Saturday, September 18, 2021

God of the Holy Bible

One of the main themes of the Holy Bible is the lordship, authority, and sovereignty of the Almighty God – El-Shaddai.[1] The LORD God Almighty is sovereign, and He rules and reigns over the heavens and all the earth.[2] All the earth belongs to the LORD.[3] The Holy Bible states that the Almighty God is LORD of creation as He is the CREATOR, KING, SUSTAINER, and JUDGE of both heaven and earth.[4] The Holy Bible declares that the LORD God Almighty is from everlasting to everlasting.[5] The LORD God Almighty is an awesome God, and He is the LORD of lords, God of gods, and King of the universe.[6] The living LORD God is glorious and holy, and the whole earth is filled with His glory.[7]

 

One of the clear messages of the entire Holy Bible is that the LORD is the only true God of heaven and earth. There are no other gods besides the LORD God Almighty because He is the LORD.[8] The LORD God is the only God that is to be worshipped, and He demands our exclusive loyalty and allegiance FIRST.[9] The living LORD God deserves all our wholehearted love, devotion, obedience, affection, allegiance, and worship above all.[10] The Holy Bible proclaims the LORD God Almighty requires everyone’s wholehearted love, trust, worship, praise, and obedience to Him and His good commands.[11]

 

Furthermore, the Holy Bible is clear that we must NEVER worship or serve any other gods, lords, idols, nor kings except the LORD God Almighty as only He deserves ALL our wholehearted praise, trust, love, allegiance, and worship.[12] The LORD God Almighty is a jealous God and consuming fire, and He demands our wholehearted love, obedience, affection, trust, and praise for Him as our God and Provider FIRST.[13] In fact, the LORD God Almighty’s Name is Jealous as He is a Jealous God.[14] The living LORD God must be worshipped with our whole hearts, souls, minds, and strength.[15]

 

The Holy Bible declare that the LORD God can do ALL things.[16] For the LORD God Almighty created the mountains, the stars, turns the light of the dawn into darkness, and only He stirs the winds and rains.[17] For the whole earth is the LORD's and all the earth’s fullness.[18] The LORD God Almighty is supreme, and He rules and reigns over the heavens, universe, and all the earth.[19] Many true servants of God had the privilege of seeing the ruling Judge and King – the living LORD God Almighty.[20]

 

The living LORD God is King over all the earth, and only He protects and saves His people from harm and danger.[21] The Holy Bible teaches that the LORD God Almighty is all-powerful (omnipotent), all-knowing (omniscient), transcendent (supreme), and unchanging (immutable) as He is filled with love, faithfulness, holiness, goodness, and truth.[22] The LORD God gives His heavenly shield of protection, salvation, and peace as we trust, rely, and depend upon Him.[23] The Holy Bible is clear: the living LORD God is the Savior of all people, and He is our salvation.[24] Moreover, the Holy Bible teaches EVERYONE must seek and love the LORD God to find true life, grace, and peace and flee from the worship and trust of idols, human efforts, and other gods.[25] The living LORD God Almighty is a shield of protection and reward to those who are faithful and obedient to Him.[26] The LORD God comes to those who humbly and wholeheartedly seek Him and repent by turning from sins and Satan’s evil ways.[27]

 

The LORD’s divine love runs like a golden thread through the entire Holy Bible.[28] The LORD God Almighty is a good and glorious God, and His mercy and goodness endures for forever.[29] Moreover, the LORD God is forgiving, fair, merciful, good, and abounding in love to all who call to Him in faith and obedience.[30] The LORD God is not a man, and He cannot lie.[31]

 

In addition, the LORD God Almighty requires ALL PEOPLE to live holy, good, and blameless lives with wholehearted obedience and trust for Him and His commands.[32] From the beginning of human history, the LORD God Almighty called ALL PEOPLE to humbly obey and walk with Him and to DO what is good, kind, merciful, fair, and right to prevent living a life of sin that leads to destruction and death.[33] The LORD God Almighty will not tolerate but He punishes sin, wickedness, and disobedience in hopes of leading those who sin to repentance.[34] The Holy Bible teaches that love and obedience to God and His commandments bring His blessings, peace, and life.[35] In fact, Jesus taught that when we obey His commandments by loving His Father the LORD God and loving one another then the Presence of He and His Father through the Holy Spirit come to dwell and live with us.[36] However, the LORD God’s wrath and punishment comes to those who reject Him and refuse to turn from Satan’s evildoing.[37] Therefore, let everyone stop serving other gods and being stubborn and love, cling, know, and obey the living LORD God Almighty and His Son, Christ Jesus.[38] Furthermore in all things, whether eating, drinking, or working, or whatever you do, let us do all for God’s glory.[39] 

 

The living LORD God Almighty works in mysterious ways, and He has no rivals.[40] His works are always perfect and fair as He does no wrong.[41] The LORD God Almighty creates the light and make the darkness, and He sends the good times and bad times – both peace and calamity.[42] The Holy Scriptures calls everyone to love and trust the LORD God Almighty, even during times of testing and suffering, knowing that He works everything for good for those that love and honor Him.[43] Several examples are included in the Holy Bible such as Joseph, Job, and most importantly Jesus who were tempted and suffered, but they never lost their faith and obedience to the LORD God Almighty.[44] Because of their faithfulness, these individuals were blessed and honored by the LORD God Almighty beyond measure.[45] These biblical examples – Joseph, Job, and Jesus – realized that they must ALWAYS trust in God’s sovereignty and love, and obey Him amid their troubles.[46]

 

What is God’s name? The Holy Bible is filled with different names for God. The LORD of the entire heavens and earth is God Almighty and is translated in Hebrew meaning “El Shaddai” (shuh-DYE).[47] The covenant name of God is Yahweh.[48] The LORD is a transliteration or conversion of the proper name YHWH that is sometimes rendered “Jehovah” or “Yahweh.”[49] Yahweh is a translation of the Hebrew letters YHWH, traditionally translated the LORD. In some older English translations, YHWH is rendered “Jehovah,” a form derived from combining the vowel sounds for ΚΎAdonai with the consonants for YHWH.

 

The LORD is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and He revealed His Name to Moses.[50] Importantly, the LORD is His eternal Name to remember for all generations, and His Name must be remembered and worshipped for all generations.[51] The Holy Bible is clear that the wonderful and awesome Name of the LORD God must ALWAYS be respected, feared, honored, worshiped, and loved and NEVER cursed nor taken in vain.[52] The living LORD God (Yahweh) repeatedly sent His messengers to proclaim to the people that He was the ONLY true God and everlasting King of heaven and earth, and He alone is to be worshipped and obeyed.[53] The Most High God is the LORD of Israel, and there is no god like Him in heaven above or on earth as He alone is the only true God.[54] The LORD is El, the infinitely strong One, and He is the Sovereign LORD of heaven and earth. “Elohim” is a plural term and the most frequent Hebrew word for God in the Holy Scriptures.

 

The LORD revealed His Name and character to Moses at the burning bush as the Great I AM.[55] Moreover, the living LORD God proclaimed His covenant name and character to Moses at Exodus 34, and this declaration became a central confessional passage. At Exodus 34, the living LORD God descended in His glory cloud and stood with Moses and proclaimed the Name of the LORD. The living LORD God passed before Moses and proclaimed His name, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and patient, and overflowing with committed love and faithfulness, keeping committed love for thousands, forgiving evil and wrongdoings and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty.” The LORD’s covenant name is proclaimed again at Numbers 14:18-19; Nehemiah 9:17, 31; Psalm 86:15; Psalm 103:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2. The LORD God’s covenant name is mercy, grace, patience, love, truth, justice, and faithfulness.[56] The LORD God is good.[57] The LORD God’s goodness and grace is the core of His character and nature.[58] Even more, the LORD God’s covenant name is all His glory, His way, His goodness, and His Presence.[59] The very Name and essence of the living LORD is compassion, mercy, patience, grace, unending love, and faithfulness, but the LORD is also just and fair to everyone.[60]

The LORD God Almighty is Spirit and invisible as He has no body, no physical nor measurable form.[61] His Spirit is everywhere and omnipresent because He fills the heavens and earth with His glory.[62] The LORD God Almighty is the God of all the earth.[63] He reveals Himself through the natural world.[64] More importantly, the LORD God Almighty became visible in human form and revealed Himself through His Son Jesus.[65]

 

Importantly, the living LORD God Almighty is One with this Son, Christ Jesus.[66] Jesus is part of the Godhead.[67] The living LORD God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world to Himself.[68] Jesus is the image of the invisible God and the glory of God.[69] During His public ministry, Jesus revealed His Father and proclaimed to His disciples that anyone who has seen Him had seen His Father.[70] The Presence and Glory of the living LORD God of heaven came to earth and lived (tabernacle) inside His Son, Jesus.[71] Jesus shared His Heavenly Father’s glory before the world began.[72] As God incarnate, Jesus is all-knowing (omniscient) and universal (omnipresent), and He knows what is really inside a person’s heart and mind.[73]

 

In the New Testament, Jesus came from heaven to earth to reveal His Father – the living LORD God to the world.[74] One of the ministries of Jesus was to make known His Holy Father in the world as the Great I AM incarnate – human flesh.[75] While on earth, Christ Jesus revealed His Father and His Father’s Name and Nature to the world.[76] Jesus demonstrated His Righteous Father’s compassion, kindness, grace, truth, and justice during His public ministry.[77] Jesus was filled with compassion, humility, courage, and most important sinlessness.[78] The good works and good teaching of Jesus testified about His Father’s Name and Nature.[79] Jesus revealed and proclaimed His Holy Father’s Name and Glory by completing the work His Heavenly Father gave Him to accomplish.[80]

 

Opposite of the LORD God’s name is Satan’s name. Satan’s name and character are the very opposite of the LORD God’s covenant name and Satan is against the LORD God’s covenant. Satan’s name and character is murderer, adulterer, liar, theft, deceiver, lawless, sinful, and envious.[81] Everyone who commits sins become a slave of Satan and lives outside God’s Kingdom.[82]



[1] See e.g., Genesis 35:11; Exodus 6:2-3; Psalm 83:18.

[2] See e.g., Deuteronomy 10:14; Nehemiah 9:6; Isaiah 40:28; Acts 17:24-29; Revelation 14:7.

[3] See e.g., Exodus 9:29; Exodus 19:5; Psalm 24:1; 1 Corinthians 10:26, 31.

[4] See e.g., Genesis 1:1-2:25; Psalm 10:16; Psalm 33:6-7; Psalm 47:2; Psalm 134:3; Isaiah 66:1-2; Jeremiah 32:17-19; Acts 14:15; Acts 17:24; 1 Timothy 6:13; Hebrews 11:3.

[5] See e.g., Genesis 21:33; Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 10:16; Psalm 29:10; Isaiah 40:28.

[6] See e.g., Exodus 15:11; Deuteronomy 7:9, 21; Deuteronomy 10:17.

[7] See e.g., Leviticus 11:44-45; Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8.

[8] See e.g., Deuteronomy 4:35, 39; Joshua 2:11; 1 Samuel 2:2; Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 44:6, 8; Isaiah 45:5, 18, 22-23; Mark 12:29, 32.

[9] See e.g., Exodus 20:3; Exodus 22:20; Exodus 23:13, 24; Deuteronomy 4:35, 39; Deuteronomy 5:7; Deuteronomy 6:4-6, 13-15; Matthew 6:33; Matthew 22:37; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6

[10] See e.g., Deuteronomy 6:4-6; 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Matthew 6:33; Matthew 22:37.

[11] See e.g., Deuteronomy 5:6-21, 33; Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 20; Deuteronomy 11:1; Psalm 128:1; Jeremiah 7:22-23; Micah 6:8; Mark 12:29-30; John 14:15, 21, 23-24; Romans 7:12; 1 John 2:3-5; 1 John 5:2-3.

[12] See e.g., Exodus 20:2-6; Deuteronomy 5:6-10; Deuteronomy 6:4-6, 13-15; Deuteronomy 10:20-21; Jeremiah 25:6; Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8.

[13] See e.g., Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 4:24; Deuteronomy 5:4-5; Deuteronomy 6:1-6, 13-18; Deuteronomy 8:6-10, 18; Deuteronomy 30:6; 1 Samuel 15:22-23; 2 Chronicles 7:1-3; Matthew 4:10; Matthew 6:33; Matthew 22:37-38; 1 John 5:21; Revelation 14:7; Revelation 20:9.

[14] See e.g., Exodus 20:5; Exodus 34:14.

[15] See e.g., Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Psalm 86:10; Isaiah 43:10; Isaiah 44:6-8; Matthew 22:37; Luke 10:27.

[16] See e.g., Job 42:2; Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 19:26.

[17] See Amos 4:13; Amos 5:8; Amos 9:6

[18] See e.g., Psalm 24:1; 1 Corinthians 10:26, 28.

[19] See e.g., Deuteronomy 10:14; Nehemiah 9:6; Isaiah 40:28; Acts 17:24-29; Revelation 14:7.

[20] See e.g., Exodus 24:9-11; Numbers 12:6-8; 1 Kings 22:19; Psalm 82:1; Isaiah 6:1-5; Jeremiah 48:15; Jeremiah 51:57; Ezekiel 1:26-28; Daniel 7:9-14; 2 Corinthians 12:1-4; 1 Peter 4:5; Revelation 4:1-11.

[21] See e.g., Exodus 14:13-14; Psalm 24:1, 7-10; Psalm 44:4; Psalm 74:12; Zephaniah 3:15.

[22] See e.g., Genesis 17:1; Genesis 18:14; Leviticus 11:44-45; Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 20:7; Deuteronomy 4:39; 1 Samuel 2:2-3; 1 Chronicles 29:12; 2 Chronicles 20:6-7, 21; Isaiah 6:1-5; Isaiah 49:7; Daniel 4:17; Nahum 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Hebrews 1:12; Hebrews 13:8.

[23] See e.g., Isaiah 26:3-4; Isaiah 54:17.

[24] See e.g., Exodus 15:2; Psalm 18:46; Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 12:2; Habakkuk 3:18-19; Luke 1:47; 1 Timothy 4:10.

[25] See e.g., Psalm 34:10; Isaiah 55:3, 6-7; Hosea 14:1-2; Amos 5:4; Matthew 6:33; Matthew 22:37; 1 John 5:21.

[26] See e.g., Genesis 15:1; Deuteronomy 33:29; Psalm 115:9.

[27] See e.g., Psalm 34:18; Psalm 50:16-20; Proverbs 28:13; Isaiah 66:2; Daniel 9:7, 9; Amos 5:4, 6; 1 John 1:9.

[28] See e.g., 1 Samuel 2:2; Psalm 145:9; John 3:16; 1 John 4:8.

[29] See e.g., 2 Chronicles 5:13; 2 Chronicles 7:3; Psalm 106:1; Psalm 136:1-3.

[30] See e.g., Exodus 34:6-7; Deuteronomy 7:9-10; Deuteronomy 32:4; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 34:10-15, 18; Psalm 86:5-7; Psalm 103:12-13; Lamentation 3:22-25; Jonah 4:2; 1 Timothy 1:17.

[31] See e.g., Numbers 23:19; Malachi 3:6.

[32] See e.g., Genesis 17:1; Leviticus 11:44-45; Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 20:7-8, 26; Deuteronomy 10:12-13; Deuteronomy 18:13; Exodus 19:5-6; Joshua 22:5; Ezekiel 11:20; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 7:21; Mark 3:35; Ephesians 4:23-32; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 2:11-12; 1 Peter 1:15-16.

[33] See e.g., Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 4:7-8; Genesis 5:22; Genesis 17:1; Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 10:12-13; Psalm 15:1-5; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 5:3-10; Acts 10:35; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 2:10; James 1:27.

[34] See e.g., Genesis 18:20-21; Genesis 19:13; 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Romans 2:1-11.

[35] See e.g., Deuteronomy 11:9, 29; Deuteronomy 30:16; Psalm 34:8-10; Psalm 145:20; Matthew 12:50; Mark 4:20.

[36] See e.g., John 14:15-17, 21; John 15:1-6.

[37] See e.g., Exodus 20:5-6; Leviticus 26:14-39; Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Psalm 34:16.

[38] See e.g., Deuteronomy 10:16; Deuteronomy 11:22, 32; Deuteronomy 30:20; John 17:3.

[39] See e.g., 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17, 23; 1 Peter 4:11.

[40] See e.g., Isaiah 45:5, 15; Isaiah 55:8-9.

[41] See e.g., Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Samuel 22:31.

[42] See e.g., Genesis 1:3-5, 17-18; Psalm 8:3; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; Isaiah 45:6-7; Jeremiah 31:35; Amos 3:6-7; Amos 4:13; James 1:17.

[43] See e.g., Genesis 50:20; Job 2:10; Psalm 103:11; Romans 8:28.

[44] See e.g., Genesis 37:18-36; Genesis 39:19-23; Job 1:1-2:10; Luke 4:1-13.

[45] See e.g., Genesis 41:41-46; Job 42:7-16; Matthew 28:18; Mark 16:19.

[46] See e.g., Job 42:1-6; Matthew 4:10; Luke 22:41-44.

[47] See e.g., Genesis 17:1; Exodus 6:3.

[48] See e.g., Exodus 3:13-16.

[49] See e.g., Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 24:16.

[50] See e.g., Exodus 3:6; Exodus 6:2-4; Exodus 34:5-7; Matthew 22:32-33.

[51] See e.g., Genesis 4:26; Genesis 14:22; Genesis 26:22; Exodus 3:14-15; Exodus 20:2-3, 5; Exodus 34:14; Deuteronomy 6:4-6; 2 Kings 17:35; Zephaniah 3:9; Matthew 6:33; Matthew 22:37.

[52] See e.g., Exodus 6:2-3; Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 5:11; Deuteronomy 28:58; Deuteronomy 32:3.

[53] See e.g., Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Jeremiah 10:10; Jeremiah 7:25-28; Matthew 6:33; Matthew 22:37.

[54] See e.g., Exodus 6:2-8; Exodus 8:10; Deuteronomy 10:14; Nehemiah 9:5-6; 1 Kings 8:23, 60; Daniel 2:47; Daniel 3:28-29; Daniel 4:34-35; Daniel 6:26-27; Revelation 14:6-7.

[55] See Exodus 3:6, 13-16; Exodus 6:2-3.

[56] See e.g., Exodus 3:14-15; Exodus 34:5-7; Nehemiah 9:17; 1 John 4:7-8.

[57] See e.g., 2 Chronicles 5:13-14; Lamentations 3:25.

[58] See Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 34:8; Psalm 86:5; Joel 2:13.

[59] See Exodus 33:13, 18-19, 22.

[60] See e.g., Exodus 34:5-7, Numbers 14:18; 2 Chronicles 30:9; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:15; Psalm 103:8; Jeremiah 9:24; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; James 5:11.

[61] See e.g., John 4:24; 2 Corinthians 3:17; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 Timothy 6:16.

[62] See e.g., 1 Kings 8:27; Psalm 72:19; Psalm 139:7-12; Isaiah 6:3; Jeremiah 23:23-25; Amos 9:2-4; Acts 7:48-50; Revelation 1:8.

[63] See e.g., Deuteronomy 4:35, 39; Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Isaiah 41:4, Isaiah 44:6-7, 24; Isaiah 45:5-6, 15, 18-19, 21-23; Isaiah 66:1-2; Mark 12:32; Acts 14:15; Acts 17:24.

[64] See e.g., Psalm 19:1-6; Acts 14:17; Romans 1:19-20.

[65] See e.g., Matthew 1:23; John 1:1-3, 14, 18, 34, 49-51; John 14:9-11; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 1 John 4:9-10.

[66] See e.g., Exodus 3:6, 13-15; Matthew 3:16-17; John 10:30, 38; John 12:45; John 14:9-11, 20; John 16:32; John 17:11, 21; Acts 7:32-33; 1 Corinthians 8:4, 6.

[67] See e.g., Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14.

[68] See e.g., 2 Corinthians 5:19.

[69] See e.g., John 1:14, 18; John 12:45; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3.

[70] See e.g., Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-3, 14, 18; John 6:38, 42; John 12:45-46; John 13:1, 3; John 14:9-11; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Philippians 2:6; Colossian 1:15; Hebrews 1:3.

[71] See e.g., John 1:1-3, 14; John 10:30, 38; John 12:45; John 14:9-11, 20; John 17:11, 21; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 1:15, 19; Colossians 2:9-10.

[72] See e.g., Proverbs 8:23; John 1:1-2; John 16:28; John 8:28; John 17:5, 24; Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 1:1-3.

[73] See e.g., see 2 Chronicles 6:30; Jeremiah 17:10; Ezekiel 11:5; Matthew 9:4; John 2:24-25; John 13:11; Revelation 2:23.

[74] See e.g., John 1:1-5, 14, 18; John 6:38; John 13:3.

[75] See e.g., John 1:14, 18; John 6:35; John 8:12; John 10:11; John 14:6.

[76] See John 17:6, 26.

[77] See e.g., Exodus 34:5-7; Matthew 9:36; Matthew 14:14; Matthew 15:32; Mark 6:34; Mark 8:2-3; John 1:14, 16-17; John 14:6.

[78] See e.g., Matthew 4:23-25; Matthew 9:36; Matthew 14:14; Mark 6:34.

[79] See e.g., John 5:36; John 10:25, 38.

[80] See e.g., John 1:14, 18; John 4:34; John 5:36; John 17:1, 4.

[81] See e.g., John 8:41, 44; John 10:10; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10; 1 John 3:4, 8, 12.

[82] See e.g., Psalm 15:1-5; Psalm 24:3-5; Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 25:41; Luke 13:27; John 8:34-35; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:7-8; Revelation 22:15.

Monday, September 6, 2021

Love One Another

Christians and Jews are connected to Muslims through their Father Abraham. By way of background, Muslims believe Islam originated from Ishmael, which means “God hears” (see Genesis 16:11-12). Ishmael was the first son of Abraham by the Egyptian concubine named Hagar (see Genesis 16:1-16). The Holy Bible teaches that Ishmael was born when Abraham was 86 years old. Ishmael was born in Abraham’s attempt to fulfill God’s promise by human means with Hagar and not through his wife Sarah (see also Romans 9:7; Galatians 4:23). Hagar and her son Ishmael were near death in the wilderness when the Angel of the LORD directed Hagar to a well to save her and her son’s life (see Genesis 21:8-21). The Holy Bible teaches that the living LORD God was with Ishmael, and Ishmael was also under God’s blessing (see Genesis 17:18-20; Genesis 21:20).  The living LORD God promised Hagar He would multiple Ishmael and his descendants (see Genesis 16:10-12). 

Furthermore, the living LORD God promised Abraham that He would bless his son Ishmael, make him fruitful, and greatly increase Ishmael into a great nation (see Genesis 17:20-21; Genesis 21:13, 17-19). Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised in the flesh (see Genesis 17:26). Ishmael was one of the first to experience the physical sign of God’s covenant – circumcision.  According to the Holy Scriptures, Ishmael was the father of twelve sons (see Genesis 25:12-16).  Many Arabs claim Ishmael as their forefather and thus Palestine as their land.  Also, Israel’s founding fathers — Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel) lay claim to Palestine as their land.  In the New Testament, Jesus declared that everyone who accepts, loves, and obeys Him as the living LORD God’s Son become part of His family and grafted into God’s people – Israel and Abraham’s seed (see e.g., John 1:12-13; Luke 8:21; Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 2:19-22). 

Therefore, let us all love one another (see Matthew 7:12; Matthew 22:37-40; John 13:34-35; Romans 13:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9)!

Saturday, September 4, 2021

Glory Cloud

The living LORD God’s glory cloud has appeared throughout the Bible. The glory cloud appeared in the Old Testament (see e.g., Deuteronomy 31:15; 1 Kings 8:10-13; 2 Chronicles 5:13-14), in the New Testament at Jesus’s Transfiguration and Ascension into heaven (see e.g., Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:34-35; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9), and in the book of Revelation (see Revelation 15:8). In the book of Daniel, the “Son of Man” is presented as coming in the glory cloud to the Ancient of Days – the Sovereign LORD God (see Daniel 7:9, 13-14). The living LORD God spoke from His glory cloud at Jesus’s baptism to confirm Jesus as His dearly loved Son (see Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:33-34) and before Jesus’s glorification (see John 12:28-29). Even more, the glory cloud with the Presence of God came into the Tabernacle in the wilderness and Solomon’s Temple (e.g., Exodus 40:34-38; 1 Kings 8:10-11; 2 Chronicles 5:13-14; 2 Chronicles 7:2-3). Further, the LORD’s glory appeared over the atonement cover of the Ark of the Covenant (see Leviticus 16:2). When Israel was in the wilderness, the living LORD God lead His people Israel within His glory cloud – a pillar of cloud and pillar of fire (see Exodus 13:21-22; Deuteronomy 1:33; Number 10:33-34). The LORD God’s glory cloud provided protection, provision, and guidance for Israel and was a visible sign of His Presence – a Theophany (see e.g., Exodus 14:19-20; Exodus 16:10-12; Exodus 19:9, 16-18; Exodus 24:15-18; Exodus 34:5-7; Exodus 40:34-38; Numbers 9:15-23; Numbers 12:5-8; Matthew 17:5; Matthew 24:30; Acts 1:9). One day Jesus will return to earth with the holy angels of God in the glory cloud (See e.g., Matthew 16:27; Matthew 24:30; Matthew 25:31; Mark 14:61-62; 1 Thessalonians 4:16). Truly, the whole earth will be filled with the LORD God’s glory (see e.g., Numbers 14:20-21; Psalm 72:19; Isaiah 6:3).