watching a clock just waiting for the work day to be over.


Of course we all know what it's like to suffer to some to degree, right? We also know that plenty of people suffer a lot more than we do.


Now, do we know what it's like to be longsuffering towards another person? A lot of us can relate to this on a family level, right? We endure the nonsense of our family and never disown them because they are family. Unlike perhaps friendships that we've let slip away because who needs to suffer long in a bad friendship, right? Of course some friendships are worth being longsuffering for, but there may come a time when an abusive friendship just isn't worth the suffering and it's better to give up on it rather than let it destroy you, yes?


Ultimately most of us know what it is like to be longsuffering towards others, but can we really compare any longsuffering we've endured to what God has endured with us?


Some might believe that because God has the power to destroy us and not put up with us that He isn't really longsuffering. Some believe that God allowed us to be this way and shouldn't have, it's all His fault that we are the sinful creatures we are so He must not be enduring anything long and patiently. There are a lot of people who don't even care about God suffering- long or otherwise, because He's God and God doesn't have to suffer. In fact if *they* were God, if they had the power of God they wouldn't spend that time enduring the nonsense of others for anyone or anything- they'd just fix things.


We in our finite thinking cannot truly fathom the depths of God's reasoning. We are the CREATURES! For creatures to question their Creator, why it's really unthinkable. We get the idea that because we can reproduce we are sort of creators. We recreate over and over again, I personally recreated another human being twice. But I had NO hand in anything other than being a vessel for that creation inside me. I didn't form the tiny heart, the teeny tiny brain, those precious little fingers and toes, I had no part in it other than allowing it to take place inside of my body. I couldn't control one bit how that baby grew within me. So while we may allow creation to form within us we did not and do not have any claim whatsoever to the design of the human being. As parents however we want what's best for our children. We want our children to respect us, to be obedient to us. We want our children to be happy, to learn to become productive adults and start families of their own to carry on this grand design of human beings. As parents we are allowed to enter into a fraction of understanding of how God feels towards us, His human creation- truly the One who brought us into existence. We have an analogy for this from Jesus--


Mat 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?


And this from Paul--


Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?


We know what it's like to give good gifts to our children, we want to do this! We want to be able to give our children good things. If we who are sinfilled want to do this- how much more GOD wants to do that for us- HIS children. We are His creation, much more than that though, He has made us His children! The animals are His creations but He is not their Heavenly Father, the angels are His creations but they are not His children! We have such a SPECIAL, such a UNIQUE role as human beings.


That second verse there- we have had fathers which have corrected us- we have, haven't we? I know I had a father who corrected me and I learned to respect Him. He was a person just like me with many faults, a sin-filled human being just like me, and I still respected Him. How much more, seriously, how much more should we long to be in subjection to our Heavenly Father! A heavenly Father who abhors sin and a heavenly Father who loves us so much He made a WAY for us to abhor sin just as He does and to cling to the Sinless One, obtaining forgiveness through the Sinless One.


God promised a way of Salvation and before Christ was born, lived, and died to confirm that promise, people could live in hope of that Promised One. After Christ was born, lived, and died people could live in hope of the confirmation of that Promised One. Before and after we had to and must live by faith in God and God's promises. However many- millions and millions since the first man was created- have chosen to disobey God, to disobey their heavenly Father. If our Heavenly Father, if our Creator weren't the full embodiment of love itself then we as a human race would have been wiped out long ago, just as man has time and time again fought against each other wiping each other out because one man gets it in their head that they are superior to another. It is only sinfilled man that can begin to believe they have the right to take another's life. God wills that ALL would come to repentance. But will all do so? No. Have all done so? No. Time and again since that first sin man has rebelled against God, they've rebelled against the only One who truly loves them. Because of that rebellion many have chosen death over life, many have chosen self over God. And though many have done this- right up to a very few not doing this, God still did NOT wipe out all of mankind as being hopeless, unworthy of being saved.


People don't realize that God suffers when we disobey Him, when we choose not to obey Him, not to love Him. As I said before, they don't even believe God can suffer. God is very longsuffering. God endures long with our disobedience, God endures our provocation. God keeps enduring because He's not willing that ANY will perish. Those who will be His are those He is enduring for. There have been and there still are those who long to be God's children. Though they are few and far between they exist and NOT one will perish, all who choose to obey their God, all who choose to accept their Savior will be saved eternally and it is ONLY for these children of God- of which I pray I'm one- that our God endures the disobedience of so many.


Read the following verses-- Our God is very longsuffering.


1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.


2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you


Psa 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.


Isa 30:18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.


1Ti 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.


Luk 18:6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
Luk 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luk 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?


Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.


Amazing verses! Amazing!


This is a daunting question though- 'Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh shall he find faith on the earth?'


I pray to God He does find faith on the earth! By His grace! By His love! By His righteousness!


All in Him!


Amen.

Vessels of Mercy

Vessels of Mercy


Jer 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
Jer 18:7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
Jer 18:8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
Jer 18:9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
Jer 18:10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.


Good and evil.


Life exists upon these two points…for now.


None would dispute that our lives are filled with tragedies, filled with pain, heartache, along with joys and happy moments. Life is also filled with mediocrity, a lot of mediocrity. But that mediocrity is usually tinged with a negativity, a passiveness, a relenting to being in a state that is neither happy nor sad. I said usually because it's not always that way. Sometimes there is a peace to be found in the middle, in the lengthy in-betweens we find along the spectrum of being bookended by joy and pain.


When we think of life without any heartache and pain, without sadness we do so with a longing for that sort of life. As we enjoy memories of good times sometimes we do so with a hint of longing, of sadness that those joys are gone never to be recaptured.


When man was first formed there was no sin in him, none. Man was not created by God with sin. There wasn't even a pinprick of sin inside him.


We were made to live in a sinless existence- where there is no pain, no heartache, no tragedy, nothing that brings sadness.


When sin entered everything changed.


We are born with an innocence that quickly erodes and the day comes when we begin to make choices between right and wrong. No one can pinpoint that day, it's different for all of us, but even as children we begin to make choices and those choices eventually determine who we become and whether or not we've chosen to live for God or for ourselves.


Our Creator is with us every step of the way, knowing where our hearts are inclined. Our Savior will know our hearts and if we are His- if our hearts belong to Him- because we choose Him over ourselves, over all that would keep us from Him.


So when we read verses about our Potter and how the clay is molded- we have to do so knowing it is US who are flawed and only the righteousness of our Savior, only the mercy and grace of our Lord will save us. He is the perfect vessel that is willing to use HIS righteousness for us.


Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Rom 9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Rom 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Rom 9:24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?


A potter molding clay makes many, many vessels. Does he set out to make vessels that are flawed? No. Does it happen that vessels do end up being flawed? Yes. Does this make the potter sad? Yes. The vessels end up in a state other than desired and unlike those inanimate vessels a person who becomes flawed and desires to remain flawed rather than choose the Savior who alone can repair them, is left flawed, is left a vessel fit for wrath.


God endures with MUCH longsuffering.


And there will be vessels of mercy- prepared unto glory!


We need to be vessel of mercy, filled with the mercy of our Savior!


All to HIS glory, all to HIS love!


IN HIM ALWAYS!


AMEN!