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Friends Of God
- By CoreyD
- Exposition & Bible Study
- 1 Replies
Most people have been misinformed by religious leaders, for centuries, because of not understanding the will of God, as outlined in the scriptures.
This is of course, due to a number of factors.
Humility is required, if we are to gain the truth in this matter. Acts 8:26-40
So, let's consider what the scriptures teach, as opposed to what the ministers of these thousands of religions teach.
It is believed by most, that ancient people have gone to heaven when they died. Some even believe that some went to heaven without dying.
What the scriptures say...
Acts 2:29-35
God's friend David, did not go to heaven when he died, and this is the case for all those living in ancient times.
No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. John 3:13
People go to the grave when they die, where their only hope is a resurrection.
Even Daniel, a man God took great pleasure in Daniel 9:23, was told...
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. But as for you, go on your way until the end. You will rest, and then you will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.” Daniel 12:2, 13
This was the lot of all mankind, when Adam sinned. Death, and the grave.
Jesus referred to those who will get out of the dust, as being persons in God's memorial. John 5:28
So, indeed, many millions of person are at rest in the memory of God, when they return to the dust - their tomb - Derived from μνῆμα (mnēma), which means "a memorial" or "a remembrance."
HELPS Word-studies
3419 mnēmeíon (a neuter noun derived from 3451 /mousikós, "to remember, keep in memory") – a tomb (sepulchre).
How that warms our heart toward our God, knowing that he keeps his friends (and other unfortunate souls) in memory.
Can God forget anything? No. God know the number of hairs on each individual head. Matthew 10:30
So, we see, that God's ancient friends are all in God's memory, equivalent to being asleep in the dust, where they are not forgotten, and as Jesus said, will be returned to life. Where?
Consider just one scripture... Revelation 21:1-4
God's will at that time, will be done on earth, as in heaven. Matthew 6:10; Ephesians 1:10
He will be reunited with his friends,,, and so will we.
What a blessed time that will be.
This is of course, due to a number of factors.
- many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. - Matthew 24:11
- the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. - 2 Corinthians 4:4
- Satan's ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. - 2 Corinthians 11:15
- The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not accept the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth. - 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
Humility is required, if we are to gain the truth in this matter. Acts 8:26-40
So, let's consider what the scriptures teach, as opposed to what the ministers of these thousands of religions teach.
It is believed by most, that ancient people have gone to heaven when they died. Some even believe that some went to heaven without dying.
What the scriptures say...
Acts 2:29-35
29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ... 34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens...
God's friend David, did not go to heaven when he died, and this is the case for all those living in ancient times.
No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. John 3:13
People go to the grave when they die, where their only hope is a resurrection.
Even Daniel, a man God took great pleasure in Daniel 9:23, was told...
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. But as for you, go on your way until the end. You will rest, and then you will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.” Daniel 12:2, 13
This was the lot of all mankind, when Adam sinned. Death, and the grave.
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground - because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:19
All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust. Ecclesiastes 3:20
Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7
Jesus referred to those who will get out of the dust, as being persons in God's memorial. John 5:28
So, indeed, many millions of person are at rest in the memory of God, when they return to the dust - their tomb - Derived from μνῆμα (mnēma), which means "a memorial" or "a remembrance."
HELPS Word-studies
3419 mnēmeíon (a neuter noun derived from 3451 /mousikós, "to remember, keep in memory") – a tomb (sepulchre).
How that warms our heart toward our God, knowing that he keeps his friends (and other unfortunate souls) in memory.
Can God forget anything? No. God know the number of hairs on each individual head. Matthew 10:30
So, we see, that God's ancient friends are all in God's memory, equivalent to being asleep in the dust, where they are not forgotten, and as Jesus said, will be returned to life. Where?
Consider just one scripture... Revelation 21:1-4
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
2 I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
God's will at that time, will be done on earth, as in heaven. Matthew 6:10; Ephesians 1:10
He will be reunited with his friends,,, and so will we.
What a blessed time that will be.
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Illinois church branded hateful for ‘Heaven has strict immigration laws’ sign amid immigration row
- By Yarddog
- Current News & Events (Articles Required)
- 20 Replies
I think it was a very clever message but I know nothing about the church that posted it.New Hope Community Church in Palatine, Illinois, has been branded as hateful by some residents in the neighborhood for promoting a message on their electronic sign that says, “Heaven has strict immigration laws, Hell has open borders.”
The criticism comes as a coalition of progressive Christian and Jewish groups, including the Episcopal Church and the Union for Reform Judaism, filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday challenging a recent move by the Trump administration to rescindguidelines that limited immigration enforcement in "sensitive" areas such as churches, schools and hospitals.
Critics of the New Hope Community Church's message contend it is hateful and politically charged as it appears to be in support of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. However, the church insists that its message is strictly about the Gospel.
Continued below.
Illinois church branded hateful for ‘Heaven has strict immigration laws’ sign amid immigration row
New Hope Community Church in Palatine, Illinois, has been branded as hateful by some residents in the neighborhood for promoting a message on their electronic sign that says, Heaven has strictwww.christianpost.com
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Democrat Senator Signals Government Shutdown Looms as Hysteria With DOGE Deepens
- By Valletta
- American Politics
- 82 Replies
"The world’s largest private equity firm hired Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) son-in-law as a lobbyist around the time Schumer announced a deal that would have marginally limited a tax loophole enriching private equity moguls, before reportedly dropping the planned tax altogether."
Chuck Schumer’s Family Is Getting Nice Work on Wall Street
Blackstone, the world’s largest private equity fund, just hired Senator Chuck Schumer’s son-in-law as a lobbyist — at the same time the Wall Street firm is lobbying the Senate on major financial legislation.
jacobin.com
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Discovering the origin of the Church in Genesis
- By Michie
- One Bread, One Body - Catholic
- 0 Replies
Today is Feb 13, Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time.
We read in Scripture at today’s Mass, “So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh” (Gen 2:21).
When we think of the creation of Eve, we are likely to focus on the complementarity of Adam and Eve. It is not good for Adam to be alone, Scripture says. Adam needs Eve. In fact, without Eve, it’s not clear how exactly God was planning to continue the human race. Eve, after all, is the mother of all the living!
But there’s a deeper meaning here.
We Catholics believe that the Church was born from the side of Christ. At his death, the Roman centurion took a lance and pierced the side of Our Lord. Blood and water spilled forth. As the Second Vatican Council puts it, “The origin and growth of the Church are symbolized by the blood and water which flowed from the open side of the crucified Jesus.”
Continued below.
www.oursundayvisitor.com
We read in Scripture at today’s Mass, “So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh” (Gen 2:21).
When we think of the creation of Eve, we are likely to focus on the complementarity of Adam and Eve. It is not good for Adam to be alone, Scripture says. Adam needs Eve. In fact, without Eve, it’s not clear how exactly God was planning to continue the human race. Eve, after all, is the mother of all the living!
But there’s a deeper meaning here.
We Catholics believe that the Church was born from the side of Christ. At his death, the Roman centurion took a lance and pierced the side of Our Lord. Blood and water spilled forth. As the Second Vatican Council puts it, “The origin and growth of the Church are symbolized by the blood and water which flowed from the open side of the crucified Jesus.”
Continued below.
Discovering the origin of the Church in Genesis
Explore the connection between Eve's creation and the birth of the Church from Christ's side, highlighting their deep spiritual significance.
www.oursundayvisitor.com
Israeli hostage abuse horrors: This weekend's impossible situation choices
- By Michie
- General Politics
- 0 Replies
Whatever joy the free world felt at the release of Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi, and Or Levy on Saturday was almost immediately replaced by a quiet and collective horror. The world watched, in shock, as three gaunt, once-healthy men were paraded around a Gaza stage, humiliated. To the ones who knew them best, they were almost unrecognizable — hollow versions of the fathers and husbands whose 491-day nightmare had finally come to an end. “I hugged him,” Or’s brother said solemnly. “But he wasn’t the same.”
The anguish of captivity was etched across their faces, their hollow cheekbones — a story of torture, starvation, and fear. They were hung by their feet for hours at a time, tied with rope or bound, sometimes gagged, strangled, or even burned. After long stretches of days without food or water, they would have rotten pita bread to eat. “We were treated like animals,” one hostage said blankly.
If you were lucky, you were kept above ground — in people’s apartments, where there were windows, sunlight, and room to pace. The less fortunate, like these three, were forced to live in almost complete darkness, suffocating in the humidity of the tunnels and malnourished. Most have gone months without showers or medical care. And as time has gone on, their captors have become more brutal, the freed hostages warn — more aggressive.
Continued below.
washingtonstand.com
The anguish of captivity was etched across their faces, their hollow cheekbones — a story of torture, starvation, and fear. They were hung by their feet for hours at a time, tied with rope or bound, sometimes gagged, strangled, or even burned. After long stretches of days without food or water, they would have rotten pita bread to eat. “We were treated like animals,” one hostage said blankly.
If you were lucky, you were kept above ground — in people’s apartments, where there were windows, sunlight, and room to pace. The less fortunate, like these three, were forced to live in almost complete darkness, suffocating in the humidity of the tunnels and malnourished. Most have gone months without showers or medical care. And as time has gone on, their captors have become more brutal, the freed hostages warn — more aggressive.
Continued below.
Hostage Horrors: Returning Captives Outrage Leaders, Jeopardize Ceasefire
Whatever joy the free world felt at the release of Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi, and Or Levy on Saturday was almost immediately replaced by a quiet and collective
ESV Bible update includes 68 word edits, reverts Genesis 3:16 translation to 2001 wording
- By Michie
The English Standard Version (ESV) Bible is undergoing its first text update in nearly a decade, with revisions to 36 passages across 42 verses, the ESV Translation Oversight Committee announced.
The changes, aimed at improving accuracy and clarity, will be rolled out gradually over the next two years, the committee revealed in an update Monday.
The TOC, a standing committee of the Crossway Board of Directors, oversees the ESV's publication and ensures its faithfulness to the original biblical texts. The latest update involves 68 word changes, approximately one per 11,000 words of the translation, along with modifications to 57 footnotes and punctuation adjustments in 14 verses.
Continued below.
www.christianpost.com
The changes, aimed at improving accuracy and clarity, will be rolled out gradually over the next two years, the committee revealed in an update Monday.
The TOC, a standing committee of the Crossway Board of Directors, oversees the ESV's publication and ensures its faithfulness to the original biblical texts. The latest update involves 68 word changes, approximately one per 11,000 words of the translation, along with modifications to 57 footnotes and punctuation adjustments in 14 verses.
Continued below.
ESV Bible update includes 68 word edits, reverts Genesis 3:16 translation to 2001 wording
The English Standard Version Bible is undergoing its first text update in nearly a decade, with revisions to 36 passages across 42 verses, the ESV Translation Oversight Committee announced
www.christianpost.com
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