The Temple of God in Holy Jerusalem
Speaking of some of the saints who were temporarily restored to physical life to testify about Yeshua's resurrection, after jealous Jewish leaders delivered Him to the bloody Romans to murder, we find, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit:
Matthew 27:53
...and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into THE HOLY CITY and appeared to many.
Paul, speaking of the imminent Third Temple, the holy TEMPLE OF GOD (the Temple of God -- not just of the Jews or any other conspiracy theory that contradicts Scripture), that Europe's wannabe divine emperor will pollute, coveting it since Satan knows (even if some religious folks don't) it is the TEMPLE OF GOD:
2 Thessalonians 2:4
...who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the TEMPLE OF GOD, showing himself that he is God.
Speaking of the imminent Third Temple and EU occupation of Jerusalem (whose days are numbered when they trespass upon the Temple Mount), and simultaneous ministry of the Two Witnesses, the apostle John was inspired by the Holy Spirit to foretell:
Revelation 11:1-3
1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, 'Rise and measure the TEMPLE OF GOD [not merely of the Jews or of the Masons or Illuminati or whoever some slander], the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread THE HOLY CITY underfoot for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.
Speaking of the imminent clash between Catholic Europe and Islam with Jerusalem's holy Temple Mount caught in the middle:
Daniel 11:40-45
At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. 41 He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. 44 But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. 45 And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.
Jerusalem is holy in the biblical sense it has been called to fulfill its awesome calling to become the City of our God, the City of the Great King. It has been sanctified, set apart for a holy purpose that it will soon fulfill. It is holy, even though it is a sinful city, just like Israel and Judah are holy, set apart, sanctified, and need to learn to live holy lives.
The New Jerusalem doesn't come down from Heaven until after the initial thousand year reign of Christ who will subdue all opposition and destroy all enemies, including death and Satan when the Earth is purified by fire. Then the Father comes with New Jerusalem -- the Sabbath-keeping Church of God is a type of it.
Meanwhile, we pray for Judah and intercede for Jerusalem:
Isaiah 62:1-2
1 For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace,
And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,
Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
And her salvation as a lamp that burns.
2 The Gentiles shall see your righteousness,
And all kings your glory.
You shall be called by a new name,
Which the mouth of the LORD will name.
Isaiah 62:6-7
6 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;
They shall never hold their peace day or night.
You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent,
7 And give Him no rest till He establishes
And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
These watchmen are the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11 -- Two Witnesses who will testify in Jerusalem against Europe. They will announce to the cities of Judah and comfort captive Israel (all Twelve Tribes) that our God will come and save us.
Isaiah 35:4
4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted,
"Be strong, do not fear!
Behold, your God will come with vengeance,
With the recompense of God;
He will come and save you."
Isaiah 25:9
9 And it will be said in that day:
"Behold, this is our God;
We have waited for Him, and He will save us.
This is the LORD;
We have waited for Him;
We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."
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| Hebrews 11:5-8 clearly teaches that God chooses to bless with rewards those who by faith choose to cooperate with Him in His spiritual creation. Abel, Enoch, and Noah are proofs of this fact. Thus, three major factors are linked in the spiritual creation process leading to salvation: grace, works, and rewards. We can watch this unfold in Noah's experience with God. This is of particular importance to us living in the end time because both Jesus and Peter state that the end time would bear a similarity to Noah's day. Peter specifically shows in II Peter 2:5-6 that the Flood is a strong witness against the doctrine of uniformitarianism, the idea that earth's history has passed without variation through the ages:
If God is the Savior and Rewarder of those who obey Him, then the opposite must be true: that He is the Punisher of those who despise Him. The Flood and Sodom are witnesses of this truth. Not all things have continued as they always have. The godly lived; the ungodly died. Despite what men say and think, God moved to punish mankind's sins in the days of Noah. That punishment came in the form of the Flood, which wiped out all land-based mammal and bird life except for Noah, his family, and the animals in the ark. Genesis 6:8 reveals the beginning of Noah's salvation. It began in God's mind. It was absolutely unearned, being an act of God's kindness. This is step one. Hebrews 11:7 says that Noah believed God's warning. This, combined with God's grace, becomes the foundation for Noah's reaction. Noah's belief is step two. Next comes the effect of this combination: Internally, Noah "moved with fear." He was motivated—he felt an urge—due to his deep respect for God. The external effect was that he built the ark. This is step three. The consequences of his foundation of grace and faith plus the impulse to move with fear comprise step four. He and his house were saved from the Flood, the world was condemned by his witness, and he became an heir of the righteousness that is by faith. Did Noah's works save him? The answer is both yes and no. Consider: If Noah, not believing, had failed to prepare the ark, would he not have perished in the Flood along with everyone else? Certainly. Did his own efforts in building the ark, then, save him from the Deluge? No, they did not, because we have not yet considered all the parts God played in this scenario. He did far more than just warn Noah to build an ark. Philippians 4:19 promises, "God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." This does not at all mean that we can do anything we want to, and that God will take up the slack. It means that God will supply all our needs within the project He has us working on. Genesis 6:13-16; 7:14-16; 8:1; and other verses show God's oversight, guidance, and providence. Genesis 8:1 is especially important: "Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided." "Remembered" indicates His special attention during the entire project, but it especially focuses on the time following the shutting of the door when those in the ark were helpless before the overwhelming onslaught of water. Huge torrents of water gushed from the earth, as well as fell from the heavens. This must have created huge waves. There is no indication that the ark had mast, sail, rudder, or wheel for navigation. Nevertheless, God was with them from beginning to end, giving them His special attention to preserve them and see His purpose accomplished. This illustrates God working in them both to will and to do as they cooperated in their human, weak ways. This combination of God's grace and human cooperation produced their salvation. | |
| John W. Ritenbaugh | ||
I have had the misfortune in the past of having met David Ben-Ariel (before he had ever been Ariel). He was David Hoover when I knew him, and he was apparently unbalanced enough that he even had my father a little nervous. I was very young so I don’t remember a huge amount, but I do remember not being all that impressed.
I just did a search for Herbert Armstrong on the web, and I found it interesting that almost every post I found was written by this guy, and that he has lots of posts and blogs around the web, some of them with very odd names (who is Chuck Baldwin anyways?). When I found posts that didn’t seem to come from him, well, oddly enough, they managed to anyway.
So I linked to one of them.
Not because I agree with anything he says. But because this blog is going to be much more toxic to his message than any of his blogs will be to mine. And I’m looking for other Armstrongite blogs and sites too, if you know of any, post them here. It may give them a short bump in the ratings, but it will also link them inexorably to a blog that they really want nothing at all to do with. They won’t link back, but it doesn’t matter. Hopefully it will have them a little angry that there’s nothing they can do about it.
Hee hee hee.
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[An assortment of sordid comments not shown]
Feel free to talk about me behind my back, but at least know what you’re talking about. But that would be honest, fair and decent, wouldn’t it?
A Higher Calling: Quest for the Kingdom of God
By David Ben-Ariel on May 24, 2008
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After reading these pitiful posts, they just don't jive with the title (I SURVIVED Jesus, the apostles & prophets teachings) of the forum.
