Originally Posted by - DRA -
The Mark of the Beast? For acknowledging God's choice for king? Consider ...
Saul was rejected as king by God, and Samuel, under the direct guidance of the Lord, anointed David as the next king:
1 Samuel 16 ...
1 Now the Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons." 2 And Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." And the Lord said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.' 3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you." 4 So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" 5 And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the Lord's anointed is before Him." 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 8 So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." 10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen these." 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here." 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!" 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
Granted, Ishbosheth was king for 2 years ... however, let's note how he became king:
2 Samuel 2 ...
8 But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim; 9 and he made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10 Ishbosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. Only the house of Judah followed David.
Therefore, we ask, was Ishbosheth king by God's choice, or simply placed there by men? God's choice for the next king was David. Therefore, he is regarded as the next king.
Also, there's Acts 13 ...
20 After that He [God] gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 21 And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.'
So, do you see Ishbosheth listed there between Saul and David? Did you consider this text before accusing folks of having the "Mark of the Beast?"
You have conveniently left out muich of the story.
Why is David said to have ruled "33 years", and again, "40 years and 6 months."
THIS IS ONE OF GOD'S "SEEMINGLY" contradicitions.
Where, and beginnning when, did David rule 33 Years?
Where, and beginning when, did David rule 40 years and 6 months?
The Book of Samuel has the answers to both questions.
What is 40 years and 6 months MINUS 33 years?
Is not the answer 7 years and 6 months?
"In Hebron he reigned over Judah 7 years and 6 months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah" - 2Sam 5.5.
I learned these facts at the age of 16 years, when I first read the entire Bible in one year.
So then, Ishbosheth was the king of Israel.
David was the king of Judah.
The house of Saul (Ishbosheth) and the house of David had war for 7 years.
But Ishbosheth died after only a 2 year reign.
So then, Israel was without a king for 5 years and 6 months.
I am on this forum looking for intelligent men to discuss the kingdom of God, New Jerusalem.
But you have wounded me deeply with your chidish reply.
10 minutes preparation before your reply would have avoided this false charge against me.
wmssid
Sorry my childish reply was so far beneath your wisdom and insight into God's word. However, the fact remains that I was addressing your chiding of listing Israel's kings over the united kingdom as Saul, David, and Solomon, instead of Saul, Ishbosheth, and David as you suggested. I can't help but note you didn't address the issue at hand, but shifted the topic to the 40 yrs, which is a generalization for the time each king reigned. That leaves me equally impressed with your reply. It makes me really look forward to the other open discussions in which we are engaged.
Now, before moving on, would you like to comment on why your conclusion didn't agree with texts I provided? Or is this red herring your final answer?